“My concerns mainly, for the area I live in is fracking. I don’t believe in it and I don’t know how I’d be able to change it….I think I’m mainly concerned about the schools. I used to work at a school. I just recently retired and the state’s not giving the schools enough money. And they’re having to make a lot of cuts in the school. Class size is getting bigger and that’s a concern of mine.”
(Diane Boden, 65, of Skaneateles, a retired teacher aide at Skaneateles High School, Republican)
“I work part time for Onondaga County Parks and there is a minimal charge to get into the parks. I don’t disagree with the charge – I understand they have to pay salary but I think it would be nice if that charge could disappear….And yes, government, the difficulty for parents with special needs children to obtain services. The one big change I’d like to see is the funding go to education in general and special needs services.”
(Jodi McDonald, 42, of Syracuse, a part-time librarian at Solvay Library, unaffiliated with a political party)
“My biggest concern is the road conditions in Syracuse and how bad they’re damaging my car. I’m hoping with this upcoming election there’ll be candidates put into office that can fix it.”
(Kacie Leonard, 22, of Camillus, a patient safety representative at St. Joseph’s Hospital, unaffiliated with a political party.)
“Job market is limited. And the jobs available are minimum wage or anywhere near poverty level. I don’t know what the government can do, but the tax breaks probably given to companies new or being built could be used for buildings that are here to be more resourceful. The poverty is unreal, if you drive through the western part of Central New York it is horrible.”
(Rob Colvin, 45, of Cicero, an auditor at RCB Fund Service, unaffiliated with a political party).
“The school district, healthcare, the jail system, issues with family court—the list could go on and on. I think it’s getting quite ridiculous with the crime rate. It’s like sky rocketed. Well, for the school system, the parents could get more involved and not depending on the teachers that that is their job.”
(Char Jones, 40, of the South Side, works at Arise helping people with disabilities, unaffiliated with a political party)
(Becca Milliron is a senior majoring in newspaper and online journalism.)
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