Friends,
I have attended 2 of 5 candidate forums during this Village NP election season and feel that New Paltz is blessed with a wealth of qualified candidates.
I will be voting for Sally Rhoads, Ariana Basco and Stewart Glenn for Village Trustee.
Sally has served our Village so well in so many different capacities over the years, that she can be counted on to bring reason and vision to the table. Sally is an advocate who is able to compromise - a rare combination. Having watch Ariana work on the Police Commission, I have been impressed by the tough questions that she has asked and for not backing down when challenged. She's is smart and tough. Stewart Glenn has been involved in local governments for years - just not in New Paltz. We could use his experience in law, government and business on the Village board.
I will not be endorsing Mayoral candidates - some friends running against each other.
I WILL say that the anti West election eve attack post card that I received in today's mail - with info too late to refute - was one of the more cowardly and sleazy things I have seen in a local election in a while. That tactic - employed successfully by bigot US Senator Jesse Helms - shows that one of the other candidates for NP Mayor is unfit to hold the office. What a low blow .....
Whomever you choose to vote for, please come out and fulfill your responsibility to our democracy.
Regards,
Don Kerr
Monday, May 2, 2011
Sunday, May 1, 2011
What You Can Do To Help Get Ariana Elected!
* Tell your friends you support Ariana Basco for Village Board and encourage them to vote for her too!
* Host a gathering in order to inform your friends about the importance of voting for Ariana Basco!
* Send emails to your friends about the importance of voting for Ariana Basco!
* "Like" the Facebook group and recommend it to your friends!
* Put up a lawn sign. Email arianafornpvb@gmail.com to get one.
* Drive your friends or walk with them to vote on Tuesday 5/3 at the Village Fire House from 12-9
* VOTE on 5/3 for Ariana Basco Tuesday 5/3 at the Village Fire House from 12-9
* Host a gathering in order to inform your friends about the importance of voting for Ariana Basco!
* Send emails to your friends about the importance of voting for Ariana Basco!
* "Like" the Facebook group and recommend it to your friends!
* Put up a lawn sign. Email arianafornpvb@gmail.com to get one.
* Drive your friends or walk with them to vote on Tuesday 5/3 at the Village Fire House from 12-9
* VOTE on 5/3 for Ariana Basco Tuesday 5/3 at the Village Fire House from 12-9
KT Tobin's Letter to the Editor - Ariana Basco for Village Board
I first met Ariana Basco when she was the Project Coordinator and Community Outreach Director for the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG). It was easy for me to see why NYPIRG hired her, she has the personality and organizational skills needed to motivate people and accomplish goals.
For the past two years, I have worked with Ariana on the SUNY New Paltz Environmental Task Force (ETF) and have been continually impressed by her energy and ability to get things done. Under her leadership as co-chair, the task force has been a positive force for change. And during her tenure, our volunteer numbers have grown -- I believe, due the success of ETF projects, the group’s growing presence on campus and in the community and Ariana’s positive leadership.
When Ariana sought a position on the Town Police Commission after a few young women were attacked in our community, I was again impressed by her ability to step up when it came to tough issues that needed attention. Her service on the commission was exemplary. She prepared well, completed research with care, deftly scrutinized the budget and fought hard against the proposals for police officers to have stun guns. She showed she has the strength and integrity to fight for what she believes in, with information, intelligence and collegiality. After years of deadlock and negativity, Ariana is exactly the type of person we need on our Village Board.
Please join me in voting for Ariana Basco -- Positive Party on ROW A -- for Village Board on May 3, noon to 9 p.m. at the Village Fire House.
KT Tobin
New Paltz
For the past two years, I have worked with Ariana on the SUNY New Paltz Environmental Task Force (ETF) and have been continually impressed by her energy and ability to get things done. Under her leadership as co-chair, the task force has been a positive force for change. And during her tenure, our volunteer numbers have grown -- I believe, due the success of ETF projects, the group’s growing presence on campus and in the community and Ariana’s positive leadership.
When Ariana sought a position on the Town Police Commission after a few young women were attacked in our community, I was again impressed by her ability to step up when it came to tough issues that needed attention. Her service on the commission was exemplary. She prepared well, completed research with care, deftly scrutinized the budget and fought hard against the proposals for police officers to have stun guns. She showed she has the strength and integrity to fight for what she believes in, with information, intelligence and collegiality. After years of deadlock and negativity, Ariana is exactly the type of person we need on our Village Board.
Please join me in voting for Ariana Basco -- Positive Party on ROW A -- for Village Board on May 3, noon to 9 p.m. at the Village Fire House.
KT Tobin
New Paltz
Mark Portier's Letter to the Editor: A Vote for Ariana Basco
I served on the Village Board of Trustees for a one-year interim term as an appointee during 2007-08, just before the collapse of the US financial and housing markets. Back then, the biggest item on our agenda was how to prioritize the $10 million in State funding for improvements to our local transportation systems. Though it was only three years ago, that seems a different economic era.
During my year on the Village Board, I sat next to Jean Gallucci. I already knew how exceptional Jean is. Before being elected village trustee, Jean had served as both our village clerk and treasurer for more than five years, somehow managing to excel at these two demanding full-time positions at once. As Jean’s colleague on the Board of Trustees, I learned that beyond having an exemplary work ethic and peerless institutional knowledge, Jean Gallucci is very smart, but humble, rigorously principled, but open-minded and
a pure pleasure to work with at all times.
