1 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:13,940 Okay, alright, thank you. Thank you. Sorry for the delay. I just want to call the meeting to order and please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. 2 00:00:16,570 --> 00:00:29,210 I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 3 00:00:35,420 --> 00:00:42,840 Thank you all for coming this evening and welcome. The mayor is somewhere outside 4 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:48,240 these doors but I'd just like to introduce him and say that we've had a 5 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:53,000 wonderful first year in four months along with our colleagues here in working 6 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:57,560 very hard for the city of Peakskill. It's been an enjoyable time for all of 7 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:01,800 us and we look forward to what the mayor has in store for us this coming 8 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:04,660 year and he's going to share his plans for the future tonight. 9 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:07,720 So without further ado, Mayor Frank Catalina. 10 00:01:33,890 --> 00:01:38,990 Thank you all and welcome to the city of Peakskill for the state of the city address. 11 00:01:40,070 --> 00:01:45,430 I would like to welcome you all tonight and first the woman that goes crazy clapping 12 00:01:45,430 --> 00:01:49,310 every time I say anything as my mother sit in the second row I'd like to acknowledge 13 00:01:49,310 --> 00:01:49,530 her. 14 00:01:55,870 --> 00:02:00,130 This speech is given pursuant to the mandate of our charter that the mayor annually report 15 00:02:00,130 --> 00:02:04,670 to all residents the current state of our city with respect to the delivery of basic 16 00:02:04,670 --> 00:02:10,090 services the state of our finances and I will in this year I will also deliver my vision 17 00:02:10,090 --> 00:02:15,410 for the future of this great city that we can achieve only by working together first 18 00:02:15,410 --> 00:02:20,530 I would like to recognize the members of my common council council women Drew Claxton 19 00:02:21,130 --> 00:02:24,850 who I believe is not here tonight because she has a prior commitment she's traveling 20 00:02:25,950 --> 00:02:31,250 Vivian McKenzie, Kathy Talbot, Councilman Darren Rigger, Vinny Vessey, and Joe Torres. 21 00:02:32,050 --> 00:02:32,330 Without 22 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:43,800 their help and hard work, many of the accomplishments we have made in 2014 that 23 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,120 I will mention tonight would not have been possible. 24 00:02:46,820 --> 00:02:50,780 More importantly, we will not be in a position to address the remaining serious financial 25 00:02:50,780 --> 00:02:53,680 issues we face without a commitment to work together. 26 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:59,160 Lastly, the exciting projects I will outline tonight will not become a reality without 27 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:04,760 their enthusiastic support. I am pleased to report tonight that despite some very 28 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:09,100 long years of turbulent financial times the state of our city and our finances 29 00:03:09,100 --> 00:03:10,780 are good and getting better. 30 00:03:17,490 --> 00:03:19,670 In one short year we have begun the process of 31 00:03:19,670 --> 00:03:23,550 turning the six-year tide of bad economic news and although we have 32 00:03:23,550 --> 00:03:26,930 hurdles to face together we have turned the corner and the direction of 33 00:03:26,930 --> 00:03:30,490 the city and I will show you that before I show you the evidence of that 34 00:03:30,490 --> 00:03:33,550 transformation I would like to talk about some of the people that make 35 00:03:33,550 --> 00:03:36,170 the city great and a little about what they do. 36 00:03:37,150 --> 00:03:41,430 Present here tonight are several of our city employees who do the jobs and provide the services 37 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:46,790 day in and day out, often under difficult circumstances and without complaint. 38 00:03:47,530 --> 00:03:51,970 I cannot recognize every single one of them here tonight, but three special persons stand 39 00:03:51,970 --> 00:03:53,530 out and deserve special recognition. 40 00:03:54,510 --> 00:03:58,730 A few weeks ago, as the grip of a brutal winter was loosening, a nine-year-old girl 41 00:03:58,730 --> 00:04:01,290 was walking her dog on these thin ice of Lake Mitchell. 42 00:04:03,380 --> 00:04:08,660 Our director of recreation was working in her office atop a hill overlooking the lake and heard her scream. 43 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:14,200 PJ Mail, an employee of the Department of City Services, just happened to be in the park office. 44 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:21,680 He bolted out of the office and ran into the freezing water as the young girl tried to stay afloat. 45 00:04:22,380 --> 00:04:26,860 As she went under, PJ broke through the ice with his fists reaching down into the water 46 00:04:26,860 --> 00:04:31,920 and pulling the young girl and her dog from underneath the water and bringing her safely to shore. 47 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:37,220 There is no doubt that PJ Mail saved this girl's life and as a lifelong resident 48 00:04:37,220 --> 00:04:41,760 born and raised here in Peekskill, he's a true hero upholding the finest 49 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:45,840 traditions of employees of the city of Peekskill throughout the city. Let's give 50 00:04:45,840 --> 00:04:46,820 him a sign of our appreciation. 