Policy-makers play a key role in uplifting our local food system so that it works for all people in Syracuse, Onondaga County, and Onondaga Nation. Through a survey, SOFSA asked this year’s election candidates about how they support a healthy Central New York food system and where they stand on specific food policy issues. We reached out to candidates with publicly available email addresses running for the following seats on the November 5, 2024 ballot: United States Representative, New York State Senate, and New York State Assembly. Responses are quoted (verbatim whenever possible) below.
United States House of Representatives
Brandon Williams (REP Incumbent Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives)
What are three of your priorities that reflect your commitment to a healthy food system for the Central New York region and your constituents here?
“-Rep. Williams has urged House leadership to hold a vote on the Farm Bill, which includes robust funding for SNAP and WIC
– Rep. Williams has cosponsored the Food Date Labeling Act of 2023, which will reduce consumer confusion and minimize instances of accidental food waste by establishing requirements for the format of quality date and discard date labels on food packaging
-Rep. Williams has cosponsored the Dairy Nutrition Incentive Program Act of 2023, which will empower local dairy producers by establishing a dairy nutrition incentive program to develop and test methods to increase the purchase and consumption of dairy under SNAP”
How often do you visit or shop from farms and small producers in Onondaga County? What are the types of #OnondagaGrown foods and beverages you love to purchase?
“Weekly, Rep. Williams and his wife Stephanie purchase local:
-Fresh vegetables and fruits
-Eggs and chicken
-Cider and wine
-Maple syrup
-Cheese
They have also been very involved in the CNY farm-to-table community for more than a decade, selling honey products and jam from their own farm in Sennett”
Please share your positions on the following issues:
Support innovative strategies to incentivize grocery store success in low-income, low-access areas.
SUPPORT
Ensure all K-12 students across the country have access to free school meals.
SUPPORT
Protect prime agricultural soils from development pressure from solar and other non-farm uses.
KEY PRIORITY
Support access to locally-grown foods in schools and other institutions.
KEY PRIORITY
Promote food security by increasing availability/funding of SNAP, WIC, and other nutrition assistance programs.
KEY PRIORITY
Devise comprehensive anti-poverty solutions that address the intersecting concerns of hunger, housing, and health.
SUPPORT
Prioritize food access in transportation funding and infrastructure projects
SUPPORT
Support affordable, long-term access to land for agriculture, especially for Black, Brown, and New American farmers
REQUEST MORE INFORMATION
Enact safeguards for food and farm workers to thrive as key actors in our regional food system.
KEY PRIORITY
What else would you like to know from your constituents to further inform your food policy positions and actions once in office?
“I would like to continue meeting with constituents and advocates who share their perspectives and expertise to broaden access to healthy, locally-produced food in our district. Please reach out to my Syracuse office at 315-233-4333 if you would like to schedule a meeting.”
Is your platform publicly-available via https://www.vote411.org?
“No, but it can be found at https://letsvotebranson.com/stances”
John Mannion (DEM Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives)
What are three of your priorities that reflect your commitment to a healthy food system for the Central New York region and your constituents here?
“ Ensuring that all New Yorkers, regardless of location or income level, have access to high-quality, healthy food is one of my top concerns. To ensure access, my three top priorities include financial and technical support for young and new farmers; providing farm fresh food to students in schools; and, protecting prime agricultural soils from non-agricultural development. I was proud to vote for policies that exemplified and implemented these previously mentioned priorities in the NYS Budget during my time in Albany.”
How often do you visit or shop from farms and small producers in Onondaga County? What are the types of #OnondagaGrown foods and beverages you love to purchase?
“I enjoy visiting many of the locally owned farms, stands, and small producers in Onondaga County, as well as in the greater CNY and Mohawk Valley region. However, some of my favorites include the Syracuse Downtown Farmers Market and the Camillus Farmers Market. Attracting farmers and producers to local markets is especially important to me because these types of events establish lifelong connections that support local farms and producers, and create healthy relationships with food that consumers love.”
Please share your positions on the following issues:
Support innovative strategies to incentivize grocery store success in low-income, low-access areas.
SUPPORT
Ensure all K-12 students across the country have access to free school meals.
KEY PRIORITY
Protect prime agricultural soils from development pressure from solar and other non-farm uses.
KEY PRIORITY
Support access to locally-grown foods in schools and other institutions.
KEY PRIORITY
Promote food security by increasing availability/funding of SNAP, WIC, and other nutrition assistance programs.
