A Fairness Agenda

All of us must rise to the challenge of reversing an approaching climate catastrophe. Change can be difficult, intimidating, and unattractive. But it can also be exciting, beneficial, and financially rewarding. Our changing climate is an opportunity to seize on new ideas and economic strategies for the future.

Changes in weather and season patterns are already upon us. The Village of Homer, guided by young people, has taken steps to become a Bronze-certified Climate Smart Community. As County Legislator, I will view every policy decision through the lens of climate change, understanding that every decision can impact the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the land we occupy. Let’s use our accomplishments in Homer as a vision for countywide Climate Fairness. As County Legislator, I will:

• Lead on drafting a Cortland County Climate Action Plan, with goals for weatherizing homes, implementing renewable energy programs in county buildings, and increasing green transportation options

• Sponsor Climate Smart Community (CSC) initiatives, such as solar panel installations on county buildings, and set a county goal to achieve Silver-level certification by 2027

• Fund Rural Cortland with new statewide investments from the NYS Environmental Bond Act and President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act

Our Central New York economy is changing, and it has much to do with investments in green-energy jobs and technologies. With chip and battery manufacturing blossoming in Syracuse and Binghamton, Cortland County is well-positioned to develop our own green manufacturing industries. Let’s become a statewide leader in Climate Fairness and make smart investments in energy efficiency and sustainability.

One of the most basic functions of any government is to set clear standards for public order and safety. This includes developing policies which prevent bad outcomes long before they occur.

The Village of Homer has already set a high standard, having been rated as one of the top twenty-five safest municipalities in the United States in 2022. A vision of Public Safety Fairness means that our law enforcement professionals can count on our county legislature for creative means of support and intervention. As County Legislator, I will:

• Support workforce development for filling county employment vacancies and retaining workers, including living wages and remote-work/part-time options

• Invest in county mental health services for treating "diseases of despair" (alcoholism, substance abuse, and suicide) as public health emergencies

• Encourage a redesigned Child Protective Services (CPS) featuring the Family Assessment Response (FAR) program, a two-tier pathway to provide families at low-risk for recurring abuse with critical prevention services

What good is public safety if Cortland County does not have the employees to provide public safety services? What good is workforce development and recruitment if we do not invest in new strategies and treatments for pressing mental health needs in our county? A vision of Public Safety Fairness is one where our county legislature positions itself as an active participant, rather than a reactive one. Let’s make Cortland County a little bit more like Homer.

In an era where corporations, millionaires, and billionaires can pump endless sums of money into our political system, healthy democracy begins with strengthening our local institutions. There is much that Cortland County can do, not only with expanding ballot access but also with upgrading policies and procedures within our county government itself.

What if Cortland County had one of the highest voter turnout rates in New York State? What if our county leaders actively worked to bring more people into our political processes? There is much we can do to improve Civic Fairness in Cortland. As County Legislator, I will:

• Enact election integrity by supporting Election Day Poll Workers with hourly wage growth and flexible work shift requirements, and also push for a non-partisan, citizen-led redistricting process

• Support a minimum of 8 early-voting locations, distributed throughout the county so that everyone, including college students and rural communities, can benefit from early voting

• Promote civic participation and awareness in Cortland County with investments in free civics education classes, social media campaigns, and a paid county internship program

Millions of people, including residents of Cortland County, have fought, shed their blood, and died to defend our democracy. As County Legislator, I will encourage all county residents to participate in our political processes and local government institutions. Civic Fairness eliminate the possibility of political corruption before it ever occurs. Let’s upgrade our county legislature to match our twenty-first century needs.