TROY CITY COUNCIL

CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE

The following questions were developed by Capital Streets in collaboration with the Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley (ILCHV) and TAP.

This questionnaire is intended to help inform Trojans on how candidates* for City Council will address issues related to transportation, accessibility, land use, and more.

Elections will be held November 4, 2025 (early voting begins October 25th).

*An invitation to complete this questionnaire was sent to all candidates eligible in their respective races who will appear on the November ballot in Troy — the responses below are reflective only of those who provided answers to the survey.

To learn more about Philip visit philfortroy.com/
To learn more about Ryan visit ryanfordistrict2.com/
To learn more about Shikole visit shikolefortroy.com/
To learn more about Noreen visit mckee4troy.com/
To learn more about Greg visit gregfortroy.com/

TRANSPORTATION

1) What neighborhood do you live in?

DiLorenzo (1): Lansingburgh

Brosnan (2): Lansingburgh, 104th

Struber (2): District 2 - south Lansingburgh - knickerbocker park neighborhood

McKee (4): I live on 2nd Street downtown

Campbell-Cohen (6): South Troy

2) How often (days per week) do you walk to where you need to go? What issues do you notice?

DiLorenzo (1): 1-2. Lack of sidewalk or sidewalks need repair are the issues I see.

Brosnan (2): Once a week. I noticed the side walks were in need of repair and they have been improving and getting those repairs.

Struber (2): I go on regular walks for leisure and to pick up trash as well as to get to the bus stop - 3-4 days a week probably. I notice a lot of trash along the roads, though not as much on the main roads. I also notice a lot of sidewalks that are not walkable and shrubs that need trimming.

McKee (4): Everyday. What I mostly notice is the traffic and how fast cars drive down 2nd, 4th and & Congress Streets.

Campbell-Cohen (6): I walk every day for at least an hour or two. There are year-round issues with sidewalk accessibility, crosswalk visibility, and unpredictable vehicular traffic due to line-of-sight issues and faulty traffic lights. In the winter months, there are long stretches of sidewalk in South Troy that ice over for weeks on end. This has a chilling effect on foot traffic, obviously, but it also impacts folks' ability to access bus lines. It's an especially serious safety and mobility issue for hilly roads like Lincoln Avenue, where I live.

3) Do you use, or have you ever used, a bicycle for something other than recreation (such as commuting, running errands, or replacing car trips) in the City of Troy? If so, what issues do you notice?

DiLorenzo (1): I only use my bicycle for recreation.

Brosnan (2): No.

Struber (2): Yes! The biggest issue is safety, there are not dedicated bike lanes and cars don’t often treat bikers well. I’ve been beeped at, have almost been hit, it’s terrible!

McKee (4): Yes, and I think it's dangerous to ride a bike on the streets without bike lanes, which is lacing in most of the downtown area.

Campbell-Cohen (6): Yes, I do! The good folks over at Troy Bike Rescue hooked me up with a great bicycle, and I recently invested in an e-bike to cut down on driving. One of the biggest issues I see is that bike lanes start and terminate without connecting to a more cohesive network: we'd see a lot more cyclists in Troy if folks were able to use dedicated bicycle infrastructure from departure to destination. Protected bike lanes would also encourage ridership in Troy, especially with more cautious or recreational cyclists.

4) How often do you use public transit? What strengths and issues do you notice? If you do not use public transit, what improvements in service design, frequency, safety, or fare affordability would make transit a more viable option for you?

DiLorenzo (1): I use public transit rarely, but I know many of my neighbors rely on it every day to get to work, school, appointments, etc. Something that would make it a more viable option for me is making express commuting trips from my neighborhood to my office in downtown Albany. The bus can take a long time.

Brosnan (2): I do not use public transportation at the moment. I would say having a bus line that goes to grocery stores more frequently would be a great assistance to a lot of people.

Struber (2): I do often use the bus in Troy, specifically the 922 and 923 lines but sometimes the 85. The buses work well! The app makes it really easy to load money, pay, check the schedule, etc. I do think more routes are needed, though. There’s no easy way to get anywhere up the hill for example.

