9 questions with Tompkins legislature write-in candidate
1. ! (http://www.facebook.com/theithacavoice) " (http://twitter.com/ithacavoice)
# (https://www.instagram.com/ithacavoice) $ (http://ithacavoice.com/feed/)
SIGN IN / JOIN (HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/WP-LOGIN.PHP)
Always free, always local.
(http://ithacavoice.com)
♥ Support Us (www.ithacavoice.com/membership)
% &
2. 9 questions with write-in candidate for Tompkins Legislature
NEWS (HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/NEWS/), TOP
(HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/TOP/) / OCTOBER 22, 2015 / BY BENEDETTA LUCIANA SARA
CARNAGHI (HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/AUTHOR/BENEDETTA-LUCIANA-SARA-CARNAGHI/)
Your local news is made possible by support from:
3. (http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73088)
P L AT I N U M U N D E R W R I T E R
Cayuga Medical Center
(http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73088)
Providing career opportunities on our team of skilled nurses.
(http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73088) L E A R N M O R E
(http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73088)
(http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73088)
P L AT I N U M U N D E R W R I T E R
Cayuga Medical Center
(http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73088)
Providing career opportunities on our team of skilled nurses.
(http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73088) L E A R N M O R E
(http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73088)
(http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73088)
P L AT I N U M U N D E R W R I T E R
Cayuga Medical Center
(http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73088)
Providing career opportunities on our team of skilled nurses.
(http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73088) L E A R N M O R E
(http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73088)
ITHACA, N.Y. — Local attorney Rich John will face Cornell student Elie
Kirshner in the race to represents the County's Fourth District.
John lost the Democratic Party nomination to Kirshner and is seeking the
seat as a write-in candidate.
Read our interview with Kirshner here. (http://ithacavoice.com/2015/09/9-
questions-with-cornell-student-running-for-tompkins-legislature/)
Here are the 9 questions we asked John in an interview on Sunday; click on
the one you're interested in to see his answer, or read the entire story in
order.
(Did we miss your question? If so, email us at jstein@ithacavoice.com)
4. 1 — You are running in one particularly contested race. Do you think you
are more qualified for the job than Elie Kirshner? Do you think his age
matters?
2 — Some proponents of Kirshner’s candidacy have argued that it is
important to have student representation in local government. Do you
think that’s true? Do you disagree with the selection process of the
Democratic Committee?
3 — What are the issues that are motivating you to run, apart from the ones
you already mentioned?
4 — What do you think of the new budget?
5 — Kirshner said that, if elected, he will be working on affordable, quality
housing. Will you address this issue?
6 — What do you think of the Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services
project at 210 Hancock Street and the 11-story building proposal for the
Trebloc site on State Street?
7 — What are your thoughts on the environmental sustainability in Ithaca?
Is there any other issue you would like to address, like jail expansion, or tax
abatements for developers?
8 — Who do you think will support your candidacy?
9 — You lived in Ithaca for a long time. What is the best thing about this
city?
1 — You are running in one particularly
contested race. Do you think you are more
qualiMed for the job than Elie Kirshner? Do you
5. (http://ithacavoice.com/wp-
content/uploads/2015/10/Screen-Shot-2015-10-
22-at-9.02.01-AM.png)
Rich John
think his age matters?
“I think I am more
qualified. Age by itself
doesn’t matter, but
certainly the things you
can do with your life help
you in doing other things.
For example, anybody
would say that ten years of
doing a job would make
them better at managing
similar things. I have
extensive experience. I
have lived in Ithaca for 50
years. I’ve practiced law
for 29. I’ve lived in this
District for 18 years,
owned a home in the
District. I worked as a
municipal attorney for a
decade. I was a Vice
President and General Counsel for a very large company, running a large
department. I was the city prosecutor for a year. I’ve represented individuals,
groups, governments, companies, and unions. Yes, I have extensive
experience for the job. And I believe experience matters. The County budget
is $171 million, the County employees around 750 people. The services the
County provides are really important for both financial reasons and the
quality of life. I feel I can really help with that.”
6. 2 — Some proponents of Kirshner’s candidacy
have argued that it is important to have
student representation in local government. Do
you think that’s true? Do you disagree with the
selection process of the Democratic
Committee?
“I think student involvement in the Ithaca government is a good thing.
However, there are a lot of ways to be involved. Students should participate
but that doesn’t mean that since there are a lot of students living in the
District, only a student can represent the people in it. Frankly I don’t think
that that is the healthiest approach. You want somebody that can represent
everybody in the District. If the student renters knew how much of their rent
went to property taxes, this would be clearer. I went to Ithaca High School
and Cornell, so I have been a student here.
I have a daughter who just graduated from Cornell, so I have certainly
followed students’ issues for a long time. I believe choosing an experienced
capable candidate is the appropriate approach. This County Legislature seat
does not have to, and should not, be reserved for a student.”
3 — What are the issues that are motivating you
to run, apart from the ones you already
mentioned?
