Bringing Politics Back to the Front Porch

Originally published in the Democrat & Chronicle, 19 August 2018

Recent articles in the Democrat & Chronicle and the New York Times have highlighted the ways corporate political action committees are a source of “dark money” in politics. They provide ways for corporate contributors to bypass donation limits and they raise questions about the influence those donors have on elected officials.

I concur with those concerns and the need for meaningful campaign finance reform. However, it is important not to paint with too broad of brushstrokes. “PAC” is quickly becoming synonymous with practices that disempower voters and reinforce distrust of elected officials. It is important to remember that all PACs are not the same. PACs can bring greater transparency to politics and reconnect voters with democracy. One such model is seen in Trailblazers PAC.

As a political action committee, Trailblazers PAC raises money that it contributes to candidates they endorse. Three things make Trailblazers unique. First, they are non-partisan and have no particular social issue on which they base endorsements. They endorse candidates of many political parties. Second, they require endorsed candidates to be 100% transparent about contributions and to raise money locally. Even when state law does not require disclosure, Trailblazers does. Third, they only endorse at the county and municipal levels, giving support to a level of government that is often overlooked yet affects our daily lives in important ways.

That formula works. In 2017, districts where there were Trailblazers-endorsed candidates had higher voter turnout than comparable districts. In those races, 58% of Trailblazers-endorsed candidates won their races, compared with 24% of candidates who contacted Trailblazers but did not earn an endorsement. The values that Trailblazers PAC puts into practice and hold their endorsed candidates to resonate with voters and bring greater transparency to our democracy.

Campaign season will soon be in full swing. If you are not satisfied with the political process, get involved and change it. Call on candidates to disclose all financial contributions, even when not required by law. Attend or host neighborhood events where candidates talk directly with voters. Demand that the needs of your family and your community be addressed. Hold those who seek to represent you accountable by being engaged and speaking up. Decisions are made by those who show up, so show up throughout the campaigns and on election day.

Preservation and Progress

One of the reasons I choose to live in Pittsford is the rich sense of history that surrounds our community. Almost daily, my work takes me from my home past School District #3, the red brick, one-room schoolhouse where students studied from 1845 until 1946. Further down the road, I go past the Lehman Farm Market and the historic port area of Cartersville, once a settlement on the old Erie Canal where horse and mule teams changed and a distillery was housed. I come into the Village where I go past the Wiltsie & Crump building, behind which there was once a barn that was part of the Underground Railroad.

The Town and Village of Pittsford have worked to preserve their history. Yet, that does not mean living in the past. The one-room schoolhouse is now a home. The land surrounding the Lehman Farm Market continues to be farmed, using 21^st century technology. Cartersville is home to Little League Baseball fields where families enjoy warm summer afternoons watching their children play. The Village is now home to businesses including an advertising firm, software company, personal trainer, and massage therapy.

Preservation and progress can work together to create a more vibrant community. It takes vision, planning, and thoughtful consideration to make that happen. Heritage tourism is one way to meet goals of both preservation and economic development. According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, heritage tourism is “traveling to experience the places, artifacts and activities that authentically represent the stories and people” of a community or area.

Heritage tourism can have positive economic impacts, bringing in people from around the region to explore the area. More visitors supports a thriving economy. In addition to our iconic Sam Patch boat tours, imagine if we had signage on our trails to teach people about local cultural and natural history . What about a podcasted barn tour to tell stories of the families whose generations have lived on and worked the land. What if Pittsford worked with its local farmers to host an annual Open Farm Weekend where people could come for tours, hands-on activities, and food tastings. There are also opportunities to work with the Seneca community to highlight the earliest history of our region.

Heritage tourism also has social impacts, building pride in one’s community. It strengthens a community’s sense of identity and place. It creates opportunities to socialize, to be entertained, and to learn.

Laying the foundation for heritage tourism first requires that we identify our history. You can help do that. Currently, there are 89 homes in the Town of Pittsford (and many more in the Village) that are designated as local historic landmarks. In 2016, the town conducted a historical inventory that identified 70 more buildings that are likely candidates for landmark designation. To find out if your home is on the inventory, call Town Hall at (585) 248–6200. A member of the Design Review & Historic Preservation Board can walk you through the designation process.

If your house is not on the inventory, you can get involved in Historic Pittsford, a citizen’s group that promotes our local history. You can find out more about the organization at www.historicpittsford.com.

Thriving heritage tourism is going to require a collaborative effort of the Town and Village governments, business owners, historians, and residents. Together, we can preserve our past while growing into the future.