51 00:05:10,900 --> 00:05:13,400 And speaking of heroes, several weeks ago 52 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:18,740 our police officers trained in the administration of Norcan, a drug to be 53 00:05:18,740 --> 00:05:23,760 given to heroin overdose victims. Within one week of that training, police 54 00:05:23,760 --> 00:05:28,340 Police officers Douglas Perch and John Colas are administered nor can to an overdose victim, 55 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:32,320 giving her another chance to straighten out her life and live a productive life. 56 00:05:33,900 --> 00:05:37,740 I think those officers are present here tonight and I would ask them to stand and be honored. 57 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:06,020 And further speaking of heroes, I would be remiss if I did not mention that in 2014 58 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:10,520 we tragically lost two highly decorated, longtime employees of the city. 59 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:13,620 Both were dedicated and respected first responders. 60 00:06:13,620 --> 00:06:17,740 both were raised right here in Peekskill and we continue the more in the 61 00:06:17,740 --> 00:06:21,720 passing of firefighter Kevin Bristol and police officer Christopher Vazios. 62 00:06:30,630 --> 00:06:33,890 They both served with distinction and upheld the highest traditions of the 63 00:06:33,890 --> 00:06:38,110 Peekskill fire and police departments. Please join me in a moment of silence in 64 00:06:38,110 --> 00:06:38,510 their memory. 65 00:06:45,420 --> 00:06:48,080 Thank you. At this time I would like to recognize some of our 66 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:51,240 department heads that are present here tonight and they are in no 67 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:55,520 particular order. First our great chief of police and Peekskill native 68 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:56,420 Eric Johansson. 69 00:07:05,570 --> 00:07:08,190 I'm going to say a few words about all of them but save your 70 00:07:08,190 --> 00:07:13,230 flaws to the end and this will go a little faster. Our great chief of police, 71 00:07:13,530 --> 00:07:17,350 he's a Peekskill native, he continues to make Peekskill a proactive police 72 00:07:17,350 --> 00:07:21,010 department rather than a reactive one. He has successfully gained the 73 00:07:21,010 --> 00:07:24,650 confidence of all facets of our diverse community as an honest broker 74 00:07:24,650 --> 00:07:28,470 who treats people the way he wants to be treated. Eric, on behalf of the 75 00:07:28,470 --> 00:07:30,130 entire city I thank you for your service. 76 00:07:38,140 --> 00:07:39,400 Our city engineer and director 77 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:43,120 Director of City Services Brent VanZant came to Pico from the New York State Department 78 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:48,580 of Transportation. Brent is overly responsive to even the most mundane requests from citizens, 79 00:07:49,220 --> 00:07:53,620 leaving our complaint box virtually empty. Brent, thank you for all you do for the city. 80 00:08:00,820 --> 00:08:04,320 Our Director of Planning and Development, Mike Welty, who's leading the city to take 81 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:08,320 on a position in the private sector. Mike has served the city well and we wish you 82 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:09,680 nothing but the best in your future. 83 00:08:15,980 --> 00:08:17,680 And I would like to welcome his successor 84 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:19,940 as Director of Planning and Development, Gene Friedman. 85 00:08:20,460 --> 00:08:23,200 Gene has been an institution in this city for almost 20 years 86 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:25,660 and has done an excellent work with all of our boards, 87 00:08:25,740 --> 00:08:27,620 especially the historic preservation boards. 88 00:08:28,340 --> 00:08:30,820 Gene, we recognize this appointment is long overdue 89 00:08:30,820 --> 00:08:33,140 and we welcome you and look forward to your stewardship 90 00:08:33,140 --> 00:08:34,300 of this critical department. 91 00:08:40,680 --> 00:08:43,480 Our great Director of Economic Development, Jim Pinto, is here. 92 00:08:43,980 --> 00:08:45,740 We were lucky to steal him from Yonkers 93 00:08:46,270 --> 00:08:48,280 and I've kept him very busy with the many projects 94 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:49,300 I will talk about tonight. 95 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:51,200 Jim, thank you for all you were doing 96 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:54,640 and we expect you to bring these projects to completion as soon as possible. 97 00:09:00,700 --> 00:09:04,460 I would like to recognize our fire chiefs, Robert Fiorio, Vinnie Malaspin, and John 98 00:09:04,460 --> 00:09:07,920 Rose, who are doing a tremendous job protecting lives and property in the city. 99 00:09:08,700 --> 00:09:12,960 These chiefs are department heads in every sense of the word, who serve without compensation 100 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:17,120 under what I consider to be very difficult conditions we hope to address in that department. 101 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:22,140 Gentlemen, the city owes you and the entire volunteer department a debt that can never 102 00:09:22,140 --> 00:09:22,720 be repaid. 