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Elda Abate, Candidate for Mayor of Troy (People's Party)

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Q1. With what political parties are you associated? What does that party affiliation mean to you and how it affects how you would handle your job as Mayor of Troy? "My affiliation and subsequent qualification for the November ballot as the People’s Party candidate has been predicated on my deeply rooted history in the City of Troy. My affiliation with the People’s Party of Troy was created to afford Troy voters a choice in this year’s mayoral election given the two party system that has continued to hinder the economic growth of the City of Troy. The People’s Party is dedicated to providing an agenda that would include initiatives that would provide focus on creating affordable housing, a reduction of property taxes by establishing a referendum, improving public safety and an overall revitalization of Troy’s economy. Moreover, I, as mayor, would seek to secure additional resources for Troy’s police department for increasing public safety and for reducing crime in the City."

Elda Abate (People's Party)

Q2. How would the proposed deal with Judge Development Corporation to relocate Troy City Hall away from the waterfront to the Verizon building on 6th avenue help or hurt Troy residents in both the short and long term?

"Location, location, location! The real issue here is the conspicuous absence of any transparency in this proposed action, which is nothing short of an administrative fiat by the mayor. All procurement provisions governing the City’s purchase of goods and services should be exposed for public scrutiny. There has been neither an open nor public bidding process to fairly determine whether the proposed deal represents fair market value transfer. The proposed plan has not been subject to public scrutiny nor has it been validated by the citizens of Troy. Given the mayor’s willingness to proceed, the transfer should not be approved without documented evidence of the benefits to the city’s taxpayers. The proposed plan submitted to the City Council by the Judge Development Corporation should provide the citizens of Troy the opportunity to further validate the plan given the willful oversight by the Mayor. Furthermore, no studies have been conducted regarding the relocation of City Hall and the diversion of traffic during the demolition and construction phase of the proposed plan that will have a devastating impact on businesses in and around the Monument Square area. Also, the proposed location for City Hall is a very ill conceived idea that has failed to weigh the social and economic benefits or burdens the relocation will create. Moving City Hall to a dead end street will create traffic burdens in that public parking is not available and will be a major problem.

Interestingly, there does not appear to be any willingness on the part of the Judge Corporation in providing anything of value to the community. There is not even a mention of providing affordable housing in its proposed plan."

Q3. If you were elected Mayor, what would be your vision for Troy over the next few years?

"My vision for the City of Troy is a complete revitalization of the City’s economic infrastructure. As part of the plan, I will create a greater climate for attracting businesses and for growing existing businesses by providing the necessary foundations, resources and initiatives for promoting private/public partnerships and investments for developing the Troy waterfront. Concomitantly, my strategic plan envisions programs to improve the quality of education within our public school system. I also pledge to create a strategic plan to restore the legion of abandoned properties in order to place them back on the City’s tax rolls and will seek to provide luxury, and more importantly, affordable housing for Troy City residents. Finally, I believe that the City’s police need greater resources for improving public safety in our neighborhoods and for fighting crime."

Q4. What is the biggest challenge currently facing Troy, and how would you handle it differently from your opponents?

"Well it is obvious that the Mayor has had a lengthy tenure to institute an innovative revitalization program to benefit the City. However, it is patently clear that the Mayor has failed to capitalize on the true potential of the City of Troy. The challenge is to transform the City’s anemic economic infrastructure into a healthy environment in which to do business and attract investment. As Mayor, I will seek to increase the public’s participation in many of the affairs of the Mayor’s office and would provide the kind of transparency that is absent with Tutunjian’s administration. I would also seek to establish community partnerships with the law enforcement community and would create greater public access to my office."

Q5. Why should the people of the Troy choose you as their Mayor over all others?

"Over the past decade, the City of Troy has experienced the leadership of both political parties and has not yielded any significant economic growth. My candidacy is founded on the principles that seek to restore Troy to its previous economic affluence. As a businesswoman for the last 33 years, I am uniquely qualified for addressing the many issues crying out for resolution and for restoring Troy to its untapped economic potential. I will also seek to regain the public’s confidence in City Hall, something that the present Mayor has failed at quite miserably."

For further information contact: www.EldaForMayor.com

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