SUPPORT
Devise comprehensive anti-poverty solutions that address the intersecting concerns of hunger, housing, and health.
SUPPORT
Support affordable, long-term access to land for agriculture, especially for Black, Brown, and New American farmers
KEY PRIORITY
Enact safeguards for food and farm workers to thrive as key actors in our regional food system.
SUPPORT
As an elected official, how will you invest in community infrastructure to increase food access?
“I want to know more about the local foods and products that constituent-consumers want. I also want to know about the consumers that local farms and producers need to survive. During my time in the State Senate I was proud to support the Nourish NY program, which provides surplus agricultural products to populations who need them the most. NY22 is a district that is full of prime agricultural land, and I want to ensure that local farms and producers are connected with the constituents that have the most need so that local farms can feed local constituents. In Congress I would support policies that allow farms and producers to feed their local community.”
Is your platform publicly-available via https://www.vote411.org?
Rachel May (DEM/WFP Incumbent Candidate for NYS Senate, 48th District)
What are three of your priorities that reflect your commitment to a healthy food system for the Central New York region and your constituents here?
“1) Combatting concentrated poverty in our cities, which leads to disinvestment in retail food availability, unreliable transportation, and other barriers to healthy diets.
2) Supporting a diverse food production system, including urban agriculture, supporting farmers of color and young farmers and promoting the growing of foods for a variety of ethnic diets.
3) Supporting the food ecosystem by protecting our pollinators. I have several pieces of legislation to support pollinators, native plants, and healthy landscaping”
How often do you visit or shop from farms and small producers in Onondaga County? What are the types of #OnondagaGrown foods and beverages you love to purchase?
“I live with someone who works on a local farm and brings home a lot of produce, and I buy local whenever possible, including local apple products (from apples to hard cider), local eggs, corn, and maple syrup.”
Please share your positions on the following issues:
Ensure all New York K-12 students have access to free school meals.
KEY PRIORITY
Increase access to New York grown foods in schools and other institutions.
KEY PRIORITY
Increase the minimum SNAP benefit to $100 per month.
KEY PRIORITY
Invest in key infrastructure at the CNY Regional Market to support a thriving regional food economy while ensuring accountable and transparent options.
KEY PRIORITY
Explore innovative strategies to incentivize grocery store success in low-income, low-access areas.
KEY PRIORITY
Devise comprehensive anti-poverty solutions that address the intersecting concerns of hunger, housing, and health.
KEY PRIORITY
Utilize food access and vehicle ownership data to inform transportation planning.
SUPPORT
Support affordable, long-term access to land for agriculture, especially for Black, Brown, and New American farmers.
KEY PRIORITY
Protect prime agricultural soils from development pressure from solar and other non-farm uses.
SUPPORT
Enact safeguards for food and farm workers to thrive as key actors in our regional food system.
KEY PRIORITY
What else would you like to know from your constituents to further inform your food policy positions and actions once in office?
“I interact with a lot of constituents about food insecurity, farm policy, food waste, and related issues. I would like to know how many people are interested in more resources for community gardening and/or what barriers they experience to using their yards for food production. It would also be good to get feedback from users of food pantries and food distribution programs about what is missing/what they would wish to see and how the process could suit their needs better.”
Is your platform publicly-available via https://www.vote411.org?
Nick Paro (REP/CON Candidate for NYS Senate, 50th District)
What are three of your priorities that reflect your commitment to a healthy food system for the Central New York region and your constituents here?
“NYS Senate District 50 has some great agricultural communities producing quality, local food products. I am a great proponent of buy local, agricultural land preservation, and supporting our farmers.”
How often do you visit or shop from farms and small producers in Onondaga County? What are the types of #OnondagaGrown foods and beverages you love to purchase?
“My wife, Brooke and I thoroughly enjoy cooking with local #OnondagaGrown produce.”
Please share your positions on the following issues:
Ensure all New York K-12 students have access to free school meals.
SUPPORT
Increase access to New York grown foods in schools and other institutions.
SUPPORT
Increase the minimum SNAP benefit to $100 per month.
REQUEST MORE INFORMATION
Invest in key infrastructure at the CNY Regional Market to support a thriving regional food economy while ensuring accountable and transparent options.
SUPPORT
Explore innovative strategies to incentivize grocery store success in low-income, low-access areas.
SUPPORT
Devise comprehensive anti-poverty solutions that address the intersecting concerns of hunger, housing, and health.
SUPPORT
Utilize food access and vehicle ownership data to inform transportation planning.
