Saratoga Springs needs an advocate for smart growth

Saratoga Springs needs an advocate for smart growth on the City Council. On the East Side of town, houses get permitting to build three-story structures that tower over two-story family homes and historical properties, and they are not required to build sidewalks to connect to the neighborhood (a goal in 2016 Complete Streets Plan). On the West Side, proposed rezoning of the Morgan Street parcel would turn a quiet residential area into a busy, asphalt research park for the hospital. Our current finance commissioner, Madigan, had a fundraiser organized by the hospital lawyer and yet has not recused herself from the city council zoning vote.

I applaud the City for its Open Space funding which made Pitney Meadows Farm and the Saratoga Lake project a reality. I would like to see further City support for the Southern Palmertown Area Ridge Trail and Greenbelt Trail, as these projects would make Saratoga a leader in the state with exemplary trails and community connectivity. However, Open Space funding is gone, and Madigan requested $100,000 for a new social media director but no funding for open space.

Patty Morrison is a Soroptimist, Sustainable Saratoga volunteer, and she has a 25 year career in business. She is a vocal advocate for open space, walkable communities, and smart growth and has not accepted campaign funding from developers. I will vote for Patty Morrison for Finance Commissioner on June 25, because I trust her to be an ally for sustainability projects for our Saratoga community. Jennifer Natyzak Saratoga Springs