7. “There are a few things I am certainly interested in: the energy efficiency of
the buildings, vehicles, and other systems that the County runs. I believe it’s
important because that’s the only way you approach sustainability in a
concrete way. The company I worked with, Intertek, is a product-testing
laboratory and they test just about any appliance, electrical product, building
product, including alternative energy such as inverters and photo-voltaic
panels. In addition to safety testing, Intertek tests for the energy star ratings,
so that’s the business background that I am coming from. But in addition to
that I’m interested in the unfunded mandate problems that the County
struggles with and I would like to contribute on that issue for the County
government. And overall, I want to help give a careful analytical look at the
budget.”
CONTENT CONTINUED BELOW
(http://www.ithacavoice.com/membership)
ANNOUNCEMENT
4 — What do you think of the new budget?
“I have looked at the budget. It’s a really big document and it’s really at the
core of County government, so if you don’t understand the budget that’s a
real issue. I’ve managed a budget. I’ve managed a business department at
Intertek and it does all come back to where you are going to spend money,
8. because that’s how you set your priorities. There are other issues and votes
that the County takes that are important, but you always come back to:
where is the money going? I want to watch that very carefully.”
5 — Kirshner said that, if elected, he will be
working on aYordable, quality housing. Will
you address this issue?
“I agree that affordable quality housing is an important issue and we need to
support more options in the core of Ithaca. At the same time, the Legislature
needs to examine the particular projects where it may be involved to assess
cost and how the County will participate. The recent vote regarding sale of
the old library is an instance where the Legislature made a housing decision,
but in large measure those are issues that are going to be dealt with at the
City level. To the extent that the County is involved I would love to see whole
solutions, so it is not just senior, low income or student housing, but mixed
use with housing integrated within a broad spectrum in the community.”
6 — What do you think of the Ithaca
Neighborhood Housing Services project at 210
Hancock Street and the 11-story building
proposal for the Trebloc site on State Street?
“The Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services project is outside of the District
and is certainly addressing a housing need that exists in this community, so
that’s important. As I said in answering the last question, I favor development
9. that allows diversity. So it’s not just one kind of housing. For example, I
support development that brings people together from different economic
backgrounds. Similarly, I live on East Hill in a neighborhood where student
housing is intermixed with people like myself who have lived there for years
and years. I think that that’s a good healthy mix.
As for the Trebloc building, I am in favor of density over sprawl. I understand
the need to bring more people downtown and it’s part of making the
Commons economically viable, but that’s a very big building. It does seem out
of scale with the surrounding building environment. I’m also concerned that
it has no parking. It would be great if we had the public transportation to
match that kind of views, so that nobody there would feel they needed a car.
While TCAT provides a lot of service, I am not sure they would have
convinced everybody in that building to not own a car. As the plan would lose
the parking that is there now, I have concern about the impact on the
neighborhood. It sounds as if that development is now up for more discussion
and I think that is a good thing.”
7 — What are your thoughts on the
environmental sustainability in Ithaca? Is there
any other issue you would like to address, like
jail expansion, or tax abatements for
developers?
“Everybody is for environmental sustainability and we have to be, but you
have to get to the next level of what does everyone mean. I see it as a real
focus on energy efficiency, and alternative energy options, if we can
implement them on County buildings and in County vehicles. That’s one of
10. the areas I would really like to look at as a legislator. More broadly, I look
forward to the development of the Energy Road Map that the County is
currently rolling out.
In terms of jail expansion, I don’t think that there is a lot of difference in
position between my opponent and myself. You need to have reasonable
conditions in the jail and you don’t want to outsource prisoners to other
counties because of the expense. At the same time, alternatives to
incarceration is a critical piece of the puzzle; keep people out of jail all
together as long as it can be done safely. I have been asked a related question
about Ban the Box. This is a proposal to remove the employment application
question about prior convictions until later in the hiring process, so the prior
is not automatically disqualifying. I support Ban the Box and, in fact, I have
hired people who have had criminal records. You have to look very carefully
at those circumstances, but I think everybody deserves a second chance, and
a fair look at getting a job. I talked to the people I’ve hired who had prior
problems. We had a very candid conversation in each case. I understood what
had happened and I thought they could get by it, and in those cases they did,
they both did great work for me. So I believe in Ban the Box. I think it’s a very
positive balance.
If the County is considering a tax abatement, there should be something
extra in that development that makes it particularly desirable for the
community: local labor, living wage, environmental Leed certification for the
building, or added public amenities. There is a development in the District up
in Collegetown, where there is a new building with a bus stop right there,
which is a great thing, and that’s the kind of development where you say ‘Ok,
there is some kind of basis there for a tax abatement’. I do not think they
should be automatic.”
8 — Who do you think will support your
11. candidacy?
