Why are we motivated to run?

Running for public office has never been a quest nor desire for any of the 3 of us. But we are so upset by the control and removal of freedom by current leadership in our town.  We are a politically diverse trio and motivated by the common goals in our platform.

Kevin Feeney, Danby Roots Candidate for Town Supervisor

Mauricio Medina, Russ Nitchman. Danby Roots Candidates for the 2 Town Board positions

Need to know more details? Below are examples of actions by the current Town Supervisor and Town Board that ignore the will of the people

1. Not feeling listened to by the Town Board. There are a considerable number of Danby residents who feel ignored, shut down and cancelled by the town board over the last 20 years. That was obvious by the strong emotion from the get go at the April meeting. We want these residents to re-join town activities and governance, as well as all residents.
2. Town Clerk and Highway Superintendent- Do voters choose them or will the Town Board? The proposal to have 5 town board members appoint these positions instead of thousands of voter is a thinly veiled political power grab. This power grab is about the Town Board’s displeasure with the current Clerk and her accurately reporting minutes. Its about writing a law aimed at one person. It’s about control, and lack of transparency.
3. Zoning Law: The rights of landowners in Danby had their development rights greatly reduced, as well as pushing a high-density Hamlet without consulting those who live in the Hamlet.  This was all done under the pretense to stop suburban sprawl from Danby and keep the feel of open space in town. It actually accomplishes the opposite. It also involved a Regulatory Taking which ultimately reduces our property values.
4. Noise Ordinance: For the 3rd time the Town Board has taken up this issue. Even with 70 people out of 70 residents at the public hearing, all AGAINST the idea of a noise ordinance, the Town pushes forward. They refuse to accurately report the truth about this meeting. They use the Town News as their Agenda/Propaganda tool to misinform the public and Danby residents.
5. Proposed Logging Law: 2 logging projects in the past 10 years have created this response from Town leadership. Keep in mind thousands of logging and timber harvests have occurred without any negative effects for decades. Now, according to a proposal all logging projects will need to not only get a permit with a list of trees being harvested (current industry standard), but to provide a scaled drawing of where each tree will be removed within the woods (NO ONE does this) . How many loggers will work in Danby under this micromanagement, with such controlling laws and ideologies? Let the professionals at NYDEC regulate logging instead of local amateurs.
6. Short Term Rentals regulation. The 80 plus Airbnb’s in the town of Danby somehow alarm the current Town Board members. Highly populated urban areas like Ithaca have sought to regulate because of parking issues. Danby has no such issues. A suggestion to put forth recommended “Best Practices for STR” by Town leadership would be much better than permits and regulation. Initial verbal reports at Town Board meetings from Board members said the mailed survey brought equally divided for and against such regulation. More recent comments have revealed half were for absolutely no regulation and in full support, a few against, and the rest for minor regulation. Why cut off the opportunity for residents to earn income, support their families, and bring in tourism to Danby and our region (that generates money and boosts our economy)?
7. Conservation Easement: This law was just passed in July as it was written. But Russell certifies from a first-hand conversation that current Town supervisor wanted it for his own liking and NOT for the landowners for whom it was written. This was until he learned that he could not change 15-30 years to 29.5 years. Now he claims in the Town News that he’s for the large landowner. I guess this is a political flip flop -- be careful of trusting him!
8. Lack of common sense Town leadership: passing laws to rectify individual problems instead of personal intervention by Town Supervisor to resolve using current channels.