Rudy Johnson Calls for Reform of the Adirondack Park Agency

New York State Assembly candidate Rudy Johnson is calling for comprehensive, sweeping reform of the Adirondack Park Agency. Rudy feels that the APA is not responsive to the needs of the people and communities within the Adirondack Park, and is out of touch with the economic realities of life in the North Country. He feels that the APA must be radically restructured in order to make it accountable to local citizens.

“While I agree that the beauty and integrity of the Adirondacks must be preserved, it has become increasingly clear that the APA is no longer doing what is best for our people, our communities, or our environment,” Rudy stated. “The APA has become a means for outside interests to exercise control over the park and to override the needs and desires of local individuals and businesses. Often this means prioritizing superficial aesthetic standards and trivial regulations over developing our economy and really protecting the natural world. The only way to fix this problem is to return control over the park to those who live there, and that can only happen through a complete restructuring of the APA.”

Rudy feels that the following steps must be taken to reform the Adirondack Park Agency:

 Only local citizens should serve on the APA board. Currently many of those serving on the APA board are from outside of the Adirondacks. This means that they are often willing to put the interests of outsiders—activists, tourists, wealthy camp owners, etc.—over the interests of those who live and work in the region. An APA board that consisted exclusively of local community leaders, citizens and business people would be better suited to fairly balance the need to preserve the natural environment of the park with the need for sustainable economic development and job creation within the region.

 Disputes and appeals should be handled by local courts. Since the APA is a state agency, currently appeals of the agency’s decisions are heard by the New York State Supreme Court. This means that someone attempting to reverse an APA decision that they feel is unfair will be subject to the lengthy delays and cumbersome procedure of the state court system, as well as having their case heard by a judge who may be detached from and unsympathetic to the realities of life in the Adirondacks. These cases should instead be resolves in local courts overseen by local judges and justices who have the life experience and knowledge necessary to understand the unique realities of each case. This would also allow these cases to be resolved more quickly and efficiently, since local courts rarely have the same delays and bureaucratic obstacles that exist in the state court system.

 The APA standards and guidelines must be rewritten with a focus on clarity and transparency. Many of the failures of the APA have been a result of its inability to establish standards and guidelines that are clearly written and transparently presented. It is this failure to offer simple, coherent rules with clear justification that has generated a lot of the animosity that exists toward the agency and that has been responsible for many of the disputes between the APA and local citizens. If the APA were required to meet specific standards for clarity and transparency when developing, presenting and enforcing news rules and decisions, a lot of these disputes could be prevented. Existing APA rules and guidelines should also be rewritten in straightforward, unambiguous language.

If elected, Rudy will work diligently to see that the APA is restructured and that these reforms occur. He believes that not only is reform of the APA possible, it is necessary to foster growth and development within the Adirondack Park.

Rudy's 5 Point Plan to Bring Prosperity Back to the North Country

Rudy Johnson is committed to providing practical solutions to the North Country’s economic problems. This commitment to restoring the region’s economy has been the primary focus of his campaign.

Now, in order to inform the voters of some of these solutions, Rudy is offering five steps that can be taken to bring prosperity back to our region. Included with each step are concrete examples of actions that could be taken to make that solution a reality.

Rudy hopes that offering detailed, specific ideas for economic improvement will set him apart from the political establishment. “Although many politicians are talking about the need to revive our economy, too often they are afraid to offer specifics. They would rather offer rhetoric and empty promises,” Rudy said. “I want to make it clear that I am willing to present a concrete, detailed plan to revitalize the North Country.”

Rudy’s five step economic plan is included below.


Five Steps to Bring Prosperity Back to the North Country:

1. Improve our infrastructure. If the North Country hopes to attract economic development, New York State must invest in the region’s infrastructure. This includes building new routes and throughways, such as the proposed rooftop highway, and improving existing roads and highways. We also must expand broadband internet access throughout all parts of the North Country. This can be accomplished through providing state incentives to existing cable and DSL providers to increase their service area, as well as by investing in new initiatives, such as rural wireless networks. We also must commit to enhance other areas of our infrastructure, increasing our access to natural gas, smart grid technology, and public transportation.

