Policies & Vision
I have seen the same mistakes made by three different administrations.
Public Safety
City problems are County problems. I will seek additional funding from the county to fund joint SPD / Sheriff task force units to address gang and drug activity. My administration will implement neighborhood policing initiatives so that residents and business owners interact with the same officers every time. I will implement policies to maximize police resources putting more cops on the streets and less behind desks. The City will additionally create a trained civilian auxiliary police force that will compliment and support our officers, creating an effective, efficient and budget-friendly solution to public safety.
No Tax Increases
City residents and business owners cannot afford another tax increase of any amount. The current administration and the democrat controlled common council has increased taxes three times in the last six years and it is seeking to raise them again in 2025. The democrats are also seeking to reassess every property in the city with an average expected assessment increase of 70%. I will not raise taxes and will hold off on the implementation of any new assessments until the true budgetary needs of the City are examined and the tax rate is reduced accordingly.
Economic Development
I will create a professional economic development department whose main purpose is to recruit businesses to Syracuse that are looking to relocate.
Small Business
I will make Syracuse the friendliest city to small business in NY. On day one, my administration will examine every fee, license and regulation that negatively affects small business and eliminate every one that is burdensome or unnecessary. City Hall will no longer bully small businesses over petty things.
Smart Development in the Shadow of I-81
It is important that the highly valuable property reclaimed by the demolition of I-81 be used for is highest and best use. Over 50% of the property in the city is currently exempt from property taxes. Development in the reclaimed land should focused on commercial uses that take advantage of the high traffic area to produce increased tax revenue for the City. Tax exempt uses should be discouraged.
Budget
The current administration has increased City expenditures by over 57 million dollars and expects to draw another 27 million dollars from the rainy day fund to cover the current budget deficit. My administration will examine every aspect of the City budget and reduce costs through consolidation of services and through the elimination of wasteful spending.
Transparency
My administration will have full transparency regarding city expenditures and contracts. No more lying to Council, no-bid backdoor bids, or wasted taxpayer money on contracts for nothing, or that produce no results.
City Department of Water
The City should not be in the business of managing this necessary resource. Our outdated infrastructure is plagued by leaking reservoirs, lead pipes, low water pressure and hundreds of annual water main explosions. While at the same time water fees increase annually. Politics and lack of investment is the reason behind our crumbling infrastructure. Water fees are deposited in the general fund and are not reinvested. Water policy is also directed by politics and there is no consistency even within the same administration. We need to get politics out of our water and save money at the same time. OCWA is dedicated solely to providing its customers with a safe, economical and reliable water supply. As Mayor I will pursue every avenue to consolidate our water department with OCWA so that at a lower cost we can receive the same safe and consistent water delivery as our county neighbors.
Columbus Statue
The Statue should remain; it is a City landmark. The Onondagas should be given the opportunity to erect a competing statue on the adjacent park land. Free speech is an important liberty. We should be able to discuss history from different positions without erasing it.