In Clinton our Zoning Board never misses an opportunity to present itself as noble champions of our towns' character, humble servants, and apolitical protectors of the environment. In reality under Dr. Canhams' lead the ZBA has become the power mill to a radicalized agenda. To be clear - Even before he was forced to resign from The Nature Conservancy Canham began using his wifes' political apparatus to gain full control of your backyard.

 

How a Handfull of Clinton Democrats Stripped Their Constituents of Property Rights

    To understand how Clinton residents ended up forfeiting their right to restore an old out building, add a fence, or dig a vegetable garden you need to first understand the rules were designed for TWO groups. On one hand, everyday homeowners encounter a web of complex codes when they try to reclaim or maintain outbuildings—barns, garden sheds, cottages, and other ancillary structures that have been part of their properties for generations. On the other hand, the very-wealthy leverage these same regulations to maintain an idealized landscape and drastically reduce their tax burden.

 

  For the Ordinary Homeowner A Permit Application Is An Invitation For Abuse That Begins With The ZONING Clerk 
     For the unconnected, local ordinances, shaped by figures like Charlie Canham and enacted by Eliot Werner, mean that even simple tasks—like adapting a livestock shelter, expanding your garden, or restoring water and electric to any area of your property that it once existed—will likely become a complex permitting ordeal. Since the town's permit enforcement is entirely selective and arbitrary, many residents remain blissfully unaware that these statutes even exist. Indeed for most, its not until they have painstakingly gathered enough resources to tackle a long overdue project that they learn the extent to which their property rights have been stolen. Typically this information is delivered piecemeal and hurled from behind a counter by an exasperated clerk upset by those who dare try to unravel and understand any of it.

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    But it gets worse. Over the last several years Democratic board members linked to Democratic aligned ZBA members and led by Dr. Canham have have quietly manipulated our Town's Code to fit an agenda.  In a nutshell their objective is simple -complete control of your property .

 

This is happening. Its public record. Even if its not yet your personal experience dont wait to do something until it is. Its likely already happened to one of your neighbors.  With the help of a handful of well-heeled attorneys establishment democrats  have twisted common sense ordinances to mean they decide how and where you may garden, remove poison ivy, or begin minor repairs to a falling down out building.  

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Please email jessicakearney762@gmail.com  . We will direct you to the public record. This is not hyperbole.

 

Wealth Consolidation: A Preservation of Privilege Supported By Establishment Democrats

   Meanwhile, the very-wealthy use these same rules to create a carefully curated illusion of rural charm. The effect of that illusion on the local electorate has been one of blind submission to radically prohibitive local ordinance. Under the guise of money-losing farms (tax write offs) and Land Trusts (permanent tax relief) the super rich use these restrictive policies to keep the region frozen in time and enjoy gentleman farmer status. While this does an excellent job maintaining the pastoral landscapes that WE ALL LOVE about Clinton, it does so by punishing smaller property owners and dismissing their practical interests. Anyone lacking the financial resources and time required to navigate a morass of obstacles will in all likelihood give up. Anyone who doesn't will likely fail anyhow.

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     Wanna save that dilapidated garage and maybe repurpose it as an office or place for an elderly family member? .... One word: Notgonnahappen.

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    How 'bout lets plant a little perennial garden near the swampy area out back?   .... Sure but you'll need to hire a city planner, an            environmental scientist, and quite possibly a lawyer or there isnt a chance in hell.

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    Wanna put up a small privacy fence?  ...Ok but Its gonna cost you an arm, a leg, and possibly a nervous breakdown trying to get              Arlene (Town Clerk of 25 years) to help process your application .

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     What’s presented as maintaining zoning integrity, is actually a smokescreen for cherry picked enforcement . The current Democratic led Town Board in concert with their Democratic allies on The Zoning Board of Appeals routinely turns the faucet of enforcement up or down depending on their inclination.  Robert Schindelbeck, Director of Soil and Crop Sciences at Cornel University openly laments and opposes these tactics that have been employed to benefit a select group of landowners at the expense of average residents .

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    But the bottom line as it stands today is like this: The ZBA is free to apply, or not apply, as many financial hurdles and levels of complexity to any permit applicant they wish. This might be a good thing for you if one of your long time neighborhood friends is a member of the ZBA . If not, its a hellscape.  This pattern of capricious enforcement accomplishes exactly as intended  -For those without influence or resources it imposes a level of scrutiny that is ultimately unmanageable.

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The next time you see one of those "Common Sense" placards on the side of the road consider these questions:

1. Is it reasonable to require anyone who wants to plant a vegetable garden to apply for a permit and then require that permit be approved by The Planning Board, The Zoning Board and a group of random volunteers with no environmental credentials?

2. Is it ok that zoning enforcement be based on who you know and how much money you have?

3. In what world is structuring town code such that it would mostly forbid elderly family members from living in ancillary structures just fine? 

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     As lifetime Democrats it gives us no pleasure to relay these current affairs. Go to the Clinton website. Read the ZBA minutes. Read the town code. See for yourself and RE-consider Re-Electing our Democrats. 

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             Local Democrats Are As Lost As Many of Their State and National Counterparts

     How did Clinton Democratic leaders lose their way? It didn't happen overnight but the short answer is hubris.  Like many other establishment Democrats Clinton Dems gradually identified more strongly with an elite sector of their constituency.  Indeed their quid-pro-quo alliance with generational wealth is now a standard practice. For decades the Dem brand, the one your parents described, was about serving all the people . Here in Clinton it mostly serves a small group, a clever group, who have figured out how to ride the coattails of that old brand and cater to themselves instead. To some extent this is understandable. Helping the underserved is tiresome work. Often times they lack resources and find themselves overwhelmed. Finding simple solutions that fix everyday problems for everyday people requires a different set of values. Values for which Clinton Democratic leaders can no longer identify. But the thing is -Appreciating the character of Clinton means writing statutes that also appreciate the character of those who work hard to live here.

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    It means dismantling the following :

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• Decades of cronyism ie. -ZBA members appointed by 'friends' with zero term limits

• An accumulation of Town Code that denies fundamental property rights ​

• A permit process that is ARBITRARY and SELECTIVELY enforced

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    Here is What You Can Do:

 If you are a Democrat who votes in Clinton YOU can start to turn this ship around.

 

Write PROPERTY RIGHTS in the Subject Line and send it to :

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 jessicakearney762@gmail.com 

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We only send out occasional emails relative to this topic and elections. NO SPAM

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Just because you loathe The Orange Guy and /or never want to give up control of your body doesn't mean you do want to give up control of your property.

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