As clerk/treasurer, trustee and deputy mayor, Jean Gallucci has been the fiscal backbone of our village for many years now. Jean Gallucci is keenly qualified to serve as our mayor. Like most progressive people who live here, I’m willing to put my wallet behind better schools, libraries, parks and public works. Let’s draft those plans -- and elect Jean -- to steady our village through these hard economic times, to keep us solvent and make us stronger, for that brighter tomorrow.
Regarding the village trustee race, the candidates’ demonstrable ability to work well with others -- especially those they’re in disagreement with -- has helped guide my vote. As we have seen here locally too many times, incendiary rhetoric hurts the political process. Willful acrimony kills it. Among the most formidably qualified trustee candidates running, I believe that Ariana Basco and Stewart Glenn are the most temperamentally suited to govern. Ariana Basco and Stewart Glenn will help comprise a strong, diverse,
capable, affable, approachable board of trustees around Jean Gallucci.
Finally, as someone who has served very briefly but chose not to endure the electoral process, I’d like to extend my gratitude and profound respect to every candidate running. You each make me proud to live here. We’re very lucky to have you.
Mark Portier
New Paltz
During my year on the Village Board, I sat next to Jean Gallucci. I already knew how exceptional Jean is. Before being elected village trustee, Jean had served as both our village clerk and treasurer for more than five years, somehow managing to excel at these two demanding full-time positions at once. As Jean’s colleague on the Board of Trustees, I learned that beyond having an exemplary work ethic and peerless institutional knowledge, Jean Gallucci is very smart, but humble, rigorously principled, but open-minded and
a pure pleasure to work with at all times.
As clerk/treasurer, trustee and deputy mayor, Jean Gallucci has been the fiscal backbone of our village for many years now. Jean Gallucci is keenly qualified to serve as our mayor. Like most progressive people who live here, I’m willing to put my wallet behind better schools, libraries, parks and public works. Let’s draft those plans -- and elect Jean -- to steady our village through these hard economic times, to keep us solvent and make us stronger, for that brighter tomorrow.
Regarding the village trustee race, the candidates’ demonstrable ability to work well with others -- especially those they’re in disagreement with -- has helped guide my vote. As we have seen here locally too many times, incendiary rhetoric hurts the political process. Willful acrimony kills it. Among the most formidably qualified trustee candidates running, I believe that Ariana Basco and Stewart Glenn are the most temperamentally suited to govern. Ariana Basco and Stewart Glenn will help comprise a strong, diverse,
capable, affable, approachable board of trustees around Jean Gallucci.
Finally, as someone who has served very briefly but chose not to endure the electoral process, I’d like to extend my gratitude and profound respect to every candidate running. You each make me proud to live here. We’re very lucky to have you.
Mark Portier
New Paltz
Amanda Sisensteind's Endorsement: My thoughts on the village elections
I have been a resident of the Village of New Paltz for 11 years. I am on the Tenant Landlord Relations Council and the Community Advisory Committee of the Government Efficiency and Effectiveness Project. I am also involved in other community groups such as the Climate Action Coalition, the SUNY New Paltz Environmental Task Force. I am concerned about the results of the upcoming village elections. It is very important that we have the right person for mayor and the right people on the board of trustees. For these reasons I am sharing my opinions on some of the candidates.
I admire the candidates that I support for staying positive in their campaigns and not being negative towards their opposition. I in my many experiences in politics from local to the federal level also prefer to stay positive. However the truth is not always positive, and although I am doing my best to not be negative, I want people to know what is really going on.
The Mayor and the Board spend the majority of their time dealing with sewers, water, treatment and other infrastructural issues. However there are also important quality of life issues that the Village government also should address, such as environmental issues, tenant landlord issues, and socio-economic issues.
I am supporting Jason West for mayor. Please be aware that I voted for Jason when he first ran for mayor, but I did not vote for him when he ran for a 2nd term. He has learned much from his experiences (including losing his second election. I believe in his ability to do this job well and improve and protect the Village of New Paltz and it will be significantly more transparent, and more accessible to village residents than it has been in recent years.
Two of the candidates for Mayor, John Cohen and Pete Healey, although they are good people and have done much for the community, are not right for mayor. Their agendas are too narrowly focused while their specific ideas are too vague and underdeveloped. They simply lack the logistical skills necessary for the job.
Jean Gallucci, has a lot of experience with the village government, and I would like to see her remain on the village government, although not as mayor. I think she and Jason would work well together on the board, unfortunately this is not possible right now with this election. I am also worried that Jean becoming mayor may steer the village in the same direction that Terry Dungan has led it.
Ariana Bosco is my first choice for village trustee. I have worked with her on many issues and projects. She as the passion, intelligence, energy, and motivation that the village board needs. She cares deeply about this community and wants to protect whats great about it and make improvements where they are needed. She works constructively with and finds common ground with everyone. She will bring this same ethic to the board with whoever else ends up on the board.
There are only two people running for the two year position on the Village Board, Shari Osbourne and Stewart Glenn. I am supporting Shari Osbourne. She has years of experience on the Village Board. Stewart’s agenda is far too narrow. He and most of the others on Row B are narrowly focused on village consolidation and do not have much to say on other issues.
