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City council meeting, city of Newburgh, New York. This is meeting December 18th, 2025. It's now 7 p.m. 659, to be exact.

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We will start with a moment of silence, and then we will commence with our president's

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and the rest of the agenda.

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I have two requests for the moment of silence.

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There was recently a shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island,

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and some people were obviously afflicted,

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and I believe there was one death.

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So we want to think about that circumstance.

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And then there was a shooting at a Hanukkah ceremony in Australia, and people were harmed.

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I believe there were some deaths there as well.

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And we want to think about those family members that were gathered for a Hanukkah

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Uh, festivity and, and, and ceremony, um, during the holiday season of Hanukkah and, and so

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we want to think about those, um, tragedies in our, our moment of silence, if we will.

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Uh, so we'll take a brief moment of silence.

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Thank you.

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Uh, roll call, please.

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Councilmember Martinez, present.

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Councilmember Macklemore.

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Councilmember Monteverdi.

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Councilmember Shakur.

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Council Member Scalars.

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Here.

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Council Member Sophocles.

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Here.

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Mayor Harvey.

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Here.

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So carried.

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Thank you very much.

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Next, under communications, we have item number four, and we need an approval for the minutes from the City Council meeting of December the 8th, 2025.

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We'll have a motion.

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So move.

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First motion said by Councilman Sklarz. Do we have a second? Second by Councilmember Sophocles.

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Roll call and a motion please.

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Council members Martinez.

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Hi.

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Macklemore.

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Yes.

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Monteverdi.

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Shakur.

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Yes.

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Sklarz.

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Yes.

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Sophocles.

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Mayor Harvey.

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Yes.

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So carried.

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Thank you.

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Item number five under communication as we go to the city manager's report.

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So first we're going to start with a notice for sanitation collection changes over the upcoming Christmas holiday and New Year's.

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There will be no sanitation collection on Thursday, December 25th and Thursday, January 1st in observance of Christmas and New Year's Day.

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Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday pickups are not affected.

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If you have any questions or concerns, sanitation hotline is on the screen and that is 845-565-1082.

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Our police report totals for the month of November. Police department fielded 2,695 calls.

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Crime reduction strategies continue to produce results.

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Our preliminary Part 1 crimes data through November 30th shows a 19% decrease in crime

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compared to the same timeframe in 2024. Violent crime decreased 16% while property

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crime has decreased 20%.

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Some updates from our land use board approvals from planning and development.

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The land use board received the following applications in November.

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The planning board received three new applications and issued three approvals.

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The zoning board of appeals received four new applications and issued three approvals.

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And the architectural review commission received nine new applications and issued ten approvals.

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There were also 10 informational requests that were received in the month of November.

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Continuing with planning and development department updates,

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a department highlight is going to

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be 331st Street that is featured on screen.

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The zoning board of appeals granted area variances for 331st Street, giving the project

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full land use board approval.

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The proposal involves constructing two connected buildings, sharing a common wall

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with three apartments in each.

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A key element of the project is its full compliance with the city's streetscape standards bringing new curbs, street trees and a buffer strip to the area.

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A project rendering and existing streetscape conditions are shown on the screen.

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Coming into our public works update, we'll talk about the sanitation and enforcement totals.

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Sanitation department collected a total of 729 tons of solid waste during the month of November and a total of 63 tons of recycling.

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were processed supporting the city's sustainable efforts.

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Additionally, 39 sanitation warnings were issued,

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reflecting ongoing enforcement of waste management regulations

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and community standards.

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Following up on our Christmas tree donation to the city,

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looking around the city, you'll see many signs

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of holiday cheer.

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I want to recognize the phenomenal work our DPW has

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put into cultivating a festive atmosphere,

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in addition to placing the city's iconic holiday

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reefs along Broadway and stringing lights downtown around City Hall, DPW is also responsible

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for securing the city's holiday tree. This year the city's holiday tree was donated

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by Jamie Levoti of the town of Newburgh, who of course we will be recognizing later

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tonight. The city's DPW workers carefully removed the tree, loaded it onto a trailer,

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this featured on screen, with the help of a crane and graciously donated every year by

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a quality towing company. It was also transported from the town to the foot of Broadway under

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a police escort. DPW then strategically set the tree at the foot of Broadway and commenced

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decorating. Thank you to our DPW, Ms. Levoti, and Quality Towing for bringing holiday cheer

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to our city.

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Moving into our fire department updates, the fire department received a total

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of 280 calls for service during the month of November. Two of those calls were

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for structure fires. For all other fires seven calls were received. 22 calls or

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7.8% were for non-fire hazard calls and 54% of calls or 151 calls were non-fire

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calls for service and lastly 34% of the fire department calls were for false

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alarms and false calls. Moving into our emergency medical services update

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this is the ambulatory service that the city contracts for. In November, emergency medical

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services responded to 393 calls, resulting in 398 dispatches and 241 transports. Average response

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times fluctuated throughout the week, with Sunday recording the longest average response time,

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and the busiest day of the week was Saturday, which saw the highest number of emergency

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calls.

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Getting into our board and commission vacancy reminder. This is a

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final reminder that the police community relations and review board

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application deadline is December 19th. Residents interested in serving on this

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board or any other board may apply through three options. This includes the

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city website at cityofnewberg-my.gov. You can also email a completed

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application to boards at cityofnewberg-my.gov or you can hand

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deliver an application here at City Hall at 83 Broadway. Members of the press are

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reminded they can contact us at press at cityofnewburg-ny.gov and lastly just on

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the holiday note happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate tonight is the fifth

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night of Hanukkah night five marks the first time more candles are lit then are

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left unlit symbolizing a tipping point and bringing light into the world and

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And lastly, besides the Christmas holidays coming up, we want to close off our final meeting of the year by wishing everyone a happy new year.

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Thank you, Mayor.

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Thank you very much, Mr. Vinnie.

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Excellent job on this city manager's update.

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Next, we move to a very exciting segment of our agenda.

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Okay,

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so yeah, so we are going to move to presentations.

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Our first presentation is going to be a certificate of recognition for Jamie Levoti.

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Just want to make sure there's no one here representing the Levoti family.

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We're still going to do that recognition and the other recognitions that we have on our agenda.

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So, if I can get the council members to come and join me on the other side of the table,

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we can properly do these recognitions.

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So, all

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right, one, two, one, two, mic check, mic check,

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okay, so, again, this is the most

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exciting segment of our agenda when we recognize important people and people who are in and

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in our community for noble deeds, as one would say.

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So this first city of Newburgh recognition

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is a certificate of recognition presented to Jamie Levoti

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for December 6, 2025, which was our annual Christmas

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parade and annual tree lighting event, which

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was spectacular each year.

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It gets better and better.

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There is a grateful recognition of the generous donation of a 36 foot tall Norway spruce to

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serve as the city of Newburgh's official tree for the 2025 holiday season.

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The kindness and community spirit that the Levotee family has brought joy, beauty and

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holiday cheer to us all as residents.

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Thank you so much to the Lavotee family for their dedication and their continued support,

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signed, sealed, and delivered.

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The Lavotee family.

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You got it?

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Okay.

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All right.

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And we'll accept this recognition on her behalf, Jamie Lavotee, and the Lavotee family.

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All right.

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I grab the one on top first.

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and this is a really, really, really special recognition

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because this is the official last city council meeting

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for two of our wonderful, wonderful city council members

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who have served and worked very hard and diligently

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and have added some wonderful personalities to our legislative body.

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And so, Certificate of Recognition, December the 18th, 2025, awarded to Patty Sophocles,

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Councilwoman Patty Sophocles, in recognition of your dedicated service and commitment

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to the City of Newburgh residents during your two-term appointment or election as City Councilmember,

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For your leadership, your integrity, steadfast advocacy has contributed.

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Interpreted, meaningful to the growth, progress, and well-being of our community.

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Through your public service, you have worked diligently to represent the voices of the people

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and to strengthen the future of our city. The city of Newburgh extends its deepest gratitude

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and appreciation for your time, your dedication, and your lasting impact. We wish you continued

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success in a fulfilled future and all your future endeavors, signed, sealed, and

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delivered by all the city council members, and I would like to also add your

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mom and dad would be so proud of you for all that you have done for this city and

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being that you were raised in a wonderful family, your mom being an

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educator for many, many, many years here in the Newberry and Lark City School District

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with the Liberty Street School. We present this to you, Ms. Patty Sophocles, our wonderful

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city councilwoman.

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Come on, guys. Join in. Get closer. Get closer. Take a picture.

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I'd be remiss not to ask councilmember Sophocles to say a few words.

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Let me just sing the National Anthem.

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Yes.

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It's been a long time. I'm so proud to have been a part of this.

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And you'll see me. I'm not going anywhere.

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I've been doing community work for 40 years.

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I'm not going anywhere.

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And you're right about my mother.

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It's hard to talk about. She's only been gone a few years,

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years, but she taught in the Newburgh School District for almost 40 years. She started at

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Liberty Street School, went to Meadow Hill for many, many years, and she would have been

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happy to be here today. And my father had a body shop across from old Sam and Bill's

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diner on 9W for many, many, many years. So we've been here a long time. And I love

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this city. That's all I can say. There's no doubt in my mind. I think we've accomplished

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a lot over the last eight years, and I'm very proud of this council. You have no idea. Every

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single one of them brings a lot to the table. And I'm really going to miss it, but I'm not

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going anywhere. And I love all you people in the audience that came out tonight that

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are always here. And that's what it's all about. People come out now to the council

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meetings. We have great department heads. Our city manager, where are you?

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We have

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balance budget, not that I had anything to do with it, but I'm just very, very happy

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tonight and, well, not really, I'm crying, but thank you very much. Thank you all.

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Here you go, stars, man. Oh, you want to introduce.

