As Saratoga Springs continues its thoughtful review of the City Charter, it is worth recognizing the value of the process currently underway and the steady, collaborative approach being taken to improve city government.

Over the past year, Mayor John Safford’s Charter Review Commission has been meeting regularly in an open and transparent manner to examine ways to strengthen and modernize the city’s charter. The commission’s work deserves recognition for both its seriousness and its accessibility to the public. Meetings have been open, public participation has been encouraged, and the process has reflected a genuine effort to improve city government thoughtfully rather than politically.

The commission itself represents a bipartisan and experienced group of individuals, many of whom have previously served the city in various capacities. Under the leadership of respected former City Attorney Vince DeLeonardis, the commission has approached its work with professionalism, institutional knowledge, and a focus on practical governance.

Importantly, the commission has chosen to focus first on improving and modernizing the existing charter rather than pursuing a wholesale change in the city’s form of government. That was a wise decision.

Changing a city’s governmental structure is expensive, time-consuming, and often divisive. Saratoga Springs has debated these questions many times over the years, and prior attempts to fundamentally alter the structure of government have repeatedly failed to gain public support. In contrast, targeted reforms to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability within the current framework can often accomplish far more with far less disruption.

Several of the commission’s proposals expected to come before the City Council in June appear to be practical and necessary improvements, including clarifying procedures for handling vacancies in elected office – an issue that exposed weaknesses in the current charter during the recent council vacancy process. Other proposals currently under consideration may ultimately require voter approval through referendum this November, and residents should stay engaged as those discussions continue to evolve.

It is also important to recognize that Saratoga Springs’ commission form of government provides residents with a clear and direct system of accountability. Citizens know which elected official oversees each department and can more easily identify where responsibility lies when issues arise. That transparency and accessibility are meaningful strengths of the current structure and help maintain a close connection between city government and the public it serves.

No form of government is perfect, and communities across New York State continue to face challenges regardless of whether they operate under commission systems or “strong mayor” systems. Cities such as Albany and Schenectady demonstrate that changing governmental structure alone does not automatically create better governance, smoother operations, or stronger public trust.

The better path is often the one Saratoga Springs is taking now: improving what works, addressing areas that need refinement, and doing so through an open, bipartisan, and deliberative process. The Charter Review Commission’s work reflects a commitment to thoughtful governance and continued improvement while preserving the transparency and accountability that residents value.

Connie Woytowich and Jane Weihe, Co-Chairs of Saratoga Works

Saratoga Works is a civic group of individuals from multiple political parties and diverse backgrounds who care about our city and its future (www.saratogaworks.org)

Publicly funded social assistance without requirement is irresponsible and leads to fraud. There are huge dangerous degrees affecting entire localities between assisting transients: those without intention, aimless, and opportunistic; and community homelessness. To require people seeking shelter in Saratoga to identify themselves should be considered basic. Other requirements such as past or present residence in Saratoga County or neighboring Counties without their own shelters, and a 3 day time limit for those in true emergency without the preceding criteria, are not unreasonable and should be considered. A person should be able to identify themselves and be identifiable even without a license or social security card; and anybody anywhere can currently input an individual’s name into any internet search engine and receive without cost a list of that individual’s past residences and even personal associations. Because there is no easy remedy for our current situation, shouldn’t make Saratoga Springs dumbfounded into acceptance of the untenable considering our ready access to wealth and resource. We should expect more of ourselves and each other, low barriers to anything lead to complacency and contempt. Facilitating someone’s addiction with resource or location or allowing people to domicile outdoors and thereby become public health risks is not generosity, permitting someone to slowly commit suicide in public does not clear those around them from responsibility, even begging and panhandling should not be considered a right of self determination unless you believe poverty to be a human right. Poverty is fraud profound; the measure of disparity in wealth, access, and resource, within any community, is the measure of active fraud within that community.

– Daniel Fuentes

Plastic Isn’t Saratoga’s Summer Look

As a student at Skidmore College, I see every day how much single-use plastic ends up around Saratoga Springs. Walk along Broadway after a weekend, around Congress Park, or near the Kayaderosseras Creek, and you will find plastic cups, bottles, takeout containers, and bags. Much of it eventually makes its way into local waterways and, from there, into the Hudson River.

This problem is especially noticeable in a city like Saratoga Springs that depends on its parks, waterways, and tourism. Visitors come here because it is beautiful, but overflowing trash cans downtown and plastic litter near streams and roads make it clear that we are producing more waste than our community can handle.

This is something Saratoga needs to address now, before track season begins and tourism increases. Every summer, the city becomes more crowded during horse racing season, which means even more disposable cups, food containers, water bottles, and plastic bags. If we are already struggling with plastic waste in the spring, the problem will only get worse once thousands of visitors arrive.

Right now, Saratoga residents are the ones paying for this problem through taxes, cleanup costs, and higher waste disposal fees. Meanwhile, the companies producing huge amounts of unnecessary plastic packaging continue to profit.

New York should require these companies to take responsibility for the waste they create. The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act would make large producers help pay for recycling and cleanup instead of leaving the burden on local communities. It would also reduce the amount of plastic packaging in the first place.

Saratoga should not have to choose between protecting its environment and paying the price for someone else’s pollution. If we want cleaner parks, cleaner water, and a cleaner city, we need to stop asking local communities to clean up a problem they did not create.

