Proud to support Penny Steyer

To the editor: As someone who has lived in the town of Warwick for over 20 years, I am proud to support Penny Steyer in her candidacy for town supervisor. I have known Penny for many years, not only as a friendly retailer on Main Street, but also from her many activities through out the community. Penny has worked tirelessly behind the scenes for many years for the betterment of our community. She is someone who truly cares about our town and its future development. I have talked to Penny many times about our mutual concerns. We have become an “upscale” community with little diversity. Warwick is no longer a community where young people, just starting out in life, or old people looking to “downsize” can find affordable housing. It’s sad, because that’s exactly why I came to Warwick. I fell in love with the beautiful rural landscapes, the friendly Mom-n-Pop businesses and it was a place that, as newlyweds, fresh out of college, we could afford. Today, most of the houses being built are huge, on large parcels of land, because of changes made to the zoning laws in Warwick. Penny would encourage changes that would allow greater variety in housing options in Warwick, without creating a greater tax burden and maintaining our rural character . Another issue that Penny and I have discussed is the economic vitality of Warwick. Over the past 20 years, I have seen what little industry that was here either shut down or leave. For the most part, we are a community of commuters. As someone who used to commute, I can tell you that the time and expense of traveling to work and back has a negative effect on the quality of life. That’s why Penny has a number of plans that would stimulate the creation of new businesses and jobs within Warwick. Most of these ideas seek to incorporate people that are currently residing in the area and would greatly enhance our local economy, without causing undue stress on our resources. I think this is especially important for our young people because the more employment opportunities they have, the greater their preparation for life. In conclusion, I believe that Warwick is a great community to live in and raise children. However, if things do not change, will this be true? Penny understands that there is a delicate balance that must be created and has created a platform (www.pennyknows.com) that addresses the many issues that face our town. We need to have a town supervisor who is willing to embrace changes that will enhance Warwick, while maintaining the very characteristics that make our town so special. Penny Steyer is that person. Bethany Fairbrother Warwick