Sad News Y'all :(
This will be my final blog post as the City's Community Development Office intern! It's been an amazing experience that I put my heart into, and I'm disappointed to say goodbye while summer is still fresh.
Just to reiterate: No, I did NOT get fired. I am, however, heading to a second internship at the City of Boston Records Office for the next 6 months, where I will learn how we can improve our local systems and differentiate Plattsburgh further from other cities!
Working with the Community Development Office and Planning Department has been incredible. The staff behind City Hall are kind, hardworking people who truly drive our community's initiatives forward. I appreciate every friendly interaction and patient explanation when things didn't make sense. Take care of these folks—without them, we'd have nothing.
I'm proud of what we accomplished together: a Youth Council program, Business Development Directory Initiative, and landscape clean-up initiative are all in the works. I updated the city's social media across Instagram, Facebook, this blog, Linktree, TikTok, and Pinterest. We began implementing a comprehensive online filing system for Zoning & Planning, created Planning Board Review applications/presentations, and continued emphasizing the new zoning initiative for Plattsburgh's growth and stability. I even donated office resources and furniture to create a community seating area on the second floor (check it out at City Hall, Floor 2!). Can you believe there's still more I wanted to accomplish?
I share all this not to boast, but to show what's possible when someone gets involved—and YOU can do this, too! Plattsburgh's growth requires all of us—every member of this community. Whether volunteering at city events, helping neighbors with gardens or housing, creating events, or advocating at city council—every step counts toward making Plattsburgh a more well-rounded, peaceful place to grow up and prosper. If your mind says you can't, I promise you that it's WRONG. Try reaching out to us at Community Development to get started—it can go a long way!
If we remember this, Plattsburgh will continue growing positively despite everything that plagues us and the world.
I hope to return with a fresh perspective after graduating in May '26. I genuinely love being a local friend, developer, and supporter of our community. My vision? A Plattsburgh Public Transit System, a downtown boardwalk filled with people, more waterfront development, diverse business initiatives filling vacant buildings, safe and designated bike lanes—the list goes on forever. Beyond this though, I want local students to have conveniently accessible resources and explore any path they choose. I want everyone to feel Plattsburgh is home where they're welcomed with open arms. I want our youth to take pride in Plattsburgh, so when people hear our city's name, they recognize it with excitement.
When we come together as a community, Plattsburgh flourishes—but when we fight against growth or deny opportunities for progress, we create an environment that prevents everyone from feeling welcomed, let alone flourish as their best selves here. Let's keep giving to Plattsburgh and doing our jobs as citizens and leaders to move our city forward, not hold it back.
"You get what you give" always holds true.
Until I'm back, I wish you all the best. I have no doubts Plattsburgh will only go up from here :)
See you soon!
Sincerely,
Nathaniel Sarnow
City of Plattsburgh Community Development Intern