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All right. Our next certificate of recognition is Certificate of Recognition, December

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of the 18th 2025 awarded to, and I get to say this for the very first time because we've

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got two Roberts presented to an awarded to Robert Sklarz, our city councilman,

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third

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award.

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This frame is heavy. In recognition, Councilman Robert Sklarz for your dedicated

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service and commitment to the city of Newburgh residence during your two terms as city

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Council member, your leadership and integrity, steadfast advocacy have contributed meaningful

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to the growth, progress and well-being of our community.

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Through your service, Councilman Robert Sklarz, you have worked diligently to represent the

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voices of the people and to strengthen the future of the City of Newburgh.

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The City of Newburgh extends its deepest gratitude and appreciation for your time,

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time, your dedication, lasting impact, let me say that again, time, dedication, lasting

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impact, we wish you continued success and fulfillment in all your future endeavors.

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Sign sealed and delivered with sincere appreciation.

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Mayor Harvey and the City Council,

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close in, close in, close in, get closer, get closer.

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I

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do have a few words I want to add to the written comments on the certificate of recognition.

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I remember Councilman Sklarz was being heavily vetted and one of the questions were, who's

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going to when former Councilman Jonathan Jacobson had gotten elected to the assembly, the 104th

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Who is going to fill the big shoes of Jonathan Jacobson?

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Big Bob, that's right.

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And so, and I remember when Bob, you know, decided, because I had met Bob behind the scenes.

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He was doing a lot of community service work, helped me get elected when I first got elected.

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He was always helping us with those petitions and things like that.

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And I remember saying, oh, wow, and he's going to take this position.

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And, you know, he thought about it, he wrestled with it, and you step right in, Councilman

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Sklarz, and you went right to work, you didn't blink an eye, you fought every day and every

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night to make this city move forward.

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And I want to personally say thank you.

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I'm going to miss your dry humor.

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I'm going to miss some of the conversations we've had just as friends, and we've become

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great friends.

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And I want to say thank you for your hard work and your dedication, because you stepped

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up when it was most needed.

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Thank you, Councilman Sklarz.

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Although I didn't know your wife before, because we taught together at NFA.

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But let's have a word from Councilman Sklarz.

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Then I want to give the council members a chance to say some parting words to our

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council members.

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Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

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Thank you to my colleagues on the City Council.

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You know, we get a lot of attention, a lot of credit up here on the City Council.

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But I really want to call attention to the people sitting over there who represent all the city workers who work 24-7, 365,

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to provide all the services that you provide for us.

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And even more importantly, to implement the crazy ideas that come from this side of the table.

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Really. Thank you for all your service and all your efforts.

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I thank my wife Margaret for putting up with all of this,

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for putting up with all of this and putting up with me over these past seven years.

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To my daughter Cassie who says she doesn't have a sense of humor,

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but has kept me laughing all these seven years.

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And to all the rest of you, thank you for your support.

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It's been a pleasure serving you. Thank you.

250
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All right, we're going to go right down the list, Council Member Monteverdi.

251
00:23:14,620 --> 00:23:24,360
Thank you, Mayor. So, yeah, this is, you know, it's bittersweet. We, as a group and council, got a lot of work.

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Put our heads together, got a lot of work done, you know, continue to move this city forward.

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I'm going to miss you, Bob. You're, you know, who am I going to call now? You're my, you know, sounding board.

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You're always so reasonable, you know, I always look to you for guidance, and Patty, you know,

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I'm going to miss you as well sitting next to me with your funny comments, and you know,

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you cracked me up. So it's, again, it's bittersweet, and you should be proud of the work that we

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did together. You know, these were difficult times, but we got through it, and you know,

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I'll try not to cry. Patty, you can do that for me.

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It's going to make me cry.

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Yes, I don't even know what to say.

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I'm not going anywhere.

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But when Bob Sclores came into my office, he was on the Democratic Committee,

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and he sits there very smooth and cool and talking about things,

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and I thought, so I really found him, just so everybody knows.

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I said, you need to run for city council, and he, what did you say?

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and that's true yes see and I've sat next to that for eight years and but it's

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been such a pleasure being being on this council I love every one of you the

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department heads are great I'm really sorry to leave but like I said Anthony

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here's thank you Anthony Grace former councilman wonderful yay

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so anyway it's

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It's been a pleasure, and I think we've accomplished a lot, and I'm sorry it's over, but, you know,

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if anybody wants to drop out, give me their seat.

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I'm kidding.

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I could have run if I wanted to.

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But I've enjoyed everything.

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You're awesome.

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Just everybody is, now I'm sounding silly, saying awesome what eight times my daughter's

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going to go, oh, she's recording it.

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But I thank everybody, and I'll miss you all, but I'll see you all around because

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I've been in Newburgh all my life and I'm not going anywhere.

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Newsburg, I call it.

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That's right.

283
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All right.

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Next we'll hear from Councilman Macklemore.

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I'll make mine quick.

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It's definitely a pleasure having you guys here.

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You guys are the ones that got me into this.

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And now you're leaving me.

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But you get to go on with your life and enjoy your life.

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I know you're not going anywhere, but you'll always be here especially if we need some you know the wisdom and prudence

291
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You guys have strong sense of sagacity and Bob is filled with equanimity. He's calm. He's collected

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Great compose, but he's also a jokester. And so he really is and so I really appreciate you guys

293
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And once you know from bottom my heart that you know, I love you guys

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So all right, and I'll be I'll be calling you don't worry

295
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That was quick

296
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Okay, I'm gonna be quicker

297
00:26:38,310 --> 00:26:42,010
No, we've been here six years. I've been here with y'all six years

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Y'all been here two years before me, but y'all were here before me

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So y'all taught me to some of the things I need to do and just being a part of this team

300
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It's just been it's just been good

301
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And I know Patty forever and I met Bob and we work for her so we're a team and we were a good team

302
00:27:02,950 --> 00:27:08,570
And you was on one of the best teams that we had so for this for the city. So thank you

303
00:27:13,620 --> 00:27:20,480
Okay, so I don't I don't know where to start and I'm gonna pull one of Patty's lines. I'm gonna try not to cry

304
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I've had the absolute honor and pleasure of not just

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serving on the city council with both you know councilman scholars and council

306
00:27:31,120 --> 00:27:37,220
women Sophocles but also on the Democratic Committee and I've been able to

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really just take in the wisdom and the knowledge of both of you and I'm really

308
00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:52,460
going to miss your calmness in the situation in this literally you're like

309
00:27:52,460 --> 00:27:59,640
the sounding board of our city council and honestly it's been really

310
00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:04,400
gracious learning from you especially when I was new I was learning so much

311
00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:09,180
and I learned so much from you know hearing both of you and Patty I know

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00:28:09,180 --> 00:28:14,240
your love for Downing Park is always gonna be there and we will be sure to

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take care of the park. But overall I'm just really really excited for both

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00:28:21,980 --> 00:28:27,100
of you in this new chapter of your journey because people don't realize how much time

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00:28:27,100 --> 00:28:30,580
and sacrifice it takes away from your family and loved ones.

316
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So I also want to congratulate your families.

317
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Being away from your family for so long and serving a city is not easy.

318
00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:46,000
So I'm sure that your family will be very excited to have more time with you and maybe,

319
00:28:46,140 --> 00:28:50,680
you know, you'll drag them out to come and give public comment in the new year.

320
00:28:51,180 --> 00:28:56,760
but thank you it's been an honor. Maybe I could get my taxes done.

321
00:28:59,660 --> 00:29:01,160
Yeah I just want

322
00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:06,040
to say you know just to piggyback I know well we're gonna finish up. Council

323
00:29:06,040 --> 00:29:11,760
member Martina is when she said like we've been through a lot of crises in the

324
00:29:11,760 --> 00:29:16,740
state of Newburgh since we all been on council I mean from a global pandemic to

325
00:29:17,620 --> 00:29:24,820
tornadoes, you know, various different things. And the sky could be falling. And Bob will

326
00:29:24,820 --> 00:29:32,140
maintain his cool, calm, collected demeanor. And then in the midst of those crisis where

327
00:29:32,140 --> 00:29:36,600
everybody's going crazy like, what are we going to do? He'll crack a joke and make

328
00:29:36,600 --> 00:29:41,860
us laugh. And then we can move forward and figure out our path forward. And Patty,

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00:29:41,860 --> 00:29:56,880
First and only person that called me GQ and in our African American culture, being a well-dressed man or a well-dressed woman is very significant to the culture.

330
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And when she calls me GQ, she's the only one that calls me GQ.

331
00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:06,900
I've always tried to live up to it. Be smooth, debonair, and a GQ. So thank you for that tag.

332
00:30:07,660 --> 00:30:13,520
Thank you. Let's give the council members a hand, especially our departing council members.

333
00:30:13,780 --> 00:30:19,580
We love you. We will always, always keep you plugged in. Thank you so much for your service.

334
00:30:19,860 --> 00:30:21,300
Thank you so much. Love you.

335
00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:31,080
Let's give it another hand, ladies and gentlemen, for the city council members.

336
00:30:31,080 --> 00:30:35,420
Councilmember Sklarz and Councilmember Sophocles.

337
00:31:11,040 --> 00:31:19,040
All right, once again, thank you everyone for coming out and being patient with those presentations.

338
00:31:20,120 --> 00:31:23,940
They're very, very important and dear to our heart.

339
00:31:25,280 --> 00:31:32,320
Okay, next we under presentation, presentations, plural, go to item number eight.