They believe that consolidation will fix all of the villages problems which they have made clear through their campaigns and in the debates and forums. Even if consolidation is the best option for our community, it will not solve even most of our problems.
I am not against consolidation as a potential option, but I and many others on the Community Advisory Committee are feel there is much more research to be done and many more questions to be answered before jumping to the coterminous consolidation. It should also be clear that before coterminous consolidation can happen an identical plan must pass the village and the town governments and then go to a town and village wide referendum. So this isn’t a matter of the village or town government voting and consolidating the two governments.
The consultants who have been hired to conduct this study have said as of April 25th that they do not know yet if coterminous consolidation would be best for our community and that although it may improve efficiency, this does not mean savings. This does not mean lowered taxes. In fact they stated that any savings, if there are any, will be marginal. Consolidation also has costs along with it. Especially in the first few years of consolidation. Some of these costs could be offset if we are able to obtain grants for this purpose. However we do not know yet, whether the costs and efforts of consolidation will be worth the potential benefits.
Those in support of consolidation are throwing around statements that indicate that there will be savings resulting from consolidation. Coterminous does not mean lower taxes. And even if it does lower taxes, it does not mean the savings will be significant and worth the costs of consolidation.
With that being said, Sally Rhodes is another people who has done a lot for our community. She has done a lot for the Elting Memorial Library for example. However her latest pursuits I believe are narrowly focused and not what is best for the entire village community.
She has pushed aggressively for the noise ordinance that according to me and many others including people currently on the village board, needs more revision. She is also aggressively in support of coterminous consolidation, although she is on the steering committee for the Government Efficiently and Effectiveness Project.
As I said earlier the consultants who are conducting this study said they are not able to say at this point in the study that a coterminous village and town government is best for our community. This in my opinion is a conflict of interest that she has already come to this conclusion when she is on the board who is supposed to be guiding the objective study.
Sally Rhodes has also acted quite uncivilly towards people active in the community who have spoken publicly against the noise ordinance and coterminous consolidation of the town and village governments when the cameras are off and the public is not looking.
Although I do not claim that it is intentional, but the things she is pushing benefit a very small percentage of village residents while being potentially detrimental to the majority of village residents.
I urge you to vote for Jason West, Ariana Bosco, and Shari Osbourne. These candidates will represent the entire population of New Paltz, have all of the relevant issues in mind and do not have specific, one or two issue agendas. They will represent us all in a well-rounded way.
These candidates will represent students, post-graduates, non-student single adults residents of all ages, people raising families, senior citizens, working families, and those from every socio economic status.
Also I would like you to ask yourself why is the one community (one government party as they have said themselves) on row B such a large slate? Is it perhaps because none of the candidates are strong enough to stand alone and run on their own?
I am not against the entire row B slate. And aside from the three that I mentioned I have not made my decision on the third trustee yet but I am leanging towards Emily Crocetti, Rick Bunt, or Martin Sherow.
If you have not already please watch the candidate forum http://www.newpaltzliving.com/
This is the most comprehensive coverage of the candidates. Thanks to the chamber of commerce for organizing it.
Amanda Sisenstein
Feel free to share this if you share my thoughts on the village elections.
I admire the candidates that I support for staying positive in their campaigns and not being negative towards their opposition. I in my many experiences in politics from local to the federal level also prefer to stay positive. However the truth is not always positive, and although I am doing my best to not be negative, I want people to know what is really going on.
The Mayor and the Board spend the majority of their time dealing with sewers, water, treatment and other infrastructural issues. However there are also important quality of life issues that the Village government also should address, such as environmental issues, tenant landlord issues, and socio-economic issues.
I am supporting Jason West for mayor. Please be aware that I voted for Jason when he first ran for mayor, but I did not vote for him when he ran for a 2nd term. He has learned much from his experiences (including losing his second election. I believe in his ability to do this job well and improve and protect the Village of New Paltz and it will be significantly more transparent, and more accessible to village residents than it has been in recent years.
Two of the candidates for Mayor, John Cohen and Pete Healey, although they are good people and have done much for the community, are not right for mayor. Their agendas are too narrowly focused while their specific ideas are too vague and underdeveloped. They simply lack the logistical skills necessary for the job.
Jean Gallucci, has a lot of experience with the village government, and I would like to see her remain on the village government, although not as mayor. I think she and Jason would work well together on the board, unfortunately this is not possible right now with this election. I am also worried that Jean becoming mayor may steer the village in the same direction that Terry Dungan has led it.
Ariana Bosco is my first choice for village trustee. I have worked with her on many issues and projects. She as the passion, intelligence, energy, and motivation that the village board needs. She cares deeply about this community and wants to protect whats great about it and make improvements where they are needed. She works constructively with and finds common ground with everyone. She will bring this same ethic to the board with whoever else ends up on the board.
There are only two people running for the two year position on the Village Board, Shari Osbourne and Stewart Glenn. I am supporting Shari Osbourne. She has years of experience on the Village Board. Stewart’s agenda is far too narrow. He and most of the others on Row B are narrowly focused on village consolidation and do not have much to say on other issues.