REQUEST MORE INFORMATION
Support affordable, long-term access to land for agriculture, especially for Black, Brown, and New American farmers.
REQUEST MORE INFORMATION
Protect prime agricultural soils from development pressure from solar and other non-farm uses.
SUPPORT
Enact safeguards for food and farm workers to thrive as key actors in our regional food system.
SUPPORT
What else would you like to know from your constituents to further inform your food policy positions and actions once in office?
Is your platform publicly-available via https://www.vote411.org?
Daniel Ciciarelli (REP/CON Candidate for NYS Assembly, 128th District)
What are three of your priorities that reflect your commitment to a healthy food system for the Central New York region and your constituents here?
“1) Address food deserts. 2) Make sure all children have the ability to receive their necessary nutrients as this is a key part of their overall mental and physical development. 3) Reduce food waste.”
How often do you visit or shop from farms and small producers in Onondaga County? What are the types of #OnondagaGrown foods and beverages you love to purchase?
“As often as possible. My family recently started a garlic farm and understands first hand the struggles of small farms so we try to support others as often as possible. We have bought everything from fresh vegetables, to plants, seeds, and other finished goods like honey, hot sauces, and various fresh squeezed drinks. I try to get to as many different providers as possible so I don’t always by from one person.”
Please share your positions on the following issues:
Ensure all New York K-12 students have access to free school meals.
KEY PRIORITY
Increase access to New York grown foods in schools and other institutions.
SUPPORT
Increase the minimum SNAP benefit to $100 per month.
SUPPORT
Invest in key infrastructure at the CNY Regional Market to support a thriving regional food economy while ensuring accountable and transparent options.
SUPPORT
Explore innovative strategies to incentivize grocery store success in low-income, low-access areas.
KEY PRIORITY
Devise comprehensive anti-poverty solutions that address the intersecting concerns of hunger, housing, and health.
KEY PRIORITY
Utilize food access and vehicle ownership data to inform transportation planning.
SUPPORT
Support affordable, long-term access to land for agriculture, especially for Black, Brown, and New American farmers.
SUPPORT
Protect prime agricultural soils from development pressure from solar and other non-farm uses.
KEY PRIORITY
Enact safeguards for food and farm workers to thrive as key actors in our regional food system.
KEY PRIORITY
What else would you like to know from your constituents to further inform your food policy positions and actions once in office?
“How does limitations of food affect them on a daily basis and how far do they have to travel to get the food they need. They can call or text me directly: 315-727-7919.”
Is your platform publicly-available via https://www.vote411.org?
William B. Magnarelli (DEM Candidate for NYS Assembly, 129th District)
What are three of your priorities that reflect your commitment to a healthy food system for the Central New York region and your constituents here?
“1. Revitalizing the Central NY Regional Market. I have worked closely with the State Department of Agriculture & Markets, Onondaga County, the City of Syracuse and the leadership of the Market to ensure it is properly governed and has a plan going forward to make needed capital improvements and improve the accessibility of the Market. I sponsored A.7081-B (pending action by the Governor) to reform and improve the governance of the Market. I have also secured funds for future capital needs at the Market.
2. As Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee, I have made funding Upstate public transit a priority. In the past several Budget cycles I have helped secure double digit increases in STOA funding and significant capital investments. I also helped to secure $10 million in State funding for Upstate transit authorities to pilot “micro/on-demand” transit solutions.
3. Supporting State Budgets that continue to support New York farmers, protect prime farmland from development and properly fund programs that help families purchase fresh, nutritious food.”
How often do you visit or shop from farms and small producers in Onondaga County? What are the types of #OnondagaGrown foods and beverages you love to purchase?
“I frequent the Central New York Regional Market to purchase fresh produce. I have on occasion tried local wines, craft beers and cider.”
Please share your positions on the following issues:
Ensure all New York K-12 students have access to free school meals.
SUPPORT
Increase access to New York grown foods in schools and other institutions.
SUPPORT
Increase the minimum SNAP benefit to $100 per month.
SUPPORT
Invest in key infrastructure at the CNY Regional Market to support a thriving regional food economy while ensuring accountable and transparent options.
KEY PRIORITY
Explore innovative strategies to incentivize grocery store success in low-income, low-access areas.
SUPPORT
Devise comprehensive anti-poverty solutions that address the intersecting concerns of hunger, housing, and health.
SUPPORT
Utilize food access and vehicle ownership data to inform transportation planning.
