Results, Not Rhetoric

When elected in 2017, Robin committed to bringing new perspective to the role of Town Councilmember, and to ensure that marginalized members of our community were given voice and included.

In that spirit, she spearheaded the creation of the Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Advisory (IDEA) Board, which promulgated an Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Action Plan that has enabled Brighton to hire the first-ever Chief Diversity Officer in upstate New York. In recognition of that and related work, Robin was honored to receive a 2019 Truth and Action Recognition Award from Brighton High School’s Black Student Union, for honoring Rosa Parks’ and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s commitment to social justice, education, and community building.

Most recently, the IDEA Board wrote a letter in support of the Memorializing Resolution unanimously passed by the Brighton Town Board  that strengthens protections of the most vulnerable members of the Brighton community. You can find a video of my comments on passage of that resolution to the right.

Sustainability and Climate Resiliency

The Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program, a signature achievement of Robin’s first term, saved Brighton households $1.6M during its lifetime.  The Sustainability Oversight Committee (SOC), for which Robin serves as liaison, has successfully applied for grants from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to fund clean energy projects such as solar panel installations, air-sourced heat pumps, and sustainable portions of the Town Hall renovation. As a result of these diligent efforts, the lodge at Brighton Town Park is now a carbon-neutral structure, and the renovation of Brighton Town Hall will feature rooftop solar panels and a geothermal system for heating and cooling that will make the building more comfortable for employees and visitors alike.

Robin’s other accomplishments on the Brighton Town Board:

  • A local law that prohibits housing discrimination based on source of income.
  • A local law that requires disciplinary actions within the Brighton Police Department to be approved by the Town Board.
  • Coordinating feedback for the State Department of Transportation with regard to improving plans for traffic routing and bike lanes.
  • Coordinating with stakeholders to develop a letter in support of carbon pricing at the federal level and investment in infrastructure to ensure immediate and equitable action to address the climate crisis.
  • A local law that requires contractors to have Renovations, Repair or Painting (RRP) lead certification when applying for certain building permits where lead may be disturbed, which was recognized with an award at the Annual Meeting of the Coalition to Prevent Lead Poisoning.
  • Coordinating with stakeholders to establish a Complete Count Committee within the Town of Brighton to increase participation in the 2020 Census.
  • Collaborating with the Director of the Native American Cultural Center to develop a territorial acknowledgment to recognize the historical and ongoing contributions of Native Americans to stewardship of the land encompassed by the Town of Brighton.
  • Coordinating with stakeholders to develop a letter in support of legislative action implementing a Green Amendment within New York State, which would guarantee all New Yorkers the fundamental right to “Clean air, clean water, and a healthful environment.”