340
00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:43,120
And item number eight is a public hearing and the public hearing is regarding local law amending the city Charter article 3 section 5 c

341
00:31:44,220 --> 00:31:50,940
Point 01 to add the deputy city manager to the

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00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:53,620
City Charter officially

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so

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All our public hearings people get to speak for five minutes

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00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:04,940
please tell us your name and just simply tell us whether or not you live in the

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00:32:04,940 --> 00:32:08,920
city of New Bird or not you don't have to give us your address we don't we

347
00:32:08,920 --> 00:32:14,060
don't need all that but we just like to know if you live in the city or not give

348
00:32:14,060 --> 00:32:18,740
us your name and then give us your public comment and we would love to hear

349
00:32:18,740 --> 00:32:23,220
from you all so if you have for this public hearing please come forward

350
00:32:23,220 --> 00:32:24,640
comments if

351
00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:49,450
there are no public comments will anyone else anyone okay

352
00:32:51,910 --> 00:32:52,890
if we

353
00:32:52,890 --> 00:32:58,030
don't have any public comments then Mrs. Kelsen can we close out the public

354
00:32:58,030 --> 00:33:02,050
comment you can close the public hearing public care I'm sorry public hearing

355
00:33:02,050 --> 00:33:10,290
thank you all right next we go to comments from the public regarding agenda

356
00:33:10,290 --> 00:33:14,750
items and or non-agent items which are typically general matters of the

357
00:33:14,750 --> 00:33:21,590
city business. So for this portion of the agenda comments from the public, we ask

358
00:33:21,590 --> 00:33:24,850
you again to state your name. Whether or not you live in the city of New

359
00:33:24,850 --> 00:33:28,410
Berg, please don't give us your address. We don't need that much information.

360
00:33:28,770 --> 00:33:33,070
You'll have three minutes to give your comment and the city council will be

361
00:33:33,070 --> 00:33:36,390
happy to hear it and possibly respond.

362
00:33:41,100 --> 00:33:44,540
Hi everyone. Is this on? I'm on. So hi

363
00:33:44,540 --> 00:33:51,100
Hi everyone. I just want to congratulate all of you for really doing a phenomenal job under a lot of pressure.

364
00:33:51,600 --> 00:33:58,140
A lot of people sometimes don't understand everything that goes on behind that table, but I think you guys are doing wonderful.

365
00:33:58,640 --> 00:34:06,740
But I especially want to say, I'm going to try not to get too emotional to Bob and Patty. I love you guys.

366
00:34:10,270 --> 00:34:12,330
Yeah, I'm going to leave it at that. I love you guys.

367
00:34:13,960 --> 00:34:19,020
Thank you Mr. Grace. Thank you so much. It's great to see you.

368
00:34:19,400 --> 00:34:29,360
Carla Johnson, 50 Landa Street. So I came here tonight because I want to start with Bob. I really love Bob.

369
00:34:29,860 --> 00:34:35,980
So it's a while of Bob. So when times used to be a little rough and I used to go to the pantry,

370
00:34:36,260 --> 00:34:41,860
there's this tall guy there. He was the coolest dude there out of everybody. Bob didn't discriminate nobody.

371
00:34:41,860 --> 00:34:45,040
And he liked me, so I used to get to go first.

372
00:34:45,480 --> 00:34:46,600
Bob was my guy.

373
00:34:47,600 --> 00:34:53,620
Patty, that park, first I thought it was bougie,

374
00:34:54,080 --> 00:34:59,000
but then I realized when I went there, it was a great park.

375
00:34:59,540 --> 00:35:04,200
And it was so dirt-putic to me around the time when my husband died just sitting near

376
00:35:04,200 --> 00:35:07,740
and they say don't feed the fish, but I'd be feeding the birds

377
00:35:07,740 --> 00:35:09,700
and I'd be throwing stuff in here and I'd be like,

378
00:35:09,740 --> 00:35:11,140
I hope nobody ain't in that house

379
00:35:11,140 --> 00:35:13,960
and tell Patty somebody out here throwing stuff in the thing.

380
00:35:14,420 --> 00:35:17,940
And I just want to say that working with y'all,

381
00:35:18,460 --> 00:35:20,800
seeing the work that y'all have done in the community,

382
00:35:20,920 --> 00:35:22,120
I think is really great.

383
00:35:23,340 --> 00:35:25,040
And I'm going to see you guys, I guess,

384
00:35:25,180 --> 00:35:26,660
like when the weather breaks and whatnot.

385
00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:28,820
But one thing I do know is that if y'all both would

386
00:35:28,820 --> 00:35:30,500
have ran again, y'all would have won those seats.

387
00:35:30,860 --> 00:35:34,300
But enjoy your family because I know your happy is over.

388
00:35:34,940 --> 00:35:35,640
Have a good one.

389
00:35:37,740 --> 00:35:39,860
Thank you so much, Carla. Thank you.

390
00:35:40,100 --> 00:35:40,320
Thank

391
00:35:42,690 --> 00:35:45,690
you very much, resident of the City of Newburgh.

392
00:35:46,270 --> 00:35:49,970
First, give congratulations to Ms. Patty and Bob.

393
00:35:50,450 --> 00:35:52,430
Thank you too for all that you've done.

394
00:35:53,130 --> 00:35:58,670
I see you guys are out there in the community and being new to this political game.

395
00:35:59,470 --> 00:36:05,390
Not game, but being new to this political world, actually seeing our city leaders out in the community,

396
00:36:05,390 --> 00:36:09,810
that meant a lot to me, with everything, even going to school board and being

397
00:36:09,810 --> 00:36:15,110
involved. You guys really show up and you show out. Patty, I'll see you at the

398
00:36:15,110 --> 00:36:20,910
fishing. And Bob, I'm sure I'll see you more and more. So congratulations guys

399
00:36:20,910 --> 00:36:27,350
and I'm looking forward to who's filling those seats. I just wanted to make a

400
00:36:27,350 --> 00:36:32,030
comment on the funding for daycare. We need daycare funding. City of New

401
00:36:32,030 --> 00:36:36,310
needs daycare funding. I know you guys just got funding for a lot of after-school programs,

402
00:36:36,430 --> 00:36:41,210
but a lot of kids can't go to those programs because they cost money. And a lot of parents,

403
00:36:41,430 --> 00:36:45,870
you guys know the salaries don't even fit what we have to pay for rent, car insurance,

404
00:36:46,230 --> 00:36:50,290
light bill, all of that. So most of the city residents can't afford to send their kids

405
00:36:50,290 --> 00:36:55,810
to after-school programs and all of that. Daycare would help provide funding for that

406
00:36:55,810 --> 00:36:59,930
for the parents, but we have no daycare funding. So can we get some daycare funding?

407
00:36:59,930 --> 00:37:04,570
so this summer kids can go to camp, kids can go to after school, kids can be

408
00:37:04,570 --> 00:37:08,930
involved in some things. That's it. Have a good night. Thank you very much. It's

409
00:37:08,930 --> 00:37:14,890
good to see you. School Board member Burks. All right. Good evening everybody.

410
00:37:15,470 --> 00:37:20,710
Good evening. My name is Mr. Angelo Pagan. I am a former resident of New

411
00:37:20,710 --> 00:37:25,970
Burk. Hopefully in the future I will be back. But I came to deliver a

412
00:37:25,970 --> 00:37:31,010
message to well I'm glad to be here I'm reuniting myself with a few people that

413
00:37:31,010 --> 00:37:36,010
I remember from when I was here but with some potential good news and with the

414
00:37:36,010 --> 00:37:39,550
hopes of doing something wonderful for the town and for the city of Newburg

415
00:37:39,550 --> 00:37:44,890
I represent an individual named Oscar Lottie Hall and he is a person that's

416
00:37:44,890 --> 00:37:49,270
interested in developing some projects here in the city regarding low-income

417
00:37:49,270 --> 00:37:55,310
housing and we would like to partner and get in touch with the people that's

418
00:37:55,310 --> 00:38:01,630
best suited to help guide us to see what the real needs are so that anything that we do

419
00:38:01,630 --> 00:38:07,930
will be in alignment with the goals, the visions and with the expressed needs of the people

420
00:38:07,930 --> 00:38:09,790
of this wonderful city.

421
00:38:10,970 --> 00:38:18,450
As a person that has worked here in social work, social services, I was a job developer

422
00:38:18,450 --> 00:38:21,590
here at one time dealing with a lot of the underserved.

423
00:38:21,590 --> 00:38:27,130
You know, most of the people that we work with come from the area of social work.

424
00:38:27,370 --> 00:38:32,070
And for example, some of the stuff that we would like to include in our housing project

425
00:38:32,490 --> 00:38:38,810
would be rent stability-styled programming where not only are we providing homes for people,

426
00:38:39,010 --> 00:38:42,030
houses for people, but we're making sure that they stay in their homes.

427
00:38:42,690 --> 00:38:48,750
And that we could hopefully, in God willing, do something to offset this price gouging

428
00:38:48,750 --> 00:38:50,790
that I've heard about for the last five years.

429
00:38:51,610 --> 00:38:54,130
When I came here, I was renting an apartment,

430
00:38:54,290 --> 00:38:55,650
one bedroom for $750.

431
00:38:56,410 --> 00:38:58,030
Now that's something almost unheard of.

432
00:38:58,870 --> 00:39:01,530
And so if there is something that we could do

433
00:39:01,530 --> 00:39:04,230
in partnership in strategizing some way

434
00:39:04,730 --> 00:39:06,950
to not only protect the rights of the people,

435
00:39:07,090 --> 00:39:10,870
but to create a situation where we offset this insanity.

436
00:39:11,690 --> 00:39:12,730
You know, people need to live.

437
00:39:12,950 --> 00:39:15,290
People need to have to know where their next meal is

438
00:39:15,290 --> 00:39:16,450
and people need to feel safe,

439
00:39:16,590 --> 00:39:18,070
that they have a roof over their head

440
00:39:18,070 --> 00:39:19,090
that they're not going to lose.

441
00:39:19,750 --> 00:39:21,630
That's hopefully the goal and the vision

442
00:39:21,630 --> 00:39:22,770
that we would like to have.

443
00:39:23,090 --> 00:39:25,410
And we would like to produce a dialogue

444
00:39:25,410 --> 00:39:28,930
where we could come to some understanding

445
00:39:28,930 --> 00:39:31,250
and assist one another in that endeavor.

