“Whenever the people are well informed, they may be trusted with their own government; that whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights.”

- Thomas Jefferson, January 8, 1789

Dear Fellow Monroe County Residents,

“We the People...” These were the first words written 220 years ago at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia . Deliberately cast larger than the words that followed, they set the tone for a document that forever redefined the relationship between government and the governed. Previously, the “People” had served the government, and without representation; after the Constitution was brought forth, government was expected to serve the people.

More than two centuries later, the challenge remains to ensure that this is true at every level, whether in Washington , D.C. , or right here in Monroe County . We, the members of the Democratic Caucus of the Monroe County Legislature, believe that the government of Monroe County can and must become more accountable to the citizens and taxpayers it represents, and can and must operate more efficiently and with greater integrity.

“ We the People… ” is a citizen's guide to our plan for reforming Monroe County government at three fundamental levels: Legislatively, ethically, and fiscally.

Over the past decade, there has been an undeniable concession of power and responsibility by the County Legislature in favor of the Executive branch. Increasingly, county business is conducted through extragovernmental agencies, such as authorities and limited liability corporations, which carry out executive policies with far too little input and oversight from your elected representatives.

We have witnessed the abuse of privilege “and ratepayer dollars” at the Monroe County Water Authority, and seen the growing and undeniable correlation between political contribution and the awarding of lucrative public service contracts.

Working together with the employees who deliver our public services is absolutely vital to the success of our endeavors. They share with us the goal of creating the most efficient and cost-effective programs possible. This statement is a recognition of that fact, and a public declaration that this caucus is committed to working with all those who seek to better our community. We will seek the advisement of county workers, at all levels of employment, to hear new ideas and to learn how to best implement the ideas we have included here.

With “ We the People… ” we outline our plans for a smaller, more responsive and effective legislature; our vision for greater ethical oversight and reform of authorities and other public agencies; and our blueprint for meaningful fiscal reform, in order to ensure that homeowners are protected from punitive tax increases even as county government maintains and continues to provide essential, high-quality services.

When we say “We the People,” we mean it. We need to hear from you as we proceed, in the spirit of those who first wrote those words, to establish a county government that can be truly said to be of, by and for the People of Monroe County.

We look forward to hearing from you, working with you, and to the challenges and brighter future ahead.

Warm regards,

Carla M. Palumbo

Minority Leader