Town Supervisor:
GIFFEN C. OTT
He’s young, smart, curious and qualified. Meet Giffen Ott, candidate for Sidney town supervisor, running on the independent Local Matters and Democratic party lines. Why? “Well, someone has to do it,” Ott answers, with a wry, understated sense of humor. Since moving to Sidney in 2021, Ott has jumped into civic life with uncommon energy and enthusiasm. “As an architectural designer running my own business, I have the flexibility to attend meetings,” he says. He’s begun attending every town board and planning board meeting possible, sometimes as the only member of the public present.
Ott is concerned that Sidney residents are not well informed about town issues or board decisions until those decisions have already been made. If elected, he will make it easier for locals to know what is happening with their town and county government and how they can have a say. “As a relatively young person, I believe I offer some different perspectives. I have digital fluency and understand how to broadcast what is happening in the community.”
Raised in San Francisco and Los Angeles, Ott came to upstate New York to attend college. After earning a degree in architecture from Cornell University in 2012, he worked for the National Science Foundation funded Sabin Design Lab; until special projects brought him back to The Bay Area in 2015. Visiting the area frequently from California, he found a home in Sidney and returned to NY in 2021.
Ott brings fresh eyes to the challenges and opportunities facing Sidney. His expertise in residential architecture and hands-on fabrication is particularly relevant to Sidney’s housing and infrastructure challenges.
In laying out his vision, Ott points out that Sidney is the traditional industrial hub of Delaware County, with room to grow. “We have an airport and the capacity to accommodate more industry.” At the same time, Ott is committed to preserving and repairing the area’s natural assets.
A specialist in residential construction, Ott sees the potential for Sidney’s revitalization. In addition to attracting new residents, “we should build housing for the people who live here.” He observes that the town has a relatively high percentage of older residents who could benefit from new, denser, flood- and mold-resistant housing so they can stay in their hometown and age in place.
Ott wants to improve conditions for local families. If elected, he will track down absentee landlords who are in tax arrears and address the health and safety hazards of derelict buildings. Solving these problems would enhance community pride, says Ott, and make Sidney a safer, more attractive place to live.
The village has an extensive area of land, the “green plain,” where flood-damaged buildings have been removed and property purchased by FEMA. Ott envisions working with the village to use the land in a variety of ways, including pocket parks, recreational facilities (like pickle ball courts) and a tree nursery.
If elected, Ott promises to bring his enthusiasm, training and commitment to improve the quality of life in Sidney.