July 14, 2005

Hawkins uses Inner Harbor to launch run

Greens launch runs at harbor

JOHN MARIANI
POLITICAL NOTEBOOK

Syracuse's Inner Harbor, Howie Hawkins said, was the perfect spot for him and his Green Party running mates to launch their candidate petition drive Monday because it showed what is right and wrong with the city.
What's right, said Hawkins, the party's candidate for mayor, is that it's a beautiful place, ripe for development. What's wrong is that it's controlled by a private developer who wants to turn it into a "tourist trap," he said.
"It's time for the people who live here to determine the direction of development," said Hawkins, 52, of 303 Warner Ave., as he rolled out an eight-plank "economic justice" platform. It included:


  • Setting up "community-owned enterprises" - city- and owner-operated businesses, worker and consumer cooperatives, and joint-stock companies - to fill market gaps vacated by big business.

  • Starting a municipal bank to lend money to these enterprises and to residents.

  • Creating neighborhood assemblies with voting power to decide on development ideas.

  • Making public investments that would give the city management and income rights when it grants business incentives.

  • Bringing cheap public power, a la Skaneateles and Solvay, to Syracuse.

  • Passing a city minimum wage.

  • Cutting sales and property taxes and starting city income and commuter taxes to provide dependable revenue while fairly taxing rich and poor alike.

  • Building a new economy around environmental engineering and services.

Joining Hawkins were Gary Bonaparte, candidate for 2nd District councilor; Cosmo Fanizzi III, running for 16th District county legislator; and David Linton, seeking the 17th District Legislature seat.
They and candidates for other "independent" parties have until Aug. 23 to get signatures.

Posted by syracusegreens at July 14, 2005 12:45 PM