DARIN ROBBINS TO BE ON GREEN PARTY BALLOT IN NOVEMBER ELECTION FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Darin Robbins 78 Sterling St. Corning, New York 14830 (607)-936-3294 dcr420dcr@hotmail As the Green Party candidate for mayor of Corning, I have submitted my designating petition to the Steuben County Board Of Elections on July 9th. Since the Green Party is a ballot status party, and there are 29 registered Greens in Corning, I had to submit at least 2 signatures. I submitted 4 signatures. I look forward to speaking with the people of Corning regardless of party and talking about the new innovative ideas that can make Corning a better community by acknowledging the inherent truth that the residents of Corning are its co-owners. This co-ownership can best be expressed through policies that expand the democratic process and make our community more resilient. We can expand democracy by establishing a referendum system, giving taxpayers the ability to choose where 30% of their tax payment will go in the city budget, and supporting the development of cooperative businesses. We can be a more resilient community through local renewable energy production, creating a community workshop of small-scale manufacturing equipment with open access for all residents, initiating a community land trust with all residents as shareholders that can purchase foreclosed residential or commercial property for rental arrangements, and starting our own local currency that can supplement wages and be used for local purchases. My full platform is below. I also look forward to meeting Mayor Negri at any available candidates forum in order to give the voters an informed choice. Mayor Negri is a good man, but there can be no doubt that there is a marked contrast between my campaign and his campaign. He has the experience of being mayor, but we are at the juncture that we must have the will to try new ideas. Appreciating the past is important, but that must be combined with a view toward the future. That is why I am running, because these ideas need to be considered for the future of our community. I am a lifelong resident of Corning, living in the 8th and 9th wards before redistricting and in the 7th and 6th wards after redistricting. I attended St. Vincent’s elementary school, All Saints Academy middle school, and Notre Dame high school in Elmira. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from American University in Washington D.C. and currently volunteer at the Southeast Steuben County Library. I have been a member of the Green Party since November of 2000 and a member of Occupy since November of 2011. In 2004, I was a delegate from New York to the Green Party presidential convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I have written for my own e-zine called “Public Uproar” from 2000 to 2004 and contributed to the Green Party Of New York State theory blog called “A Green State Of Mind” from 2007 to 2013. I am currently a member of the State Committee and Executive Committee of the Green Party Of New York State. 1. Anti-Fracking: A community Bill Of Rights that supports local sovereignty under New York state Home Rule and includes the right to clean land, air, and water which in turn sets the foundation for a local ban on fracking. 2. Bill Of Rights Defense Resolution: The affirmation and protection of civil liberties from such legislation as the USA PATRIOT Act, Homeland Security Act of 2002, Military Commissions Act of 2006, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments, and National Defense Authorization Act of 2012. 3. Community Land Trust: The public purchase of foreclosed homes, which will allow for rental negotiations with the original tenants, and rental payments distributed to all city residents as co-owners. 4. Cooperatives: The requirement that the city’s economic fund can only give startup loans to worker owned businesses, followed by a city hiring hall that will be an employment office helping the unemployed into job positions with those cooperatives. 5. Fab Lab: A community workshop offering opportunities for personal fabrication through computer controlled tools and flexible manufacturing equipment that is freely accessible to all residents and serving as a common resource. 6. Living Wage Ordinance: A local minimum wage calculated to the cost of living so that residents will be able to earn a living without having to go into private debt or rely on welfare to supplement wages. 7. Local Currency: A community based currency for local purchases, distributed as a basic income to all residents, acting as a supplement to wages and a stimulation to local businesses. 8. Net-metering: A revolving loan fund that will help homeowners install solar panels and small wind turbines while connected to the city grid, where any surplus energy is shared by all residents. 9. Participatory Budgeting: The ability of residents to choose where 30% of their local tax payment will go in the city budget, encouraging democratic participation and reflecting the priorities of residents. 10. Referendum: The ability of residents to place proposals on the ballot so that all residents can vote on them, increasing the direct democratic process for the community.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Jul 2013 02:12:11 +0000
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