Gepe’s BLOG

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        

Auguest 19, 2025

JOIN GEPE’S FIGHT TO FIX THE COMMONS

Dear Neighbors,

My name is Gepe Zurenda, and I’m running for Common Council in the 5th Ward. In the context of Donald Trump’s authoritarian takeover of Washington, D.C, under the false pretense of a crime spree, concerns surrounding public safety in our respective communities have entered the national spotlight. At a recent Common Council meeting here in Ithaca, there was an animated discussion regarding the deterioration of the environment on the Ithaca Commons since the Asteri development was completed. Several Council members went back and forth with one another, expressing their frustrations and concerns. Finally, the mayor put forth seemingly the only question that could end the debate: “Who has a legal idea of what we can do about it?” Suddenly, the council fell silent.

I get it. This is an issue that elicits strong emotion amongst our community; however, we can not fall prey to the tendency of municipal governments to partake in endless debate without taking action to address the issue. Thus, I am making the issue of homelessness and public safety on the Commons as central to my campaign as it is to the future of Ithaca. However, before illustrating my proposal to fix the current issue plaguing the commons, it’s helpful to conceptualize potential solutions from the framework of immediate, short-term, medium-term, and long-term.

Regarding immediate solutions, more security is needed on the Commons; however, it takes time and money to hire more police or temporary security. That’s why it is imperative that the Mayor and Common Council take swift action to instruct the city manager to shift budget priorities and make the appropriate adjustments to fund the necessary increases in security. As this is done, we must do a “Root Cause Analysis” to accurately diagnose what has caused the atmosphere of the commons to change. Adding more security will minimize the likelihood of criminal activity; however, if the root cause of crime in the Commons is a concentration of unhoused individuals suffering from addiction, simply adding security will not make it an attractive destination for our citizens and visitors.

I suspect a “Root Cause Analysis” will show that, rather than the core problem being too few safety officers, it is that too many of the homeless, who were moved to the commercial heart of our city, have co-occurring disorders that prevent them from acting as good neighbors. With that being said, it should be clarified that there are three distinct groups of the homeless. First, those who are homeless primarily because of economic setbacks. Second, those with substance abuse and mental health issues who are trying to work on those issues. And third, those who have substance abuse and mental health issues and are not willing to work on them at this time. Those who are simply suffering from economic setbacks should be welcome visitors on the Commons like every other Ithacan, and efforts should be made to provide these people with housing at the Asteri development. Generally, the same can be said for those actively attempting to fix any addiction or mental health issues that they may have. However, we cannot allow alcoholics and other addicts, who are not willing to work on getting better, to be invited to live in the economic center of our city. This viewpoint doesn’t stem from a desire to hide or ignore our city’s unhoused, but rather from an understanding that to ensure Ithaca can continue providing the unhoused with the services that they need, the economic center of our city and, in turn, its tax base must be protected.

Therefore, in the medium and long term, the City Government and Administration need to work with the County, the Developers of Asteri, and the banks and other funding sources to accomplish the following: Firstly, we must abandon the short-sighted idea of populating new, expensive buildings with active addicts. Second, adopt the concept of Second Wind in Newfield and house the portion of our homeless who have addiction issues in well-built, thoughtfully laid out, and maintained individual housing. Third, prioritize finding space to relocate the problem Asteri sub-group and move them as soon as possible, whether it is to the new facility I have just described or to an interim location.

I realize that to accomplish all of the above, we have to make it a win for all involved; for the developer of Asteri, for the three different homeless populations, all of whom need our support, and for the people of Ithaca who want to enjoy their downtown and have the right to a safe environment in doing so. This process will undoubtedly be difficult. However, it can and absolutely must be done. We must own up to the fact that the city has made some poor decisions in the past that have led to this situation and adjust our future calculations to avoid such outcomes. Only that way can we provide every Ithacan with the safe, pleasant, and thriving Commons which they deserve.  