446
00:39:31,930 --> 00:39:32,350
Thank you.

447
00:39:32,770 --> 00:39:33,410
Many blessings.

448
00:39:34,090 --> 00:39:34,470
Congratulations.

449
00:39:35,090 --> 00:39:35,950
Blessings to all of you.

450
00:39:36,310 --> 00:39:36,530
Thank you.

451
00:39:37,190 --> 00:39:38,070
Thank you, Angela.

452
00:39:38,470 --> 00:39:39,930
If Angela, if you don't mind,

453
00:39:40,290 --> 00:39:41,930
you and I go way back for many years.

454
00:39:42,130 --> 00:39:42,750
This is some great work.

455
00:39:43,150 --> 00:39:44,730
Please put your name and contact

456
00:39:44,730 --> 00:39:46,050
so I can reach out to you.

457
00:39:46,230 --> 00:39:47,230
Thank you.

458
00:39:51,700 --> 00:39:56,840
Anyone else for public comment? Oh, yeah, he, he, he, um,

459
00:39:57,220 --> 00:40:01,300
Mr. Pogon worked many years with the Exodus program and the formerly incarcerated.

460
00:40:01,760 --> 00:40:05,700
Oh, you're playing with me. He's playing around with you. Oh, are you?

461
00:40:08,240 --> 00:40:11,160
Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, he got me. He got me.

462
00:40:15,610 --> 00:40:17,830
Michael LeBron, Grand Street. Good evening.

463
00:40:18,450 --> 00:40:23,310
First of all, congratulations to Robert and Patricia for your eight years of service

464
00:40:23,310 --> 00:40:29,670
and your great work. We'll miss you here. But as Patty says, you'll be back.

465
00:40:30,390 --> 00:40:39,310
Alright, moving on. Mayor Harvey, at the last council meeting, I believe you claim credit for certifying a housing emergency and passing rent stabilization.

466
00:40:40,970 --> 00:40:49,190
I believe that on April 19th, 2024, the Orange County Supreme Court ruled that the city's vacancy study was flawed,

467
00:40:49,190 --> 00:40:54,310
finding the calculation lacked a rational basis and was calculated in an arbitrary and

468
00:40:54,310 --> 00:41:00,350
capricious manner. The court declared the housing emergency resolution in E.T.P.A. adoption

469
00:41:00,350 --> 00:41:06,390
null and void. Therefore, Nuremberg does not have rent stabilization at this moment. Let

470
00:41:06,390 --> 00:41:11,170
me be clear. I have been a tenant supporter most of my life. I helped write the law of

471
00:41:11,170 --> 00:41:17,410
law that kept over 10,000 artists in their homes in Manhattan and Brooklyn and helped

472
00:41:17,410 --> 00:41:18,390
secure its passage.

473
00:41:19,310 --> 00:41:21,670
But tenant supporters need our elected officials

474
00:41:21,670 --> 00:41:24,970
who tell the truth, including when their efforts fail and why.

475
00:41:25,750 --> 00:41:29,950
Non-officials claim victories that the courts have taken away.

476
00:41:31,110 --> 00:41:34,910
Why should we believe any of your administration's

477
00:41:34,910 --> 00:41:37,250
other claims, such as they bought half a billion dollars

478
00:41:37,250 --> 00:41:37,970
here in investment?

479
00:41:39,450 --> 00:41:43,230
If I also remind the mayor, I warned you years ago

480
00:41:43,230 --> 00:41:44,510
there was a conflict of interest

481
00:41:44,510 --> 00:41:50,290
for the conductive vacancy study itself, and not really why, since the political landscape

482
00:41:50,290 --> 00:41:55,510
incentivizes you, your planning department, to find a particular answer, the court agreed.

483
00:41:57,110 --> 00:41:59,110
Yet you've doubled down on the same approach.

484
00:41:59,550 --> 00:42:02,310
I hope it turns out differently, but I'm concerned.

485
00:42:03,450 --> 00:42:08,110
I've also told you that your planning department was less than honest about the condition

486
00:42:08,110 --> 00:42:09,230
of the Dutch Reformed Church.

487
00:42:10,490 --> 00:42:15,770
I have recently noticed new movement, not just in the north part of the west wall, which

488
00:42:15,770 --> 00:42:21,390
is fairly plain to see and is still alarming, but in the ridge beam of the roof, which is

489
00:42:21,390 --> 00:42:23,250
now sagging in two places.

490
00:42:23,870 --> 00:42:28,150
So once again, I'm warning you, we have very little time left to address this.

491
00:42:28,710 --> 00:42:33,050
I've also repeatedly warned you that the fence is not secure and that children get

492
00:42:33,050 --> 00:42:33,870
in and play there.

493
00:42:33,870 --> 00:42:40,490
I've repeatedly used the phrase, quote, for sealable liability for the municipality, end quote.

494
00:42:41,070 --> 00:42:44,350
That phrase means something and it should concern you.

495
00:42:46,450 --> 00:42:49,790
Thank you very much, Mr. LeBron. Anyone else?

496
00:42:52,770 --> 00:43:02,530
Okay. If there are no other comments in the public comment section, we'll look to hear from the City Council regarding the comments that were made

497
00:43:02,530 --> 00:43:04,590
and or general matters of the city.

498
00:43:04,750 --> 00:43:08,150
And first we'll hear from Council Member Martinez.

499
00:43:09,730 --> 00:43:10,850
Thank you Mayor Harvey.

500
00:43:11,450 --> 00:43:12,810
I'll try to keep my comments brief.

501
00:43:13,430 --> 00:43:18,510
So I really encourage everyone to come out

502
00:43:18,510 --> 00:43:22,410
to our meetings all year round as much as possible

503
00:43:22,410 --> 00:43:23,510
if you're not able to.

504
00:43:24,190 --> 00:43:25,930
When we have public hearings,

505
00:43:25,990 --> 00:43:27,650
especially when it comes to funding

506
00:43:27,650 --> 00:43:30,810
on any type of programs or things that you wanna see

507
00:43:30,810 --> 00:43:37,730
or on our budget, you usually have a certain number of days to email us or submit a written

508
00:43:38,410 --> 00:43:43,990
public comment. And we look at everything. You can always email us as well, and we'll

509
00:43:43,990 --> 00:43:50,430
take a look at your suggestions. And the reason I say that is because certain funding

510
00:43:50,430 --> 00:43:55,290
that we get, and this isn't about anything in particular, just in general, certain

511
00:43:55,290 --> 00:43:58,370
and funding is specific for specific projects.

512
00:43:58,890 --> 00:44:02,730
Other things can't be used for different projects.

513
00:44:03,130 --> 00:44:06,150
So when we have public comment,

514
00:44:06,290 --> 00:44:08,230
when we have money coming in,

515
00:44:08,430 --> 00:44:10,130
it's also important for people to know

516
00:44:10,130 --> 00:44:11,810
what we can and can't use it for.

517
00:44:12,190 --> 00:44:14,850
And if it is something that we can use it for,

518
00:44:15,090 --> 00:44:17,790
by all means, send us those suggestions

519
00:44:17,790 --> 00:44:20,110
because we're happy to, you know,

520
00:44:20,970 --> 00:44:22,770
hear and apply the money

521
00:44:22,770 --> 00:44:24,830
where the community needs it the most,

522
00:44:24,830 --> 00:44:27,650
especially if it's going to help our youth,

523
00:44:27,850 --> 00:44:30,430
especially if it's going to help working families.

524
00:44:31,630 --> 00:44:34,950
And like the suggestion that we got today for daycare,

525
00:44:35,530 --> 00:44:39,510
I think it's very important to make sure that we're providing

526
00:44:39,510 --> 00:44:41,490
that type of help to our families.

527
00:44:42,590 --> 00:44:47,690
And then other than that, I think I'm going to end my comments.

528
00:44:48,070 --> 00:44:48,490
Thank you.

529
00:44:49,430 --> 00:44:51,450
Thank you very much, Council Member Martinez.

530
00:44:51,450 --> 00:44:54,730
Next we hear from Councilman.

531
00:44:55,050 --> 00:44:55,830
Come on, say it right.

532
00:44:56,050 --> 00:44:56,250
Come on.

533
00:44:56,690 --> 00:44:57,410
Back to the board.

534
00:44:57,550 --> 00:44:57,870
Take your time.

535
00:44:58,370 --> 00:44:59,210
All right, no.

536
00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:15,560
Once again, I want to say we're going to miss you guys. You know it. You know how much you mean to me. I wish you were still sitting here in 2026, but I understand. And so I'm going to miss you.

537
00:45:16,960 --> 00:45:25,480
Bob is definitely happy though, trust me. He is happy to move on. He is. He told me plenty of times.

538
00:45:27,220 --> 00:45:36,900
So, bulk pickup. Jason, thank you. You and the sanitation department, you guys did a wonderful job with the bulk pickup.

539
00:45:36,900 --> 00:45:44,640
Also this weekend, they had the Polar Express by raising solo at the library.

540
00:45:45,820 --> 00:45:47,980
That was an awesome event.

541
00:45:49,360 --> 00:45:52,040
I finished my last feeding with the seniors.

542
00:45:52,300 --> 00:45:56,760
We had a Christmas dinner night at the Fogarty Senior Apartments.

543
00:45:57,680 --> 00:46:00,380
There were about 30, 35 people.

544
00:46:01,160 --> 00:46:03,320
They were very happy, the seniors.

545
00:46:03,320 --> 00:46:14,780
And also, congratulations and thank you to the fire department, the IAFF Local 589.

546
00:46:15,120 --> 00:46:17,720
They gave $500 to four families.

547
00:46:18,400 --> 00:46:21,140
And so that was something that's positive.

548
00:46:22,240 --> 00:46:23,740
And we work together.

