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<h2>Overhaul &amp; Update Geneva's Comprehensive Plan</h2>Geneva's current Comprehensive Plan helped us grow—but times have changed. Housing is less affordable, tourism is growing without reinvestment, and key city assets like our downtown ice rink are underused. It’s time to come together and build a new roadmap for Geneva’s future.

<h2>A Housing Strategy &amp; Framework Is Needed</h2>Geneva’s homeownership gap—driven by taxing burdens, ageing inventory, and affordability issues—presents an opportunity. Home ownership in Geneva is significantly lower than the NYS and National average. A focus on promoting home ownership with responsible neighborhood development and accountability for all rentals is needed.

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<h2>Why I'm Running</h2>“I’m running for mayor because Geneva is my home. I was born here, raised here, and after building a successful career, I came back to invest in its people, its businesses, and its future. I believe in what Geneva has been—and even more in what it can become. This campaign is about turning that belief into action, and making sure we move forward—together.”

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<h3>Campaign Introduction</h3>Geneva has so much potential.

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<h2>Your Donation Will Help Shape More Than a Campaign</h2>This is about running a campaign of ideas. .These ideas are what will help people in Geneva understand the issues and opportunities we face.This is about reaching out to ALL GENEVANS and getting information to everyone and encourage involvement. We will be putting signs in yards, publishing papers, making videos, and sponsoring events that help bring the community together to discuss these issues and help unite Geneva in arriving at a solution.So every dollar helps. And I thank you for your support.

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<h2>So There Are Rules &amp; Disclaimers. Please read!</h2><h3>🔒 Contribution Disclaimer</h3>Contributions to the Committee to Elect Cecere are not tax-deductible as charitable donations for federal or state income tax purposes.By submitting your contribution, you affirm that:<ul><li>You are a United States citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident (i.e., green card holder);</li><li>Your contribution is made from your own funds, and not those of another person or entity;</li><li>Your contribution is not being reimbursed by another person or entity;</li><li>You are at least 18 years old;</li><li>If you are contributing on behalf of a business or LLC, your contribution complies with New York State corporate contribution limits.</li></ul><h3>💵 Contribution Limits (General Election)</h3><ul><li>Individual Contributions: Up to $1,000</li><li>Family Member Contributions: Up to $1,281.00</li><li>Corporate/LLC Contributions: Limited to $5,000 per calendar year, in aggregate across all New York State political campaigns</li></ul>All contributions will be publicly reported as required by New York State Election Law.If you have questions about compliance or contribution rules, please contact the campaign at <a href="mailto:jimcecere@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">jimcecere@gmail.com</a>.

Geneva is at a turning point. And in moments like this, leadership matters—not just leadership that talks, but leadership that listens, works, and brings people together.We'd love to have you included in our mailing list or volunteer. Fill out the contact information below.

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Jim Cecere for Mayor

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Revitalize our Economy

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<h3>Fighting for Our Community</h3>This is about building our commmunity. A multi-focused strategy to improve our housing, attract and retain business, harness the visitor economy, feeling safe &amp; secure, and a professional, transaparent government. These are some of the top priorities our campaign is focused on.

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“The city faces significant challenges including population decline, stagnant job growth, high taxes, and more. Despite these challenges, Geneva possesses immense potential. Our beautiful neighborhoods, architecture, the food &amp; beverage industry, the visitor economy and more all present the ability to transform into a positive, growing city."

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This campaign is about what I will do to bring Geneva together. To organize our governing body in a way that makes it highly effective and focuses on a common set of priorities. I will work with all Council members, city administrators, our county government, and state officials to press the needs of Geneva.

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I was born and raised in Geneva. I left to build a successful career. I came back 5 years ago and opened my own businesses downtown. I believe I can make a difference. My commitment to you during this campaign is to listen, understand, and advocate. We may not agree on everything, but I will always strive to have a good, civilized and respectful dialogue. And with that, action.

