Joe Burns is the Democratic candidate for Binghamton’s 5th district seat on the Binghamton City Council. He is semi-retired from a film and television career.
In your opinion, what is the most pressing issue in your district and why?
“In my view, there is no greater priority than the safety and security of our communities. My pledge if elected includes increased neighborhood safety, toughened code enforcement and strong support for our first responders. When your city is safe, it promotes economic growth for businesses and quality of life for residents.”
How do you envision engaging with the community and addressing the concerns they may have? More specifically, what would you do to engage Binghamton University students in these community issues?
“As a City Council member, I fully intend to engage with many of the underserved residents in our community, especially students and the elderly. I will work to foster an open line of communication between student advocacy groups and myself. It is my hope the city of Binghamton can do more to attract students and retain them after graduation through good job opportunities and affordable housing.”
Do you have any plans to address the housing blight in your district, and the city as a whole? Please explain why or why not.
“Thankfully, widespread blight is not as pressing an issue in my district as underutilized commercial properties. There are certainly dwellings and landlords in pockets of the district that merit the city’s attention, but overall most homes and businesses are maintained properly. As a council member, I would seek economic development opportunities to increase the occupancy of the several vacant storefronts in high-visibility locations in my district and around the city.”
If you could make changes to the building codes or code enforcement in the city, what would they be? If you would not make any changes, please explain why not.
“Tougher code enforcement and increased neighborhood safety are two important elements of my platform that work in tandem. Code enforcement officers are on the city’s front lines in addressing problems with quality of life and public safety, and are very often the first to document issues that eventually come to the attention other city departments and county agencies. As a member of City Council, one my first initiatives will be to meet with code enforcement officers to ascertain what additional resources are needed to improve enforcement and better regulate the management and use of problem properties in my district.”
What changes, if any, would you make to public transportation in your district and why?
“It is always difficult to have enough mass transit for those who need it. In my district, we are fortunate to have bus routes that travel on or near roads where most residents live who would likely need public transportation. For students in particular, the combination of BC Transit and OCCT provides ample coverage for non-drivers.”