Welcome to LakeParty.org

Thank you very much for taking the time to visit my website and look over some of the issues that are of concern to me.

The reason that I have started this site is to begin to pull together the work that I have been doing as a private citizen pretty much for the last 35 years or so and which for one reason or another seems to be intensifying over the last five or six.

What do I stand for in this public arena? I am for a more open and kinder society/social network and believe that the government has a role to play in encouraging this to happen. And I do not mean an expansion of "the welfare state", but rather the reduction of the influence of special interests on the activities of the Federal, State, and Local government. When I ran for Geneva City Council in the fall of 2007, my approach was: to "protect and enhance" - Geneva's financial security, our beautiful lake and lakefront, our neighborhoods and the public peace, the urban character of downtown, and the political process."

The original web announcement regarding my candidacy is presented below in a series of announcements posted on my original website...

It is essentially a narrative that keys off of the word "protection." If you have any comments or suggestions, please feel free to email me at rkcamera@gmail.com.

As work on this website continues, I hope you find that some of my issues and pursuits worthwhile...

Thanks again....

Ken

Original posting on www.kencamera.org - September 13, 2007

Camera platform for City of Geneva, Geneva City Council, 4th Ward - (Short Version)

1. Taxes - Reprioritize discretionary spending, make some tactical cuts to stabilize taxes; strive for no tax increases for the next four years; develop revenue strategies, add to reserve accounts, take long term approach...

2. Neighborhoods and Social Peace - Identify the whole complex of issues regarding neighborhoods and safety; identify roles of City Council and Administration, Families, and Schools; invigorate neighborhood groups and better integrate communications with police and City Administration...

3. City Gov't and Council - Foster a more open and accountable City government. Make City Council more user-friendly - display public presentations and reports using overhead projection so live and television audiences can see materials. Be friendlier. Develop objective information to improve criteria for decision-making.

4. Environment - Improve City's carbon footprint and energy efficiency through better spending practices...

5. Future - Embrace touristic future of Geneva - natural beauty (ecology) and wine...

6. Town of Geneva - Engage Town in joint projects that reduce costs; remind Town of moral responsibility to assist City

7. Aesthetics - Give City a make-over; start detailing gateways and public spaces... and push for better maintenance program for downtown.

8. Protection - Neighborhoods, trees, traditional downtown urban character, Seneca Lake, lake access, tax base, the interests of unaffiliated residents'...

9. Lake and Lakefront - Protection or enhancement lake water quality must be a component of all economic development; rigorously review all proposed lakefront projects; assume regional and social perspectives regarding new projects; resuscitate Interpretive Center concept for the lakefront.

10. Financial and Economic Development Perspective - Ask questions and apply Return on Investment (ROI) criteria before approval of all projects.

Original posting on www.kencamera.org - September 8, 2007

Camera platform for City of Geneva, Geneva City Council, 4th Ward (medium length)

1. Governance - Foster more transparency in local government business.
a. Create fact sheets on important topics of public interest and Council agenda topics so that Council persons and the public have more accurate information about these matters than what they can read in the newspaper/s.
b. Advocate for better defining and then following political processes so that we can improve/enhance public participation in local affairs.
c. Ask all council persons and City administrators to resign from membership in organizations which put them in a position of conflict of interests as defined by NYS Attorney General's office.
d. Advocate for better definition and separation of City, County, and IDA processes related to economic development so that Council can more effectively monitor the affiliations and disbursements that are made by the City administration.

2. Taxes - Actively promote the financial solvency of the City. Virtually all the area's charitable and non-profit organizations are concentrated within the City limits but are enjoyed by all area residents. In spite of the positives of employment, services and educational and cultural enhancements the financial burden of maintaining all the necessary services is born by City property owners. Therefore I will support initiatives that reduce waste and increase efficiency in City government and also increase City revenues including by:
a. Supporting the implementation of a local hotel occupancy tax
b. Initiating a dialogue with the Town of Geneva regarding areas where we can work together to share services and reduce costs.
c. Establishing budgetary guidelines which hold the City to small or no tax increases for the next four years
d. Supporting the new governor's strategy of consolidation of local government entities which are a hold-over from another era...

3. Downtown - Preservation and enhancement. Actively support initiatives and programs to preserve and enhance the traditional downtown urban character of the City that uniquely distinguishes us from other communities and is at the core of our economic development and tourism strategies.

4. Lakefront Development - Access, vistas, and interest. In any additional development of Geneva's Lakefront, I will follow these guidelines: preservation of Lakefront access, lake visibility from 5&20, walking paths and tree stands. I don't see condo construction as a viable option for the lakefront. I do support the development of a tasteful Seneca/Finger Lakes Interpretive and Wine center on the Lakefront.

5. Environment - Review City spending practices to enhance the environment. Encourage the City Administration to consider the environmental impacts of all the expenditures it makes to assure residents that we are being good stewards of our local and regional environments.