McKee (4): I used it once since I moved here 13 years ago. I would like to see the CDTA provide more access by creating more routes for folks who do not own cars across the city.

Campbell-Cohen (6): I do not use public transit very often. I walk if I can walk and otherwise need to drive due to my schedule and professional obligations. On net, driving a car is neither safer nor more affordable than taking public transit, but it does allow me to have a lot more control over when I depart or arrive, and it also lets me travel all over the Capital Region all day with supplies and equipment on hand. Expansive and reliable service would make public transit more feasible, but my work and lifestyle would need to change pretty dramatically to rely on it entirely.

5) Troy's Complete Streets Policy, in the City Code, describes complete streets as “streets that are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users, in that pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and public transportation users of all ages and abilities are able to safely move through the transportation network.”

How familiar are you with the Complete Streets Policy? Do you have any particular comments on how the city enacted its implementation of the Complete Streets policy?

DiLorenzo (1): I am familiar with the policy, and I think the city is taking some reasonable and visible steps to enact the policy, however there is room for improvement.

Brosnan (2): I'm fairly familiar with the complete streets policy. I think Troy is moving in the right direction as streets are being redone/redesigned.

Struber (2): I’ve read it, but am not familiar with how or when it was passed. Having read it, I don’t think Troy has prioritized Complete Streets.

McKee (4): I am not yet fully aware of Troy's complete streets policy and how it was enacted. I plan to make that a priority once my campaign is over.

Campbell-Cohen (6): I am very familiar with the city's Complete Streets Policy, having actually drafted one of the Complete Streets Advisory Board's annual reports. From my perspective, Troy's Complete Streets Policy could use some updates to its timelines and quantifiable reporting metrics. The advisory board's effectiveness really hinges on active, good faith engagement from city employees, and the policy should be updated to require participation by job title. The policy's bigger issue is that the city's enthusiasm for honoring it gradually waned to the point that the Advisory Board is now totally defunct. The policy needs more teeth if it's going to weather administrative & political turnover.

6) In recent years, what successes or obstacles have you seen in terms of implementing this policy throughout your district or neighborhood? Throughout Troy?

DiLorenzo (1): Fixing of some sidewalks in disrepair, ADA complaint street corners, some improved bus stops. I think the bus priority signals are also a step in the right direction. Street markings with dedicated bike lanes for bike routes all the way through my district would be great to see, as it can be a relatively dangerous route.

Brosnan (2): The biggest obstacle I've seen is the city is very historic so implementing changes are limited based off of existing infrastructure.

Struber (2): I have not seen much implemented in D2. There have been a few sidewalk replacements as part of the 5 year plan, but that is also grant money specifically for those projects.

McKee (4): There's a lack of wheelchair access to sidewalks. I've noticed that driving on Hoosick street it's a real problem particularly in the winter when ice covers the sidewalks. I've seen people pushing baby carriages in the street because of icy conditions. Cars often drive down 2nd and 4th streets at high speeds. There are not enough bike lanes. Parking is a problem when there are activities in downtown like on Saturdays during farmers market and I notice it whenever there's a concert at the Music Hall since I have to park on the street. A success is the implementation of the mobility plaza in Little Italy at 4th and Liberty.

Campbell-Cohen (6): Throughout the district, sidewalk accessibility has come a long way in the last five years. There's also a lot of work left to do: between lead pipes, gas lines, demolitions, and construction projects, pedestrians in South Troy have needed to use the cross streets to get around. A lot of those east-west sidewalks are pretty uneven and improvisational.

Line-of-sight issues at intersections are also very common all over the district and that can be very scary for everyone, especially as cars keep getting larger. There are a lot of creative and pretty inexpensive solutions at our disposal to keep our corners clear from parked cars so cyclists and pedestrians can cross the street with more confidence.

7) What are some recent improvements that you have seen in your district regarding access to public transit systems, streetscape elements, and overall pedestrian accessibility and comfort in your district?

