Cynthia Brock for First Ward Common Council
- to preserve residents’ voice in government, enhance our quality of life and strengthen our community!
My name is Cynthia Brock and I am asking for your support in my campaign to represent the First Ward on the Ithaca Common Council.
I am running for Common Council because we, as residents in the First Ward, need a dedicated and committed advocate in City Hall.
Our city’s leadership will undergo dramatic change in 2012 with a new mayor and 5 new council members. This change in leadership comes not only in a time of budgetary stress, but also in a time of significant residential and commercial development within and immediately adjacent to our ward borders. While this increased density will expand the tax base of our community and help to lower property taxes over time, it will also impose significant demands on our neighborhoods, our residents and our roads.
These are issues with which I have the necessary experience to tackle directly. An active community member and resident of West Hill, I have been proactive in community and government efforts to address the needs of our community’s youth, families and residents. I want to bring my energy, dedication and commitment to serve you as Alderperson in the City of Ithaca. A goal-oriented organizer, I am committed to addressing quality of life issues for our residents through creative solutions based on collaboration between residents, community members, businesses, city departments and municipalities.
Ithaca’s First Ward covers a diverse area of the City – encompassing Ithaca’s West Hill, Floral Avenue, Nate’s Floral Estates, Spencer Road neighborhood, South-of-the-Creek neighborhood and South Hill. The concerns and challenges our residents face are significant and complex:
- traffic pressures resulting from development within and immediately adjacent to the City
- the need for expanded sidewalks and the creation of bicycle and/or recreation trails on West Hill
- the changing character of our neighborhoods due to development and rapid loss of owner-occupied homes
- environmental contamination in South Hill and the City
The primary role of government is to preserve and maintain our resident’s quality of life. This is done by:
- making effective use of our financial and staffing resources to provide quality service
- keeping property taxes affordable for our residents through creative management and funding, and expanding partnerships with businesses and the community
- ensuring our community has meaningful and effective participation in City planning, decisions and management
I want to hear from you to learn more about your concerns and ideas for city government. Please feel free to contact me at any time by email or phone — I look forward to hearing from you!
