SULLIVAN FOR ALBANY
COMMON COUNCIL PRESIDENT


JOSEPH P SULLIVAN

A CANDIDATE WITH A CLEAR MESSAGE.

MY OBJECTIVE IS TO SHAPE PUBLIC
POLICY IN THE CITY OF ALBANY FOR
THE BENEFIT OF CITY RESIDENTS.

I HAVE THE EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE
AND PERSPECTIVE TO BE AN EFFECTIVE
COMMON COUNCIL PRESIDENT.

* U.S. Navy Veteran

* BS, Geography, U. Wisconsin
* MA, Geography, U. Minnesota

* Many years college/university
teaching

* Many years particpation in local
and state government

* 22 years as President of the
Buckingham Pond/Crestwood
Neighborhood Association, Albany.
with a record of leadership that
has resulted in maintaining/improving
neighborhood residential integrity and
quality of life.




______________________________________

ALBANY CITY DEMOCRATS DECIDED
NOT TO ENDORSE ANY CANDIDATE FOR
PRESIDENT OF THE ALBANY COMMON COUNCIL

ALBANY RESIDENTS WILL NOMINATE
THE NEXT COMMON COUNCIL PRESIDENT
IN THE SEPTEMBER 15 DEMOCRATIC
PRIMARY
______________________________________

Ward Leaders, Members of the Albany
City Democratic Committee, from the
wards and election districts in the city
enrolled Democratic voters, and notaries
who support my candidacy, are invited
to contact me. 438 5230

Petitioning to qualify for the primary ballot
begins June 9. A minimum of 1,200 valid
signatures of enrolled Democrats will be
needed to qualify.

A valid signature is one timely affixed
to a designating petition, by an enrolled
Democrat resident in the City of Albany
who has NOT signed the petition of
another candidate for the Office of
President of the Common Council.

The Witness to the signature must be
an enrolled Democrat, eligible to vote
in the Albany City Democratic Primary
or a Notary Public/ Commissioner of
Deeds.



_________________________________________

Here are excerpts from my presentation
to the Albany City Democratic Committee
on Saturday, April 18:

President of the Common Council is a very
important office. The Common Council
President assumes the Office of Mayor, if
that office becomes vacant for any reason.
(See City Charter Sec 403 and NY Second
Class Cities Law).

The Common Council President must be a
leader, able to shape public policy, work
closely with the Mayor and Council Members
and be able to spur the Council to action on
issues vital to the people, and City of Albany.

Accordingly, the Common Council President
must be able to understand, and articulate
clear positions on those vital issues.

The Issues:

(1) Public Safety/Security:

(A) People must be safe in their homes
neighborhoods, city streets and public places.
Step up Operation Impact to combat muggers
robbers, gangbangers, drug dealers, vandals
and assorted anti-social malcontents.

Support and work with the Albany Police.

The Common Council should forget the
Bullseye BS and focus on these vital issues.

Council Members should clean up the crime
and blight in their own wards before attempting
to run for citywide office.

(B)Support Second Amendment right of law abiding
citizens to bear arms. Oppose any county, state or
federal government legislation that would infringe
upon those Second Amendment rights.

(C) Emergency/Disaster Preparedness by
individuals, households, schools, churches
synagogues and neighborhoods is vital to
survival in a dangerous world.

People can not count on government to save
them; they must act to save themselves when
disasters or terror attacks occur.

Nevertheless, the city government, and elected
officials, must develop a comprehensive
Emergency/Disaster Plan that coordinates
city government preparations and responses
with those of individuals, households and
neighborhoods, as well as businesses and
institutions.

Given the threats of terrorism that hang over
us like a dark cloud, Emergency/Disaster
Preparedness takes precedence to development
of a comprehensive city land use plan.

Security at the Port of Albany ,our water/sewer
system, power grid, natural gas pipelines, rail lines
petroleum and home heating oil storage/distribution
system are all essential.


(2) Consolidation of City Schools with City
government.

Consolidate city schools with city government
create ONE property tax roll to finance both
return to a K-8 neighborhood neighborhood
school system, with the Mayor and Common
Council responsible and accountable for those
city schools.

This action will benefit kids, parents ,property
taxpyers and help reduce the flight of city families
to the suburbs, thereby stabilizing the city property
tax base.

Neighborhood schools are essential
to neighborhoods.



(3) Property Tax Relief for Homeowners
and businesses.

School taxes account for about 60 percent
of property taxes. The growing dependent
population accounts for the majority of
school populations, yet pay no property
taxes to support the public schools. This
must change.

In Albany the annual cost of keeping a
pupil in school, amounts to near $20,000
dollars. This is among the highest in the
state.

All students and parents must assume
accountibility for student performance
and assume responsibility for some of
the costs of becoming educated.

(4) Neighborhood /City Revitalization:

As oil/gasoline become more costly
and scarce; prepare for a return of
population to Albany, and other
Capital District cities.

Make Albany more liveable for those
who live here now, as well as those who
will choose to live here in the near future.

Rebuild housing stock and the aging
water/sewer system. Embark on a
vigorous urban reforestation effort.
Provide for more neighborhood
business/service zones.

The closing of RC churches and schools
will only contribute to further neighborhood
destruction and blight. Work with the RC
Diocese to reverse their plans to close
churches/schools, including: St Teresa's
Holy Cross, St James and others.

Develop an efficient citywide transpor-
tation system. Build a light rail system linking
urban, suburban and rural areas.

Rebuild railroads, the Erie Canal and
Hudson River waterway to move freight
and passengers.

Create jobs in trades, manufacturing
transportation, education, tourism and
retail/services.

(5) Uphold the United States Constitution
and Bill of Rights, in particular the
First, Second and Tenth Amendments.

In short, to proceed with politics as usual
is to do so at our own peril.

More is required of those who seek office
and those who elect them.

Joe Sullivan