Officials in both Otsego and Delaware counties in New York State are worried that younger people from 24 to 34 years old are leaving the area. According to U.S. Census data, Otsego County’s population decreased 0.4 percent from July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2008; Delaware County dropped 0.5 percent
This actually made me laugh, if they are so worried about people of the younger generation leaving they need to stop holding back modern technology in the area. I am very familiar with the local politics in both these New York counties and it seems time after time that when a technology company like Verizon wants to put up a new cell phone tower to increase rural coverage the powers that be always seem to deny it.
If you want the younger generation to stick around instead of moving out of the area then you have to keep up with the need to stay connected in this fast paced world. Denying access to modern technologies like cell phones and broad band internet access are a sure fire way to alienate younger people and push them in the direction of leaving for a place that offers them these services.
Just recently the town of Oneonta denied Verizon a request to install a new cell phone tower near the Soccer Hall of fame. This area has terrible cell coverage and the new tower would have been a welcome addition to cell phone users who either live in the area or are visiting, especially that the Soccer Hall of Fame is a tourist attraction. But the powers that be determined that the cell tower would “hurt the skyline”. So they inconvenienced so many people to avoid the sight of a tower. I have seen many towers disguised as large trees, they provide service and keep the skyline intact, but town officials still refused the idea without even considering a compromise.
Until officials come to understand that it is not a bad thing to enter the modern world and encourage telecommunication companies to expand both cell phone and broad band Internet into their communities younger people who thrive on them will continue to move away.