They believe that consolidation will fix all of the villages problems which they have made clear through their campaigns and in the debates and forums. Even if consolidation is the best option for our community, it will not solve even most of our problems.
I am not against consolidation as a potential option, but I and many others on the Community Advisory Committee are feel there is much more research to be done and many more questions to be answered before jumping to the coterminous consolidation. It should also be clear that before coterminous consolidation can happen an identical plan must pass the village and the town governments and then go to a town and village wide referendum. So this isn’t a matter of the village or town government voting and consolidating the two governments.
The consultants who have been hired to conduct this study have said as of April 25th that they do not know yet if coterminous consolidation would be best for our community and that although it may improve efficiency, this does not mean savings. This does not mean lowered taxes. In fact they stated that any savings, if there are any, will be marginal. Consolidation also has costs along with it. Especially in the first few years of consolidation. Some of these costs could be offset if we are able to obtain grants for this purpose. However we do not know yet, whether the costs and efforts of consolidation will be worth the potential benefits.
Those in support of consolidation are throwing around statements that indicate that there will be savings resulting from consolidation. Coterminous does not mean lower taxes. And even if it does lower taxes, it does not mean the savings will be significant and worth the costs of consolidation.
With that being said, Sally Rhodes is another people who has done a lot for our community. She has done a lot for the Elting Memorial Library for example. However her latest pursuits I believe are narrowly focused and not what is best for the entire village community.
She has pushed aggressively for the noise ordinance that according to me and many others including people currently on the village board, needs more revision. She is also aggressively in support of coterminous consolidation, although she is on the steering committee for the Government Efficiently and Effectiveness Project.
As I said earlier the consultants who are conducting this study said they are not able to say at this point in the study that a coterminous village and town government is best for our community. This in my opinion is a conflict of interest that she has already come to this conclusion when she is on the board who is supposed to be guiding the objective study.
Sally Rhodes has also acted quite uncivilly towards people active in the community who have spoken publicly against the noise ordinance and coterminous consolidation of the town and village governments when the cameras are off and the public is not looking.
Although I do not claim that it is intentional, but the things she is pushing benefit a very small percentage of village residents while being potentially detrimental to the majority of village residents.
I urge you to vote for Jason West, Ariana Bosco, and Shari Osbourne. These candidates will represent the entire population of New Paltz, have all of the relevant issues in mind and do not have specific, one or two issue agendas. They will represent us all in a well-rounded way.
These candidates will represent students, post-graduates, non-student single adults residents of all ages, people raising families, senior citizens, working families, and those from every socio economic status.
Also I would like you to ask yourself why is the one community (one government party as they have said themselves) on row B such a large slate? Is it perhaps because none of the candidates are strong enough to stand alone and run on their own?
I am not against the entire row B slate. And aside from the three that I mentioned I have not made my decision on the third trustee yet but I am leanging towards Emily Crocetti, Rick Bunt, or Martin Sherow.
If you have not already please watch the candidate forum http://www.newpaltzliving.com/
This is the most comprehensive coverage of the candidates. Thanks to the chamber of commerce for organizing it.
Amanda Sisenstein
Feel free to share this if you share my thoughts on the village elections.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Alice Andrew's Letter to the Editor - Vote for Jason West and Ariana Basco
We are fortunate to live in a place where the mayoral candidates are all good people; in fact, most of them even have some good ideas worth voting for. But only one, in my view, has some truly exceptional plans for our village and can make them happen: Jason West. I’ve lived in the village for 12 years, and in this period there has only been one time that I’ve witnessed the difference an elected official can make: that was the time West was mayor (from 2003 to 2007). His intelligence, vision and energetic determination are what is needed in New Paltz, now more than ever. On May 3, I’ll be voting for him, as well as for Ariana Basco for Village Trustee. I’ve been following her career in our community since she was my psychology student seven years ago, and I couldn’t be more proud of her many talents and virtues as an activist and community leader.
Alice Andrews
New Paltz
Alice Andrews
New Paltz
Matthew Flusser's Letter to the Editor - Vote for Ariana Basco for Positive Change
As a community volunteer, parent and homeowner in the village, I am very happy that Ariana Basco is running for village trustee. In the past few years I have known and worked with Ariana on campus and on issues affecting our village. I have been very impressed with her positive professionalism. Ariana takes a fresh look at environmental and sustainability issues. We worked side by side in order to get more local food on campus. It was not easy and there is more work to do, but we did it together and met goals that many thought were impossible even just a year ago.
Ariana has served on our town police commission. She does not shy away from things just because it can be a hard road to accomplish them. She perseveres and makes a plan and sticks with it to the end. I think we are in a time where we need new ideas and that means fresh eyes and sometimes hard answers so that we can make positive change for our future. The old guard always says, “Now is not the time.” This is the wrong way to be. We have to say, “Now is the time, let’s do it a new way, the right way for the good of our community, state, country and planet!” The time to start change is now and Ariana Basco is someone who can help us start the process of change for our village now. Please join me in voting for Ariana Basco, Positive Party, on May 3.
