The home front: the old is new again.

Meanwhile, here in Saratoga Springs, things have been moving along. Last Tuesday the City Council, in a rare show of unanimity, voted 5-0 to rezone the contested Anderson property on Gilbert Rd. back to RR1, meaning that it can be developed, but in two acre residential lots. Peter Lynch, the Andersons' lawyer, consumed 30 minutes of the public forum in an impassioned and over the top defence of the high density office park, mostly on the grounds of the 60 "affordable housing" units that the developer graciously consented to dangle in front of the wide world, as proof of his unworldly generosity. Peter Lynch's discourse was worthy of a $500/hour lawyer, but he should have gauged the extent to which it solidified the opposition's position.
Then it was time for Mayor Lenz and his cohorts to tread on the side of the angels. All the usual statements about families and children and the brighter future were marshalled by one and all. We can feel electoral wind in our face; can it be? November is marching up, and the Republican trio has a sense that it cannot offend more than once. They did offend with the illogical, unwarranted and imprudent decision to scrap the DEIS on the Saratoga Lake water option. They hope that the march of time and the press of business will obfuscate the edges of their decision. Saratoga Lake is so last year! We will see.
For starters here is the text of the Democratic response to Mayor Lenz's State of the City address. All these points will come up many times during the the next seven months.

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For Immediate Release
Contact: Shawn Thompson at 461-0535

Saratoga Springs State of the City
A Democratic Response

In the year 2005 the City of Saratoga Springs is strong and vibrant, the result of a long history of unique achievement by past residents and of the continued productive involvement in civic affairs of so many citizens today. Construction of attractive buildings downtown, an influx of talented new residents, and the rehabilitation of City neighborhoods are just a few of the positive things that are going on.
But Saratoga Springs also faces an uncertain future, with major decisions yet to be made. These decisions will determine the way the City will look and feel for many years to come. They should be made with the good of the community in mind, not on the basis of partisan political concerns or the special interests of the few.
When set against this standard the record of Mayor Lenz and the Republican majority is disappointing. It is unfortunately a record of inaction, delay, obstructionism, and an overall lack of leadership.

On Water

Mike Lenz and the Republican majority voted to give up control of the City’s water supply to Saratoga County by supporting an impractical and expensive $80 to $140 million boondoggle at the Hudson River. This decision (1) negated three years of engineering studies and legal work, which has cost our taxpayers $750,000 of City funds. (2) It will mean that Saratoga Springs water users will subsidize suburban development from Moreau to Clifton Park (3) It firmly places out-of-town special interests ahead of the best interests of City residents and (4) This costly and misguided decision will translate to 40 percent higher water rates costing close to $2 million more per year than the Lake option. Lenz’s call for a review of the City’s finances should begin with a reconsideration of this bad, costly decision. Implementing the Saratoga Lake option is the key to the city’s future fiscal autonomy and to controlling growth.

On Recreation

The Lenz administration’s record on other key issues facing the City has been one of inaction and delay. We are no closer to having a recreational facility than we were a year ago. This should come as no surprise, since it was then Finance Commissioner Mike Lenz who torpedoed the plan to partner with the Saratoga County Y for a facility on West Avenue in 2000. We support Commissioner McTygue’s original concept of building two facilities located on the East and West sides of the City and renew our call for action. In addition, we urge the Mayor to convene a Recreation Summit to bring all the existing recreation providers together and identify plans, work against redundancy and minimize taxpayer cost.

On Downtown and Economic Development

There is no progress or leadership whatsoever on the desperately needed expansion of the City Center. Hotels and restaurants are increasingly anxious about the expansion project, and know the future health of our downtown depends on it. We must redevelop the City Center by leveraging city-owned assets, looking for public-private partnerships, and minimizing any general municipal debt or taxpayer impact. As he did with recreation, then-Finance Commissioner Lenz in 2002 choked off the potential of this important project by capping the use of Occupancy Tax receipts at a level well short of the capital required.
The Mayor and City Council must begin to address the problem of escalating commercial rents in the downtown area. Independent local businesses are being outbid for commercial space by the national brand stores, the cost of commercial development, and the free market. We must encourage the survival of local retailers, and small offices to assure stability, diversity, to assure their continued full participation in our city’s economy.
Finally, as a candidate Mike Lenz said he would correct the delays in the Building Department’s review and inspections of construction projects. He has done nothing on this front, and delays are now far worse than they were when he took office.

On Workforce Housing

On another important issue, this past year, Mayor Lenz reversed himself and took the same position long advocated by the Democratic Party to fund the Workforce Housing Trust fund. The same Mike Lenz who voted against the Workforce Housing Trust Fund in 2003 now proposes to increase it. We support an immediate study and revision of City laws and regulations to encourage workforce housing construction and renovation as outlined in the City’s 2003 Report on Affordable Housing (Recommendation # 4).

On Open Space

Lest people have forgotten, it was Mike Lenz who failed to support the Open Space Bond Referendum in 2002. Now he speaks about open space preservation. It remains to be seen whether his lip-service is genuine. We encourage him to take the next step, and to make “The City in the Country” a permanent reality by voting to rezone the Weibel corridor RR-1 and keep this tract as envisioned in the Comprehensive Plan.
We support the City’s Comprehensive Plan and affirm our commitment to preserve and protect our “City in the Country”. Additionally we must hold developers to the highest design standards for new construction.

On Taxes and Spending

The bungled reassessment of Accounts Commissioner Steve Towne has led to a large property tax increase; Mike Lenz’s only response is finger-pointing in the wrong direction. The city-wide reassessment has led to a property tax increase that many homeowners’ simply cannot afford. At the time Commissioner Towne took office on January 1, 2001, the reassessment was not necessary. The tax equalization rate was at 100%, where it remained for the next 8 months, until Commissioner Towne dropped the ball (August 13, 2001) and the rate fell. To make matters worse, Towne then opted to use the “drive-by” method of assessment, the lowest standard required by the State Real Property Tax Law. He cost our City $251,000, and our homeowners’ huge property tax increases.
Sensing a taxpayer revolt, Mayor Lenz now wants to meddle with the Finance Department, where Commissioner McCabe has spent the last year correcting his partisan-driven failure to pursue sales tax revenue mistakenly sent to other jurisdictions and cover up the fact that he was responsible for spending away the City’s surplus.

On Exercising his Charter Responsibilities

Mayor Lenz’s oversight of other city departments is non-existent. Mayor Lenz, who has responsibility in the Charter to oversee all departments of city government, has failed to provide leadership regarding the allegations of official misconduct in the Public Safety Department, or in the case of racial discrimination in the Fire Department that cost the city $100,000.

We need a need a Mayor who fights for us not for the political establishment.