I was born in New York City. My family bought our home in Gardiner in 1939. I am a graduate of Cornell University and I spent 2 years as an army officer teaching leadership skills. I have made Gardiner my home in my adult years, I still have a business in New York City where I work 2 days a week. I have voted in every election in Gardiner since 1956.
I know Gardiner. I have hiked the Gunks, been an avid cross country skier for over 35 years, fished the rivers and lakes, raised Christmas Trees, and maintained a certified tree farm. My belief in open space is real. I have deeded development rights to over 60 acres in the Wallkill Valley Land Trust. I live in Gardiner with my wife, the artist Pattie Eakin. My three children and my three grandchildren all love to visit our home in Gardiner.
For the past 35 years I have owned and operated my own business. This experience in the management of people and finances will be beneficial in dealing with the people of Gardiner and the matters of fiscal control. I have personally met a weekly payroll for all of those years.
I believe that policies at the local level should be non partisan. Most of the issues we face are quality of life issues. Implementing the master plan with zoning laws town wide that encourage open space while not making Gardiner an elitist community should be our goal. We must think about affordable housing, maintaining affordable emergency services, and develop incentives to bring commercial development that will have low impact on the environment.
I have worked with the Hamlet Committee for the past two years on issues such as sewers, sidewalks, lighting, design guidelines, water supply and traffic. My own vision of the hamlet includes a town square, the Rail Trail, the new library, access to Majestic Park, and recreational access to the Wallkill River.
In order to accomplish some of these dreams and solve some of these problems, the good people of Gardiner, representing all of Gardiner, must come together and talk…listen…discuss these issues and come up with solutions that reflect the community consensus. I believe that I have the background and knowledge to serve the people of Gardiner with a fair and open mind.
Joe Katz