By Dave Robbie
Contributing writer
Syracuse native David Linton said he wants to represent Onondaga County's 17th Legislative District because the city where he grew up has gone downhill.
"There's a big drug problem, a lot of poverty, a lot of people need jobs," said Linton, who is running on the Green Party line. "I talk to people, and I've got to admit, it's not the same."
Linton, a retired Syracuse firefighter and U.S. Postal worker, said serving on the county Legislature will allow him to speak up for Syracuse's poor neighborhoods, something incumbent Ed Ryan has neglected.
Linton, who two years ago helped in the effort to renovate Skiddy Park on the West Side, said incumbent Edward F. Ryan focuses primarily on the Tipperary Hill area.
"A lot of people don't have a voice, and I can give them a voice in the county," Linton said. "If you go to the West End of town, you'll see it's deteriorating. It's deteriorating in the 17th District.
The county has suffered, he said, since state tax cuts in 1995 affected many of the county's poverty programs.
"The first thing we've got to do is get more money from the state and federal governments," he said. "I can help take it to the next step."
Linton said he's running on the Green Party ticket because he agrees with the party's platforms on ecological development and its successful effort to raise the living wage in the city. The Green Party designation also allows him more freedom in his political positions, he said.
"I'm not held out on a party line like most politicians are," he said. "That's why I left the Democratic Party. I hate being pigeonholed. I hate being a liberal, a moderate, a conservative. I just do what I believe in. I'm not a politician. I'm passionate about all people."
Should the county push forward with the convention center hotel even if the $15 million in state money does not come through for the project?
They should just renovate Hotel Syracuse. If they're going to give us that money, why can't they give us that money to develop jobs, quality jobs? Talk to Hyundai, that company that sells all those cars at Fuccillo, and talk about getting a factory here.
Do you see consolidation of some city and county departments as a meaningful way to create efficiencies and help the city with it financial challenges?
Yes, I do. I've talked to a few common councilors, and they've had some problems there. I don't know what's going on because I'm on the outside looking in. But when I get on the inside, I'll know.
What specific strategies would you like to see the county adapt to help spur economic development?
Linton said his ideas for economic growth mirror those of the Green Party's Sustainable Syracuse proposal, which advocates, among other things, using government money to subside the implementation of renewable energy sources, which the Green Party claims will lead to the creation of quality jobs within the city.
"I see this Destiny USA, and I wish the money could have been targeted elsewhere," Linton said. "The jobs that (Congel) is offering are not jobs; they require no skill. The jobs I want to push are jobs that require skill. What we need back here are manufacturing jobs, craft jobs, and jobs using new technologies, not retail jobs."
© 2005 The Post-Standard. Used with permission.
Posted by syracusegreens at November 3, 2005 12:43 AM