2. Encourage outside businesses to create new jobs. While New York State has long been the home of many major national and international businesses, the North Country has largely lacked economic development. Our State Assemblyperson must be more than a legislator. They must be a salesman. We need to provide incentives for companies already located in New York to expand their businesses into our region. The North Country’s relatively low cost of living would make it an ideal location for corporate back office jobs, such as customer service and support, or for manufacturing subcomponents for New York industries.

3. Support the creation and growth of locally owned businesses. We must also encourage local entrepreneurs to continue to establish and expand businesses owned and operated within the North Country. Businesses that are owned and run within the North Country will be more sensitive to our interests and more open to the needs of our communities. Saranac Lake’s planned Community Store is an example of this kind of locally owned, locally run business. These businesses will increase our self-sufficiency and independence.

4. Preserve existing jobs. While we need to work hard to encourage new businesses, we must also work to preserve the economic opportunities that exist in our region today. This includes ensuring that there are no further prison closures and that other state jobs remain in the North Country. It also means offering relief and support to our small business owners during this difficult economic time.

5. Restore our family farms. Small family farms are a vital part of the culture and economy of the North Country. Our dairy farmers are currently suffering under intolerably low milk prices. We must work to unify our small farmers to collectively demand higher milk prices and more equity between small farmers and large corporate farms, and between the farmers who supply the milk and the business that process milk. Reasonable production limits may also need to be established to help stabilize prices.

Rudy Johnson Opens Campaign Headquarters

New York State Assembly candidate Rudy Johnson is opening his official campaign headquarters this week. The headquarters are located at 385 West Main Street in downtown Malone. There will be a grand opening party in the headquarters on the afternoon of Saturday, September 4th, beginning at 2 PM.

The building that now houses the campaign headquarters had been vacant and unused for several years. At various points in the past it had housed a furniture store, a video rental store, and a party planning and supply business. Rudy, a former architect, is working to improve the building, which had fallen into disrepair.

Rudy hopes that his decision to run his campaign from this building will send a message.

“There are too many empty, decaying storefronts like this in our downtowns,” Rudy said. “I want to work to bring work and activity back to all of them. This is just the first of many business spaces in North Country that I hope to help bring back to life.”

Providing practical solutions to the North Country’s economic problems is the central message of Rudy’s campaign. More information can be found at www.rudyforassembly.com.

Rudy's August Schedule

Rudy Johnson Continues Listening Tour, Releases August Schedule

New York State Assembly candidate Rudy Johnson is continuing his listening tour throughout the 114th Assembly District. Following a busy July, which included visits to the Clinton County Fair, town and village board meetings, Tupper Lake’s Woodsmen’s Days, and numerous other events, Rudy plans to continue to visit meetings and events throughout August. A full schedule of events and meetings Rudy plans to attend in August is included below.

Hearing the real concerns of North Country residents is Rudy’s highest priority. He knows that he must listen to the voices in our communities, and not the demands of Albany. He encourages people throughout the 114th district to take these opportunities to meet with him and share their opinions about how the state government is run and how it could better serve their needs. He plans to travel to every town and village in the district, hearing from their residents and learning how he can best serve them in the state assembly.

“I have met so many wonderful people while visiting the many towns and villages of the North Country,” Rudy said. “Not only have they welcomed me warmly, but they have offered many great ideas about how to improve our region and overcome the dysfunction in Albany.”

