WARD 6 

I have been asked two questions more than any others: "Why are you running for City Council" and more often: "Why now?"  It’s common to hear from new candidates that they run because they don't like the direction we are heading. They have a lot of concerns about leadership and the decisions they make.

 

I'm running for City Council because I'm proud of Plattsburgh. I am proud of our history and the challenges we've faced.  I have been a moderator for the Strictly Business Forum for many years and have heard countless business and community leaders talk about their struggles and subsequently, how they have thrived despite difficult times.  Not a year goes by that we don’t hear a reference to the base closure and how PARC rose to the occasion. Recently we’ve heard about how our region struggled through Covid, but these same struggles were met with determination, new ideas, new partnerships, and a community that is committed to helping each other get there from here.

 

I have collaborated with our politicians and city leadership on important issues like recreation, accessibility and public transportation.  For over 20 years I have seen how hard they have worked to make Plattsburgh better.  Is our city perfect? None are. 

 

I'm running now because Plattsburgh is primed for growth and opportunity.  We have good people living in our Wards who are smart and thoughtful and who want to see our city thrive. "People" is my strong suite, and I can help bring our Ward's views to the table. Yes. That means you. I’ve knocked on many of your doors and I hope to knock on many more. I am optimistic about our future and I’m running now because I want to be part of it.

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Side Note:

St. Paulie Girl,

The weather is getting nice. Please don’t escape from your house and fly into the trees. It’s upsetting to your mother.

Like so many places across the nation, Plattsburgh’s evolution into an accessible, inclusive community has been a slow and arduous process. It’s been a long and rutted road (as anyone who has a disability can tell you), and there are many, many miles in front of us.

 

As someone who works with people who have disabilities, I can tell you that the City of Plattsburgh has made efforts to improve accessibility. I recall a specific White Cane Awareness Day where City leadership agreed to have their vision occluded and then were asked to walk the sidewalks of downtown. They were challenged with the traffic signals, curb cuts, crowded sidewalks, and made aware of traffic laws around blindness.  This event preceded a City Council meeting where decisions were made regarding fines for residents not clearing their sidewalks in the winter.  Perfect timing.

 

The City Development Office has worked with agencies such as the North Country Center for Independence and ARC to help guide decisions and make improvements.  They have been at the table when discussions about how to improve public transportation and access to such have taken place.  The City partnered with the Sunrise Rotary Club and NCCI to make the city beach more accessible, and many of Plattsburgh’s events such as city parades now incorporate spaces that are sensory inclusive.  The fact that inclusion and accessibility are on the agenda and talked about regularly inspires hope. The City needs and wants to do more and it’s up to all of us to keep pushing for progress.

 

Change is slow. We celebrate the wins but must not lose sight of the many places we can and should continue to push for progress.

Recreation in the city has changed dramatically in the last 10 years.  The elimination of the Recreation Department in 2017, closure of the Rec Center on the Oval during COVID, and recent removal of the Crete Center have been hotly contested.  Whether one agrees or disagrees with the decision, when changes are made, it opens the door for new opportunities. Those decisions  saved the City money and changed what recreation looks like for city residents. 

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Obviously ,we all want our children to have opportunities to engage in sports and outdoor activities, and the City has a responsibility to families to see that they exist. If the City can do it in a way that cuts costs, builds partnerships and gives every child a chance to play for free, why wouldn't they?  

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The City closed the building on the Oval during Covid and when residents begged to have it back, they partnered with the YMCA to do that. The Y has a model that works. They are experts at operating fitness programs and were already running successful programming. The savings to the City with the YMCA taking on the administrative overhead that used to be the City Recreation Department has added value.  To this day, when the venture makes money, the two entities share it. It's a three-way win. The City saves, the Y increases programming, and kids have free access to sports. 

 

The City still pays for recreation and they are doing it in a way has strengthened partnerships and engaged more kids than ever.  Plattsburgh may benefit from a Rec Department, but the bigger question is what does that department need to look like?  What does recreation mean to residents and families and how can the city hit the mark? I hope the City does it by continuing to develop the kinds of partnerships that bring low cost, quality opportunities to Plattsburgh.