Rhinebeck could be the first town in the Hudson Valley to pass a Community Housing Fund transfer tax.  It's a .5% tax on real estate purchasers paid by buyers.  This fund is designed to create high-quality housing opportunities without taxing existing property owners.  It primarily benefits first time home buyers that are "residents" defined as (1) currently residing in the Town, (2) having resided in the Town in the last five years, or (3) employed in the Town.  The Fund provides many opportunities and there are very creative ways to use the money.  Primarily though, eligible first time home buyers can receive a grant or loan up to 50% of the purchase price of a house.  The money can also be used to rehabilitate or building homes that will solely be used as affordable housing.  

Amanda also wants to propose a joint Landlord Tenant Relation Council with the Village which would have responsibility for conducting research into community housing problems, formulating programs to improve landlord-tenant relations, accumulating statistical information on available housing accommodations, counseling the local legislative body on landlord-tenant problems and disputes and recommending programs for their solution, and resolving problems and disputes between landlords and tenants through mediation and discussion at meetings of the council.  

A primary purpose of this Council would also be to study whether there is a landlord-tenant problem in Rhinebeck and whether Good Cause Eviction is a solution to any such problem.

Rhinebeck should be a place where the young and old can afford to live. Amanda will also take a proactive approach by proposing to simplify the zoning code and review planning board fees and processes.

Homeowners should be able to make sensible modifications to their properties without a bureaucratic nightmare or prohibitively expensive fees, while also ensuring we protect the historic integrity of our local architecture.

It’s time to open Town Hall back up to the people—literally and figuratively. The Town government should be responsive, and accessible. She will strengthen transparency and accountability by ending the misuse of executive sessions, adopting clear ethics standards, and establishing term limits that keep new ideas and energy flowing into Town Hall. Amanda supports thoughtful reform of the Planning Board so it better reflects today’s community and can move projects forward efficiently and fairly. She also believes it’s time for Rhinebeck’s government to communicate through clear, accessible digital tools, timely updates, and a user-friendly website—while staying grounded in real human connection through regular, informal community meetings. Her goal is simple: a government that is easy to engage with, earns public trust, and works for the people it serves.

Amanda’s vision for community and infrastructure is rooted in the idea that shared spaces and reliable systems make a community stronger, safer, and more welcoming for everyone. Her priorities include protecting and reinvesting in the traditions and events that bring people together like the Turkey Trot and winter celebrations like a reimagined Sinterklaas. She will also focus on improving road and bridge safety and enhancing services and infrastructure in existing parks, and increasing connectivity in Rhinebeck. She recognizes that connectivity is essential to daily life yet reliable cell service remains out of reach for many. The status quo is not only inconvenient but poses a major risk for our residents and first responders. She will pursue smart, well-designed solutions that improve coverage, respect our landscape, and prioritize emergency needs so Rhinebeck remains connected, resilient, and ready for the future.

Amanda believes in unity, collaboration, and equitable services for every part of our community. She will work to strengthen cooperation between the Town, the Village, and Rhinecliff so all residents receive reliable, high-quality services tailored to their unique needs. Her approach emphasizes smart shared-service solutions including restoring much-needed leaf pickup to Rhinecliff. She will also prioritize clear and direct communication, and a consistent presence in the community including a commitment to monthly "Supervisor Hours" at the Morton Library to ensure Rhinecliff voices are heard directly and consistently.

Amanda’s approach to sustainability and community prosperity is grounded in the belief that protecting our environment and strengthening our local economy should go hand in hand. She supports thoughtful growth that preserves open space by focusing development where infrastructure already exists, reducing sprawl and long commutes while strengthening our Town center and key corridors like Rhinecliff. Amanda sees Rhinecliff as both a historic gateway and an economic engine, and will take an active, collaborative role in clearing barriers so important assets, like the Amtrak station, can thrive and serve residents, visitors, and local workers alike. She is also committed to ensuring that tourism revenue directly benefits the community, with clear agreements to reinvest occupancy tax funds into shared infrastructure such as sidewalks, bridges, and public spaces. Her goal is a Rhinebeck that is environmentally responsible, economically vibrant, and prosperous for the people who live and work here year-round.

Amanda’s approach to justice is rooted in fairness, dignity, and making local government work for real life. She believes our laws should support community trust—not intimidate it—and will modernize local codes to ensure penalties are reasonable, proportional, and focused on safety rather than punishment. Amanda also supports reopening and strengthening our local court with schedules that work for working people, including evening and daytime court hours, so no one has to choose between earning a paycheck and accessing justice. She is committed to ensuring all residents feel safe engaging with local government and law enforcement, and will work with the Village Board to adopt policies that make it clear that local police will not cooperate with ICE. Her goal is a justice system that is accessible, humane, and grounded in the values of a strong, inclusive community.