DiLorenzo (1): Newly paved sidewalks, ADA compliant corners, again, bus stops improvements and expansion.

Brosnan (2): CDTA just held multiple public meetings to see how the bus lines and car sharing programs would be better implemented in the neighborhoods they most impact. They have rolled out those new routes and I believe they are helping immensely.

Struber (2): The city did clean up the green space on 2nd Ave by the river between 104th and 103rd but there is no sidewalk on that side of the road so it doesn’t really contribute to Complete Streets. I’ve also seen them fining some homes that supposedly have brush blocking the sidewalk, but I still have to walk into the road or duck several times while walking to the bus stop.

McKee (4): The most recent is the implementation of the mobility plaza at 4th and Liberty.

Campbell-Cohen (6): I am enormously grateful to the Osgood neighborhood's dedication to bringing street trees all over South Troy. The breadth of quality-of-life improvements that we all get from street trees would seem outrageous if it weren't supported by empirical evidence. I'm a year-round pedestrian with an energetic dog, so I cover a lot of mileage on foot in the neighborhood, and the streets with canopy cover are so much more enjoyable to walk along in the hotter months. On the Council, I'd like to investigate funding options that would allow us to bring back the arborist position to support these kinds of projects going forward.

8) How familiar are you with the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance? Are there aspects of either document that you especially support or disagree with? How closely will you use these documents to guide your decision making as a city councilperson?

DiLorenzo (1): I am familiar with the Comprehensive Plan, not so much exactly with the Zoning Ordinance. I am in general agreement with the Comprehensive Plan for my district, however there are some specific changes that I am against, one about the changes being made around Knickerbacker Park.

Brosnan (2): I'm fairly familiar. Replacing out dated, dangerous, and non ada compliant side walks is something I support fully. I use these documents as my guide as often as I can.

Struber (2): I have read through each in their entirety and often refer to it. I like that the CP focuses on North Central as the area has a lot of potential to be a hub for business and employment which will also increase the safety of the area. I especially appreciate that there is a focus on mobility and accessibility as well as green spaces.

I like that the Zoning Ordinance allows for ADUs as that can be a great tool for increasing affordable housing options in Troy. I also love that TAP has a program to help promote these and can potentially help with the cost.

McKee (4): I am not very familiar with the City's Comprehensive Plan but as soon as my campaign is over, I plan to study it and educate myself on all the issues pertaining to the governance of the City and that includes planning, zoning, policing, public works, the City charter, industrial and economic development, etc.

Campbell-Cohen (6): I am familiar with both and view them as valuable guides to support Troy's growth while responding to modern demands.

Given its scope, I find the Comprehensive Plan a hard document to "agree" or "disagree" with; to me, the more interesting conversation is about which of the goals to prioritize in any given neighborhood and in any given year. Vacant buildings and green spaces are major issues I'd like to see elevated in the district. I'd also like us to take a more proactive view of vacant building issues, especially given how complicated they can be to resolve after the property begins to decline from inattention.

I am overwhelmingly supportive of the (relatively) recent updates to Troy's zoning ordinance, particularly with regards to its support for dynamic, new housing solutions. As with any major overhaul, I'm open to tweaks around the edges, but it's a huge step forward and a solid framework for us to plan around.

9) Recently, several nearby communities have made strides to improve traffic safety on their roadways. The cities of Albany, Cohoes, and Schenectady have all reduced their city-wide speed limits (excluding only a few specific roadways) to 25 MPH. The City of Albany also now uses speed cameras in school zones and speed humps to reduce speeding on neighborhood streets.

Which of the following do you support implementing in the City of Troy? [Speed Humps / SCHOOL ZONE SPEED CAMERAS / 25 MPH SPEED LIMITS]

10) What area(s) in your district are most dangerous for vulnerable road users (defined by NYS as “pedestrians, cyclists, motorized wheelchair users, and those on foot within work zones”)? Is there a specific way you would advocate to resolve it?