Matthew Flusser
New Paltz
Ariana has served on our town police commission. She does not shy away from things just because it can be a hard road to accomplish them. She perseveres and makes a plan and sticks with it to the end. I think we are in a time where we need new ideas and that means fresh eyes and sometimes hard answers so that we can make positive change for our future. The old guard always says, “Now is not the time.” This is the wrong way to be. We have to say, “Now is the time, let’s do it a new way, the right way for the good of our community, state, country and planet!” The time to start change is now and Ariana Basco is someone who can help us start the process of change for our village now. Please join me in voting for Ariana Basco, Positive Party, on May 3.
Matthew Flusser
New Paltz
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
What You Can Do To Help Get Ariana Elected
* Write a letter to the editor in support of Ariana to the New Paltz Times at newpaltztimes@ulsterpublishing.com
* Write a letter to the editor in support of Ariana to the New Paltz Oracle at oracle@newpaltz.edu
* Host a gathering in order to inform your friends about the importance of voting for Ariana Basco!
* Send emails to your friends about the importance of voting for Ariana Basco!
* "Like" the Facebook group and recommend it to your friends!
* Attend and encourage your friends to attend the remaining debates and forums:
Monday 4/25 7pm Chamber of Commerce Debate @ Deyo Hall on Broadhead in the village
Wednesday 4/27 6pm Main Course Meet-and-Greet with all candidates, hosted by Butch Dener
* Put up a lawn sign. Email arianafornpvb@gmail.com to get one.
* Drive your friends or walk with them to vote on Tuesday 5/3 at the Village Fire House from 12-9
* VOTE on 5/3 for Ariana Basco Tuesday 5/3 at the Village Fire House from 12-9
The 36 Main Fundraiser
Melissa and Haden sing for the crowd at 36 Main supporting Ariana Basco for Village Board!
Mark Portier STRONGLY supports Ariana Basco for Village Board!
Ari! Ari! Ari!
The Oracle: Candidates Debate Village Issues
Candidates Debate Village Issues
Dwindling volunteerism was one of the topics discussed at the forum at Woodland Pond.
“If you don’t have people that are willing to volunteer their time in a village of 5,000 to 7,000 people, it’s disgusting,” said mayoral candidate Jonathan Cohen to a room of about 100 people. “I believe in volunteerism. I believe that is what’s going to save our village.”
Dwindling volunteerism was one of several topics discussed at the Woodland Pond Candidates’ Forum, the first of several village mayoral and trustee debates planned before Election Day on May 3.
Panelists included mayoral candidates Jonathan Cohen, Jean Galucci, Pete Healey and Jason West, as well as trustee candidates Ariana Basco, Rick Bunt, Amy Cohen, Emily Crocetti, Stewart Glenn, Sally Rhoads, Kip Ruger, Martin Sherow and Shari Osborn.
If elected mayor, Cohen said he plans to fix poor relationships made between the current village board and members of volunteer groups such as the New Paltz Fire Department. To avoid issues caused by spending, he said he would not accept a single penny of the mayor’s salary.
“I am not a career politician,” Cohen said. “I have a business and believe being mayor is a part-time position. Why should I take $40,000 of the village’s money?”
However, other candidates said a part-time mayor would not be able to serve the community adequately.
Former mayor West said, if elected, he would treat the position as nothing less than a full-time job.
“It requires that much work to not only get the basics done…but to do the research, have the meetings and build the organizations and networks to meet the challenges that we’re going to face in the years ahead,” West said.
Amos Sunshine, a village resident for 56 years, said who he votes for will hinge on which candidate can bring about the unity that the village and town have been sorely lacking.
Rather than dealing with serious issues faced by the community, Sunshine said he has noticed power struggles between members of government.
When mayoral candidate Healey arrived in New Paltz 30 years ago to attend SUNY New Paltz, he said he didn’t differentiate between the town and village because it wasn’t something he thought had any effect on him.
But with bickering now crippling the working relationship between board members, Healey said the issue has reached a breaking point.
“The requirements of the new period we’re coming into are to rationalize and simplify government and thereby make it more effective and make it closer to the people,” Healey said. “At one table with one government, maybe there will be twice as many fights. But at the end of the night there will be a resolution.”
Trustee candidate Bunt said over the past decade, taxes in the village have doubled and housing values have dropped. He said this has made living in New Paltz unaffordable for longtime members of the community.
Bunt said his platform focuses on bringing political balance to the village board, as well as finding ways to solve the financial unrest.
“For too long the political pendulum has swung either too far to the right or too far to the left,” Bunt said. “We must look to have balance on the board and strive to develop a sustainable future for our entire community. We need to seek out intelligent solutions to our problems, rather than expensive reactionary laws.”
The next debate between candidates will be held on Friday, April 15 from 7 to 10 p.m. at SlashRoot and will be moderated by SUNY New Paltz alumnus Justin Holmes.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Crowded playing field - Nine people run for three open New Paltz Village Board seats
Ariana Basco moved to New Paltz seven years ago, coming to town to attend SUNY New Paltz in 2004. Since then, she’s worked with the consumer protection and advocacy group NYPIRG as a project coordinator in charge of community outreach.
“That’s how I got involved in politics,” she said.
After leaving that job in 2010, Basco now works as a bartender at Snug Harbor Tavern in New Paltz. For the last few years, she’s also volunteered her time as an appointed member of the town’s Police Commission.
Despite running on her own slate with the Positive Party, Basco is closely associated with former Mayor Jason West and they share many Green Party ideals -- including a similar stance on the proposed village noise ordinance.
