That said, I think there are political barriers to cooperation between the two villages. It’s further complicated by the fact that SL exists on the border between two counties – Franklin and Essex.

Your suggestion about co-marketing both places has some precedent. The SL Chamber currently represents businesses in both places, but their activity has recently come under some criticism. I also don’t think the folks in LP – citizens and marketers, care much about the fate of SL. They have their thing and have little motivation to include SL (unless there was $$ to be gained, SL contributes little to the promotional tax-base).

SL does present an interesting branding challenge. I don’t think locals there agree on what they should be – that’s a first-step. Mayor Rabideau (former Mayor of Plattsburgh) seems to have some ideas, but his management style does not engender much passion or buy-in.

In terms of your question about the SL brand, it certainly has been built up as an artist’s mecca over the last few years in various Tweets and articles about all the galleries and events there. In terms of a larger marketing strategy, might I suggest something out of the box?

Maybe market SL with LP as a kind of a Twin Cities of the ADKs. I believe St. Paul markets itself as a hipper/artier counterpoint to Minneapolis and perhaps people will want to spend time in both towns instead of just one or will gravitate to SL as a “Woodstock” of the ADKs. If those are good ideas, maybe they should hire me to do the marketing !

It wasn’t long ago that it was voted “All American City”

There is so much potential lost in SL.  What to do? Image is so important – for tourism, business development, quality of life, and most importantly civic pride.  Someone must care about the Saranac Lake brand.  Who should lead the way?