DiLorenzo (1): The 2nd and 5th Ave Corridors in my district can be dangerous for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorized wheelchair users. The issue in these locations by and large is that there is not a lot of room to add something like a bike lane. I often find myself taking side streets to avoid the heavy traffic in these areas, and the often speeding and loud cars. I think a 25 MPH speed limit would be a great start towards resolving the safety concerns in these areas, and possibly the strategic use of speed bumps. I don't think speed zone cameras in my district would be an efficient use of taxpayer dollars, just based on where the schools are located, away from the main thoroughfares.

Brosnan (2): Hoosick street is by far the most dangerous. Hoosick street is a target of change in general. The most effective way to improve safety in the short term is to add more reflective strips in crosswalks and shoulders.

Struber (2): 1. 9th street off of Hoosick and 8th and 10th streets onto Hoosick. Residents often complain about the speed of cars down the streets as well as the lack of attention drivers tend to pay. There are many residents who walk and bike on these streets who are put in danger.

2. Intersection of 5th and 103rd. The light here has no delay between when one direct goes green and the other red so cars are often blowing through the red lights. There are no crosswalk signals at this location either, even though there is a bus stop there. This bus stop is also the primary access point for people to get to Knick Park.

3. The whole of River st and 2nd Ave between Hoosick and 111th street. Part of the stretch only has sidewalks on one side. There is not a dedicated bike lane. The stretch is largely straight and cars are always speeding down it.

Adding crosswalks on 5th and River/2nd Ave at all intersections (even if there is not a signal) would be a low cost start to improving the mobility on these streets. Reprogramming the light at 5th and 103rd so there is a delay between the red/green change also seems like a pretty simple safety improvement though I admin I don't know how the programming of lights works. I will also support any grants that we can get to improve these items as well as development that supports safer and more accessible streets.

I am also only against speed humps because of the complications it causes for plowing.

McKee (4): Congress St., Hoosick St, 4th and 2nd Streets. I will hold neighborhood meetings to hear from others about the problems they perceive regarding our streets and possible solutions.

Campbell-Cohen (6): High Street and the Troy-Menands Bridge are perilous for cyclists, and the surrounding pedestrian infrastructure is uncomfortable at best and (at times) straightforwardly inaccessible. As a councilmember, I'd be an active participant and representative in discussions about the bridge replacement going forward and would advocate for a design that promotes accessibility. That being said, there are residential areas and school zones all over the district that would benefit from street features that calm traffic and encourage driver attentiveness.

11) In the recent past, the City of Troy had a number of bodies made up of volunteer community members interested in helping make improvements in the city, including the ADA Advisory Committee, Complete Streets Advisory Board, Street Tree Committee, and the Sustainability Task Force. Most, if not all, of these bodies are now defunct.

Do you see the value in this type of citizen involvement? If so, how will you, in your role as a councilmember, support the development and effectiveness of bodies like this?

DiLorenzo (1): I do see the value in this type of involvement, as it allows for transparency and citizen inclusion in planning for the City. Citizens should buy-in to these changes, because they affect their everyday life and will allow folks to take ownership and responsibility of their neighborhood. This is great for community pride and long term positive thinking for the areas.

Brosnan (2): I do value citizen involvement. One way I support these bodies is by joining them. Im currently on the sustainability task force.

Struber (2): I do see value in citizen task forces because none of us can experience all of the different locations, methods, and issues ourselves. I usually walk between the hours of 5pm and 8pm, but that doesn't mean I would see or experience issues that are happening at noon. Adding residents to a task force can help city council have a more 360 degree picture of the city's needs.

McKee (4): Certainly I see value in citizen involvement and as a councilmember I will become more familiar with these committees, talk to people who have served on them and to folks in my district to hear what people have to say about their usefulness and effectiveness. At the very minimum, I will work toward the re-establishment of the Sustainability Task Force.

Campbell-Cohen (6): I value civic involvement through boards and commissions. I also value everybody's time, however, and many of these types of volunteer bodies suffer from mandates that are duplicative of one another, overly broad, or overly narrow. Whenever a commission goes defunct, it has a chilling effect on future engagement from the volunteers involved, many of whom have a lot to offer this city. There is also a ceiling to what can be achieved within these bodies in the absence of active and enthusiastic engagement from staff.

