What are the top three challenges facing the Town of New Paltz right now?
Tax-free entities are overtaking our town. An example is open space. Open space is wonderful, but tax-free entities still use services. A brush fire, twisted ankle or keys locked in the car all require a response from a town service.
Most activity on this tax-free land is for tourists who pay to access it. An emergency services surcharge should be included in the fee collected.
Pedestrian traffic on Main Street is slowing car traffic. A more efficient way of cars and people going through the same area must be put into effect. The haphazard crossing anywhere, anytime needs to be changed to crossing at crosswalks only when people and car traffic are high. Crosswalk crossing needs to be enforced for the safety of pedestrian and driver.
Political personalities need to respect each other more. If you are angry, had a bad day or dislike another elected official, then leave it at the door. Get the business of the people done for the people without insulting or belittling each other.
If elected, what are your top three priorities?
I agree that the bridge over the Wallkill River needs to be updated. This bridge is the only connector between west New Paltz and the east.
When events are held at the fairgrounds, people find themselves sitting and waiting to get into town. We should look at a second crossing at the fairgrounds to Boppy’s Lane. This could relieve traffic, connect the rail trail to the fairgrounds and allow high ground access of emergency services during high water periods.
Currently, I was asked to be involved in New York Rising Communities, which the first meeting was kicked off with Governor Cuomo at the college. There is $30 million available to communities who come up with a plan to avoid or better prepare for flooding and other weather incidents.
The police department facility is rented. The fire department has outgrown its building on Plattekill Avenue long ago. I brought the police chief, fire chief and Paul Brown when he chaired the Planning Board to the same table to discuss constructing an emergency services complex at the Station 2 site. This could be reality, but Toni [Hokanson] chose herself. I’d like to see the emergency services facility become a reality before the next contract is signed for renting.
The wetlands law should be rewritten to exclude land that is in A-3 zoning district. Mohonk Preserve is excluded. Farms are excluded. The reason is most A-3 properties are residential building lots. We need to put trust into people to do the right thing on their land without burdening them with extra town and legal fees.
I would like to see cul-de-sacs become the norm with new construction. They provide safe havens for children riding bikes getting on the bus, pets, quiet, peaceful, etc. I noticed more homes built on busy thoroughfare roads; dead-end roads being connected. These roads then face speed reductions and angry residents, as is the case with Lent Drive.
Daniel Torres
Why did you decide to run for office?
I decided to run because I care about the future of our town. I know many people who have grown up here and for various reasons decided to leave. They have left for school, for employment opportunities, relationships and because of the cost of living here. For me, it might have been easier to move to start my life. However, I believe we have something truly special here in New Paltz. I want to make sure that New Paltz is a place that is affordable so people like me can choose to stay here and also people like my 101-year-old great-grandmother and grandmother, who are on fixed incomes.
Really it comes down to giving back to the community that I feel has given me so much and making sure that others from all walks of life have that same opportunity here.
Should Park Point get a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) — yes or no? Also, how should New Paltz be developed in the future? Should it be kept more rural, or should it be more built out? What kind of businesses would you work to attract to town?
In general terms, I am supportive of SUNY New Paltz and I recognize and appreciate the important contribution the college makes to our local economy and vibrant culture. Although I am not opposed to SUNY creating additional housing to meet the needs of students, faculty and staff, I do not feel that the Park Point project should receive a PILOT.
I feel the Wilmorite corporation should pay their fair share in order to cover the costs of emergency services and make sure that their presence is not a financial burden to our community.
There are communities in our county and region that are inclined to develop every vacant parcel in the interest of economic benefit without regard for the environmental and social impacts, such as impacts to wetlands, wildlife, flooding and the traffic that might be added to our network of roads. I believe that maintaining the rural character of the town is important, but I also believe that we need to accept appropriate development (housing, business, clean industry) in those areas of the town that have been zoned for such uses.
I believe many residents live and tourists visit here in part due to our natural setting and scenic resources. I believe that New Paltzians want to see healthy small business development that respects the environment and the American worker, as opposed to the big-box Wal-Marts of the world.
Do you believe consolidation has failed? Should a town-village merger still be pursued?
I do not believe that the discussion of consolidation has failed as much as it has been a disappointment. This past year, I chose to do my senior thesis at Marist College on municipal consolidation — including the history of the discussion of consolidation/dissolution in New Paltz.
What I discovered — and what troubles me the most — is that the controversies, issues and questions asked about consolidation in 2013 are almost identical to the 1993 and 1966 vote as well as the other times the issue has appeared over the last 50 or so years.
It appears that history has repeated itself: We have failed to address many key issues about consolidation and thusly many people seem to be confused by the process as a whole. Simply putting a proposal on the ballot without providing a comprehensive examination of the pros and cons for the voters is wrong. In fact, that is what happened in 1966 and the measure was overwhelmingly shot down.
I understand that this issue tends to raise strong opinions both supporting and against consolidation. I believe our community wants to and is entitled to have this important conversation. The full participation of the public is essential. Citizens of the village and the town deserve the courtesy of having this important dialog with an honest and full examination of the issues based on information that we can rely upon as unbiased.
What are your ideas for long-term infrastructure repairs to water and sewer?
I would be supportive of establishing an inter-municipal collaboration on water/sewer infrastructure. I like the idea of establishing an inter-municipal water/sewer advisory board composed of both village and town residents served by the districts to review policies and advise the municipalities on infrastructure improvements, bonding and to establish fair water rates and sewer rates for district users.
As far as extending infrastructure, I support plans to build out where we have already deemed it is appropriate (for example, South Putt Corners Road), but I do not want to extend water into parts of the town where it would encourage sprawl.
How do you feel about a shift of town police costs to the village? Are you for or against that? Why?
Homeowners, residents and businesses in New Paltz can take pride in the highly professional police services we receive from our town department.
I am looking forward to having a discussion on how to make our police department as efficient as possible. However, I would not be in favor of shifting the cost of the police budget to the village.
The village resides within the town and to shift the department costs to one area of our community doesn’t sit right with me, nor do I think it would be the responsible thing to do.
What are the top three challenges facing the Town of New Paltz right now?
1) Affordability. At the rate we are going, it will become impossible for younger families to choose to start a family here and it will also be hard for our senior citizens to continue to live in the place where many of them lived their lives. I believe that one of the things that makes New Paltz special is its inclusiveness and I want to keep it that way.
2) Environment. I believe that many people, including myself, fear what climate change will do to our world and our town. Although we cannot fix this issue by ourselves, we can position ourselves to be the change that we want to see in our world. The changes in our environment have the potential to cripple many home owners and hurt our local businesses. I would like to work to make New Paltz a model of what a town can do in regards to renewable energy and protecting what we have.
3) Community relations. It is okay to disagree with people on matters of policy and governance. However, too often I think when we disagree politically, we shift our focuses to attacking the person and character. That is why I have kept my campaign for office solely about the issues of our community opposed to being about any individual candidate.
This discourse that we see at our government meetings, social media and even the pages of this paper is simply not conducive to good government. I feel that there is a growing animosity in our community towards our local government and I want to change that.
