I am committed to:

Protecting our parks
Green space is critical to our quality of life.  It provides play areas for our children, gathering space for our neighborhoods, beauty in an urban landscape and cleans our air.

Promoting fiscal responsibility
Finding departmental efficiencies are a first step in bridging a budget gap. When re-organizations and cuts are done right, they are well researched and analyzed; public input is requested and weighs heavily in the decision-making process. As I work on the budget this year, I will keep in mind the bigger picture - making smart decisions today that preserve our quality of life and promote a prosperous future.

Transparency of Government
The process of governing must be clear to the public and open to comment.  Pushing through legislation without due comment by the public is unacceptable.

Working across party lines
I will support good legislation and good ideas regardless of party affiliation. That is part of good government.  I am committed to good governing in Monroe County because it is essential for the county to prosper.

Promoting economic development
Economic development is particularly critical in the city and “inner-ring” suburbs, like Gates, Greece and Irondequoit, because the lack of open space, high building density and soil contamination makes ready-to-build land scarce -- unlike the open fields and vulnerable forests of other towns.  The aggressive targeting of grant funds to ease the financial burden of re-using buildings and cleaning up environmental contamination is important in showing businesses that locating and growing in the city and surrounding towns is not just possible, but desirable.   As our large corporations re-organize and downsize, I will work to support a burgeoning high-tech and bio-tech industry. We can continue to be top exporters and patent makers in the nation.

High quality, accessible education
I believe that Monroe Community College is an important educational resource for our community.  It is key to keeping higher education accessible and affordable to a broad range of people.  I will work to ensure the county’s continued support of MCC.Library system
For the last five years, our library system has suffered from flat funding.  The county has failed to keep up with inflationary increases, resulting in fewer hours of operation, fewer librarians and service cuts. The library provides more than just books. It is a central resource to the community. The library helps job seekers, trains people on computers, hosts free community forums on a wide range of issues and helps kids with homework. This is just a small sampling of the numerous important services the Monroe County Library system provides. I will not stand by as this pillar of our community is weakened.

Hot topics

Seneca Park Zoo expansion
I firmly believe that Seneca Park must not be altered by a zoo expansion. I will not support any design that destroys the secluded feel of the lower park or impacts the Trout Pond.
Our majestic Frederick Law Olmstead parks must be cherished and protected. I am an active participant in the zoo planning and will work to ensure that the beauty of Seneca Park remains for our children.

Renaissance Center
I will be actively involved in the Renaissance Center as the project moves forward. It is critical that this multi-use facility be a welcoming portal, integrated with the streetscape and pedestrian friendly. Let’s use this influx of federal and state money to enhance the entire area and create a development catalyst for Midtown and Sibley’s. Whether or not you support the creation of the bus terminal and Renaissance Center, the funding is in place and the project is definitely moving forward. Now it is time to help define what we put in the heart of Center City.

Human Services
I will investigate how the newly created Human Services Department is working.  It is important that the needs of Medicaid recipients are met in an efficient, forthright manner, so they can get the help they need to make positive change in their lives. Only by identifying what works and what needs to be changed can we provide the social safety net that is the county’s legal responsibility to provide. 
Any study of the Human Services Department must include what the impact is on the county workers providing services is now that caseloads are larger and managed differently, and whether people are leaving the system by graduating to self sufficiency or dropping out because the system is too difficult and time consuming to navigate.

Medicaid
As the arguments about increasing Medicaid costs and un-funded mandates from Albany continue, I will keep an eye to health care reform.  Certainly, the ever increasing cost of Medicaid is symptomatic of problems within the healthcare industry.  I will work with fellow County Legislators and our State delegation to find solutions to the problem of escalating costs, with the goal of long term changes that improve the way the State and County offer services to people in need.