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<ol><li>Water &amp; Sewer Lines: Flooding continues to present issues, as do water main breaks. The DPW must continue to be supported in addressing not only emergencies, but support them in seeking state and federal aid to help overhaul our city’s aging infrastructure.</li><li>Garbage Pick-up: The imminent closure of the landfill will present Geneva with a future issue as it relates to the cost of garbage hauling. We must start thinking now about how to address this impact, and ways to ensure proper, affordable trash hauling. This includes how we look at waste destined for the landfill, recycling, and composting.</li><li>Clean Water: Geneva is fortunate to have access to a plentiful supply of water. Environmental, industrial, and farming practices continue to put environmental pressure on the quality of the water supply. As we look at our current waste-related issues, we must also not only seek ways to ensure we are preserving the quality of the water, but are advocating as such to the state as well as other municipalities, counties, and towns who also impact our precious resource.</li></ol>

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<h3>Our Campaign Focus</h3>This campaign isn’t about partisanship. It’s about progress. That’s why we’ve earned support from across the political spectrum. Because Geneva deserves leadership that puts people before politics.We will focus on:<ul><li>🏙 Economic Growth &amp; Downtown Revitalization Downtown development. Community focused development for Ice Rink and South Exchange Street. Attract new businesses. Help existing businesses.</li><li>🏡 Affordable Housing &amp; Smart Development Build housing that fits Geneva—affordable, neighborhood-friendly, and forward-looking.</li><li>💵 Addressing Our Tax Burden Grow the tax base through new development, shared services, and smart partnerships.</li><li>🚓 Public Safety &amp; Engagement Support our police and fire departments. Work together on modern, community-focused solutions.</li><li>🛠 Infrastructure &amp; Sustainability Support our Department of Public Works, and prioritize clean water, reduce flooding risks, clean streets, and plan for Geneva’s long-term needs.</li><li>🧭 Good Governance &amp; Transparency Hold open forums. Share progress. Lead with integrity—and with you at the table.</li></ul>

This campaign isn’t about partisanship. It’s about values and progress That’s why we’ve earned support from across the political spectrum. Because Geneva deserves leadership that puts people before politics.Check out our priorities.

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Our Campaign Focus

<ol><li>Downtown Development: Focus on downtown development and attracting new businesses to Geneva. Partner with state and federal agencies to attract new industries and incentivize small business growth. Create a unified, focused strategy on the development and growth of downtown, making use of the current downtown plans, and aligning the Economic Development Office, BID, LDC, and seek integration to maximize effectiveness. Develop a “big idea” to develop the OEO site on Exchange Street, linking the Ice Rink and Downtown. All of this while preserving the natural appearance of the city’s lakefront and ensuring public use and access.</li><li>Focus on Property Taxes: Geneva has one of the highest tax rates in our region. It's complicated. The approach to resolve this must include ideas from downtown development, new housing, shared services, and innovative ways at looking at our current infrastructure. This must be a carefully considered approach, as there is no “magic bullet.” Rather, an alignment of actions can lead to growth and meaningful reform of how Geneva delivers recognized, valuable services to our community.</li><li>Geneva As A Destination| The Visitor Economy: Promote Geneva as a hub for tourism, capitalizing on the Finger Lakes’ reputation for world-class wine and hospitality. What are the needs of our residents? How does the Visitor Economy support our needs?</li><li>Food &amp; Beverage Hub: Continue to work on the plan to grow the food and beverage industry in Geneva, especially given the presence of Cornell AgriTech. Support the expansion of food and agriculture businesses to create quality jobs and strengthen the local economy. Collaborate with Cornell AgriTech to attract and support agribusiness startups, research partnerships, and food production facilities. Highlight Geneva as a leader in sustainable agriculture and food innovation.</li><li>Empty Buildings: Incentivize the use of vacant storefronts, expand support for local entrepreneurs, and develop year-round attractions to bolster downtown activity with the MAP program. Penalize those buildings that remain open and vacant.</li><li>Expanded Services Through Partnership &amp; Shared Services: Continue efforts to expand shared services with other towns, municipalities, and the county; also opportunities with HWS, and other public/private entities. The goal is a more streamlined service, including increasing services and offerings for citizens of Geneva, and also managing our bottom line responsibly.</li><li>A New Approach With Hobart &amp; William Smith (HWS) and other Non-Profits:&nbsp; The Colleges, Hospital System, and other non-profits are an asset to Geneva, and should be celebrated. Their contribution to Geneva often goes unrecognized, but their potential for all to partner differently and help Geneva. We must revisit our current arrangements, especially as it relates to our city infrastructure and recreational service offerings.</li></ol>

The economic engine that drives jobs, growth, and tax dollars to provide city services and keep our taxes down is a priority. I have a series of priorities I will focus on as both a candidate an mayor.