549
00:46:24,060 --> 00:46:25,140
Thank you.

550
00:46:26,000 --> 00:46:32,900
We work together to make sure that we give these families something for Christmas.

551
00:46:32,900 --> 00:46:39,440
and so I want to say thank you to them as well this weekend I'm doing an

552
00:46:39,440 --> 00:46:47,680
initiative you guys don't need gas but I'll be paying for people gas this

553
00:46:47,680 --> 00:46:54,500
weekend and I'm not gonna tell you where I'm going to be but it'll be in the

554
00:46:54,500 --> 00:46:58,400
city of Newburgh yes right not so because some of y'all don't need the

555
00:46:58,400 --> 00:47:07,280
gas but I'll be doing an initiative with the fire department and the police

556
00:47:07,280 --> 00:47:11,880
department and so that's something that's positive so we want to make sure that

557
00:47:11,880 --> 00:47:20,500
we do that no pebbles other than that other than that that's all I have I'll

558
00:47:20,500 --> 00:47:26,900
give you I'll give Bob my last 30 seconds. Thank you very much Councilman

559
00:47:26,900 --> 00:47:33,400
Macklemore. Next we hear from Council Member Monteverdi. Thank you and thank you everybody

560
00:47:33,400 --> 00:47:38,820
for coming out tonight. The holidays are here. I know that you know people want to be with

561
00:47:38,820 --> 00:47:46,440
their families and you know as a reminder these with all the news and everything that's

562
00:47:46,440 --> 00:47:52,920
going around it's it's these are difficult times for all of us but you know I just

563
00:47:52,920 --> 00:47:58,660
Just want to encourage you to celebrate, be with your family, do what you can to stay safe,

564
00:47:59,780 --> 00:48:01,120
not be so stressed out.

565
00:48:01,280 --> 00:48:08,040
I went to the menorah lighting the other night on River Road with the rabbi there.

566
00:48:08,520 --> 00:48:13,560
He shared a story of his family.

567
00:48:14,180 --> 00:48:20,480
His cousin was one of the victims in Australia that was shot in Australia.

568
00:48:20,480 --> 00:48:26,400
you know and he shared that and you know these again the the hate and the fear

569
00:48:26,400 --> 00:48:34,380
that is in our country now people at you you just never know feel like they can

570
00:48:34,380 --> 00:48:43,180
just go off on you for no reason and you know just just be remember that

571
00:48:43,180 --> 00:48:48,940
we're all human beings that we are all here living together and you know just

572
00:48:52,300 --> 00:48:54,400
learn to accept the differences.

573
00:48:54,960 --> 00:48:57,700
We're different colors. We come from different cultures.

574
00:48:58,240 --> 00:49:00,960
We can all coexist in this world.

575
00:49:03,060 --> 00:49:08,620
And my message is that just do what you can.

576
00:49:08,840 --> 00:49:10,560
As this council, we do what we can.

577
00:49:10,700 --> 00:49:13,220
We're up here. We're volunteering our time.

578
00:49:13,320 --> 00:49:16,620
Well, not volunteering, but we were taking time away from our families

579
00:49:16,620 --> 00:49:19,260
to do the work that we think is important.

580
00:49:19,260 --> 00:49:23,320
and we're sitting with you, we're listening to your concerns,

581
00:49:23,420 --> 00:49:25,060
trying to do the best that we can.

582
00:49:25,680 --> 00:49:27,620
We're all, and the thing that I appreciate

583
00:49:27,620 --> 00:49:29,780
about everybody that sits on this council

584
00:49:29,780 --> 00:49:32,920
is we're all involved in different things in this city.

585
00:49:33,600 --> 00:49:35,760
I'm involved in different areas that,

586
00:49:36,380 --> 00:49:39,000
Mayor Harvey's involved in, or Bob or Patty,

587
00:49:39,500 --> 00:49:43,540
Giselle, Omari, Rob, we go to our different events

588
00:49:44,280 --> 00:49:47,100
and whenever we can, we try to support each other,

589
00:49:47,620 --> 00:49:51,280
but you know we're out there doing the work and you know when I see every

590
00:49:51,280 --> 00:49:55,380
people on the street and they thank us you know I truly appreciate it and I do

591
00:49:55,380 --> 00:50:01,900
it because I believe in this great city and you know speak one of the things

592
00:50:01,900 --> 00:50:06,900
about right the the housing that that's been brought up a couple of times

593
00:50:06,900 --> 00:50:11,160
tonight you know this has been a long time coming and in the city of New

594
00:50:11,160 --> 00:50:14,780
Burg you know for a very long time as we know when I first moved here

595
00:50:14,780 --> 00:50:21,520
1999. I've never seen housing in the condition that it was in the city and

596
00:50:21,520 --> 00:50:25,340
that was one of the things that this council sat down back in 2019, right?

597
00:50:25,440 --> 00:50:29,440
And we decided that we were going to prioritize, brought in the Leviticus

598
00:50:29,440 --> 00:50:35,240
Group, did that study and I pulled out the the old sheet that we worked with

599
00:50:35,240 --> 00:50:39,380
that was kind of our guideline for you know like a master plan for housing and

600
00:50:39,380 --> 00:50:43,040
I went through it you know we got the strategic mayor strategic group out of

601
00:50:43,040 --> 00:50:49,420
that we cleaned up codes and I got to thank codes for doing a great job, you know,

602
00:50:49,520 --> 00:50:53,760
with these landlords who just bought these properties, did no work.

603
00:50:53,980 --> 00:50:59,660
And we've come a long ways in the city and now it's time to be strategic and plan housing.

604
00:50:59,900 --> 00:51:04,860
There's going to be housing, market rate housing, affordable housing in the city

605
00:51:04,860 --> 00:51:09,120
of Newburgh and, you know, it's not an easy task, but we're trying to do the best

606
00:51:09,120 --> 00:51:13,020
that we can, and communicate that and be transparent at the same time.

607
00:51:13,400 --> 00:51:17,040
So thank you for sticking with us and for coming out and for supporting us.

608
00:51:17,200 --> 00:51:18,080
Have a wonderful holiday.

609
00:51:18,860 --> 00:51:21,720
Thank you very much, Council Member Monteverdi.

610
00:51:22,880 --> 00:51:25,760
Next, we will hear from Councilman Shakur.

611
00:51:26,700 --> 00:51:27,020
Yes.

612
00:51:27,740 --> 00:51:33,920
I just wanted to say goodbye once again to Patty and Bob, and it's been a pleasure

613
00:51:33,920 --> 00:51:36,280
because me and Bob, we've been the gatekeepers.

614
00:51:36,480 --> 00:51:37,240
He's on that end.

615
00:51:37,240 --> 00:51:38,920
And I'm honestly, we had to keep y'all,

616
00:51:39,040 --> 00:51:41,040
we had to keep the rest of y'all in line.

617
00:51:42,100 --> 00:51:45,240
Well, anyway, I'd like to thank Mr. Pagan.

618
00:51:45,740 --> 00:51:47,600
He had gotten in touch with me earlier this week

619
00:51:47,600 --> 00:51:50,120
and I told him to come up with me when he comes to Newburgh.

620
00:51:50,300 --> 00:51:53,480
I told him, we're doing a meeting on the 18th.

621
00:51:53,480 --> 00:51:56,820
If he could stop by and give us a little peek

622
00:51:56,820 --> 00:51:58,380
into what he was talking about.

623
00:51:58,920 --> 00:52:03,460
And hopefully, if y'all like what he was saying

624
00:52:03,460 --> 00:52:06,500
or whatever, he can come and do a presentation for us

625
00:52:06,500 --> 00:52:11,600
with the people so that's why right I would like them to do a presentation

626
00:52:11,600 --> 00:52:14,960
because I would like to get more information on that cause whatever they're

627
00:52:14,960 --> 00:52:19,720
doing they said they can cut the rents in half so I would like to see what's

628
00:52:19,720 --> 00:52:27,040
going on but thank you for coming and everybody else and February 1st we get

629
00:52:27,040 --> 00:52:33,780
ready for that our flag raising how I mean how Christmas is coming up

630
00:52:34,780 --> 00:52:36,460
Christmas is still coming up, right?

631
00:52:37,760 --> 00:52:42,620
I've been in and out of things. I'm like, I lost the dates.

632
00:52:43,160 --> 00:52:46,020
But anyway, thank you. Happy holidays to everybody. Thank you.

633
00:52:46,600 --> 00:52:48,600
Our brother Anthony Grice came back.

634
00:52:49,200 --> 00:52:53,220
And that's what distracted me because usually he'd be over here making me laugh and stuff.

635
00:52:53,740 --> 00:52:57,180
But thank you for coming. Thank you everybody for coming out tonight.

636
00:52:57,420 --> 00:53:00,280
And Mr. Pagan, if you'd bridge back out to us,

637
00:53:00,280 --> 00:53:05,600
then maybe we could set up a presentation for the housing issues talking about.

638
00:53:05,900 --> 00:53:13,200
Thank you. Thank you, Councilman Chakour. Next we hear from Councilman Sklaris.

639
00:53:13,840 --> 00:53:21,540
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thank you all for coming out tonight. It was over 400 years ago when Henry

640
00:53:21,540 --> 00:53:27,200
Hudson sailed at Hudson. He looked up at our hillside and a ship made said to him,

641
00:53:27,940 --> 00:53:34,080
it's a great place to build a town. In 1952 we were named an all-American city.

642
00:53:35,420 --> 00:53:41,500
The past 70 or so years have been very challenging. The ferry vanished when the

643
00:53:41,500 --> 00:53:46,700
bridge was built. Urban renewal, which affected a lot of cities throughout the

644
00:53:46,700 --> 00:53:52,440
country, seemed to tear the house at the heart of this community. Retail

645
00:53:52,440 --> 00:53:58,520
shifted to the suburbs, small manufacturing, with jobs you could walk to, they moved even

646
00:53:58,520 --> 00:53:59,120
farther away.