In the short- to medium-term, I'd like to see our volunteer bodies consolidated into manageable commissions with realistic (but important) goals, discrete responsibilities, and workflows guided by dedicated staff support.

Some areas of Troy create more mobility issues than others for locals. Clockwise from top left: Congress & 4th Street (Source: Google Maps), a proposed redesign of Congress & 4th Street (Source: Alta Planning + Design), Hoosick Street (Source: Times Union)

12) How, as a councilperson, will you address these issues to make our communities more livable and safe for people of all ages and abilities?

DiLorenzo (1): Hoosick Street being a state road, I believe we will need to have state involvement in order to fix this area reasonably. I am an advocate for traffic circles. i think something needs to be done about the merging situation. Congress and Fourth appears to be a decent solution for the area, as we'd like to create more walkable and cyclist friendly transportation while also keeping the project within reason cost-wise.

Brosnan (2): I'll work with the engineers when the proposed changes occur to ensure safe streets for all.

Struber (2): I will advocate for and work with people, departments, and organizations to get more accessible streets for Troy. This could look like attending meetings of local non profits, looking for applicable grants, but most directly - voting for the legislation to make the changes.

McKee (4): I will advocate for plans that make our streets safer and beautiful, making it pleasant for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians of all ages.

Campbell-Cohen (6): To me, the most important role a councilmember can play for projects that attract a lot of attention and disagreement is playing an active role in soliciting public input and then listening carefully when I receive it. As a resident who's engaged with some of these projects, I have sometimes been disappointed by the gulf between what the general public clearly expresses and what city officials do anyway. I can't promise that I will make everybody happy all the time (I can't), but I can promise to honor the public feedback process and listen for ways to improve projects.

ACCESSIBILITY

There are often major obstacles for people trying to navigate Troy’s streets, including degrading infrastructure, illegally parked cars, and ice and snow in the winter time.

13) How will you, in your role on the City Council, address these challenges in the City of Troy?

DiLorenzo (1): Advocate to increase enforcement, or neighborhood community solutions like volunteer show brigades, easy to find and anonymous reporting, better communication.

Brosnan (2): Currently we fine building owners who dont shovel. I believe increasing and enforcing that will help mitigate that issue. The issue with illegaly parked cars is one where we often work with police to stop the illegal parking. The degrading infrastructure is one that we are tackling every day. As we replace lead lines some of the sidewalks will be replaced.

Struber (2): While punitive measures are not what I often jump to, fines would be the simplest initial thing to address this. Adding a form to the website for reporting such things to the city and having someone from code or parking enforcement assigned to check and issue a fine could add revenue for the city and deter people from ignoring the rules in place. Once someone has had a consequence, especially a financial one, they tend to follow the rules better. If there is an adjustment to the laws on the books that could be made I would also be open to that.

McKee (4): Uncleared ice and snow on the sidewalks in the winter is a problem. It seems to me that folks who are responsible for the clearance of their sidewalks should be fined if they do not clear them. If cars are parked illegally they should be ticketed. I would encourage residents to notify me about decaying infrastructure and ask the city engineering department to look into it and provide me with feedback on what can be done to mitigate the danger.

Campbell-Cohen (6): Cities in the region have used increasingly forceful and public language to continually assert that homeowners are responsible for keeping their sidewalks clear. This has had no impact at all on sidewalks as far as I can tell, due in part to enforcement constraints and in part to negligent and indifferent owners. There's a lot said about how unfair this is ("you own the house, so it's your responsibility"), which is true, but the more critical fairness issue is obviously that children need to walk into traffic to get to school or that many people cannot get to work, and that fairness issue does not get resolved regardless of whether a nominal fine is issued to the building's owner. Several cities have implemented pilot projects to explore municipal sidewalk clearing programs and, as a councilmember, I'll be eager to learn from those experiments and see if it's viable in Troy.

14) How will you, in your role on the City Council, address these challenges in the City of Troy?