“I hope I am convincing everybody. The shallow breakdown would be that
students are going to vote for Elie Kirshner, but I hope that’s not the case,
because students should be looking to who can do the best job for the whole
community. I think experience does matter. I don’t want to be condescending
towards young people at all, but I think that everybody needs to be properly
represented in this District, and I think I can do that really well.”
9 — You lived in Ithaca for a long time. What is
the best thing about this city?
“Certainly the thing that makes Ithaca different is culture. It’s got a great
economic base, because of the educational institutions here. It’s very diverse.
Several years ago I was on the board of Historic Ithaca, when the community
got the State Theatre re-opened. In advocating for the project, I repeatedly
said this is a great thing for our community because it’s historic preservation,
it’s a cultural resource, and it’s an economic engine. I think it has turned out
very well. And it is a great example of the vibrancy that makes this place great
and special.”
(http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73091)
G O L D U N D E R W R I T E R
Honda of Ithaca (http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73091)
Featuring the 2016 CRV LX
(http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73091) L E A R N M O R E
(http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73091)
(http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73091)
G O L D U N D E R W R I T E R
Honda of Ithaca (http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73091)
Featuring the 2016 CRV LX
12. (http://ithacavoice.com/author/benedetta-luciana-sara-carnaghi/)
(http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73091) L E A R N M O R E
(http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73091)
(http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73091)
G O L D U N D E R W R I T E R
Honda of Ithaca (http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73091)
Featuring the 2016 CRV LX
(http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73091) L E A R N M O R E
(http://ad.broadstreetads.com/click/73091)
We believe that free access to in-depth, locally-focused journalism
makes our community stronger and better informed.
Click the button below to make a one-time donation or join our generous
Ithaca Voice Donor Members (http://www.ithacavoice.com/membership)
who sustain us with monthly recurring gifts.
♥ Donate Now (https://co.clickandpledge.com/Default.aspx?
WID=118105)
Benedetta Luciana Sara Carnaghi
(http://ithacavoice.com/author/benedetta-luciana-sara-
carnaghi/)
13. Advertise Here
You and 7 other friends like this
Ithaca Voice
14,908 likes
Liked Sign Up
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO COME TO ITHACA AS A REFUGEE?
(HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/2016/08/WHAT-DOES-IT-TAKE-TO-COME-TO-ITHACA-AS-A-
REFUGEE/)
ITHACA (HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/NEWS/ITHACA/), NEWS
(HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/NEWS/), ROAD TO REFUGE (HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/ROAD-TO-
REFUGE/), TOMPKINS COUNTY (HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/NEWS/TOMPKINS-COUNTY/), TOP
(HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/TOP/) / AUGUST 20, 2016
12 THINGS EVERY NEW STUDENT SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ITHACA
(HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/2016/08/12-THINGS-EVERY-NEW-STUDENT-KNOW-
ITHACA/)
ARTS & CULTURE (HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/ARTS-CULTURE/), ITHACA
(HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/NEWS/ITHACA/), TOP (HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/TOP/) / AUGUST
19, 2016
LATEST POSTS
14. Become a Member (http://www.ithacavoice.com/membership)
RALLY PLANNED IN SUPPORT OF CONVICTED SEX ABUSER, FORMER CORNELL
STUDENT (HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/2016/08/RALLY-PLANNED-SUPPORT-
CONVICTED-SEX-ABUSER-FORMER-CORNELL-STUDENT/)
CORNELL (HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/EDUCATION/CORNELL-EDUCATION/), CRIME & COURTS
(HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/CRIME-COURTS/), NEWS
(HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/NEWS/) / AUGUST 19, 2016
TOMPKINS COUNTY: 11 OVERDOSE DEATHS CONFIRMED THROUGH JULY 2016
(HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/2016/08/TOMPKINS-11-OVERDOSE-DEATHS-CONFIRMED-
JULY-2016/)
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES (HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/HEALTH-HUMAN-SERVICES/), ITHACA
(HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/NEWS/ITHACA/), PUBLIC SAFETY
(HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/PUBLIC-SAFETY/), THE ITHACA PLAN
(HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/THE-ITHACA-PLAN/), TOMPKINS COUNTY
(HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/NEWS/TOMPKINS-COUNTY/), TOP
(HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/TOP/) / AUGUST 19, 2016
YOGA FARM TO LAUNCH NEW EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM DURING OPEN HOUSE IN
LANSING (HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/2016/08/YOGA-FARM-LAUNCH-NEW-
EDUCATIONAL-PROGRAM-OPEN-HOUSE-LANSING/)
ARTS & CULTURE (HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/ARTS-CULTURE/), COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
(HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/COMMUNITY-ANNOUNCEMENTS/), TOMPKINS COUNTY
(HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/NEWS/TOMPKINS-COUNTY/), TOP
(HTTP://ITHACAVOICE.COM/CATEGORY/TOP/) / AUGUST 19, 2016
SUBSCRIBE TO THE ITHACA VOICE’S E-NEWSLETTER
SUPPORT THE ITHACA VOICE
