Alfred mayor highlights how he addresses economic challenges

Today on In Focus, Alfred Mayor Jim Ninos highlights how he addresses economic challenges for the village.

Ninos explains how the village is a college town with the highest student resident ratio in the U.S. and faces significant economic challenges due to its high student population. He shares how with 85% of residents under 20, the village is tax-exempt, straining the local budget and raising tax rates. Mayor Ninos notes how despite this, the village is working on revitalizing Main Street with a New York Forward grant and plans to create more business and residential spaces.

He also details how the village is known for its ceramics industry and aims to expand its cultural identity. Mayor Ninos emphasizes the efforts underway to involve students more actively in the community to alleviate tax burdens on residents.

You can watch the full interview above. And be sure to tune in for a look inside the biggest issues impacting upstate New York, on In Focus with JoDee Kenney — every Sunday on Spectrum News 1.