Clinton has an infrastructure plan

190 years ago—almost to the day—New York completed one of the greatest infrastructure developments of our state’s history—the Erie Canal. The Canal connected cities across New York state, reducing shipping costs and increasing trade, as well as putting cities like Syracuse on the map.

Today, the country faces a new challenge. How can we update the existing infrastructure and unlock new investment to build a better economy for the future? That’s certainly a challenging question, especially given the political gridlock that we see so often. But it’s a question that needs to be tackled to make sure cities like Syracuse have a bright and prosperous future.  

{mosads}Take Syracuse’s water infrastructure system, for example. Almost as old as the Erie Canal, the water system needs to be updated to ensure that residents use water more efficiently, instead of relying on cast-iron pipes from a bygone era. Modernizing the water system will also prevent the hundreds of water main breaks that Syracuse’s residents experience each and every year.

The Highway Trust Fund should also be a priority for Syracuse residents because the roads and bridges between New York City and Canada—the United States’ largest city and its largest trading partner, respectively—run right through Syracuse. Congress needs to reauthorize the Highway Trust Fund to make sure that Interstate Highways, like I-81, continue to play an important role in the national economy and, more importantly, so that drivers can travel safely and more efficiently from state to state.

Our crippling infrastructure isn’t only a problem in Syracuse, the story is the same down in Long Island, throughout the state of New York, and in cities across the country.

With the next presidential election well underway, we need to do more to press the candidates on infrastructure development, and not just roads and bridges, but broadband internet and clean, renewable energy sources. Without a doubt, the next President of the United States will need to make smart investments and look for innovative ways to make sure that our country has a sound infrastructure that will ensure prosperity for years and generations to come.

In my mind, no one is more capable, ready and willing to tackle the infrastructure challenges our country faces than Hillary Clinton. As part of her plan to modernize America’s infrastructure, Clinton has called for safer and cleaner energy infrastructure investments, including much-needed repairs to our pipeline system, increased rail safety and enhanced security for our power grid. Her plan also calls for a National Infrastructure Bank that will use public and private investments to build infrastructure projects, as well as several other key clean energy investments that will build a safer future for our country and our children.

That’s one of the many reasons why I support Hillary Clinton for president. Her ambitious plan to rebuild America’s crumbling infrastructure is the best I’ve seen of any candidate in the presidential race. What’s more, her record of public service and experience as a tested leader tells me that she’ll work tirelessly for the American people to build the economy through infrastructure development.

America needs to invest in great infrastructure for the 21st century like the Erie Canal was for the 19th century—projects that can build cities like Syracuse from the ground up and guarantee a more prosperous future for the country, projects that we can someday look back on as the greatest infrastructure investments of our time.

Miner has served as mayor of Syracuse, New York since 2010.