DiLorenzo (1): Same as above.

Brosnan (2): Through different grants and following the comprehensive plan side walks conditions will continue to improve.

Struber (2): Assuming this is still in relation to the snow and ice and the photos above.

McKee (4): See answer to 13.

Campbell-Cohen (6): In the short-term, I would like to identify essential sidewalks to prioritize for clearance and enforcement and work to bolster code enforcement's capacity. A bigger, longer project that I'd be eager to explore is the viability of municipal sidewalk clearance and maintenance.

15) PRoperty owners are responsible for the sidewalks directly adjacent to their property. This has led to inconsistent and inaccessible conditions throughout much of the city. This is especially an issue with absentee landlords and abandoned properties.

How would you address the excessive amount of vacant buildings in Troy?

DiLorenzo (1): Stronger code enforcement against absentee owners while working to incentivize local buyers and non-profits to turn these properties into housing and community assets.

Brosnan (2): I currently do everything i can to support the Troy land bank to revitalize vacant buildings in Troy.

Struber (2): From what I have read about how other smaller cities have addressed this problem, success lies with accurate data - from identifying the properties, to determining next steps, to tracking progress. South Bend Indiana had a pretty robust system that allowed them to address 1000 vacant properties in 1000 days. If made a priority by the city with the proper budgets in place, something similar is doable.

McKee (4): I would like to track and map vacant buildings in the district. Meet with neighborhood and community groups to develop a plan on how to adapt and repurpose the buildings for other uses for the downtown community. There could be a gym or a fitness center. There are other needs in the district for which a vacant building could be repurposed such as for co-working spaces. The lack of quality affordable housing is a key issue and another option. Vacant buildings in foreclosure could be obtained by the land bank for development into apartments or single family homes. Some would possibly be damaged to the extent of no return and demolished which would create vacant land for other purposes such as community gardens. It will take a lot of communication and strategic planning, which I will commit to.

Campbell-Cohen (6): For buildings that are already vacant, reinvesting in Troy's Zombie Property program is part of the solution and empowering the city's Land Bank is another. Even when everything is firing on all cylinders, however, vacant and neglected buildings can take a very long time to address due to legal constraints. I want to see Troy take a proactive approach to preventing buildings from becoming dilapidated and vacant through code enforcement. An understated benefit of Good Cause Eviction Protections is that tenants are protected from retaliation if they come to Code with an emerging safety issue. In that respect, Good Cause protects not only the renters but also the long-term habitability of the housing stock.

16) Troy lacks a dedicated ADA Coordinator. This role is meant to be focused on ensuring ADA compliance and improving accessibility. Are you in support of allocating funds for an ADA Coordinator?

DiLorenzo (1): Yes I am defintiely open to exploring that

Brosnan (2): Yes.

Struber (2): I am unsure if a dedicated person is required for this goal. It seems like having a qualified City Planner who is trained in ADA compliance would solve more problems.

McKee (4): Yes

Campbell-Cohen (6): Yes.

17) Some communities have sidewalk improvement programs where the city pays the upfront cost for renovating the sidewalk, allowing property owners to pay the costs over a longer period of time. Are you in support of creating a sidewalk improvement program in Troy?

DiLorenzo (1): I think this is an excellent idea and I am all for this type of program.

Brosnan (2): I would be in favor of this program depending on the implementation of it.

Struber (2): In the future when the city finances are under control and being properly reported, I may be supportive of this. I don't think Troy should do this right now.

McKee (4): Yes

Campbell-Cohen (6): Yes.

18) Do you support the development and adoption of standards for streets and sidewalks in the City of Troy?

DiLorenzo (1): Yes, generally

Brosnan (2): Yes.

Struber (2): Yes! Having known, documented standards in general is incredible useful for the running of any enterprise (a city government or a business) and tends to increase efficiency in operations.

McKee (4): Yes

Campbell-Cohen (6): Yes.

19) Many cities use reporting tools like SeeClickFix to allow residents to report non-emergency community concerns, including issues with infrastructure. Do you support adopting a reporting tool like this?

