Problem 

In an economy where two incomes have become necessary to support a family, childcare is an existential need for families in Tompkins County. District 13 currently has childcare capacity for less than 200 children in an area with over 400 kids under the age of five years old. Those families who get their kids into these limited spots pay large chunks of their income, and those who can’t are left to choose between working and taking care of their kids, an impossible choice for many. We need reliable, affordable access to childcare for families, children, and communities to thrive. 

Benchmarks for Success 

1. Bring the number of available childcare slots above the number of children in need of childcare. 

2. Bring the average percentage of income spent on childcare to less than 10% with a long-term goal of less than 7% of income spent on childcare. 7% of income is the threshold for childcare affordability, but District 13 residents currently pay more than double that (16%) on average. 

Matt’s Solution 

Governor Hochul has committed to funding a “$110 million Child Care Construction Fund to build new child care facilities and repair existing sites.” Matt will do everything he can to make sure that money is put to use in Tompkins county, as well as to secure funding from other sources. This money can be used to join other counties across the US in pioneering county-led childcare programs.

Problem 

Danby residents regularly face Emergency Medical Service response times, with wait times for an ambulance often well over 20 minutes. Waits like that can have serious health implications for emergencies that develop over the course of minutes, if not seconds. Tompkins County needs a coordinated, well funded emergency response system that provides effective care to our urban and rural residents. 

Benchmarks for Success 

1. Full response by fire department-based Emergency Medical Services to calls in their service area. 

2. Response times under 20 minutes for rural areas. 

3. Bring cost of ambulance service down. Need more research on current cost levels and a threshold for affordability. (ideally it would just be free, but should look at other county models more) 

Matt’s Solution 

Emergency medical care is a necessary public service, and it should be guaranteed. Matt will seek to legally designate Emergency Medical Services as an essential service in Tompkins County, introducing a responsibility of government to ensure care is provided. To accomplish this, Matt will bring his expertise as a career Paramedic to bear and provide a publicly-funded county ambulance service to expand the existing county fly car program and supplement and coordinate with local emergency services.

Problem 

Over the last 50 years, we have seen some of our largest industrial employers in Tompkins County close their doors or scale back their expansion. The loss of steady, regular employment has limited people’s prospects and their ability to stay and work in the place they call home, even as aging infrastructure and environmental challenges supply ample work that needs doing. We need county government to step up to help create livelihoods where corporate America has bailed out. 

Benchmarks for Success 

1. Reverse the trend of decreases in job numbers from employers outside Healthcare and Education. 

2. Gain steady, well-paying jobs in rural Tompkins County, particularly in necessary fields like construction and childcare. 

Matt’s Solution 

Matt will work with county and regional organizations to incentivize job development and make Tompkins County a competitive candidate for manufacturing development.

Matt will partner with union training programs to provide increased visibility and access to apprenticeship programs, which can lead to well-paying union jobs and create a lifetime of prosperity.

Matt will direct county funding to hire residents to do necessary work, like expanding Danby’s construction industry to insulate and air-seal old, leaky houses. This will increase building comfort and efficiency while creating jobs and taking necessary action on climate change.