This November, Saratogians will have the opportunity to vote on a significant change to the city charter. The city’s charter is the most important legal document of our city as it defines the structure, function and powers of our city government. It should be every voters’ priority, as our local government has a direct impact on our daily life.
I have taken a significant amount of time reviewing the proposed 2020 charter change document and believe that it is not healthy for our city.
Of utmost concern to me personally is the Wards system. The Wards system pits neighborhoods against each other and does not foster peace. It also increases bureaucratic layers, making voters dependent on their Wardsperson and suppresses the power of an individual’s vote.
Not only does this expensive version of charter change transfer power away from the people and give it to an appointed bureaucrat called a City Manager that cannot be voted out, it politicizes our neighborhoods and sets up our city for division, not unity. We do not need that. Not now and not ever.
I hope that peace and love whisper in your heart as you consider these points, and that you join me in voting no on this particular version of charter change. Vote no on Election Day.
Make Love, not Wards.
- Connie Woytowich, Saratoga Springs