KEY PRIORITY
Support affordable, long-term access to land for agriculture, especially for Black, Brown, and New American farmers.
SUPPORT
Protect prime agricultural soils from development pressure from solar and other non-farm uses.
KEY PRIORITY
Enact safeguards for food and farm workers to thrive as key actors in our regional food system.
SUPPORT
What else would you like to know from your constituents to further inform your food policy positions and actions once in office?
“Aside from keeping prices down, I would like to know how many of my constituents think the State can help them with food purchases, selection and delivery.”
Is your platform publicly-available via https://www.vote411.org?
Pamela J. Hunter (DEM/WFP Candidate for NYS Assembly, 128th District)
What are three of your priorities that reflect your commitment to a healthy food system for the Central New York region and your constituents here?
“I would like to address food deserts, food affordability and the accessibility of healthy foods.”
How often do you visit or shop from farms and small producers in Onondaga County? What are the types of #OnondagaGrown foods and beverages you love to purchase?
“I regularly visit and shop with producers such as Beak and Skiff, Apple Acres, Brady Farm and the Regional Market”
Please share your positions on the following issues:
Ensure all New York K-12 students have access to free school meals.
KEY PRIORITY
Increase access to New York grown foods in schools and other institutions.
SUPPORT
Increase the minimum SNAP benefit to $100 per month.
KEY PRIORITY
Invest in key infrastructure at the CNY Regional Market to support a thriving regional food economy while ensuring accountable and transparent options.
SUPPORT
Explore innovative strategies to incentivize grocery store success in low-income, low-access areas.
KEY PRIORITY
Devise comprehensive anti-poverty solutions that address the intersecting concerns of hunger, housing, and health.
KEY PRIORITY
Utilize food access and vehicle ownership data to inform transportation planning.
SUPPORT
Support affordable, long-term access to land for agriculture, especially for Black, Brown, and New American farmers.
SUPPORT
Protect prime agricultural soils from development pressure from solar and other non-farm uses.
REQUEST MORE INFORMATION
Enact safeguards for food and farm workers to thrive as key actors in our regional food system.
SUPPORT
What else would you like to know from your constituents to further inform your food policy positions and actions once in office?
“I would like to know what issues are creating the greatest challenges to addressing food insecurity.”
Is your platform publicly-available via https://www.vote411.org?
Timothy R. Kelly (REP/CON Candidate for NYS Assembly, 128th District)
What are three of your priorities that reflect your commitment to a healthy food system for the Central New York region and your constituents here?
“We need to ensure our farmers have the resources to be successful and get their products efficiently to consumers. We need to ensure that we address food deserts in our community. It is also very important that Members of our community understand the vital role the agriculture plays in our region.”
How often do you visit or shop from farms and small producers in Onondaga County? What are the types of #OnondagaGrown foods and beverages you love to purchase?
“Regularly. My family proudly supports locally grown and locally sourced food both in our home and we are proud to support restaurants that make it their priority to source local foods.”
Please share your positions on the following issues:
Ensure all New York K-12 students have access to free school meals.
SUPPORT
Increase access to New York grown foods in schools and other institutions.
KEY PRIORITY
Increase the minimum SNAP benefit to $100 per month.
KEY PRIORITY
Invest in key infrastructure at the CNY Regional Market to support a thriving regional food economy while ensuring accountable and transparent options.
KEY PRIORITY
Explore innovative strategies to incentivize grocery store success in low-income, low-access areas.
KEY PRIORITY
Devise comprehensive anti-poverty solutions that address the intersecting concerns of hunger, housing, and health.
KEY PRIORITY
Utilize food access and vehicle ownership data to inform transportation planning.
KEY PRIORITY
Support affordable, long-term access to land for agriculture, especially for Black, Brown, and New American farmers.
KEY PRIORITY
Protect prime agricultural soils from development pressure from solar and other non-farm uses.
KEY PRIORITY
Enact safeguards for food and farm workers to thrive as key actors in our regional food system.
KEY PRIORITY
What else would you like to know from your constituents to further inform your food policy positions and actions once in office?
“I grew up near a farm and I understand the vital role that the hard work of its owners and employees play in feeding our community. We need to work hard to make sure that for many more generations agriculture is a key piece of our community. Legislature needs to make sure that our decisions support those efforts and never overstep their boundaries.”
Is your platform publicly-available via https://www.vote411.org?
If you are a candidate running for office in Central New York and wish to share responses to these questions, please reach out to maura@syrfoodalliance.org.
