Lara Murray-Sterzel, Editor-In-Chief
Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek is on a mission. A mission to revitalize Oneonta through its youth, activity, and community. The mayor is trying to bring people together through organizations and ideas in hopes of getting Oneonta back to a place it hasn’t been in a long time.
This month, the mayor uploaded a video titled “A Market Street Neighborhood” where he told the story of Oneonta’s history. In 1975, Oneonta was hit with the Urban Renewal which tore down a third of the city’s buildings and displaced 2,000 community members. Since then, Oneonta’s population hasn’t been the same. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, downtown shops and restaurants were at the risk of going out of business. To prevent this, the mayor brought community members together and formed the Eight Ward, who volunteered and aided outdoor activities working with the struggling businesses. It was through this formation Oneonta saved the downtown businesses and even stabilized their economy. By witnessing people coming together, the mayor thinks of what more they can accomplish.
The mayor took to overseeing the Oneonta Renaissance, a city-funded organization focused on creating a community filled with arts, vibrance, and exciting events. Through downtown activities, families have taken an interest in what Oneonta has planned next. The mayor has also included Oneonta’s youth in his mission through the City of Oneonta Town-Gown Task Force and even through politics. “We have two, one from Hartwick and one from SUNY who are co-chairing the Task Force. I’m trying to get everyone registered to vote in Oneonta. They’re doing a great job on Hartwick campus,” said the mayor. “They actually have a polling place that’s gonna open up because they’ve got enough people registered to vote in Oneonta. Which is great!” Two Hartwick students are on commission at Oneonta’s City Commissions, something the mayor values. He knows Oneonta needs new thinking and by putting its youth in government allows them to be heard and collaborate on ideas to shape the community.
But most importantly the mayor is working toward affordable housing in Oneonta. “What I’m trying to do is create a whole neighborhood of affordable housing, so that if you’re making $16-17 an hour you can afford to live here in a nice apartment on Market Street,” said the mayor. In his video, the mayor disclosed that the New York State Homes and Community Renewal wants to help and rebuild what Oneonta lost in 1975. The housing is said to have thirty-five apartments, parking, easy access to town, and through Rehabilitation Support Services the benefit of mental health services. But not everyone wants this project to go through. The mayor mentions in his video there’s a lot of NIMBYism which makes the argument that it could lead to economic stagnation. The mayor has expressed concerns about this argument misinforming and scaring the community about the project.
The mayor is working hard to keep his plans in motion and his message out. The Daily Star published a column The Young and Restless by the mayor about motivating the student population to stay, emphasizing the importance of things they look for in a community, and to get actively involved. The time is now, Oneonta! The future of this community is in your hands. The time to make something special happen is now!
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