Ted Danz Jr., a successful small business owner, is running for New York State Senate. Today, his sons operate the business, which Ted views as a testament to his commitment and perseverance in small business.
Ted’s career has shown him the impact of Albany’s policies on New York’s business environment, which he describes as increasingly challenging due to high taxes, extensive regulations, and policies like bail reform. He believes these factors have made the state less secure, less hospitable to small businesses, and harder for families to thrive. Citing concerns for crime, education, and economic stability, Ted aims to bring balanced governance to Albany, prioritizing community safety, support for local businesses, fair school funding, and tax relief for the middle class.
At 76, Ted believes that he’s running to disrupt the status quo, not to launch a political career. He is committed to representing his community over political establishment interests, with a vision of making New York a better place for all.
Property Taxes and Cost of Living
• What specific policies would you advocate to balance the need for essential public services with keeping property taxes affordable?
I’d cut wasteful spending, plain and simple. I’d end the $700 million giveaway to Hollywood elites and eliminate the $4.3 billion in handouts for illegal immigrants. With two simple measures, I just slashed $5 billion in spending—money we could easily return to taxpayers’ pockets. New York State spends more than Florida and Texas combined. It’s impossible to believe the state spends over $200 billion a year and every single dollar is spent effectively and responsibly.
• How do you plan to address the rising cost of living in your district?
We could start by sending a message to criminals that theft will not be tolerated in our society—repeal Bail Reform, strengthen penalties for all types of larceny, including organized retail theft, and increase mandatory minimum sentences for repeat offenders. Just last week, the Albany County DA cited a local grocery chain reporting over $300,000 in theft in one month! That cost gets passed on to you and me.
I’d stand up to gas stove bans and natural gas bans because protecting consumer choice for utilities diversifies the market, which helps keep costs down. Instead of gas bans, I’d fight to expand our energy options.
The next answer is to cut taxes. I’ve identified areas where I’m okay with cutting spending; let’s give that money back to the people.
I’d also support expanding deductions for interest payments. While global economic factors affect interest rates, the state can still provide relief. When inflation hits, you pay more for your mortgage, car, student loan, and other debts, tightening monthly expenses. Expanding the list of deductible interest would help people get more back on their NYS taxes. While this won’t solve the whole problem, it’s one way we can recognize the financial burden of inflation and provide help.
Affordable Housing
• How do you propose to expand access to affordable housing in your area?
We need to address bad actors. Renters who don’t pay should be given a grace period but not an indefinite blank check to stay in someone else’s home. Landlords I’ve spoken to say evicting someone can take over a year, often with no financial recovery. This loss drives up costs for other renters and incentivizes landlords to sell or take properties off the market, reducing housing availability. By holding renters who refuse to pay or who damage property accountable, we can make housing more affordable for responsible renters.
For homeowners, we need more support for first-time buyers. A $400,000 mortgage with a 3% down payment is still $12,000, plus closing costs. High housing prices and interest rates make homeownership difficult. In addition to strengthening first-time homebuyer programs in NY, I’d explore options like a savings program where money saved in a special account for a downpayment could be supplemented by state assistance at closing.
• What is your stance on rent control or other measures to ensure that housing remains attainable for low- and middle-income families?
Rent control is mainly a NYC issue, and I respect their home rule authority. However, I believe state-funded housing should redefine affordability. A $2,500 monthly rent might fit some budgets, but it’s a huge expense for most. If we’re using public funds for housing development, the benefit should genuinely help the public.
Public Safety and Policing
• What is your vision for public safety?
Punishing criminals and standing up for victims shouldn’t be taboo. I would repeal bail reform and implement stronger penalties for repeat offenders, those selling drugs, illegal firearm possession, and retail theft. Reforming the impaired driving standard to include all impairing drugs, such as marijuana, is also essential. We need to send a clear message that we take public safety seriously, and I believe our current policies fall short.
• Bail Reform and Raise the Age are “dinner table” talking points for your constituents. Is this recent legislation working, or do you see room for improvement?
Bail Reform has been a clear policy failure. We’ve seen multiple cases where criminals are released, only to re-offend. Bail Reform prioritizes criminals over victims, makes streets less safe, and drives up costs through rampant theft. These laws should be repealed immediately.