103 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:27,380 You are grateful for the services you and the volunteers so freely give, risking your 104 00:09:27,380 --> 00:09:28,420 lives to protect ours. 105 00:09:29,180 --> 00:09:33,380 We thank you for your service, and I'm going to ask you and all the volunteer firemen who 106 00:09:33,380 --> 00:09:35,580 might be here tonight to please stand to be recognized. 107 00:09:47,790 --> 00:09:52,510 Being a lawyer, I have to recognize our city attorney, Dave Rothman, and the entire firm 108 00:09:52,510 --> 00:09:53,190 of Harris Beach. 109 00:09:53,890 --> 00:09:57,530 They have been unwavering in their advice to the city manager, the mayor's office, 110 00:09:57,910 --> 00:09:59,590 the common counsel, and the various boards. 111 00:10:00,090 --> 00:10:04,110 Their advice has been nonpartisan and independent, as all legal advice should be. 112 00:10:05,250 --> 00:10:10,570 As mayor, he has earned my trust, but more importantly, as a lawyer myself, he has earned my deepest respect. 113 00:10:11,030 --> 00:10:12,490 Dave, Brett, thank you. 114 00:10:17,370 --> 00:10:23,590 Anne Skaglione's our controller who came to the city last year and is doing a fantastic job under difficult circumstances. 115 00:10:24,270 --> 00:10:29,890 She has a tough job, giving us sometimes horrific numbers, but does it in a professional and unvarnished manner. 116 00:10:30,350 --> 00:10:31,990 Anne, we thank you for all that you were doing. 117 00:10:36,790 --> 00:10:41,050 Our recreation department head, Joyce Cochia, has maintained the level of services to our 118 00:10:41,050 --> 00:10:46,110 citizens, especially our youth, in face of a 50 percent reduction in staff and other 119 00:10:46,110 --> 00:10:50,650 budgetary cuts. Joyce, we thank you for all you do under these difficult circumstances. 120 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:59,860 Fran Brunel is in charge of our Section 8 program and does a fine work running the 121 00:10:59,860 --> 00:11:05,120 seniors center. Fran has been with the city for almost 30 years. Fran, we thank you 122 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:05,840 for your service. 123 00:11:11,620 --> 00:11:13,440 Michelle Jordan is our city assessor. 124 00:11:14,680 --> 00:11:15,360 I hope she's here. 125 00:11:15,540 --> 00:11:16,160 Is she here tonight? 126 00:11:17,980 --> 00:11:21,840 And Michelle does a very difficult job also 127 00:11:21,840 --> 00:11:23,060 under difficult circumstances. 128 00:11:23,700 --> 00:11:25,880 She has, to her credit, uncovered long overlooked 129 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:28,300 problems and issues that needed to be addressed. 130 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:29,980 And it seems, every week, she's 131 00:11:29,980 --> 00:11:32,240 finding new and creative ways to increase our assessment 132 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:32,620 roles. 133 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:35,000 Michelle, I want to thank you for your efforts 134 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:37,320 and assure you that they do not go unnoticed. 135 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:45,320 Dr. Shauna White is our Director of the Youth Bureau. 136 00:11:47,680 --> 00:11:51,540 She just assumed this position last year and continues to get acclimated. 137 00:11:52,020 --> 00:11:55,360 She's doing a fine job not only obtaining renewals of existing grants, 138 00:11:55,660 --> 00:12:01,020 but also finding new ones. Dr. White, thank you so much for your efforts on behalf of the cities. 139 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:09,940 The person responsible for clean water coming out of every faucet in the city is Edward Coons. 140 00:12:10,300 --> 00:12:14,780 Ed is overseeing the reconstruction of two water towers atop the hill at Forest View, 141 00:12:14,780 --> 00:12:19,000 and within the past few years oversaw the replacement of the city's water treatment plant. 142 00:12:19,540 --> 00:12:21,840 Ed, thank you and your men for all that you do for the city. 143 00:12:27,060 --> 00:12:29,720 Is Jim Howard here tonight? Yep, he's standing in the back. 144 00:12:30,140 --> 00:12:32,880 There's Jim Howard. He's our guy that makes the building department work. 145 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:35,140 Jim is also a deputy fire chief. 146 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:40,600 He's exactly why I feel employees of the City of Peakskill should live in the City of Peakskill. 147 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:45,980 Whether it's answering fire calls 24-7 or going out on a Saturday morning on his own time 148 00:12:45,980 --> 00:12:51,480 to approve a gas line connection so a restaurant can open Saturday night and put their 15 employees 149 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:56,780 back to work, Jim epitomizes public service over self-enrichment and we can never thank 150 00:12:56,780 --> 00:12:59,020 him enough for his tireless work for the City of Peaksville. 151 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:10,660 Our facilities manager, Joe Minnerly, keeps the heat and air conditioning working and 152 00:13:10,660 --> 00:13:13,220 all the city's buildings in great shape. 