In terms of why she wants to become a Village Board member, she said she had caught the political bug in her time in New Paltz.
“Local politics is absolutely my passion,” Basco said. “I see a lot of potential here in New Paltz. We have an opportunity here.”
In her work with the town government on the Police Commission, Basco has gotten to know the inner workings of Town Hall -- that’s an asset she sees as something that could help her mend the relationship between the town and village. “I’m somebody who’s a bridge builder,” she said.
Not only could the town-village relationship be better, but Basco said she’d like to work to repair the relationship between the village and the SUNY New Paltz campus.
When asked what she would bring as a new member of the Village Board, Basco said she’d like to see the village empower volunteers, attract new businesses and help out farms.
“My objective is to govern,” she said. “Leaders aren’t just supposed to lead, they’re supposed to create more leaders.”
Village leaders can do more to attract good businesses to Main Street, as well as to promote existing stores downtown. Basco said she’d like to see the village work with the Ulster County Transit Authority to help set up better opportunities and “expand public transportation to include Woodland Pond and the Park & Ride.”
“I want to do more to support our local farmers,” she said. “I think that could be fostered by the village.”
Basco said she’s taking a “wait-and-see” approach to the potential consolidation of the town and village.
“I would definitely like to see the study completed, before I make any decisions,” she said, adding that there’s definitely room for more efficiency.
“I definitely see areas where we could have more shared services,” she said, adding that consolidation needed to be approached thoughtfully before dramatic restructuring of the government happens. “We have to study the effectiveness of the government.”
The candidate said she thought the strained relationship between firefighters and Village Hall could improve drastically through building trust and communication. “I think that’s another thing that comes down to cooperation,” Basco said.
Basco would like to work to rehabilitate the current system before moving to a district or other means of fire service.
“We rely upon them to save our lives,” she said. “I think giving them what they need is important.”
Basco is another person who didn’t exactly like the way the proposed noise ordinance came out of the subcommittee and onto the board table.
“I think we definitely need a noise ordinance. I don’t know if this one tackles the problems that we have,” she said. “I think what we’re dealing with is a lack of communication, rather than something that needs to be legislated.”
A lot of good could come from a communication between neighbors with noise complaints, she said.
“That’s how I got involved in politics,” she said.
After leaving that job in 2010, Basco now works as a bartender at Snug Harbor Tavern in New Paltz. For the last few years, she’s also volunteered her time as an appointed member of the town’s Police Commission.
Despite running on her own slate with the Positive Party, Basco is closely associated with former Mayor Jason West and they share many Green Party ideals -- including a similar stance on the proposed village noise ordinance.
In terms of why she wants to become a Village Board member, she said she had caught the political bug in her time in New Paltz.
“Local politics is absolutely my passion,” Basco said. “I see a lot of potential here in New Paltz. We have an opportunity here.”
In her work with the town government on the Police Commission, Basco has gotten to know the inner workings of Town Hall -- that’s an asset she sees as something that could help her mend the relationship between the town and village. “I’m somebody who’s a bridge builder,” she said.
Not only could the town-village relationship be better, but Basco said she’d like to work to repair the relationship between the village and the SUNY New Paltz campus.
When asked what she would bring as a new member of the Village Board, Basco said she’d like to see the village empower volunteers, attract new businesses and help out farms.
“My objective is to govern,” she said. “Leaders aren’t just supposed to lead, they’re supposed to create more leaders.”
Village leaders can do more to attract good businesses to Main Street, as well as to promote existing stores downtown. Basco said she’d like to see the village work with the Ulster County Transit Authority to help set up better opportunities and “expand public transportation to include Woodland Pond and the Park & Ride.”
“I want to do more to support our local farmers,” she said. “I think that could be fostered by the village.”
Basco said she’s taking a “wait-and-see” approach to the potential consolidation of the town and village.
“I would definitely like to see the study completed, before I make any decisions,” she said, adding that there’s definitely room for more efficiency.
“I definitely see areas where we could have more shared services,” she said, adding that consolidation needed to be approached thoughtfully before dramatic restructuring of the government happens. “We have to study the effectiveness of the government.”
The candidate said she thought the strained relationship between firefighters and Village Hall could improve drastically through building trust and communication. “I think that’s another thing that comes down to cooperation,” Basco said.
Basco would like to work to rehabilitate the current system before moving to a district or other means of fire service.
“We rely upon them to save our lives,” she said. “I think giving them what they need is important.”
Basco is another person who didn’t exactly like the way the proposed noise ordinance came out of the subcommittee and onto the board table.
“I think we definitely need a noise ordinance. I don’t know if this one tackles the problems that we have,” she said. “I think what we’re dealing with is a lack of communication, rather than something that needs to be legislated.”
A lot of good could come from a communication between neighbors with noise complaints, she said.
Brian Obach - Support for Ariana Basco
I have worked closely with Ariana Basco for the last few years. We co-chaired the SUNY Environmental Task Force, a campus/community group that does environmental education and advances measures designed to achieve ecological sustainability. Ariana is now running for the New Paltz Village Board and I offer her my strongest endorsement. She is exactly the kind of person that we need to navigate the challenges that we’ll face in the village in the coming years.