Education and School Funding
• What are your priorities for K-12 education?
The primary goal should be ensuring students learn at grade-appropriate levels, with support in place for those with additional needs. With my HVAC background, I see the need to support students interested in trades. New York spends the most per student nationally but ranks poorly in test scores. I’m not for cutting funding, but resources must be redeployed to truly enhance education.
• What plans do you have for addressing mental health services and school safety?
I support increased funding for mental health services in schools and measures to combat cyberbullying. For school safety, I advocate for school resource officers in every school and upgraded safety infrastructure like locks, cameras, and alarms. Schools should also have regular safety training and professional security audits.
Job Creation and Economic Development
• How do you plan to stimulate job creation, particularly in high-growth sectors like technology and green energy?
The issue now isn’t incentives but siting. Many communities have moratoriums on solar projects, stagnating green jobs and slowing our clean energy goals. I’d use the STAR program to incentivize communities to host renewable projects, which preserves home rule while creating jobs.
Additionally, I’d introduce a “Buy American Solar” bill, mandating American-made parts for solar projects. Targeted tax credits could level the playing field for businesses without political interference.
• What role should local government play in attracting new businesses and supporting small businesses?
Capitalism works well when opportunities are present. We need lower taxes, fewer regulations, and to focus on punishing criminals instead of burdening businesses. NYS’s current policies create obstacles instead of fostering opportunity.
Health Care Access
• What initiatives would you support to improve access to quality health care, particularly in underserved areas?
The biggest issue is workforce shortages. Thousands of healthcare jobs remain unfilled, and we need incentives to attract and retain healthcare workers. This includes college incentives, financial benefits, and revisiting licensure requirements to bring in staff from other states. Additionally, state reimbursement rates should be assessed to improve staffing.
• How would you address the mental health crisis and ensure that services are accessible and affordable?
To end mental health stigma, we must treat it as a primary concern. Services should be accessible to all, and providers must receive appropriate reimbursements to retain staff. We also need to reimagine service hours for those with work commitments and integrate mental health housing within communities.
Transportation and Infrastructure
• How do you plan to address transportation issues, including public transit options, road maintenance, and infrastructure upgrades?
We need equitable transit funding. Billions go to the MTA for downstate needs, while upstate transit and infrastructure often get overlooked. I’d ensure upstate gets its fair share of CHIPS and PAVE NY funds for essential maintenance.
• What is your stance on building sustainable transportation options, such as bike lanes or electric vehicle infrastructure?
I support bike lanes, EV infrastructure, and updating existing systems. We need to ensure that these funds are spread equally across the state to benefit upstate New Yorkers who also pay taxes.
Environmental Concerns
• What actions will you take to combat climate change at the local level?
I support incentives for municipalities to adopt clean energy and funding for climate resilience. However, I don’t support large mandates like the CLCPA without cost-benefit studies, as the impact on emissions is minimal relative to the financial burden.
• How do you plan to promote clean energy projects and ensure environmental justice in communities disproportionately affected by pollution or climate change?
New York already has strong environmental justice regulations that only need enforcement. I support incentives, not mandates, for clean energy projects and an “all of the above” approach to keep energy costs reasonable.
Opioid Crisis and Addiction Services
• What policies would you implement to combat the opioid crisis?
We need stronger sentencing for traffickers and sellers, with mandatory life sentences for opioid distribution. Border security is also crucial in curbing drug flow. I’d also support a large-scale youth awareness campaign on opioid addiction.
• How would you improve access to addiction treatment and support services for affected individuals and their families?
When someone seeks addiction help, there should be immediate availability at treatment centers. State funding should prioritize treatment availability to save lives.
Equity and Social Justice
• How do you plan to promote equity and inclusion?
Promoting equity is about treating people as we’d like to be treated. Government should enforce existing anti-discrimination laws without imposing quotas or aiming for equal outcomes rather than opportunities.
• What specific policies would you advocate for to address systemic inequalities in areas such as housing, education, and criminal justice?
I’d support strict enforcement of current anti-discrimination laws. Monitoring data helps identify areas needing attention, allowing for targeted solutions. In education, cases of race-based admissions changes highlight addressing systemic issues while protecting opportunity for all.