Respectfully,

Gepe Zurenda

Dear Neighbors,

A common concern that almost all Ithacans can agree on is that housing in our city has become far too expensive. Whether you are a homeowner or renter, all of us have our budgets squeezed tighter and tighter each year as housing costs continue to skyrocket. It is crucial that, as your potential councilman, I work tirelessly to address this issue for all Ithacans. Hence, the intention of today’s newsletter is to clarify my plan for how to stabilize housing costs for both renters and homeowners.

SHORT-TERM SOLUTIONS

In the short term, the most effective way to reduce housing costs in our city is to change our current property tax structure. Compared to other U.S cities, Ithacans pay an abnormally high property tax rate, leaving them forced to sacrifice other needs to maintain their home. To alleviate this burden and cut property taxes, the city government must review future budgets more diligently to avoid inefficiencies and, in turn, pass those savings onto Ithacans. Although at first glance, property taxes appear to be an issue affecting only current homeowners, in reality, the tax burdens that landlords are forced to bear are inevitably passed on to renters. Regarding short-term solutions, adjusting our property tax codes is the easiest means of shrinking housing costs for both renters and homeowners in Ithaca.

LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS

With that being said, however, short-term fixes will not be sufficient to address the housing crisis that has plagued our city. In the long term, the city government must work to ensure that the actual cost of property, not just the associated tax burden, also stabilizes. To do so, it must be willing to make zoning changes that permit greater density in our residential neighborhoods, thereby increasing the housing supply and easing prices. I’m not suggesting anything radical, but rather simple changes to parking regulations and permitted uses in existing structures, thus permitting the existing duplexes and large houses built decades ago to be converted to properties that suit the needs of our city today. Secondly, Common Council can no longer offer tax abatements for large development firms and instead must make that money available to the owners of existing buildings to encourage reinvestment in homes and rental units. Rather than allowing developers to avoid a tax burden by doing the necessary work to ensure their new properties’ climate resilience, such tax abatements should be made available to everyday Ithacans seeking to do the same to their homes. It is only with such measures that we can expect individual Ithacans to make the necessary changes to their properties for our city to adhere to the Green New Deal adopted in 2019. Lastly, we must ensure that large, multinational corporations pay their fair share in property taxes. As our codes currently stand, chains such as Walmart, Home Depot, or Lowe’s pay the same property tax rate as any individual homeowner. To remedy this and ensure we can reasonably decrease the tax burden on local Ithacans while maintaining a balanced budget, a special tax district must be set up within the plazas and malls that house these chains. These are the solutions that, over time, will allow Ithacans to once again live in dignity, knowing they can reasonably afford their housing expenses.

WHY I AN BEST SUITED TO GET THE JOB DONE.

The Housing Crisis is daunting and undoubtedly one of the most pressing issues Ithaca faces today. However, there are clear, feasible solutions in both the long and short term to alleviate the burden thousands of Ithacans are facing today. All that is left is to ensure those whom we elect to Common Council have the proper experience, knowledge, and pragmatism to guide Ithaca out of this crisis and deliver its residents a city in which each person can afford their monthly housing costs. As your councilman, I will bring not just those attributes but an unparalleled dedication and passion to implementing these solutions and, in turn, alleviating our city’s housing crisis.

Respectfully,

Gepe Zurenda

September 16, 2025

WHY ARE ITHACA’S TAXES RISING SO FAST?

RISING TAXES WITHOUT POPULATION GROWTH

Taxes in Ithaca have gone up about 40% over the past three years. During that time, our population has not grown. Inflation was only around 9% over that period. So it’s fair to ask: have we added a lot of new programs that benefit the community? Have our services improved dramatically?

I believe the answer to both questions is no. The real reason taxes keep climbing is that the Mayor, Common Council, and City Manager have not made controlling costs a priority.

