Noble stands by his record; Rua says he can do better
Mayor Steve Noble says his administration has been able to tackle a host of important issues over the past four years, ranging from jobs to infrastructure, and affordable housing, while challenger Vincent Rua says he has a vision to attract jobs, lower taxes and address the city’s housing crisis.
The met in a debate Thursday evening at Congregation Emanuel of the Hudson Valley, moderated by members of the League of Women Voters. A Democrat, Noble is running on the Democratic and Working Families Party lines in his bid for a second four-year term, while Rua is running on the SAM Party line.
Ellen DiFalco, a registered Democrat who is running on the Republican and Independence Party lines, declined to take part in the debate.
Noble said he believes his administration has moved the city in a positive direction and that he is the most qualified person in the race. He said that’s based on his accomplishments, the amount of economic development that has taken place in the city, the amount of community pride people have, and the willingness of
people and organizations to be part of the puzzle to make sure Kingston is the most resilient, progressive and economically self-dependent community in the Hudson Valley.
“And I feel as though the last four years has been a really good test because everyone has been able to see what we’ve been able to do and what we haven’t,” Noble said.
Rua said if people are happy with the lack of job growth, increasing taxes and no real plan to address housing issues, they should vote for the incumbent. If they want a change, they should vote for him, he said.
“My vision is to attract jobs,” Rua said, noting he has the connections to bring three to four businesses to the Kingston Business Park, which he said would create up to 400 jobs. He also said he would lower property taxes by balancing the city’s budget and would maintain Kingston’s streets and sidewalks every year.
Rua also said he would address the city’s housing crisis “intelligently and squarely” through his “Affordable +” initiative, which calls, in part, for the creation of micro homes.
Noble and Rua answered questions submitted by the audience during the 90-minute debate. The topics included the city’s infrastructure, vacancy among Uptown businesses, community policing, the independence of boards appointed by the mayor, and projects funded by grants in Kingston, among others.
More than once, Rua criticized the way Noble has managed the city’s finances. He said Noble has charged city residents $5.2 million more than he should have in the 2017 and 2018 budgets. Rua also said the city is approaching its debt limit and should not be borrowing money “like a drunken sailor.”
Noble, however, pointed to the millions of dollars in grant funding his administration has brought to the city. He said the city is not fiscally distressed and not even close to the number Rua had “made up.” The city currently has a low fiscal stress score of 6.7 out of 100, Noble said, adding that its bonding is at appropriate limits.
On the topic of infrastructure, Rua said he would come up with five- and 10year capital plans and determine how much it would cost to make the identified repairs. He said he would fund those repairs by balancing the city’s budget.
Rua also criticized the city’s effort under Noble to buy the former Planet Wings building on Broadway for $450,000. He said it was a frivolous purchase and that if the nearby intersection with Grand Street and Pine Grove Avenue is as dangerous and in need of realignment as the mayor says, then the city should have seized the Planet Wings building through eminent domain and paid far less for the property.
Noble said his administration has delivered on an infrastructure plan and funded it through grants and by managing federal, state and private foundation funding. He also said his administration has been able to balance the city budget and not raise taxes over the past four years.
As for the Planet Wings building, Noble said it was not a frivolous because taking it down is necessary to realign the nearby intersection and make it safer. He also said the city will receive a $750,000 grant through state Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, D-Kingston, to pay for the work. Additionally, Noble said, the Planet Wings property was not usable by any business, which is why it had been vacant.
The winner of the mayoral election will serve a four-year term starting Jan. 1, 2020. The mayor’s salary is $75,000 annually, though Noble’s 2020 budget proposal calls for an increase to $80,000.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5, though early voting begins Saturday, Oct. 26, and runs through Sunday, Nov. 3.