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<ol><li>Align City Council With A Plan &amp; Priorities: Work with City Council to develop a strategic action plan for priorities that will be actioned throughout 2026 and beyond. This should align with those strategies outlined in the Comprehensive Plan (see below). This prioritization process will allow for a more streamlined approach, and focusing on the issues that matter. It should also make City Council for efficient.</li><li>Comprehensive Plan: Our comprehensive plan must be revisited and updated. I recognize that this plan was developed and provided a roadmap for the ongoing actions by City Council and the City Administrators. While some of it is dated, we must revisit this and create a document which not only provides a strategy for the governance of Geneva, but utilizes AI and other sources to ensure real-time data and other feeds to ensure we are being successful in meeting the goals of our Comprehensive Plan.</li><li>City Government Oversight: Key areas and services in the city need improved oversight and involvement of the council.<ol><li>Finances: we need an improved handle on how our tax dollars are being spent, and where potential opportunities and issues arise.</li><li>City Boards: We are grateful to those who volunteer for our Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, IDA, and other important agencies. We owe it to them to ensure that we are placing the most qualified individuals on those boards to ensure proper outcomes of any matters which come before them.</li><li>Police &amp; Fire: The police and fire department deserve improved transparency into their operations as to allow for improved support, a better accountability structure, and improved laws that help keep Geneva safe.</li><li>Economic Development: We have the BID, IDA, LDC, Economic Development Office, and other boards all generally focused on the economic development of our city. We need to take a hard look at this line-up, and determine what makes sense to ensure they are effective in achieving the critical development goals of Geneva.</li></ol></li></ol>c. Clean Water: Geneva is fortunate to have access to a plentiful supply of water. Environmental, industrial, and farming practices continue to put environmental pressure on the quality of the water supply. As we look at our current waste-related issues, we must also not only seek ways to ensure we are preserving the quality of the water, but are advocating as such to the state as well as other municipalities, counties, and towns who also impact our precious resource.

<ol><li> Affordable Housing: We must address availability and the cost of housing. While limited in terms of available space, we do have vacant land. Developments must align with the characteristics of our neighborhoods, and promote affordability and also generate property taxes. I propose to continue to focus on the creation of affordable housing, streamline permitting processes, and become aggressive in dealing with vacant buildings and storefronts. </li><li>Public Safety and Community Investment: Our police and fire departments should be considered advantages for our community. With crime rates increasing, we need better and more thoughtful ways to work with our police department to handle the challenges that face Geneva, including mental health and substance abuse issues. For the fire department, we have the largest volunteer firefighter force working alongside our paid firefighters to respond to any emergency. Working with the Fire Chief and his leadership team, work to identify how to continue to offer premium protection for our citizens, while at the same time discussing how to optimally align for future needs.</li><li>Safe &amp; Welcoming Neighborhoods: Each of Geneva’s distinct neighborhoods ultimately creates a unique community fabric. This includes parks and recreation, which must be utilized in a manner reflective of current society. This means a review of how we look at our parks, and how to best present them for community use.</li></ol>

Quality of Life

A special evening to kick-off the campaign! Lite fare and beverages will be served. Please RSVP for each person attending.

Campaign Kick-Off / Fundraiser

This event is the official kick-off of the Campaign to Elect Jim Cecere as the next Mayor of Geneva, NY. At this event, Jim will formally announce his campaign, including his vision for the future.

