5 Questions for the Candidate
Learn more about the candidate at jonathanenzinna.com
By Andrew Harris,
Q- What will your priority be for the Town of Cuba if elected ?
My priority is always what is best for my community, regardless of the outcome of next Tuesday. What is good for the town is good for my family, and I’ve dedicated much of my free time to helping our community thrive. More specifically, our priorities must be responsible fiscal management while delicately balancing services our neighbors expect.
It is no secret that times are tough for many towns, and our rural community is no different. With recent measures to exceed the state tax cap, we must remain mindful of its impact on our neighbors We are fortunate enough that a substantial increase in taxable value, thanks to the state appellate court’s decision, will help soften that impact this year. But what does that mean for next year or the year after? We need to remain vigilant to ensure our long-term financial stability while continuing to offer the level of services we have grown accustomed to.
Q- Describe what you think is the “net impact” of the recent Article 78 litigation regarding tax assessments ?
This is an excellent question, and there are many different facets to its answer. The litigation, initial decision, and subsequent appeal have already had — and continue to have — an impact on our community.
For starters, we have already borne much of the impact of the initial court decision. The tax years since that decision, including 2026, were adversely affected: the tax burden shifted unfairly between Cuba’s various neighborhoods, and the distribution of the tax levy was no longer truly proportional with home value. Thankfully, we prevailed on appeal and can now turn the page and work to correct these inequities.
Going forward, the impact will be a fairer distribution of the tax levy. Neighborhoods that had a disproportionately smaller share of the tax burden for a few years may see an increase in their taxes, while their neighbors who shouldered a disproportionately larger share may see a decrease. I see this as simply “righting a wrong.” The completion of the current town-wide revaluation should help further balance that burden the following year.
Q- Homelessness and vagrancy is a growing problem for all communities. What should Cuba be doing to keep the public safe but still provide care for those who are without housing ?
A major contributor to homelessness is a lack of affordable housing, and this is a problem that plagues nearly every municipality. One of the best things we can do to help combat homelessness is to ensure that low- and moderate-income households can find an affordable home in the first place. This means working with community action agencies and other groups to renovate or retrofit existing properties, rehabilitate brownfield sites into usable land, and explore programs that may help homeowners to build accessory dwelling units.
A few weeks ago, I had coffee with a friend who helps manage affordable housing programs. She introduced me to New York State Home and Community Renewal’s “Plus One ADU” Program, which provides individual homeowner grants of up to $125,000 to build an accessory dwelling unit, up to $2 million per municipality, by way of a municipal partnership with a not-for-profit providing program assistance. Introduction of a program such as this could be a real boon to Cuba’s available housing stock.
Ultimately, though, it comes down to community support. We are lucky to have a caring and giving community here in Cuba. Local organizations such as our Council of Churches, ACCORD, and the Chamber of Commerce — just to name a few — play an important role in awareness of both the problem and the resources available to help.
We are also incredibly lucky to have a compassionate and well-staffed police department capable of responding to public safety concerns and helping people in crisis. As a former firefighter and EMS chief, supporting our police department and ambulance squad will always be important to me. We are fortunate to have both serving a community our size.
Q- Recent tense public meetings have left some wondering; Is civility lost ? How do you plan to help bring back basic decency to local government ?
No, I don’t feel that civility is completely lost. We may see a breakdown of our societal norms every day when we turn on the news, and we certainly had some tense moments at a handful of meetings this year; but — on the whole — things remained civil. Some voices were clearly louder – and sometimes more hurtful – than others, but many of our neighbors who felt maligned or unheard during our tumultuous spring have remained cordial.
For my part, I believe that means listening, taking people’s concerns seriously, and responding respectfully, even when we disagree. As I said in my blog post that you published as an op-ed earlier this week: we will disagree again. But we must remember that, at the end of the meeting, we are still going to be neighbors. We’re still going to shop next to one another and our kids will still attend school together.
Q- What is your favorite thing about Cuba that is unique to the town ?
No joke: this is probably the most difficult question you’ve asked. It’s hard to give just one answer because there are too many things to list. Not only are we a friendly community, but we’re also a beautiful one, thanks to the efforts of Cuba’s Beautification Committee. We have entertainment at the Palmer Opera House, a “Cheers”-like experience at The Perfect Blend, a wealth of knowledge — and much more — at our amazing Cuba Circulating Library, and a delicious breakfast every weekend at The Kopper Keg. The list goes on on and on.
But what really makes Cuba special is the people: our neighbors. From conversations with passersby on Main Street to our long list of charitable organizations and community events, that sense of community is visible every day, all over town.It has been an honor these past few years to serve my neighbors on the town board, and I hope to have the opportunity to continue doing so. But regardless of the outcome of this coming election, I know one thing for certain: my quest for a better, brighter tomorrow for Cuba is far from over.