Rudy has been actively traveling the district since he announced his candidacy in June. A gallery of photographs from events he has attended can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/51284014@N04/


Rudy’s August Schedule

Saturday, July 31st
Moira Heritage Day
Foothills Art Festival

Sunday, August 1st
Fort Covington Volunteer Fire Department Field Day
Churubusco Volunteer Fire Department Field Day

Monday, August 2nd
Plattsburgh Town Board Meeting

Wednesday, August 4th
Burke Village Board Meeting

Saturday, August 7th – Sunday, August 15th
Franklin County Fair

Monday, August 9th
Chateaugay Town Board Meeting

Tuesday, August 10th
Moira Town Board Meeting

Monday, August 16th
Beekmantown Town Board Meeting

Wednesday, August 18th
Malone Town Board Meeting

Monday, August 23rd
Peru Town Board Meeting

July Schedule

Rudy’s July Schedule

Tuesday, July 6
Rouses Point Village Board – 7 PM

Wednesday, July 7
Dannemora Village Board – 7 PM

Thursday, July 8
Brushton Village Board – 7:00
Constable Town Board – 7:30 PM

Saturday, July 10
Mayor’s Cup Regatta (Plattsburgh, NY) – 9:30 am
Woodsmen’s Days (Tupper Lake, NY) – afternoon
Redneck Games (Malone, NY) – evening

Sunday, July 11
Burke Volunteer Fire Department Field Day – early afternoon

Monday, July 12
Champlain Village Board – 6:30 PM

Tuesday, July 13
Bangor Town Board – 7 PM

Saturday, July 17th
Malone Auto Show – afternoon

Tuesday, July 20th – Sunday, July 25th
Clinton County Fair - afternoons

Monday, July 19
Tupper Lake Village Board – 7:30 PM

Tuesday, July 20
Ellenburg Town Board – 7 PM

Wednesday, July 21
Brandon Town Board – 7 PM

Thursday, July 22
Harrietstown Town Board – 7 PM

Saturday, July 24
Childstock Music Festival – afternoon/early evening

Monday, July 26
Schuyler Falls Town Board – 6PM
Saranac Town Board – 7 PM

Press Release: Rudy Kicks Off Summer Campaign

July 5, 2010

For Immediate Release:

Rudy Johnson Begins Summer Campaign, Releases July Schedule

(Malone NY) – New York State Assembly candidate Rudy Johnson is prepared to kick off a series of summer campaign stops throughout the 114^th Assembly District. Following a busy 4^th of July, which included stops at the parades in Fort Covington and Plattsburgh and the St. Regis Falls Field Day, Rudy plans to travel through the district this summer, attending town and village board meetings and community events. A full schedule of events and meetings Rudy plans to attend in July is included on the next page.

Rudy understands the importance of meeting North Country residents and hearing their opinions and concerns. He knows that it’s the voices in our communities, and not the demands of Albany, that should be his first priority. He encourages people throughout the 114^th district to attend these meeting and events and share their thoughts with him personally.

In the coming months, Rudy will travel to towns and villages throughout the 114^th Assembly District. He plans to attend town and village board meetings throughout the district to meet with North Country residents, answer their questions and hear their concerns about state and local issues. In July, Rudy plans to attend meetings in Rouses Point, Dannemora, Brushton, Constable, Champlain, Bangor, Tupper Lake, Ellenburg, Brandon, Harrietstown, Schulyer Falls, and Saranac. Rudy will be attending additional town and village board meetings in August and September.

Rudy also plans to attend local community events in July and August, including the Volunteer Fire Department Field Days in Burke and Fort Covington, Malone’s Redneck Games, Tupper Lake’s Woodsmen’s Days, the Mayor’s Cup Regatta in Plattsburgh, and the Clinton and Franklin County Fairs. Other events will be added as the summer progresses.

Please see the events schedule on the following page for more details. If changes to this schedule are necessary, Rudy’s campaign will issue notification of these changes as soon as possible. A gallery of photographs from Independence Day events can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/51284014@N04/sets/72157624303119649/

Press Republican Article

There is an article about yesterday's press conference in today's Press Republican, written by Stephen Bartlett.

Here is a link to the online version, for those of you without a subscription:

http://pressrepublican.com/0100_news/x336264282/Rudy-Johnson-seeks-114th-Assembly-District-seat