<h2>Our Current Government</h2><h3>Background: Council-Manager Form of Government</h3>Geneva operates under a “Council-Manager” system, in which:<ul><li>The City Council, including the Mayor, is elected by citizens to represent public interests and set policy.</li><li>The City Manager is hired by the Council to implement those policies and manage daily operations of city government.</li></ul><h3>What Works</h3><ul><li>Professional Administration: Our City Manager is a trained, non-political administrator with expertise in municipal management.</li><li>Clear Administrative Leadership: Our City Manager acts as a single chief executive who ensures streamlined operations and a professional, merit-based management of city services.</li><li>Council as Policymakers: Elected officials focus on broad goals, constituent needs, and strategic direction, leaving execution to the experts.</li></ul><h3>What Doesn’t Work (As Currently Practiced in Geneva)</h3><ul><li>Blurring of Roles: Council members may micromanage administrative matters, or the City Manager may overstep into policymaking—causing confusion, inefficiency, and mistrust.</li><li>Lack of Accountability: When outcomes are poor, it's unclear who is responsible.</li><li>Unclear Strategic Focus: Without a strong alignment between the Council's vision and the City Manager's implementation, key priorities can be lost.</li><li>Insufficient or Fragmented Communication with the Public: Citizens may feel disconnected from decision-making and unaware of how or why policies are made or executed. Various communications and meetings are held.</li><li>Poor Oversight or Lack of Evaluation Mechanisms: Council may lack the tools, knowledge, or willingness to evaluate the City Manager's performance rigorously and fairly.</li></ul><h2>Ideal Model and Policy Proposals</h2><h3>How It Should Work</h3>Role Responsibilities City Council (Mayor + Councilmembers) - Set policy and strategic goals- Represent public interests - Hire and evaluate the City Manager - Provide oversight, not execution City Manager - Implement policy decisions - Manage staff and day-to-day operations - Oversee budgeting, reporting, and service delivery - Provide expert recommendations to Council Mayor - Chair Council meetings - Be the public-facing leader - Ensure policy cohesion and accountability - Facilitate effective working relationship with the City Manager<h3>Policy and Structural Proposals</h3><h4>1. Clarify Roles and Responsibilities</h4><ul><li>Adopt a formal “Roles and Responsibilities Charter” approved by Council and City Manager.</li><li>Require annual review and training for all elected officials and staff on the governance model.</li></ul><h4>2. Implement a Transparent Performance Evaluation System</h4><ul><li>Annual 360° review of the City Manager by Council, using pre-agreed metrics tied to public-facing goals.</li><li>Require public disclosure of the evaluation process summary and performance priorities.</li></ul><h4>3. Strengthen Citizen Engagement</h4><ul><li>Hold quarterly town halls co-hosted by the Mayor, City Manager, and key staff to explain policies, budgets, and answer questions.</li></ul><h4>4. Adopt a Strategic Governance Plan</h4><ul><li>Every two years, the Council and City Manager must jointly draft and publish a Strategic Policy &amp; Operations Plan with:<ul><li>Key goals, including how they align with the Comprehensive Plan</li><li>Implementation timelines</li><li>Accountability checkpoints</li></ul></li><li>Progress reviewed in public Council meetings quarterly.</li></ul><h4>5. Establish a Council Rules Committee</h4><ul><li>Create a standing committee to recommend updates to Council procedures, ensure ethical conduct, and oversee intra-governmental conflicts.</li></ul><h4>6. Increase Managerial Transparency</h4><ul><li>Require the City Manager to publish a monthly operations report with key metrics, project updates, and budget tracking. This report must align with the Strategic Goals and Objectives, as set by City Council.</li></ul><h4>7. Enact a Governance Reform Resolution</h4><ul><li>As Mayor, I will introduce a resolution to codify these policies in the City Council’s official procedures and the City’s administrative code where appropriate.</li></ul><h2></h2>

Good government means a well run, efficient model. “A well-run city begins with a government that knows its job and does it well. As your Mayor, I will ensure the Council sets a clear vision, the City Manager delivers on it, and our citizens see real results. No more blurred lines, no more finger-pointing—just honest, effective leadership for Geneva.”

It Starts with a Sound Model for Good Governance

Jim Cecere is the candidate for Mayor for the City of Geneva. He has a plan to move Geneva forward that centers around home ownership, economic development, and lowering taxes. 