Residents First Thanks You

 Dear Village Residents,

Thank you again for welcoming us into your homes to meet with us and discuss the issues over the past few months. I respectfully ask that you vote for the entire Residents First slate on Tuesday, March 20th (Row C - the bottom line).

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU

As a reminder, if elected Mayor I will work with my team to:

• Forge a better, more balanced plan for the 4 Corners that will have community support

• Cut the Mayor's and Trustee's compensation packages, along with unnecessary patronage positions and wasteful spending, thereby lowering taxes

• Restore ethics and public integrity to Village Government

• Televise Village Board meetings and hear the public at the start of each meeting

• Maximize the potential of the Patchogue Theatre with professional management

• Create preferred Village resident parking areas around Main Street

• Restore eliminated services that residents historically relied upon, such as Senior services and weekly recycling

• Initiate evening and weekend office hours so working residents can access us and have their voices heard

• Improve and better utilize our parks and waterways and recreation programs

• Direct code enforcement to aggressively but fairly enforce the law and our housing codes

• Use my marketing experience to attract crucial retail and small businesses

• Hold myself and other elected officials accountable to keeping our promises

MAYOR PONTIERI'S PLATFORM

Mayor Pontieri has not pledged to lower taxes or cut wasteful spending. He has not promised ethical reform or to build consensus with a team approach. The fact that he placed his name above and much larger than his running mates on his signs and advertisements speaks volumes. Mayor Pontieri has committed to business as usual. He has not promised to improve our amenities, attract tourism or retail anchors to our downtown, or to restore our quality of life where it is most needed. Instead, he has affirmed that he is happy with the status quo.

The one thing the Mayor has promised to the residents is the one thing we do not want him to do -- construct 291 rental apartments on the 4 corners. In fact, last Thursday Mayor Pontieri said that "Rentals are the way to go."  This contradicts everything he has promised in the past, and everything the residents had originally embraced about Tritec's plan. Residents disagree because they know that Patchogue is already saturated with rental housing (over 50%) and does not need any more. They are also well aware that an existing abundance of rental tenants in our Village has not stimulated retail business on Main Street, and that high density buildings detract from our property values (we have 19 high density complexes throughout our Village already).

WE CAN DO BETTER

There are options! Our team has already had preliminary conversations with potential investors for the 4 corners, including a quality hotel developer that has indicated willingness to privately fund and construct a hotel. We are exploring technology incubators that are in growing demand, and will combine commercial office space with amenities that attract young and talented entrepreneurs. Such a true mixed-use concept would not only draw young business talent to the area, but would also be less taxing on our parking and infrastructure and bring many jobs to our community. We will also proactively meet with executives of retailers like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods to encourage them to come to Patchogue and be part of our plan.

CONCLUSION

Abraham Lincoln spoke of our nation as being one "of the people, by the people and for the people." Village residents deserve leadership that remembers that the purpose of government is to serve the people -- not the other way around. If elected to office, our team will work for you.

Please vote for the entire Residents First slate on Tuesday, March 20th. I am running with Stephen McGiff, Lisa Ihne and Gregory Powers, all educated, professional and highly dedicated residents ready to serve and make positive changes in our Village.

Thank you!

Elisabeth L. McGuire, Stephen J. McGiff, Lisa Ihne and Gregory P. Powers

Residents First