Dave Rothstein : Candidate for Community Preservation Committee

Spending Sensibly,

Funding Fairly

Your Subtitle text

WELCOME

Greetings Northampton Voters –

I’m Dave Rothstein -- candidate for Northampton’s Community Preservation Committee (CPC).

I am seeking an At Large position on the CPC. I do so for a variety of reasons. Most importantly, I care about our community and I want to contribute to it in a meaningful way. Second, I believe that the CPC can serve an important function, if its process is both fair and fairly applied. Third, I value the CPC's emphases on community-initiated proposals, partnerships and cost-sharing.

The CPC performs important duties that influence how open space protection (conservation, recreation, agriculture), historic preservation, and affordable housing are funded in Northampton. It is responsible for: studying the community preservation needs and assessing priorities; developing funding criteria; soliciting and evaluating proposals; and, encouraging public participation.

My background as both a wildlife biologist and a governmental environmental attorney would benefit the CPC in carrying out these responsibilities. I am intimately familiar with Massachusetts and municipal law, including the Community Preservation Act. But I also have expertise in:

State and federal environmental, affordable housing and historic preservation law;
Federal and state grant funding processes, as both a reviewer and legal advisor
Negotiating large, complex projects with multiple parties
Conservation and real property transactions
Eliciting facts necessary to fully evaluate a proposal or position
Moderating public hearings and soliciting public comment

My experience would enable me to assess complicated proposals and understand the inter-relationships of the various processes involved. It would also allow me to ask necessary questions to gauge whether a project will achieve its intended outcome. Finally, it would help ensure that the CPC adheres to its own process and criteria.

As a member of the CPC, I will ensure that your assessed fees are being spent sensibly and fairly. I will be YOUR advocate. Finally, I will promote the CPC in such a way that its benefits can be fully realized and appreciated. And I will do so in a way that is respectful, reasonable and responsible.

Thank you for your consideration. And be sure to vote on November 8th.

Dave Rothstein

Candidate

Community Preservation Committee at Large

dave@daverothstein.com