DiLorenzo (1): We have something like this for the City of Troy that i use frequently and it works quickly in my experience. I would be open to exploring what else is available, however.

Brosnan (2): Yes.

Struber (2): Yes! This could also help with the reporting of the sidewalks not being shoveled.

McKee (4): Yes

Campbell-Cohen (6): Yes.

LAND USE, DEVELOPMENT & CONSERVATION

20) How can the Troy City Council work to increase home ownership?

DiLorenzo (1): Down payment assistance, first time buyer programs, and prioritizing locals in the sale of foreclosed properties. Cracking down on absentee landlords and speculators would also help, so more homes stay in the hands of locals who live and work here.

Brosnan (2): Working with community partners like TRIPP to continue to help home ownership.

Struber (2): With the caveat that not everyone wants to own a home, if a person decides that they do, reducing property taxes would help make this happen. Troy can look into a program where low income individuals can apply to have their property taxes capped at a certain percentage of their income for a few years for example.

McKee (4): There are a lot of incentives for NY city's to increase homeownership by building more housing. Governor Hochul has committed $1.5 billion for new housing in the FY 2026 budget passed in May and her housing initiative includes $25 billion over five years. There are many incentives for city's to increase housing and home ownership such as the "Pro Housing" initiative which provides funds for communities designated as "Pro Housing". The City of Troy is listed as one. There are funds for downtown revitalization programs, tax incentives, loan funds for first time homebuyers, the emergency rental assistance program, etc. Housing is an important issue and I am committed to find ways for Troy residents to take advantage of this critical funding.

Campbell-Cohen (6): To me, the most important way for the City Council to increase home ownership is by encouraging the rehabilitation of old housing stock, improving the city's overall affordability to support personal savings, and being open-minded about dynamic and unconventional new housing projects that may challenge some of the conventions and expectations of the 21st century. That being said, an overwhelming majority of Troy residents are tenants. Home ownership should be accessible for the people who want it, but our solution for tenant issues can't just be converting them into homeowners.

21) HOw would you balance the need for development and the need to conserve existing greenspace in the City of Troy? If there were a natural area in Troy under the threat of development, what actions would you take to support the conservation of that area?

DiLorenzo (1): Generally, i would like to prioritize already-developed places and keep green space as green space - however, there are many factors that need to be considered in these situations, so it would really come down to educating myself on specific instances, pros and cons, and what i think would be right for the community. The constituents are the people I would be representing, so their voices need to be heard. If they want a natural area to stay a natural area, i would have their back.

Brosnan (2): With new construction occurring due to the city being popular. Ideally the new construction can still maintain green space and public access.

Struber (2): This is one of the many items that the Comprehensive Plan lends to. Troy adopted this plan based on much feedback from experts and residents alike and it outlines the goals of having green spaces for residents and visitors. The various bodies involved in the decisions for development, including the Planning Board, Coming Board, and Council, should be using that as a guide when voting on approvals.

McKee (4): I think the most prominent area for development is the waterfront in Troy and it should be done thoughtfully. I'd like to see the bulk of the land there developed for recreation providing green space for bike trails, walking paths, a fishing pier and other recreational facilities for the enjoyment of the public. Due to the need for more affordable housing, this is an area that would be quite desirable. I would work with the community and developers to balance the need for the development of housing with the development of more green space to make sure that it doesn't become a concrete jungle.

Campbell-Cohen (6): Troy has a large inventory of vacant, underutilized, or dilapidated buildings, many of which are already conveniently located. Insofar as we can, I want to encourage us to find new uses for those parcels instead of straining our infrastructure by expanding outward into what little undeveloped land we have left. Many folks in the district have expressed that they want better options for outdoor recreation and we'd be moving backwards if we limited those options further.

22) DO you have a nature area close to home? If so, do you find it enhances your quality of life? What will you do to make sure more of your constituents have greenspace close to home?

