Town of Rochester 2017 Voter Guide

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Vote Tuesday, November 7

2017 ROCHESTER VOTING GUIDE

Growth & leadership with

Rochester’s Democrats Everyone is aware of the great divide between Republicans and Democrats in Washington. It has polarized our country and made it difficult to agree what our nation’s problems are, let alone how to solve them.

www.rochesterdemocrats.org

Elect forward-thinking community leaders We believe that local government exists to serve local people. We are committed to a collaborative process of open government that gives voice to everyone in the community. SMART BUDGETING Hold the line on taxes. We will start every budget from scratch and re-evaluate each line that we’re spending.

Ulster Legislature candidate Lynn Archer discusses Long Season Farm’s recent expansion with owner Samuel Zurofsky.

THE BIG ISSUE IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY IS JOB CREATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT In our community, we’ve been overcoming this divide. Our biggest issues are job creation and economic development. We hear stories of many of our town’s young adults— on whom our future depends— leaving our community to find jobs. The economic opportunity that would enable them to stay and raise their families in Rochester has been lacking. Democrats in our town government have worked with their Republican counterparts over the past dozen

years to develop and implement plans to provide job creation in our community. These workable and pragmatic solutions are the result of listening and talking rather than yelling and screaming. With this election, we hope to continue the cooperative process that we started in 2003. Since the late 1980s, our region suffered a devastating elimination of high-paying jobs from large employers like IBM, Schrade and other manufacturers, as well as the many jobs offered by the former tourist resorts. Most recently 100 more jobs were lost by the closing of Pine Grove Resort. No large employers have stepped in to replace all these jobs. But we have seen an uptick in the creation of smaller scale businesses in the past eight years. The model has been a simple one: develop zoning codes that encourage business development and also protect residential user rights. Such code changes, and the new

businesses that have resulted, provide visitors to our community a chance to see a vibrant new economy and an attractive township. They decide to move here and when they come, they bring their economic capital and bank of good ideas to make a life for themselves, their families, and the many people they employ. They become active in our school system, religious and cultural institutions. They use the wide range of products and services our community offers, attracting yet more visitors to follow the model. Examples of farms created in this way are Arrowood, Long Season, Hollengold and SustainAbility Farms, Westwind Cidery and NorthEast Farm Access, which specializes in niche farming. Businesses include the Hudson Valley Seed Company, Country Wisdom News, and Catskill Native Nursery. And, of course, our tourists need safe Airbnbs and other accommodations when they first visit.

ECONOMIC GROWTH Encourage small businesses & entrepreneurs and support local farms & tourism. We believe local government and private businesses can work together to create economic opportunities to help our community grow and prosper. IMPROVED COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE Expand broadband, cable, and cell service. We want all of our residents to be connected to the world and to have lasting opportunities to work and learn. SUPPORT SENIORS & YOUTH Help our seniors age in their homes and support educational and recreational opportunities for our young townspeople. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS Sensible policies ensure safety, privacy, clean air and water for our citizens, while allowing the freedoms and independence we all value.

Continued on page 2 Town of Rochester Democrats P.O. Box 373 Accord, NY 12404

Kate Gundberg Clerk

Paul Shaheen Justice

Chris Hewitt Council

Tony Spano Highway Lynn Archer Legislator

Bea Haugen-Depuy Council Mike Baden Supervisor

Our candidates are good eggs. Vote Row A all the way!

Postal Patron

Presorted Standard U.S. Postage Paid Kingston, NY Ulster County Dem Committee Permit No. 72


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