Candidate Profile: Lisa Katz For New Castle Town Supervisor

NEW CASTLE, NY — In 2021's general election, residents of the Hudson Valley will be voting for local officials. In anticipation, Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Lisa Katz is seeking election as New Castle Town Supervisor in November. The 51-year-old is running as a Democrat.

Learn more about Katz on www.UniteNewCastle.org

Check out Patch's full Q&A with Lisa Katz:

Position Sought

Town Supervisor

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Husband Steven. Daughter Arden (19) who is a sophomore in college; Son Spencer (17) who is a senior at Horace Greeley High School

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Bachelor of Science from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania; Bachelor of Arts from the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania; Juris Doctor degree from Fordham Law School

Occupation

Attorney (27 years). Practice focuses on estate planning and elder law.

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

I have been serving as an Elected New Castle Town Board member for the past 8 years. I was elected in 2013 and then re-elected in 2017.

Why are you seeking elective office?

The reason I want to serve as New Castle's Town Supervisor can be summed up in four words: I love our town.

I’m proud of the positive changes I’ve helped to make over the past eight years such as enhancing transparency in our Town government, saving the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center from demolition and bringing in the Westchester Broadway Theater, tripling our paving budget, keeping New Castle at the forefront of green initiatives, advocating for diversity and inclusion, fighting for our residents against expansion at Westchester Airport, and striving to keep property taxes flat.

It would have been easy to walk away at the expiration of my current term, but I couldn't. I care about this community too much. And the proposed Form-Based Code is a fundamentally flawed development plan that will forever change our town. I am in favor of smart revitalization that genuinely serves our current and future community WITHOUT surrendering it to for-profit developers, and without sacrificing our schools, causing significant traffic and parking issues and increasing our taxes in the process. We must have leaders in our Town with the intelligence, temperament and ability to collaborate with key stakeholders on all issues. I believe I am that leader, and have a proven track record.

Of course, the FBC is not the only issue facing our town, and I’ll set the tone at the top to address them all with kindness and respect. Because our community deserves it.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

There are many issues impacting our Town, but here are two important ones. The first is all about bringing our community together. There has been too much vitriol of late, and disregard for differing opinions. As an elected official, it is my duty to respectfully listen to residents and their concerns – even if I don’t like what they have to say. I have always done this. In fact, when I first took office 8 years ago, we did away with a 3-minute timer on resident input. To me, if residents have something to say, they should have the time to say it – whatever “it” may be. I will set the tone at the top to make sure everyone in town feels safe speaking their minds – and that diverse thoughts are not only sought out and encouraged, but valued. Specifically, I will increase transparency and provide objective information to our residents, instead of attempting to influence public perception with misinformation. I will do away with the timer that our current Acting Supervisor resurrected. I will hold meetings in locations throughout our Town - in Millwood, the West End and Chappaqua, and I will make sure to hold regular meetings with our Board of Education, Library Board, and Chamber of Commerce.

The second pressing issue is the Form-Based Code. The Form-Based Code is a comprehensive zoning and development plan in the Chappaqua hamlet designed to bring close to 1,000 new apartments to our small hamlet, benefitting for-profit developers and giving those private interests permanent control over our hamlet. This will harm our award-winning schools, increase taxes and cause traffic and parking issues that cannot be effectively mitigated. I believe that revitalization is most easily achieved working with our existing code. I have proposed adding a 10% affordable housing requirement to our current zoning (which the majority of the Town Board voted down). I would bring that back to the table and engage in actual urban planning and utilize overlay zoning, special permits, streamline our Planning Board review process (not eliminate them), and allow developers to benefit from some of the already completed environmental analysis to simplify development and, much more importantly, spur negotiations with developers so we as residents see our vision developed, rather than the vision of developers simply out to make a profit. I would make sure that the concerns of key stakeholders such as our Board of Education are addressed, and that issues such as taxes, parking and traffic are appropriately addressed.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am running against one other candidate for Town Supervisor. There are two primary differences between us. First, unlike my opponent, I have the experience, expertise and intellectual integrity to lead our Town. I have institutional knowledge and the experience needed to analyze all issues, build consensus and advocate for New Castle, as I have been doing for the past eight years.

The second difference is that, unlike my opponent, I am focused on New Castle, rather than national and partisan party politics. I have been a registered Democrat since I first registered to vote at the age of 18. But I am not a politician. I am running on an independent line (as I have the last two times I successfully ran for office) because the issues facing New Castle defy partisan party politics - they are neither Republican nor Democrat. When elected in 2013, and when re-elected in 2017, I helped to usher in a new era in Town government by putting the interests of residents above the agenda of a single political party.

I am focused on local matters and results, not political ideology, labels and agendas. I believe in vigorous community input. I believe in collaboration and participation. I believe in an open process. I believe in transparency. I believe in diversity of opinion. I believe in respect. I am a New Castler in my heart, my mind and with my energy. I don't care if people are red, blue or purple.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I have been on the Town Board for the past eight years, so I know all of the issues impacting our Town. My opponent will try to paint me as a one-issue candidate, but that is an intellectually dishonest statement.

AIRPORT - We need to pay particular attention to expansion at the Westchester County Airport, as it is impacting our environment and the peaceful enjoyment of many of our residents' properties. I have been actively involved with this issue and attend meetings at the airport. We must support the new flight path over 684; we must demand that the proposal to expand the MillionAir hangar be analyzed for environmental impacts and not be approved; we must maintain an ongoing presence on the Airport Advisory Board to make sure we are up to date on developments that might impact us; we must actively participate in the upcoming Airport Master Plan process and make sure concerned residents are aware of opportunities to voice concerns. As Town Supervisor, I will make sure that I am there to voice my concerns personally (as I have done in the past) and that we allocate the necessary resources.