647
00:54:02,680 --> 00:54:07,340
We stand in a pivotal moment in our history. Construction of the pier promises

648
00:54:07,340 --> 00:54:16,740
to transform the whole water farm and will enhance tourism throughout this city. Intelligent

649
00:54:16,740 --> 00:54:21,440
redevelopment of the hillside is vital for the future of the city we all love.

650
00:54:21,440 --> 00:54:28,580
It is essential that future City Councils, along with dedicated City staff, engage community

651
00:54:28,580 --> 00:54:33,960
members to collaborate effectively, together we can assure that the revitalized Seals

652
00:54:33,960 --> 00:54:38,620
side will foster growth and prosperity for generations to come.

653
00:54:39,780 --> 00:54:43,340
It's been my honor and pleasure to serve you over the past seven years.

654
00:54:43,940 --> 00:54:44,820
Thank you for all your support.

655
00:54:51,630 --> 00:54:53,330
Thank you, Councilman Sclaris.

656
00:54:53,370 --> 00:54:54,170
That was very beautiful.

657
00:54:54,410 --> 00:54:54,790
Thank you.

658
00:54:54,790 --> 00:54:58,550
Next we hear from Council Member Sophocles.

659
00:55:05,170 --> 00:55:06,150
What's wrong Tammy?

660
00:55:10,330 --> 00:55:12,350
No, my kids told me I can't.

661
00:55:12,630 --> 00:55:17,380
I don't really want to talk. I want to cry.

662
00:55:18,820 --> 00:55:21,040
I want to address Michael LeBron.

663
00:55:21,660 --> 00:55:25,700
I agree 100%. I walked down Grand Street

664
00:55:25,700 --> 00:55:28,380
many, many moons ago with Judy Kennedy.

665
00:55:29,480 --> 00:55:32,940
We declared, I forget the big signs and stuff we had,

666
00:55:32,940 --> 00:55:36,920
but we were in and we had Hillary Clinton as well and

667
00:55:38,200 --> 00:55:41,060
maybe you want to form a group, the

668
00:55:41,060 --> 00:55:45,120
Dutch reform group, there was one at one time, I don't know what's going on, but we definitely

669
00:55:45,120 --> 00:55:47,660
need to do something with the Dutch reform church

670
00:55:49,040 --> 00:55:53,180
and I'm glad you put that back in the brain here because I really, really

671
00:55:53,180 --> 00:55:56,120
want to work on the Dutch reform church

672
00:55:58,780 --> 00:56:01,160
and on another note, I'm very

673
00:56:01,160 --> 00:56:04,860
sad I'm leaving but I'm not going anywhere. I've been in this city for so

674
00:56:04,860 --> 00:56:10,020
many years and so I'm not going anywhere I'll always be there and I'll

675
00:56:10,020 --> 00:56:13,660
always be up well I don't know how many more years on upper Broadway for taxes

676
00:56:13,660 --> 00:56:18,000
but 440 Broadway you need me you come to see me because that's where I'll be

677
00:56:18,000 --> 00:56:27,400
and and I mean it with all sincerity you know me Chade and so it's very

678
00:56:27,400 --> 00:56:36,300
Melancholy it's you know I'm just sad you understand Anthony and it's just it's

679
00:56:36,300 --> 00:56:41,680
like something the last eight years have been really pleasurable for the most

680
00:56:41,680 --> 00:56:46,540
part and we have great department heads now I really feel like this is it's

681
00:56:46,540 --> 00:56:53,120
good everything's good. Newsburg is back. I call it Newsburg because everybody

682
00:56:53,120 --> 00:56:54,580
know everybody business, you know.

683
00:56:58,000 --> 00:57:00,220
Thank you all. Love you all. Thanks.

684
00:57:05,480 --> 00:57:06,060
Thank you

685
00:57:06,060 --> 00:57:10,440
Councilmember Salford, please. And I guess the remaining of her time will be yielded

686
00:57:10,440 --> 00:57:17,580
to the mayor. Just kidding. That was beautiful. Thank you Patty. First I want to say thank

687
00:57:17,580 --> 00:57:22,320
you to everybody that came out. I want to give a special shout out to Donald,

688
00:57:22,720 --> 00:57:27,720
Donald, one of my former students is here. One of our long-time, lifetime, huh?

689
00:57:28,660 --> 00:57:32,800
Lamhart. Yes, I was trying to remember the last name. I was going to say Coolidge, but

690
00:57:33,460 --> 00:57:40,660
Donald Lamhart is here. Thank you for all your point of view and perspective on some of the

691
00:57:40,660 --> 00:57:45,860
recent commentary that was on social media. Very powerful. I look forward to working with you

692
00:57:45,860 --> 00:57:50,840
and some of your ideas and some of the things you want to do with the youth. I do want to

693
00:57:50,840 --> 00:57:57,800
make a point of clarification, December 18, 2023, I'm sorry.

694
00:57:58,160 --> 00:58:00,840
So that's two years from today, ironically.

695
00:58:01,660 --> 00:58:04,420
The City Council declared a housing emergency.

696
00:58:05,300 --> 00:58:09,620
The whole E.T.P.A. Emergency Tennis Protection Act was something we were pursuing,

697
00:58:10,300 --> 00:58:16,600
but I want to make it clear, I was not in favor of having a vacancy study internally.

698
00:58:16,600 --> 00:58:24,960
I'm always in favor of hiring outside folk just for the matter of transparency and I know

699
00:58:24,960 --> 00:58:31,600
how the city of Newburgh is in terms of some of the claims of things not being done properly

700
00:58:31,600 --> 00:58:37,380
when they're done internally, especially if you're looking for something, a study of

701
00:58:37,380 --> 00:58:37,620
source.

702
00:58:37,960 --> 00:58:39,480
We've always outsourced that.

703
00:58:39,600 --> 00:58:45,220
We've always hired an outside agency just as we did the Leviticus Group as Council

704
00:58:45,220 --> 00:58:51,240
I also remember Monteverdi mentioned Leviticus Group led by Kevin Duarca, we've got that housing study done.

705
00:58:51,320 --> 00:58:53,720
The next thing was to do was the housing vacancy.

706
00:58:54,220 --> 00:58:59,200
I was in favor just for a point of clarification of a false narrative.

707
00:58:59,660 --> 00:59:11,840
I was in favor of outsourcing that to an outside independent agency and paying for it so that we could get that done without people making claims that it wasn't whatever.

708
00:59:11,840 --> 00:59:15,180
However, we did not qualify for the EPA.

709
00:59:15,960 --> 00:59:22,800
We did declare a housing emergency in 2023, December the 18th, two years exactly from today,

710
00:59:23,140 --> 00:59:28,960
and that declaration preceded the governor's declaration.

711
00:59:29,520 --> 00:59:35,120
So the governor declared it after this council did, all right, for the whole entire state.

712
00:59:35,520 --> 00:59:39,940
So we are currently in a housing crisis right now.

713
00:59:39,940 --> 00:59:45,040
So when we talked, I mentioned earlier about the deputy city manager position and capacity

714
00:59:45,040 --> 00:59:48,120
I'm telling you half a billion dollars of private and public

715
00:59:48,640 --> 00:59:54,760
Investment is already going on in this city and we are that we have doubled down. We have moved

716
00:59:55,420 --> 00:59:59,980
seven or eight housing development projects already through the city council

717
01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:07,600
Council and or the city IDA. And so we look at that capacity. That is serious, serious work

718
01:00:07,600 --> 01:00:15,300
to manage through our land use boards, the East Historic Inn, which is the ARC board, all

719
01:00:15,300 --> 01:00:20,580
that stuff, that serious stuff that has to come through as part of this revitalization.

720
01:00:20,880 --> 01:00:27,980
And I want to say in closing regarding that, housing is a human right. Affordable housing

721
01:00:27,980 --> 01:00:35,220
is a human right and no one should be paying more than 30% of their income on housing.

722
01:00:35,700 --> 01:00:42,180
And that is something I know this council is unified on, unanimously on.

723
01:00:42,460 --> 01:00:47,340
And so that's something that is still being pushed, that's something that we are going

724
01:00:47,340 --> 01:00:53,000
to have to continue to fight between now and I said three to five years, definitely

725
01:00:53,000 --> 01:00:59,220
You're going to see some major reconstruction of a lot of properties and apartments that

726
01:00:59,220 --> 01:01:04,700
are affordable coming on board and then there's some market rate stuff that's coming on board

727
01:01:04,700 --> 01:01:10,760
like the one that the city manager mentioned on 3rd Street and that big parking lot at

728
01:01:10,760 --> 01:01:15,720
the waterfront that's privately owned, okay, where you see the gullies boat sitting.

729
01:01:15,720 --> 01:01:23,920
And that is in the pipeline to be market rate, high-end condominiums, overlooking the Hudson

730
01:01:23,920 --> 01:01:26,700
River by the people that own that.

731
01:01:26,800 --> 01:01:28,100
And that's going in the pipeline.

732
01:01:28,320 --> 01:01:31,640
So we are pushing for the affordable apartments.

733
01:01:32,160 --> 01:01:37,240
And lastly, I want to say, as that hillside has to be developed for rateables and to

734
01:01:37,240 --> 01:01:42,000
help this city have the funds and the monies to take care of daycare and other social

735
01:01:42,000 --> 01:01:44,040
issues that we have with our youth.

