Additional Appointments

Industrial Development Agency, Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit and Tompkins Community Action

As many sources of State and Federal funding for local programs has been eliminated by the economic recession, I focus on alleviating the impact on poor as well as working and middle class residents, who have been hard hit by job losses, rising costs, and lowered wages and benefits. I work to support and retain programs that allow motivated people to acquire skills and better their economic status. I am aware that the continued vitality of Tompkins County is largely dependent on economic development, and this year, I was reappointed to Tompkins County’s Industrial Development Agency (IDA), where I have served representing downtown residents and the County since 2002.

My IDA involvement allows me to promote bringing and retaining good-paying jobs to Tompkins County by supporting job creation projects. I also pay keen attention to downtown density proposals, emphasizing the importance of community benefits when awarding tax abatements to qualified projects. The IDA meets on the first Friday of each month at 3:30 pm.

Since 2001, I have served on the Board of Directors of Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT). In this era of rising energy costs, TCAT continues to provide transportation solutions for County and area residents. I served as chair of the Board of Directors of TCAT in 2007, Vice-President in 2006, and am a member of the Transit Services Committee in 2009. TCAT meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at 4 pm.

In addition to my Legislative Standing Committee and Special Committee assignments, I have served for over three years on the Board of Trustees of Tompkins Community Action (TCA), a non-profit organization that began in 1966 as a grassroots effort to improve the lives of low-income children, families, and individuals in Tompkins County. Each year over 5,000 individuals and families come to TCAction for assistance. This year I serve as chair of the Development Committee, and am a member of the Executive Committee.