District 16 (the former District 5) encompasses the Town of Ulysses, including the Village of Trumansburg, as well as a portion of the Town of Enfield. It is Rachel’s goal to maintain open channels of communication with elected officials in each of these municipalities, as well as with residents throughout the whole district, so that all constituents in every corner of the district feel represented at the County level.

• Affordable, safe, stable housing for all residents 

  • Affordable rentals

  • Affordable housing for individuals, young families and seniors, who may also be looking for smaller homes

• Jobs that pay a living wage 

  • The Tompkins County Living Wage is now at $24.82/hr

• Affordable childcare without long waitlists

  • Both for young children (under 4, before they are eligible for Pre-K) as well as after school and summer programs for older kids

• Opportunities and places for youth to be supported, loved, and allowed to flourish 

  • Community spaces for tweens and teens to go after school for enrichment, leadership or job training, or to just have a safe place to hang out in community with their friends

  • Community recreation spaces and sports fields

• Clean air and water, and the preservation of natural areas around Tompkins County 

  • Including the prevention of HABS (Harmful Algal Blooms) in our lake

• Preservation of agricultural land, and ensuring and supporting responsible agricultural practices that protect the land and water 

• Reliable, affordable public transportation

  • Increasing TCAT bus routes both to and from Trumansburg and to rural areas around the district

• Affordable and affirming healthcare that respects bodily autonomy

• A resilient and vibrant local food system, ensuring that people throughout the County have access to affordable, fresh, healthful and culturally appropriate food, and that farmers and farmworkers are compensated fairly for their work

• Equitable education

• The rights of community members who are currently under attack by the federal government — in particular, the LGBTQIA+ community, people of color, and immigrants (including documented, undocumented and underdocumented people, as well as asylum seekers and refugees) - these are our families, friends and neighbors in Ulysses, Trumansburg and Enfield

• The right to live free from oppression and violence in all its forms!

When we are looking at solutions to these issues - are the solutions presented actually alleviating the problems we and our neighbors are facing? Are they addressing underlying problems, such as poverty? Or are the solutions offered only a temporary fix? 

The first step is always to gain knowledge and insight of the problem from those with lived experience.  So often solutions are presented from the top down, with little input from those on the receiving end.  Sometimes what seems like a good idea in theory is not what people actually want or need. 

During my campaign, I am meeting with as many people as possible to hear first hand what issues are most important to people who live in District 16. I’d love to hear from you - to schedule a time to meet, please visit the Contact page.

I believe one of my most important jobs as a legislator would be to talk directly to people affected by an issue, in order to bring those perspectives back to the legislature.

• The ability to respectfully listen to a variety of perspectives before coming to conclusions or making decisions

• A willingness to be open minded and to approach problems creatively

• 8 years living in Jacksonville (Town of Ulysses), and many decades living in Tompkins County

• Long standing relationships with many people from a wide variety of communities around Tompkins County - this is important because being integrated into the community is essential for connecting with people who have lived experiences with particular issues (be it running a farm or owning a small business, struggling to find or pay for housing, lack of access to appropriate healthcare services, hunger etc…), so that those perspectives can be brought back to the legislature

• Many years of experience both running her own businesses and working for many small businesses around the County

• A deep commitment to the present and the future of Tompkins County, with the goal of building a welcoming, inclusive, livable, affordable, safe and vibrant place for every single person who lives here