DiLorenzo (1): Yes i live close to the Uncle Sam bike path and it is a very nice thing to have so close to my home, with the exception of when motor-bikes use it illegally. I do a lot to make sure my constituents have greenspace close by - I'm on the Knickerbacker Park Board of Directors as Vice President, so I play a huge role in making sure that park is a great space to play, while also keeping elements of natural beauty there.

Brosnan (2): I live a block away from knickerbocker park. It absolutely increases my quality of life. I've been working with the administration to find more opportunities for pocket parks.

Struber (2): I have Knick Park close to home which is why I would really like to see safer ways for people without cars to get there. Especially in denser areas of a city where yards are less common, green spaces are imperative. I see the value this park has for people each time I go from the children playing on the playground to residents running or walking around the track. Green spaces lend to healthier lifestyles in general because they allow people to move.

McKee (4): Yes, beautiful Prospect Park sits in my district and provides valuable green space to my constituents. Here in D4, there's also Washington Square Park but that is a private park which provides access only to those folks who live directly on the streets surrounding the Park. River Front Park is another "green" space that is used to bring concerts in the summer and other events for the enjoyment of the community. We also have a substantial amount of valuable waterfront property that could be an enormous benefit to Troy if developed thoughtfully. I lived in Brooklyn for 32 years close to the river and starting in the Eighties the waterfront was converted from a decaying industrial complex to a beautiful park full of recreational facilities including a bike trail, tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts, a skating rink and other amenities for the enjoyment of the public. The same could be done here in Troy.

Campbell-Cohen (6): Burden Pond is quite close to my home and Prospect Park is not far, either. I enjoy both very much and have (at times) relied heavily on Prospect Park to get my steps in on lunch breaks. I want to expand our options in South Troy, but I want to start by making the green spaces that we already have more accessible, enjoyable, and known. The cost of improving our existing parks to the point that they are widely used is a small fraction of the cost of developing new green spaces, and there's still a lot of room for growth.

Much of our local conservation work is done by non-governmental organizations that depend on grants and the support of local leadership.

23A) How will you support organizations and projects working to create public nature areas and parks in the City of Troy?

DiLorenzo (1): Advocating for funding, working to streamline city approvals, and partnering with community groups to ensure these spaces are safe, well maintained, and accessible to all residents.

Brosnan (2): By listening to ideas and advocating for ideas that I believe can be beneficial to the city and all of the people who enjoy Troy.

Struber (2): The most direct way to support them would be to vote in favor of the projects and finances required to move them forward. The organizations are largely doing the work for finding grants on their own, so a vote in support is the least I could do. I would also additionally push for budgeting for the care and maintenance of green spaces as grants tend to only cover initial creation or capital expenditures. A city's budget is an outline of it's priorities so it should have appropriate funds allocated.

McKee (4): I currently support the Friends of Prospect Park which raises funds each year by sponsoring the Hidden Garden Tour in downtown Troy. This event raises funds for the park and last year the funds were used to upgrade the tennis courts.

Campbell-Cohen (6): In addition to giving them support and attention in my official capacity as a councilmember, I am also (incidentally) a professional grant writer, which is often a major capacity blindspot for small volunteer nonprofits. I have no problem with helping our community partners develop their proposals and writing letters in support of them.

23B) Would you support the city in pursuing funds to move such projects forward?

DiLorenzo (1): Absolutely.

Brosnan (2): Yes.

Struber (2): Yes, I think I answered this above already as well. From what I am seeing and reading, the NGOs are doing most of the leg work already for the grants so City Council would just need to approve moving forward with them. When we hopefully, eventually, hire a grant writer that works for Troy, this should also become simpler.

McKee (4): Absolutely. Prospect Park is a beautiful green treasure sitting in the heart of Troy and it provides a lot of joy particularly during the summer months to folks throughout the City and especially to those who have limited access due to a lack of transportation. I strongly believe that the City should provide support along with non-profits to keep the Park a valuable resource for all of Troy to enjoy.

Campbell-Cohen (6): Yes. In addition to prioritizing it in my legislative capacity, I am happy to take advantage of my grant writing background to provide hands-on support when appropriate.