Amatoforward1

Thank you all for your encouragement and support! Ward 1 was lucky to have 2 intelligent, passionate candidates. Congratulations Giselle! A race well run. See you all out and about 😉 Happy Fall!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Amato announces run for Newburgh City Council Ward 1

NEWBURGH, N.Y. – October 18, 2021 – Christina Amato of the Newburgh Forward party, a lifelong area resident, has announced her candidacy for Newburgh’s City Council Ward 1. "I'm about as far as you can get from a 'typical' politician," Amato said. "I am running for City Council because I believe Newburgh's Ward 1 deserves a representative in touch with their day-to-day concerns about quality of life issues and the skyrocketing cost of living and doing business here. We all care about the dollars coming out of our back pockets."

Amato is running with the Newburgh Forward Party on a platform of independence, collaboration and transparency. "I am not constrained by loyalty to any political party or special interest groups. I have support from people in all parties; this is about Newburgh looking forward." Amato said.

Amato is a solutions-oriented candidate whose top priority is working with Newburghers towards the sustainability and wellbeing of the City and its residents. “I’ve lived in Newburgh for more than 15 years and I love this city,” she said. “I’m dedicated to a Newburgh that both recent arrivals and legacy families can feel proud to call home; neighborhoods where we can all enjoy a clean, safe place to live, learn, work, and worship. A place that is not just business-friendly, but innovation-forward.”

Amato was born and raised just 10 miles from her home in Ward 1 and runs a local family business that has thrived for nearly 60 years. Her experience as a small business owner and entrepreneur has taught her effective budgeting, judicious use of resources, and prioritizing important decisions to create revenue and ensure long-term sustainability. “We need to grow our general fund so our only budget balancing option is not to cut more services while asking our residents to pay more,” Amato added. "We need to make Newburgh affordable for Newburghers."

"I have the experience and common sense Ward 1 needs," Amato said. She has a substantial background in both public and private community development and has a great passion for historic restoration. She came to Newburgh with the community-led Downtown Planning Charette through Leyland Alliance, gaining extensive knowledge of Newburgh’s infrastructure and urban planning strengths and weaknesses, and was awarded a Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress fellowship.

As a City Councilperson, Amato pledges to:
• Drive a campaign dedicated to reducing the cost of living in Newburgh, being fiscally responsible with the city’s tax dollars and emphasizing business-friendly practices.
• Work towards smart, sustainable development to unite the Newburgh Waterfront with the rest of the city.
• Stand up to special interest groups looking to take advantage of Newburgh.
• Advocate and organize around quality-of-life neighborhood issues,
• Contribute a strong and focused voice, an open mind, and a commitment to accountability and transparency that builds trust and opportunity for all.

Currently, Amato sits on the City of Newburgh Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and Audit/Finance Committee, East End Historic Neighborhood Association, and previously spent many years on multiple local advisory boards, ranging from the Newburgh Bay and Highlands Historical Society to the Citizen’s Foundation Place Making Committee.

Amato earned an undergraduate degree in Economics and Studio Art from Skidmore College, and a Masters of Real Estate Development and Finance from New York University.

Early Voting starts on October 23 -31 with Election Day on November 2, 2021.

For more information about Christina Amato, please visit her page at AmatoForWard1 or [email protected].