736
01:01:44,040 --> 01:01:48,960
that hillside has to be developed properly and respectfully as it relates to

737
01:01:48,960 --> 01:01:54,340
urban renewal and lastly the Newburgh Landing Dock which I believe is at 98 to

738
01:01:54,340 --> 01:01:59,720
100% design once that comes on board that's going to transform as very

739
01:01:59,720 --> 01:02:04,740
transformative it's going to transform the city and that entire

740
01:02:04,740 --> 01:02:11,120
downtown business corridor so get ready because it's coming so as in the

741
01:02:11,120 --> 01:02:18,420
famous words of Lauren Hill ready or not here it comes okay anyway it's coming

742
01:02:18,420 --> 01:02:22,960
ready or not we got to be there to stand up and make sure those who are at the

743
01:02:22,960 --> 01:02:27,540
margins or beneath the margins are taken care of when this revitalization

744
01:02:28,180 --> 01:02:36,840
continues thank you okay all right next we go to the next item on our agenda

745
01:02:36,840 --> 01:02:43,860
which is the city manager's report thank you mayor yep resolution number 273-2025

746
01:02:43,860 --> 01:02:48,400
walsh road bridge replacement contract amendment number two with CSX do you

747
01:02:48,400 --> 01:02:53,500
have a motion for resolution number 273-2025 so moved first motion accepted by

748
01:02:53,500 --> 01:02:58,420
councilman sclars do we have a second second by council member software please

749
01:02:58,420 --> 01:03:03,400
we'll call in the motion please council members Martinez hi Macklemore

750
01:03:03,400 --> 01:03:04,160
Yes.

751
01:03:04,220 --> 01:03:05,780
Monteverdi, Chacor.

752
01:03:06,200 --> 01:03:06,440
Yes.

753
01:03:06,780 --> 01:03:08,340
Scalaris, Sophocles.

754
01:03:09,080 --> 01:03:09,860
Mayor Harvey.

755
01:03:10,120 --> 01:03:10,340
Yes.

756
01:03:10,840 --> 01:03:11,860
Resolution approved.

757
01:03:12,220 --> 01:03:18,100
Resolution number 274-2025, personnel book amendment, police department.

758
01:03:18,660 --> 01:03:21,760
So, I have a motion for resolution number 274-2025.

759
01:03:23,140 --> 01:03:25,480
Personal motion accepted by council member Sophocles.

760
01:03:25,620 --> 01:03:26,180
Do we have a second?

761
01:03:27,640 --> 01:03:28,240
Second.

762
01:03:28,500 --> 01:03:29,880
Second by council member Scalaris.

763
01:03:29,960 --> 01:03:31,000
Roll call in the motion please.

764
01:03:31,000 --> 01:03:41,100
Council members Martinez, Macklemore, Monteverdi, Chacor, Scalars, Sophocles, Mayor Harvey,

765
01:03:41,600 --> 01:03:48,360
Resolution approved. Resolution number 275-2025, budget transfers for legal notices.

766
01:03:48,820 --> 01:03:56,100
Do I have a motion for a resolution number 275-2025? First motion is settled by council

767
01:03:56,100 --> 01:03:57,700
Council Member Sophocles, do we have a second?

768
01:03:59,340 --> 01:03:59,800
Second.

769
01:04:00,060 --> 01:04:01,420
Seconded by Councilman Scalars.

770
01:04:01,860 --> 01:04:02,920
Roll call and a motion, please.

771
01:04:03,200 --> 01:04:05,840
Council members Martinez, aye.

772
01:04:06,120 --> 01:04:09,140
Macklemore, Monteverdi, Chacor.

773
01:04:09,440 --> 01:04:09,660
Yes.

774
01:04:09,880 --> 01:04:10,460
Scalars.

775
01:04:10,600 --> 01:04:10,740
Yes.

776
01:04:10,960 --> 01:04:13,040
Sophocles, Mayor Harvey.

777
01:04:13,380 --> 01:04:13,640
Yes.

778
01:04:14,100 --> 01:04:15,280
Resolution approved.

779
01:04:15,840 --> 01:04:20,400
Resolution number 276-2025, Rico Human Resources Printer.

780
01:04:20,760 --> 01:04:25,520
Whoever motion for resolution number 276-2025,

781
01:04:27,040 --> 01:04:30,600
First motion is accepted by Council Member Sophocles. Do I have a second?

782
01:04:32,660 --> 01:04:33,880
Second. Second

783
01:04:33,880 --> 01:04:40,540
by Councilman Scalaris. Roll call and a motion please. Council members Martinez. Aye. Macklemore.

784
01:04:40,800 --> 01:04:48,300
Yes. Monteverdi. Yes. Shakur. Yes. Scalaris. Yes. Sophocles. Yes. Mayor Harvey. Yes.

785
01:04:48,700 --> 01:04:55,620
Resolution approved. Local Law D-2025 amending the City Charter Article 3 in Section C501 to

786
01:04:55,620 --> 01:05:04,140
Deputy City Manager. Do we have a motion for local law, letter D, that's 2025, so

787
01:05:04,140 --> 01:05:10,500
first motion is set with Councilman Shakur. Do we have a second? Second. Seconded by

788
01:05:10,500 --> 01:05:15,460
Council Member Macklemore. We'll call in the motion please. Council Members

789
01:05:15,460 --> 01:05:22,200
Martinas. Hi. Macklemore. Yes. Monteverdi. Shakur.

790
01:05:27,400 --> 01:05:32,260
Scalaris. No. Sophocles. Yes. Mayor

791
01:05:32,260 --> 01:05:42,500
Harvey. Yes. Local law enacted. Resolution number 277-2025. Confirmation of Deputy City

792
01:05:42,500 --> 01:05:47,060
Manager Appointment. Confirming the appointment of Michael Neppel as Deputy City Manager of

793
01:05:47,060 --> 01:05:47,680
the City of Newburgh.

794
01:05:48,180 --> 01:05:52,460
Do I have a motion for resolution number 277?

795
01:05:52,560 --> 01:05:53,420
That's 2025.

796
01:05:54,220 --> 01:05:54,860
So moved.

797
01:05:55,320 --> 01:05:57,260
First motion is set up by Councilman Shakur.

798
01:05:57,620 --> 01:05:58,440
Do we have a second?

799
01:05:58,720 --> 01:05:59,140
Seconded.

800
01:05:59,260 --> 01:06:01,660
Seconded by Council Member Sophocles.

801
01:06:02,500 --> 01:06:04,000
Roll call and a motion please.

802
01:06:04,640 --> 01:06:06,540
Council members Martinez.

803
01:06:07,320 --> 01:06:07,600
Aye.

804
01:06:08,060 --> 01:06:08,740
Macklemore.

805
01:06:08,960 --> 01:06:09,160
Yes.

806
01:06:09,620 --> 01:06:10,300
Monteverdi.

807
01:06:10,740 --> 01:06:10,980
No.

808
01:06:11,560 --> 01:06:12,240
Shakur.

809
01:06:12,500 --> 01:06:12,880
Yes.

810
01:06:13,520 --> 01:06:14,200
Scholarz.

811
01:06:14,340 --> 01:06:14,520
Yes.

812
01:06:15,300 --> 01:06:15,980
Sophocles.

813
01:06:15,980 --> 01:06:20,280
please. Mayor Harvey. Yes. Resolution approved.

814
01:06:28,730 --> 01:06:30,950
Big Mike. Backers is the report. Thank you.

815
01:06:30,950 --> 01:06:37,990
Thank you very much, Mr. Vinnie. All right. So we don't try to run through this really

816
01:06:37,990 --> 01:06:46,370
quickly. For any old business that the mayor and the city executive team need to consider

817
01:06:46,370 --> 01:06:51,830
for the next work session and the old business. Yes. Please give it to us. Yes. Council

818
01:06:51,830 --> 01:06:56,790
Can we go back and review the request for the stop signs?

819
01:06:57,510 --> 01:07:02,170
I don't know if it's with the Transportation Committee, but I began a lot of requests

820
01:07:02,170 --> 01:07:08,350
due to the accidents over at South William and Lander, South Lander, right?

821
01:07:09,210 --> 01:07:10,210
In that area.

822
01:07:10,510 --> 01:07:13,450
So if we can discuss that and where we are with that, that would be great.

823
01:07:15,010 --> 01:07:16,110
All right, anyone else?

824
01:07:17,170 --> 01:07:18,370
I have one request.

825
01:07:18,370 --> 01:07:27,490
I'd like to review where we are with the street sweeper program, the street sweeper program

826
01:07:27,490 --> 01:07:35,390
that's in the budget to hire individuals to do street sweeping in needs, in areas of need.

827
01:07:35,830 --> 01:07:41,890
I'm getting a lot of phone calls and emails and even persons coming up to me throughout

828
01:07:41,890 --> 01:07:50,150
about the community, talking about the drug paraphernalia and how that is creating a danger

829
01:07:50,150 --> 01:07:56,730
to children on residential blocks, especially throughout the city.

830
01:07:57,310 --> 01:08:02,190
And that's actually one of the reasons why I'm hoping that we can clean up that area

831
01:08:02,190 --> 01:08:09,610
that we discussed about Downey Park for the re-enterment of the former slaves because

832
01:08:09,610 --> 01:08:16,350
Because even up there, there are hypothermic needles and there's drug paraphernalia, aside

833
01:08:16,350 --> 01:08:20,170
from the graffiti on the pergola that we're hoping to all get cleaned up.

834
01:08:21,510 --> 01:08:29,650
But we have an unsafe circumstance throughout the city of Newburgh and our residents can

835
01:08:29,650 --> 01:08:34,490
tell you where there's needles, I mean near the motor vehicle, behind the motor vehicle,

836
01:08:34,490 --> 01:08:39,810
chamber street and various different blocks throughout the city and that we really need

837
01:08:39,810 --> 01:08:46,050
to look at that street sweeper program to get more people, even if we have to do amendments

838
01:08:46,050 --> 01:08:51,410
to the 2026 fiscal budget, so we can get people to work, especially those who are formerly

839
01:08:51,410 --> 01:08:58,210
incarcerated, which was the one reason why we wanted to have that program in DPW.

840
01:08:58,630 --> 01:09:01,310
And we really got to get to addressing that.