FAILURE TO PRIORITIZE COST CONTROL

The Mayor and Common Council often say, “We make policy, the City Manager handles administration, including costs.” But I would argue that it is absolutely the job of our elected officials to ensure the city is run in a cost-effective way. Simply put, it should be city policy that efficiency matters. That makes cost control the responsibility of both the Mayor and the Common Council.

TOMPKINS COUNTY SHOWS A BETTER EXAMPLE

And we know it can be done. Tompkins County is proving it right now. The County Legislature meets with department heads, reviews budgets line by line, and works to cut unnecessary costs. As a result, county tax increases have stayed in the range of just 2 to 3 percent in recent years.

That is exactly what the City of Ithaca should be doing. I am not suggesting closing programs or cutting departments. I am not suggesting reckless layoffs. What I am suggesting is that our elected officials take responsibility, stop passing the buck, and get serious about finding out why costs are rising so quickly.

CITY OF ITHACA MUST ACT

If that means changing how the city is administered, then let’s do it. We made a major change a few years ago by adopting a City Manager form of government. We can make adjustments again if needed. What it takes is determination and the courage to do what works, rather than shifting blame.

Respectfully,

Gepe Zurenda

September 24, 2025

COMMUNITY COOPERATION

STOP TURNING NEIGHBORS INTO ENEMIES

As I’ve been talking with people about our city, one thing has become clear: it is far too easy to turn those with different perspectives into enemies. I hear it all the time. Landlords are called the enemy. Employers are the enemy. The homeless are the enemy. People on the political left are the enemy.

MOST PEOPLE JUST WANT TO LIVE

But these groups are not our enemies. Of course, any group will have a few bad actors and others who fall short of our expectations. Yet most people are simply doing the best they can to provide for their families and live their lives.

DIVISION DOESN’T SOLVE PROBLEMS

When we divide into camps and point fingers, we miss opportunities to solve real problems. What builds a better city is finding common ground and working together. Instead of creating costly new ordinances that breed division and rarely address the root issues, we should focus on collaboration.

COLLABORATION CREATES REAL SOLUTIONS

Imagine landlords and tenants working together on housing solutions. Imagine employers, workers, and city leaders strengthening jobs and our economy. Imagine neighbors, volunteers, and service providers helping people experiencing homelessness regain stability and dignity.

A CITY THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE

This is the kind of city Ithaca can be. At the end of the day, it is not about winners and losers. It is about building a community that works for everyone. Because in the end, we are all just walking each other home.

Respectfully,

Gepe Zurenda

October 8, 2025

WHY IT’S SO EXPENSIVE TO LIVE IN ITHACA

THE GROWING BURDEN OF HOUSING COSTS

Rents in Ithaca are too high. The cost of owning a home is too high. And one of the biggest reasons is that our property taxes are too high, and still climbing.

A LOCAL FAMILY’S REALITY CHECK

A couple in the 5th Ward owns a modest 1,100-square-foot home. It’s assessed at $450,000, and their annual property taxes are over $14,000. They’re now looking at homes in other states because they can’t afford to live here anymore.

A STARK COMPARISON

In parts of Colorado, similar homes are taxed between $1,200 and $2,000 a year. These are nice neighborhoods, safe streets, good schools, strong public services. Clearly, we’re doing something wrong.

MAKING SMART MANAGEMENT A PRIORITY

My goal is to work with the mayor and other members of the Common Council to make cost-effective management a real priority. I’m not suggesting we cut programs or lay off staff. I’m saying we need to manage smarter.

LISTENING TO THOSE WHO KNOW BEST

Every city employee I’ve spoken with has ideas for how the city could save money, but they say no one listens. I believe them. In my experience running businesses, the people doing the day-to-day work often know where inefficiencies are and how to fix them.

A CALL FOR PRACTICAL CHANGE

It’s time we listen to them. Let’s use their knowledge and experience to make city government more efficient, more responsive, and more affordable for everyone. Together, we can make Ithaca a place where people don’t have to choose between staying and making ends meet.

Respectfully,

Gepe Zurenda