MILLWOOD AND THE WEST END - I will focus on maintaining the environmental diversity and enhancing the communities of Millwood and the West End, beginning with the completion of the Millwood sidewalk and Millwood Park projects. I have already reinvigorated the Millwood/West End Advisory Board as the overseeing Town Board member, and I will institute direct and regular communication with the MWEAB. We also need to advocate for our residents with respect to development projects such as the Hudson Ridge Wellness Center and the Sunshine Home expansion. Since I took office, I also helped to secure $500K for Millwood sidewalks, improve Millwood park, make Millwood Community Garden a reality, bring DeCiccos and sidewalks to Millwood and more.

HAMLETS - We must create energized hamlets appropriate with their size and scale by bringing experiential opportunities to the hamlets, enhancing resident programming, and fostering merchant and housing diversity. Personally, I want to bring an ice skating rink / toddler water park to Town. That would bring the community together, increase the need for restaurants and shops, and cause people not only to come to town, but to stay.

TAXES - I will hold the line on taxes. New Castle's property taxes are among the highest in the country, and if the FBC is passed, are set to go even higher. I am committed to a fiscally sustainable New Castle and, as a Wharton grad and as a member of the Town Board for the past 8 years, I understand the importance of fiscal discipline and urgency in working for ALL taxpayers and residents. Now more than ever, it is critical to work to sustain the affordability of New Castle for our residents, and provide the high-quality, essential services to our residents who make the significant financial sacrifice to live here. Our fiduciary responsibilities must take priority over any political agendas. I will require any development proposals to include a community contribution that covers the additional burden on our roadways and town services, will prioritize infrastructure improvements before unnecessary development costs, and will work with the CCSD and government agencies to take advantage of appropriate shared services.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION - I am committed to the principles of diversity and inclusion in all that we do. I will cultivate and engage our diverse community and the viewpoints within it. I will actively be recruiting members of our community on our Town Committees to promote policies, activities and educational opportunities that support cultural understanding, mutual respect, and inclusion. I will collaborate with our Committee on Race and Equity, Board of Education, and other town committees such as our EPIC (Every person Is Connected) and Holocaust and Human Rights Committees, and foster increased communication with all residents and groups.

BOARD OF EDUCATION - I will repair the Town's relationship with the Board of Education to ensure collaboration, not confrontation. I intend to foster an excellent working relationship between the Town Board and the Board of Education, and prioritize effective, collaborative communication and mutual respect between the two governing bodies.
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ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY - We have been at the forefront of environmentally-friendly legislation in New York, and I will continue that legacy. I will implement a green building code and energy solutions to reduce our carbon footprint and preserve our environment. I will continue to work with the Town Sustainability Advisory Board to realize innovative solutions for a more resilient New Castle. Since I have been in office, I'm proud to have adopted many initiatives such as:

1. Solarize New Castle - We won a coveted spot to provide solar power at discounted prices to residents and businesses. We also now participate in Unified Solar Permitting which makes getting solar faster and less expensive.
2. Reusable Bag Initiative - We were the first municipality in NYS to pass a comprehensive bag law.
3. Composting at the Recycling center - We approve a program that turns waste into usable compost.
4. Westchester Power - We became the first community in NYS to default to all green electricity supply - the vast majority of residents and businesses have gone green and saved thousands of tons of CO2.
5. Lighting in New Castle - We converted nearly all street lights to LEDs for GHG and cost savings.
6. Paris Accord - After the federal government abandoned the Paris Accord, we passed a resolution to work toward the goals of the Paris Accord.
7. We passed a new Leaf Blower law; and
8. We purchased an Electric Van to be used to shuttle between ChappPAC and the Chappaqua Hamlet.

ENHANCING DAILY LIFE - The big issues are important, but it’s the little things that impact us all every day. I will ensure that we solve for those issues that impact each of us directly and daily like filling potholes, paving roads, keeping our town and parks safe and clean, beautifying our hamlets, increasing programming for residents of all ages, advocating for constituents during power outages, helping residents find the services they need, and solving problems important to all residents.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have effectively served on the Town Board for the past eight years, where I am often the sole voice advocating for residents. I have integrity and intelligence, and I never back down from doing what is right - a trait that I live by and am proud to have instilled in my children.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The best advice ever shared with me is “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." After I survived cancer, I had this quote engraved on a necklace, and I try to remember it each day. It is so easy to become consumed with the craziness of life, forgetting to stop to really enjoy where we are going and what we are doing. Life is more than checking off our "to do" list. We must make sure to appreciate all the little things in life that make us smile and fill us with joy and wonder; all those moments that take our breath away. For those are the parts of life that truly make us live, make our hearts happy and make us sigh at the beauty of life.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I love connecting with people, over coffee or a cocktail, to learn what truly matters to them. While I hate campaigns, I love public service, and it makes my heart happy to know that I can make a positive impact. That's what is important to me. My experience serving on the Town Board with integrity, thoughtfulness, and heart has given me an in-depth perspective on the challenges and opportunities faced by our community. I am the only candidate with the experience, commitment, and true heart to lead New Castle forward.

Find information about absentee and early voting here: Election 2021: New Systems For Early Voting In Westchester. To find all your candidates, as well as statewide, county and local propositions, follow the links offered by the Board of Elections:

• View the 2021 General Election Candidates List.
• View the 2021 General Election State Propositions.
• View the 2021 General Election County and Local Propositions.