As the saying goes, “all politics is local,” but that’s not really the case if people don’t have real access to their local elected leaders.
In the Assembly, I fought to end shady back-room deals, and when I couldn’t end them I shined a bright light on it to expose the corruption. Sunshine is the best disinfectant.
As County Executive, I’ve brought that same approach to county government and worked to bring about a new era of transparency.
We worked successfully with our team to:
- Update the county website to make it more accessible and user friendly while making public documents more accessible to the public
- Create a new budget transparency website
- Enhance accessibility to the County Executive’s office
- Livestream all public hearings conducted by the County Executive
- Voluntarily post all my financial disclosure forms on the county website for all to see
- Host annual constituent forums throughout the county just as I did in the Assembly.
I recognize more work is needed. We must make more government meetings and other public information more readily available online to the public. That’s why in March of 2023 I introduced to the Legislature the Taxpayer Transparency Act.* My commitment to legislation remains steadfast.
I work for you, and am held accountable by you: the people of Putnam County.
* To date, the Legislature has failed to act on the Taxpayer Transparency Act proposal introduced at the March 2023 State of the County, but did approve funding for a budget transparency website (a key part of the proposed legislation) in the 2024 budget.