841
01:09:01,310 --> 01:09:16,950
So the next next work session, I'm hoping we can look at that because these needles and that's randomly out in the street and residential areas, especially in our parks is just unsanitary and is really unsafe, especially for children and even our elderly.

842
01:09:17,510 --> 01:09:23,830
So all right, if there's no other old business, we'll go to new business. Anyone for new business?

843
01:09:26,670 --> 01:09:30,410
If not, we'll go to final comments from the city council.

844
01:09:30,410 --> 01:09:33,530
We'll start with Council Member Martinez.

845
01:09:35,190 --> 01:09:41,690
I just want to say happy holidays to everyone and happy new year.

846
01:09:42,470 --> 01:09:46,770
And I'm really going to miss Councilman Scalars and Councilwoman Sophocles.

847
01:09:47,070 --> 01:09:48,070
Thank you for coming tonight.

848
01:09:48,890 --> 01:09:52,230
Thank you very much, Council Member Martinez.

849
01:09:53,530 --> 01:09:55,050
Councilman Macklemore.

850
01:09:55,050 --> 01:10:01,350
So, happy holidays to everyone and be safe and I'll see you in the new year.

851
01:10:02,010 --> 01:10:06,890
That's it. And once again, I love you guys. So, yeah.

852
01:10:07,750 --> 01:10:08,650
Thank you.

853
01:10:09,410 --> 01:10:09,970
Very quick.

854
01:10:10,330 --> 01:10:12,430
Yep. I'll take your time over.

855
01:10:13,190 --> 01:10:15,810
Next we'll hear from Council Member Matthew Verde.

856
01:10:17,550 --> 01:10:22,130
Yeah, so happy holidays everybody and I hope you, you know,

857
01:10:22,130 --> 01:10:27,910
spend some wonderful time with your family, be safe over the holidays, eat some

858
01:10:27,910 --> 01:10:33,590
good food, and I'm looking forward to 2026 and doing a lot of good work and I

859
01:10:33,590 --> 01:10:39,890
will miss Councilwoman Sophocles sitting next to me and Bob Scars, Councilman Scars.

860
01:10:40,590 --> 01:10:50,080
Good luck. Thank you. Next we hear from Councilman Shakur. Yes, 2025 coming to

861
01:10:50,080 --> 01:11:03,600
it in where I want to thank okay yeah 2026 is coming but we still won't have

862
01:11:03,600 --> 01:11:09,960
some of the same problems and it's this is new bird so we'll never fix new bird

863
01:11:09,960 --> 01:11:15,280
but every year we getting better because when we fix this something else

864
01:11:15,280 --> 01:11:19,040
breaks there's always gonna be but that's part of the community that's

865
01:11:19,040 --> 01:11:24,540
part of what it is. But we're doing our jobs. I'd like to thank everybody for coming out

866
01:11:24,540 --> 01:11:27,060
and I'll see y'all next year.

867
01:11:30,410 --> 01:11:33,330
Thank you very much, Councilman Chacor. Next we'll hear from

868
01:11:33,330 --> 01:11:39,370
Councilman Sklaris. Merry Christmas. Happy holidays. Hold your friends and family close.

869
01:11:40,030 --> 01:11:44,930
Thank you. Thank you very much. Next we'll hear from Councilmember Sophocles.

870
01:11:45,510 --> 01:11:52,440
I really can't speak right now, but I told my kids I wouldn't cry.

871
01:11:57,540 --> 01:12:02,760
Tammy, I'm sorry. I can't help myself. I'm really going to miss this, but I'm not going anywhere.

872
01:12:03,640 --> 01:12:08,860
So I just want to say happy holidays to everybody and thank you for all your support.

873
01:12:09,220 --> 01:12:13,120
All you guys that come out to the council meetings, that helps the council make better decisions

874
01:12:13,120 --> 01:12:19,340
Because we hear your ideas publicly, and you have no idea what it is when we have a full house.

875
01:12:20,020 --> 01:12:23,600
Okay? Love you all. Happy holidays.

876
01:12:25,140 --> 01:12:31,500
Thank you very much, Council Member Sophocles. I want to thank everybody again for coming out tonight.

877
01:12:32,140 --> 01:12:36,380
I do want to say a special thank you to Marissa Wilson.

878
01:12:37,200 --> 01:12:45,920
Let's give her a hand because she's been filling in full time as our acting director of recreation.

879
01:12:47,120 --> 01:12:51,760
And Marissa helped me out a big, big, big deal this past Sunday.

880
01:12:52,180 --> 01:12:54,960
And I'd be remiss not to first of all publicly say thank you.

881
01:12:55,540 --> 01:13:05,480
The Neighborhood Vitality Corp worked with Marissa, myself and the city executive team to put together a very last minute in a sense.

882
01:13:06,820 --> 01:13:15,220
we got a call from one of my wife's cousins and who's tied to the sheriff of

883
01:13:15,220 --> 01:13:22,380
Ulster County Juan Figueroa he got like 500 like toys and he you know he got

884
01:13:22,380 --> 01:13:26,620
them from the sheriff at Albany they said he said Juan we don't know what to do

885
01:13:26,620 --> 01:13:32,740
with these toys we can't give them away we got so many and so Marissa helped

886
01:13:32,740 --> 01:13:37,420
helped us coordinate this event on this past Sunday with the Neighborhood

887
01:13:37,420 --> 01:13:42,540
Vitality Corporation who we're going to do more work with philanthropic work and

888
01:13:42,540 --> 01:13:50,000
we gave away at least 300 to 400 toys to families for free at the Recreation

889
01:13:50,000 --> 01:13:55,620
Center and it was huge at first 340 people signed up only 50 that

890
01:13:55,620 --> 01:13:59,640
pre-registers signed up then we went Facebook live and then they started

891
01:13:59,640 --> 01:14:04,620
flooded, they started coming and it was great. We stayed an extra an hour and it was really really good.

892
01:14:04,900 --> 01:14:10,700
But I want to also give my colleagues props and Mr. Venning and the executive team.

893
01:14:11,700 --> 01:14:18,260
We stood up when the federal government went to a shutdown. Snap recipients weren't going to get

894
01:14:18,260 --> 01:14:24,680
their snap benefits. And this team as Councilman Shakur mentioned, this dream team, he calls it

895
01:14:24,680 --> 01:14:28,840
the dream team. I'm going to call it dream team in agreement with him. This dream team

896
01:14:28,840 --> 01:14:35,640
right here stepped up answered the call in the time of crises to give our

897
01:14:35,640 --> 01:14:43,080
residents 700 residents especially our elderly community all gotta give props

898
01:14:43,080 --> 01:14:47,820
to Allie Church and her team as well let's give it to them a hundred thousand

899
01:14:47,820 --> 01:14:55,840
dollars worth of benefits to give each family a hundred fifty dollars when and

900
01:14:55,840 --> 01:14:59,780
And not to compare, but Westchester gave 50 grand

901
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:06,180
We gave 100 grand. Middletown, shout out to Joe. They gave 10 grand. We gave 100 grand.

902
01:15:06,720 --> 01:15:13,540
And the other cities in the Midhust and Valley didn't do anything for their SNAP recipients

903
01:15:13,540 --> 01:15:21,080
that their benefits were cut off. So this team did that. And then we all participated in

904
01:15:21,080 --> 01:15:27,640
Thanksgiving feeding the community events. I know Rob and I went to shout out to Youth

905
01:15:27,640 --> 01:15:34,280
Hill, Repco, and then I know my time is up real quick. We gave away hot meals and we

906
01:15:34,280 --> 01:15:38,200
served the community and so did my colleagues. They were participating in

907
01:15:38,200 --> 01:15:42,720
that. And then lastly, what's that? He was there too. Oh yes, Councilman

908
01:15:42,720 --> 01:15:46,660
Schubert was there. That's right. We served him and he helped serve. But we

909
01:15:46,660 --> 01:15:49,480
all put our hands together, even with the New

910
01:15:49,480 --> 01:15:53,520
Bergen Large-City School District and all they did during the holidays,

911
01:15:53,520 --> 01:15:58,460
Thanksgiving, the Christmas gifts and you know the events that the New Brigham

912
01:15:58,460 --> 01:16:02,260
Large-City School District, we all stepped up for our community is my point

913
01:16:02,260 --> 01:16:08,460
and I'm really proud of that because I saw I saw us come together like I

914
01:16:08,460 --> 01:16:13,680
hadn't seen and I've been here since 1991. I have not seen such a robust

915
01:16:13,680 --> 01:16:19,700
effort for us to unify and support the local community especially the

916
01:16:19,700 --> 01:16:24,720
population that's most vulnerable. Can we do more? Absolutely. Are we going to do

917
01:16:24,720 --> 01:16:30,520
more? Absolutely. But I want to say to all the people involved, my colleagues,

918
01:16:30,720 --> 01:16:33,820
whether it's the city government, the Newburgh School District, let's give

919
01:16:33,820 --> 01:16:38,980
everyone a hand that stepped up for the people in the city of Newburgh during

920
01:16:38,980 --> 01:16:43,660
their great times of needs, even when the federal government, you know, turned

921
01:16:43,660 --> 01:16:48,060
their backs on them. But okay, but I just want to give that out there. I

922
01:16:48,060 --> 01:16:53,620
want to thank you all for coming happy holidays love on your family spend some

923
01:16:53,620 --> 01:17:00,260
time with your peoples and enjoy these holiday season this holiday season with

924
01:17:00,260 --> 01:17:05,240
joy and happiness and love because that's the most important gift love on

925
01:17:05,240 --> 01:17:10,540
each other the next the plan oh shout out to the New York Knicks they won the

926
01:17:10,540 --> 01:17:17,300
season cup and it's been 52 years 52 years it's out to the New York Knicks

927
01:17:17,300 --> 01:17:22,060
they playing right now. Have a good holiday. God bless you and God bless America.