Emily Lopez

Skidmore College

Water Quality

On October 7th, 2025 BK Keramati and Gordon Boyd stood before the City Council insisting the public was drinking from a “poisoned mud puddle.” To me this was troubling as I had to explain to my children both how the public water was safe but also how adults contort their words to justify an end. Within a week of taking office, Commissioner Keramati said the water is “perfectly safe.”

In his first independent decision, Keramati chose to forward a “Field Manager” position which will report to the garage, not the water treatment plant. When told the City didn’t have the funds, he blamed the form of government. Fool me once, shame on you; afterward shame on me.

Instead of a transition meeting with me, Mr. Keramati chose to meet with the City’s former DPW staff and its engineering consultants. Because current staff excluded, the consultant was unaware of the proactive steps we took for identifying new water sources. It seems to me that sensationalizing the quality of our drinking water was to make a campaign issue of it, not solving an actual problem.

With the City is on the precipice of another round of TTHM sampling with exceedance likely, my question is this: is the water a poisoned mud puddle or is it perfectly safe? And if it’s a poisoned mud puddle, why is he creating positions that aren’t associated with fixing it? If it’s not, why the sensationalized language? As I’ve had to tell my children, words matter.

– Chuck Marshall

Saratoga Springs

My Fellow Saratogians,

As your former Mayor from 2008 to 2014, I’m writing this letter of endorsement and support for George Ehinger in his campaign to become our next County Supervisor. I unequivocally can attest to his qualifications and demeanor to help lead our City at the County level, particularly when such attributes are increasingly rare in our over polarizing political arenas these days.

I have personally known George and his wife Tamie for many years, ever since they relocated to Saratoga Springs. Early on I recognized the value that George and Tamie bring to our community and, in fact, appointed Tamie to the Design Review Board while I was Mayor. Back then, George was still tirelessly involved in his successful businesses and raising their family. He now steps forward to give even more back to us with his strengths of approachable collaboration and common sense so desperately needed.

Please join with me in voting for George as County Supervisor on November 4th, to ensure we do what’s best for all of us going forward. Thank you.

Scott T. Johnson

Former Mayor of Saratoga Springs

I recently had the pleasure of meeting George Ehinger, running for Supervisor. After first conversing with Tamie Ehinger, a thoroughly impressive person in her own right, I was able to query Mr. Ehinger as to why he was running and where he proposed to take our community. I spoke with a man who loves this city, is well aware of its current needs, doesn’t claim to have all the answers, but is ready and willing to listen to find solutions that best reflect Saratoga Springs. He is endorsed by a mixed group of Democrats and Republicans who are willing to put politics aside, again, for the betterment of our city. In a time where derisive politics rule the news, what a bold statement to find a group willing to work together.  Please get to know the One Saratoga candidates and exercise your right to vote.       

–  Cooperation solves problems, Suzanne Jagoda

RN, LMT, CLT, small business owner

As a citizen of Saratoga Springs, a former deputy mayor, and as a former member of the Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee, I must express my abject disappointment in the political tactics employed by the City Democratic Committee, their allies, and some of their endorsed candidates this political season.  They have repeatedly said that One Saratoga accepted money from Elise Stefanik, which was disproven after a review of publicly available campaign finance records.  They mislead people about a city water report to make the incumbent DPW commissioner look bad. They try to scare people into thinking that One Saratoga working with republicans, independents and democrats alike somehow equates to being MAGA – a gross distortion that many of these folks would likely admit privately. Spreading disinformation for political advantage is the most MAGA thing  currently happening in Saratoga politics – an irony seemingly lost on some individuals.

If you’re tired of a City Council making news for the wrong reasons or if you’re interested in advancing effective bipartisan leadership, then vote Row E for the One Saratoga candidates who will bring their qualifications, as well as their distaste for embarrassing political nonsense, to City Hall this January.

– Joseph Ogden, Saratoga Springs

Dear Editor,

I listened to the LWV debate, and Jess Troisi stood out as a candidate who combines capability and experience with integrity, composure, and genuine class. In contrast, while Mr. Moran spoke at length about his accomplishments, I couldn’t help but wonder—if everything is so wonderful, why the ongoing controversies and legal bills?

Best,

– Anna Smith 

Saratoga Springs

Recently, Michele Madigan, her campaign supporter Matthew Taylor, Gordon Boyd and others have been claiming that One Saratoga is simply a tool of Elise Stefanik and the MAGA movement.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

One Saratoga is a local independent group that endorses candidates, regardless of major political party label, based on their ability to keep Saratoga Springs moving in the right direction.  The majority of the individuals involved in One Saratoga are Democrats, many of whom have had leadership positions in the party.  Elise Stefanik and MAGA have absolutely no influence over One Saratoga.

Candidates should spend less time trying to destroy One Saratoga and more time discussing the issues that will affect the future of our community.

– Christian E Mathiesen 

Saratoga Springs

When campaigns run scared, they lie.

Lies about our water supply. About MAGA infiltrating city council with Stefanik as puppet master. About One Saratoga’s contributions.

All investigated. All debunked. All made by desperate people.

This is why a lifelong Democrat like me is voting One Saratoga this November. While their opponents peddle fiction and fear, One Saratoga candidates will govern with honesty, integrity, and class.

I know which Saratoga I want to live in: One Saratoga.

– Carol Joyce

Saratoga Springs