Letter: endorsing Zachary Winn for Ithaca mayor

I am writing to endorse Zachary Winn for Mayor of the City of Ithaca. I am a homeowner and long-time resident of West Hill.

Zach is concerned about the tax burden driving productive citizens out of the City. He is the only one not pushing more Utopian (and costly) projects.

Zach is the only candidate focused on our drug and crime problems. I recently drove from East Hill to West Hill at about 6:00am. West State Street looked like LA: filthy tents; sad people nodding out, shooting up, and peeing publicly; others sprawled across sidewalks; mentally disturbed souls ranting at intersections; mounds of trash. Other than Zach, nobody running for Mayor seems to care.

Zach is realistic about public safety and the growing staff crisis in Ithaca’s Public Works department. Recently a man was stabbed to death on the walkway behind the Tompkins County Public Library. Barely a week goes by without a shooting or stabbing. We even had a bullet fired through the window of a school bus. People are being hurt. Those are mainly not rich, not white, and not part of the posh academic elite who push the fashionable schemes that are damaging our City.

Zach is the only candidate supporting the right of City residents to the peaceful enjoyment of our homes and public spaces. He is the only one talking about the coming crisis in public services. Zach Winn is the Mayor we need — a Mayor for Everyone.

 

Janis Kelly

Ithaca