Past Updates

I am pleased and honored to be writing this article as your Legislative Representative for Yates and Ridgeway (District Two) .  Being newly elected and recently appointed to two Legislative Standing Committees, I want to assure you of my eagerness to serve as an Orleans County Legislator. 

Sharing my progress and beliefs with you on this Orleans County website is yet another way our local government works to our benefit.  The old “town meetings” may still exist in a sense, but communications between representatives and constituents has gained so many advantages within the “cyber-age” we live in now.  Let me take this opportunity to make my interests and beliefs more detailed and to assure you that I will listen and act upon the key interests of the residents in  Ridgeway and Yates.

I am very proud of my strong beliefs, one of them being the subject of “reform”.   I believe that reformation  begins at the local level where the single voice, or the roar of a crowd can be heard by elected officials.   Knowing and believing this, doesn’t it make sense that I value the County Legislature as one of the most important electoral bodies in America? 

During my recent campaign, I had stated my interests in small business and the importance of the County of Orleans Economic Development Agency.  My awareness of New York State’s regulations, taxes, and insurance requirements is not enough to deter me from pursuing the development of small business in our wonderful county.  Orleans County, despite the flood of New York State’s paper work and sometimes seemingly endless red tape, is an ideal location for entrepreneurs to observe their innovative ideas become a business reality.  I am constantly on the lookout for fiscal opportunities which could be applied to interested parties willing to initiate their business here in Orleans County.  As a legislator, I do have access to government avenues that could lead to the changing of less paper work and more grant offers for small businesses.  I have my own accounting business, as well as sharing our family farm in Lyndonville.  I am not a stranger to the hard work needed to make a small business succeed.  I am also not a stranger to the volume of paper work  and regulations required by New York State in regards to operating a small business.  I am presently serving on the Administration and Finance Committee and feel that this committee work will enhance my knowledge and better serve the needs to develop more small businesses in our area.    I applaud our new governor who has stated a promise to make New York State a more business-friendly state.  Recently I had the opportunity to visit our local capital where I was able to speak and exchange thoughts with our government officials.  Representing Orleans County is challenging at times, yet my belief in our towns and county makes me an enthusiastic representative with many goals in mind.

Another assigned committee I am presently serving on is Public Safety.   This brings to mind a project that I definitely support.   The project stipulates safer homes and more peaceful neighborhoods.  “Safe Homes - Safe Streets Initiative” is a project that joins a partnership between community leaders, landlords, tenants, home owners and law enforcement.  The liaison would be located in the DA’s office who would be assigned the physical evicting of those involved in crime in private dwellings.  The necessity of this project evolved when criminals decided to do business in an apartment or multi-family dwelling and deprived the existing tenants of their right to a peaceful environment in their own homes.  Many landlords have lost good tenants for this reason stated previously.  This condition causes stress for the landlord and the tenants who are now looking for a new home.   The project itself is divided into three steps and would present itself as a concrete measure for success by exercising the following:

1. Landlord Training

2. The Trespass Affidavit Program

3. Narcotics Eviction

Our county would become a safer place and send a definite message to any illegal activity involving the sales of drugs.  We need to keep our families protected and Orleans County a safe place to live.  Another component of this project is a Safe Homes-Safe Streets Trespass Affidavit which would regulate the dwelling conditions of a landlords property. 

I will pursue the initiation of this program and will aid support to all those in need of assistance to launch this project.

As you can hopefully deduct, I have a great fondness for our wondrous county of Orleans.  I am happy to serve on the county legislature and am most interested in your viewpoints too.  Please be assured that I am attending the numerous meetings and learning the many facets of government at great speed.  If you have any concerns you would hope to be addressed, please don’t hesitate to contact me. 

Lynne Johnson

District Two Legislator