It's been a while since the last post,
I know. Some things are brewing, others are history. MOSA and
economic development are the hot topics at the moment, and there is
much to come on both fronts. I hope to have more to say about both
soon.
Right now, a lot of effort is being
directed at the November election. Campaigns are being planned,
parties are maneuvering for position, candidates are hitting the
bricks. All 14 County Representatives are up for election, as they
are every two years. As far as I know, I will have no Republican
opponent; someone may choose to run on a third party line.
I've been out on the bricks myself,
collecting signatures on the petition which will allow me to run on
the Democratic ticket. As in the past, I have enjoyed chatting with
those of you whose doors I have knocked on, and I really appreciate
your interest in the process of democratic governing, and in the
issues facing Otsego County specifically.
I needed 34 signatures on my petition
for inclusion on the Democratic ticket; I got over 50, partly because
it's always nice to have more than you need in case you make a
mistake, and partly because I enjoyed getting out and meeting you
again. I'll be out collecting signatures again this month, as I have
been endorsed by Sustainable Otsego, and will be running on their
ticket as well as the Democratic ticket.
Sustainable Otsego (SO) isn't a
political party; it's a grassroots organization dedicated to
sustainable practices in all areas of life. It's been a leader in
the anti-fracking movement in this region. In 2011, SO became
certified to endorse candidates for office, and currently it is
endorsing five County Representative candidates, including myself.
I certainly agree with most of what SO
stands for; I believe that sustainability is the right choice not
only for the environment, but for many other facets of our lives:
economics, food, healthcare, transportation, energy policy, etc. In
addition, a sustainable approach may be absolutely necessary in the
longer term, as climate change and diminishing hydrocarbon reserves
force us into difficult choices.
Speaking of the long term, one of the
things I especially appreciate about SO is that they – actually, we
– have developed a platform for Otsego County candidates to run on.
This puts them out ahead of the Republicans, who have no platform,
and the Democrats, who are working on one. Here it is:
A
TEN POINT PLAN FOR OTSEGO COUNTY
- Support Home Rule to protect our communities and the rural lifestyle of Otsego County.
- Promote farm-to-market agriculture.
- Preserve Otsego County's pure water, our most important asset, for residents, businesses, and agriculture.
- Find low-interest credit for local businesses and homeowners.
- Aim at net zero-energy practices and renewables to save money and reduce greenhouse gases.
- Explore joining scores of other NYS communities who have municipalized their electric grids to lower costs for homeowners and businesses.
- Bring a state-of-the-art broadband internet system to everyone in Otsego County.
- Establish a county-wide sustainable comprehensive plan.
- Ensure that local tax policies do not increase income inequality.
- Support a sustainable Town of Oneonta Southside Municipal Water Project to increase business and tax revenues.
You can read a lot more about SO and
sustainability in general at their website: sustainableotsego.org
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