Ariana’s greatest asset is that she is a bridge builder who is able to work well with everyone. She has a gift for bringing people together to find practical solutions that are agreeable to all. She has experience working with diverse segments of our community, from her service on the Police Commission to working with the SUNY administration and students. In every context she is able to foster cooperation and to find common ground. This is precisely what we need on the Village Board today.
The last several years have been characterized by infighting between the village, the town, the college and within the Village Board itself. We have many difficult issues before us, from consolidation to the noise ordinance to development and planning issues. Ariana Basco will act as a voice of reason and the positive, calming presence that will be needed to achieve agreement among groups that have already staked out firm positions on these issues. While fighting to advance specific interests is to be expected in politics and while we should not begrudge those who have chosen to run for office on the basis of their own particular cause, we also need people on the board who can mediate between those voices. Ariana is just such a person.
In addition to possessing the qualities that will enable the board to effectively address contentious issues, Ariana Basco has a platform that everyone can support.
She is committed to strengthening the downtown business district, to sound environmental policies, and to building the local economy and tax base by fostering tighter business-to-business and consumer-to-business ties, all areas in which she has experience given the positions she has held to date.
Ariana Basco is someone who will advance the values that we all share to devise policies that will unite and strengthen our community. I hope you will join me in voting for her on May 3.
Brian Obach
New Paltz
Ariana’s greatest asset is that she is a bridge builder who is able to work well with everyone. She has a gift for bringing people together to find practical solutions that are agreeable to all. She has experience working with diverse segments of our community, from her service on the Police Commission to working with the SUNY administration and students. In every context she is able to foster cooperation and to find common ground. This is precisely what we need on the Village Board today.
The last several years have been characterized by infighting between the village, the town, the college and within the Village Board itself. We have many difficult issues before us, from consolidation to the noise ordinance to development and planning issues. Ariana Basco will act as a voice of reason and the positive, calming presence that will be needed to achieve agreement among groups that have already staked out firm positions on these issues. While fighting to advance specific interests is to be expected in politics and while we should not begrudge those who have chosen to run for office on the basis of their own particular cause, we also need people on the board who can mediate between those voices. Ariana is just such a person.
In addition to possessing the qualities that will enable the board to effectively address contentious issues, Ariana Basco has a platform that everyone can support.
She is committed to strengthening the downtown business district, to sound environmental policies, and to building the local economy and tax base by fostering tighter business-to-business and consumer-to-business ties, all areas in which she has experience given the positions she has held to date.
Ariana Basco is someone who will advance the values that we all share to devise policies that will unite and strengthen our community. I hope you will join me in voting for her on May 3.
Brian Obach
New Paltz
Meet & Greet with New Paltz Village Board Candidate Ariana Basco
Tuesday, April 12 · 5:00pm - 8:00pm
36 Main Restaurant
36 Main Street
New Paltz, NY
The Committee to Elect Ariana Basco to the New Paltz Village Board
Invites You to a New Paltz Meet & Greet with Our Candidate
Tuesday, April 12 · 5:00pm - 8:00pm
@ 36 Main Restaurant
36 Main Street, New Paltz, NY
Live music by Ed Daley and Melissa Pelino
$20 per person
~ two complimentary cocktails of beer or wine with an assortment of hors d'oeurves
~ stay for dinner and receive a 15% discount off your entire check
Invites You to a New Paltz Meet & Greet with Our Candidate
Tuesday, April 12 · 5:00pm - 8:00pm
@ 36 Main Restaurant
36 Main Street, New Paltz, NY
Live music by Ed Daley and Melissa Pelino
$20 per person
~ two complimentary cocktails of beer or wine with an assortment of hors d'oeurves
~ stay for dinner and receive a 15% discount off your entire check
RSVP here
Basco, Party of One
As graduation approached in the spring of 2008 and plans to attend graduate school to become a philosophy professor fell through, Town Police Commissioner and co-chair of the Environmental Task Force Ariana Basco said her only goal became to stay in New Paltz.
Nearly three years later, Basco, from Astoria, Queens, is running for a four-year term on the New Paltz Village Board going solo under the Positive Party. Basco, who considers herself a “community organizer” and not a politician, said her choice of party has a lot to do with the foundation of her work. Aside from wanting to bring positivity into the New Paltz community, Basco also wants to run a positive campaign.
“A lot of people run slander campaigns and make themselves look good by making other people look bad and I don’t want to partake in any of those kinds of things,” Basco said.
As village trustee, Basco wants to strengthen the village’s core economy by making it more sustainable and facilitating collaboration between local farms and local businesses. As a SUNY New Paltz graduate, Basco also wants to help integrate the students into the New Paltz community and make them feel like they are a part of something bigger.
Even though politics were not a part of her life while studying philosophy at SUNY New Paltz, Basco said that within her first or second year at the university, she knew she could live in New Paltz “forever.”
“When I first got here, I knew I loved it,” said Basco. “I just felt an energy in New Paltz that I really was receptive to. I felt like I could flourish here in some ways but I had no idea what I was going to do.”
After getting her first job out of college at Dunkin Donuts on Main Street, Basco applied for a job as project coordinator and community outreach director for New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) at SUNY New Paltz, a job which she left less than a year ago.
