For an affordable Ithaca
Dear Neighbors,
My name is Gepe Zurenda, and as an Ithaca resident for the last 38 years, I am honored to announce I am running to represent the 5th Ward on Ithaca’s Common Council. As a proud Democrat, I have watched our national and regional political climate with angst and sadness. In search of an outlet to be engaged and productive, I have worked diligently to gain a deeper understanding of what our fellow residents need to improve their quality of life and make Ithaca more affordable.
In such an unprecedented moment in national politics, Ithacans must have council members who will bring a genuine, unparalleled passion and dedication to their communities. As a full-time clinical social worker, I’ve been fighting on behalf of Ithacans the past 20 years, serving on the boards of local organizations including Family and Children’s Service (past Chair), The Advocacy Center (past President), CARS, Ithaca Community Recovery (founding member), the Center for Religion, Ethics, and Social Policy, at Cornell and the City of Ithaca Planning Board.
As your Alderperson, I will be a pragmatic, experienced, and impactful voice on Common Council. Ithacans deserve to see our high tax rate reflected in the quality of our social services, infrastructure, and roads. We deserve a Commons and Downtown that is welcoming, safe, and vibrant. We deserve affordable housing options that allow us to remain in the city we love, and most importantly, Ithacans deserve representation that understands the significance of the national moment, albeit without neglecting core municipal duties.
An affordable Ithaca is not just an achievable goal, but one that is necessary to protect the future of our city and the residents who have long called Ithaca home. It is time our common council is guided by individuals who are both legitimately interested in confronting this crisis and hold the necessary experience to be successful in doing so. While I am confident in my ability to tackle the challenges that Ithaca faces today, I know that I lack all of the required answers. As I begin to inch closer to election day in November, I look forward to meeting you in the months to come, hearing your concerns, and working with you to create an Ithaca that works for all Ithacans
Respectfully,
Gepe Zurenda