With NYPIRG, Basco said she was given the resources to be able to speak about the environment, a cause she had developed interest in throughout high school. Describing it as “political boot camp,” NYPIRG was Basco’s introduction to politics, public policy, campaigning and community organizing, sparking her interest in local politics.
“Basically, I realized my skill set…I realized that I’m good at bringing people together. I’m good at communicating these ideas,” she said. “I look at the people who are doing it and they’re not good at communicating these ideas so when I realized my skill set, it made me feel like there was a responsibility there to move into it.”
Aside from NYPIRG, the Police Commission and the Environmental Task Force, Basco has worked and collaborated with a number of clubs and organizations throughout the years, including Brook Farm Project, Climate Action Coalition of New Paltz, Family of New Paltz, New Paltz GreenWorks, the New Paltz Democrats, the Working Families Party, and the United University Professions union.
Last spring Basco helped organize the Local Choice meeting which brought together local farmers with institutional food service providers such as universities, hospitals and school districts in an effort to facilitate business relationships that would link local institutions and local agriculture.
The region’s beauty, mountains, rail trail and agricultural richness have inspired Basco to stay in the community but the people of New Paltz are not far behind.
“There’s an energy here. The people that are drawn here…they’re open-minded and eccentric and I really love them for that,” she said. “I feel like it’s the kind of community where we have a lot of potential. There are all of these people with all of these skills and if we all come together, we could make something big happen.”
Basco will be holding a campaign kickoff event at Oasis on March 29 at 10 p.m.
Nearly three years later, Basco, from Astoria, Queens, is running for a four-year term on the New Paltz Village Board going solo under the Positive Party. Basco, who considers herself a “community organizer” and not a politician, said her choice of party has a lot to do with the foundation of her work. Aside from wanting to bring positivity into the New Paltz community, Basco also wants to run a positive campaign.
“A lot of people run slander campaigns and make themselves look good by making other people look bad and I don’t want to partake in any of those kinds of things,” Basco said.
As village trustee, Basco wants to strengthen the village’s core economy by making it more sustainable and facilitating collaboration between local farms and local businesses. As a SUNY New Paltz graduate, Basco also wants to help integrate the students into the New Paltz community and make them feel like they are a part of something bigger.
Even though politics were not a part of her life while studying philosophy at SUNY New Paltz, Basco said that within her first or second year at the university, she knew she could live in New Paltz “forever.”
“When I first got here, I knew I loved it,” said Basco. “I just felt an energy in New Paltz that I really was receptive to. I felt like I could flourish here in some ways but I had no idea what I was going to do.”
After getting her first job out of college at Dunkin Donuts on Main Street, Basco applied for a job as project coordinator and community outreach director for New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) at SUNY New Paltz, a job which she left less than a year ago.
With NYPIRG, Basco said she was given the resources to be able to speak about the environment, a cause she had developed interest in throughout high school. Describing it as “political boot camp,” NYPIRG was Basco’s introduction to politics, public policy, campaigning and community organizing, sparking her interest in local politics.
“Basically, I realized my skill set…I realized that I’m good at bringing people together. I’m good at communicating these ideas,” she said. “I look at the people who are doing it and they’re not good at communicating these ideas so when I realized my skill set, it made me feel like there was a responsibility there to move into it.”
Aside from NYPIRG, the Police Commission and the Environmental Task Force, Basco has worked and collaborated with a number of clubs and organizations throughout the years, including Brook Farm Project, Climate Action Coalition of New Paltz, Family of New Paltz, New Paltz GreenWorks, the New Paltz Democrats, the Working Families Party, and the United University Professions union.
Last spring Basco helped organize the Local Choice meeting which brought together local farmers with institutional food service providers such as universities, hospitals and school districts in an effort to facilitate business relationships that would link local institutions and local agriculture.
The region’s beauty, mountains, rail trail and agricultural richness have inspired Basco to stay in the community but the people of New Paltz are not far behind.
“There’s an energy here. The people that are drawn here…they’re open-minded and eccentric and I really love them for that,” she said. “I feel like it’s the kind of community where we have a lot of potential. There are all of these people with all of these skills and if we all come together, we could make something big happen.”
Basco will be holding a campaign kickoff event at Oasis on March 29 at 10 p.m.
Flags go up Early candidates announce New Paltz Village Board run
Village resident and police commissioner Ariana Basco has said that she will be running for a four-year term on the Village Board, going solo on the “Positive Party” line.
“There is too much negativity in New Paltz politics right now, and I for one want to bring what’s possible and positive to the table,” she said.
Basco, 24, is a graduate of SUNY New Paltz. “I think that there are so many residents with so much to give that are not getting involved with local government, and I think I could help bridge that gap. We need their assistance and input.
“I’m someone without an agenda. I just want to see the village be more sustainable, strengthen our local retail, agricultural and SUNY New Paltz connections in a way that makes it economically and socially viable for all.”
“There is too much negativity in New Paltz politics right now, and I for one want to bring what’s possible and positive to the table,” she said.
Basco, 24, is a graduate of SUNY New Paltz. “I think that there are so many residents with so much to give that are not getting involved with local government, and I think I could help bridge that gap. We need their assistance and input.
“I’m someone without an agenda. I just want to see the village be more sustainable, strengthen our local retail, agricultural and SUNY New Paltz connections in a way that makes it economically and socially viable for all.”
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