153 00:13:13,680 --> 00:13:17,320 He is joined by the great Greg Matera who takes care of all of our IT problems 154 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:22,240 and our Director of Communications, Mike Minor, who is also born and raised here in 155 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:25,780 Peekskill, who does a great job bringing the city into your homes through our 156 00:13:25,780 --> 00:13:29,320 government channel, which I now understand is beating out the three main 157 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:33,140 networks and the ratings. Thank you, Mike, and thank you all for your work. 158 00:13:39,350 --> 00:13:43,410 Are the city court judges here tonight? I don't see them. They were invited to 159 00:13:43,410 --> 00:13:48,110 be included and to be a part of the State of the City address. Our city 160 00:13:48,110 --> 00:13:49,870 clerk for 30 years is Pamela Beach. 161 00:13:57,630 --> 00:13:59,330 What can you say about Pam Beach that 162 00:13:59,330 --> 00:14:03,690 hasn't already been said. Pam is an institution in the city and we have been 163 00:14:03,690 --> 00:14:08,550 blessed by her charm, grace, integrity and service. Pam, could you please come 164 00:14:08,550 --> 00:14:12,250 forward and accept this on behalf of a very grateful city? 165 00:14:35,940 --> 00:14:36,800 She's gonna kill me. 166 00:14:41,380 --> 00:14:44,680 Lastly, I just want to mention a man who has served the city for over 15 years. 167 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:47,640 He came up through the ranks of the Planning Department to become our 168 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:51,860 Director of Planning and Development and Assistant City Manager and who is 169 00:14:51,860 --> 00:14:54,020 now our current city manager, Anthony Regerio. 170 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:20,680 Anthony, you have guided the city through eras of tremendous growth and unfortunately horrific budgetary problems. 171 00:15:21,180 --> 00:15:24,500 You have weathered the natural frictions between elected and appointed officials. 172 00:15:25,300 --> 00:15:31,000 You have weathered the ambiguity of conflicting charter provisions and competing visions and interests of elected officials 173 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:37,060 of two political parties who have very different personalities and very different visions for the future of the city. 174 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:42,140 While most people don't know, you and I have agreed on 95% of the issues that we have faced 175 00:15:42,140 --> 00:15:44,560 together in my short term as Mayor. 176 00:15:45,220 --> 00:15:50,220 It is very unfortunate that the 5% we disagreed on received all the press coverage, citizen 177 00:15:50,220 --> 00:15:54,080 comment, and served as the basis for political gamesmanship. 178 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:58,680 But as you leave this city, let there be no doubt that you are leaving the city in 179 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:02,080 a better position than you found it, and you have handled this job in a professional 180 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:03,100 and dignified manner. 181 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:09,780 On behalf of the entire council and the entire City of Peaksville, we thank you for your service and wish you and your family well. 182 00:16:24,140 --> 00:16:25,660 Now the State of the City is a Ferris. 183 00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:30,500 The day-to-day operations of the City continue without interruption. 184 00:16:31,180 --> 00:16:35,340 However, the budgetary problems we continue to face have rendered every department, to some extent, 185 00:16:36,620 --> 00:16:42,520 shorthanded, overworked and unable to expand services to our citizens who, unfailingly, demand ever more services. 186 00:16:42,520 --> 00:16:47,400 Our police department continues to reduce serious and or violent crime last year by 187 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:48,700 almost 25%. 188 00:16:49,140 --> 00:16:53,600 The chiefs request to restore a park ranger to patrol our parks, whether they be existing 189 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:57,420 parks or the new parks at the riverfront have gone unanswered by this council. 190 00:16:57,980 --> 00:17:02,160 On the one hand, while citizens and those very council members demand ever-increasing 191 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:05,340 services from the existing manpower to patrol those parks. 192 00:17:06,020 --> 00:17:09,940 My point is simply that if we expect to address the complaints from citizens 193 00:17:09,940 --> 00:17:12,900 for every single complaint right down to curbing dogs, 194 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:15,600 then we as a council have to give him the support 195 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:18,020 and support his budgetary request 196 00:17:18,020 --> 00:17:20,100 to give him the tools he needs to do the job. 197 00:17:20,660 --> 00:17:23,300 I call upon this council to restore two park rangers 198 00:17:23,300 --> 00:17:24,920 in the 2016 budget 199 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:28,040 and consider making budgetary line adjustments now 200 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:31,860 in 2015 to hire even a part-time park ranger 201 00:17:31,860 --> 00:17:33,480 to protect our beautiful parks. 202 00:17:34,340 --> 00:17:36,840 Our DPW requires new and expensive equipment 203 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:40,000 to pick up the garbage and remove snow in an efficient manner. 204 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:43,960 Without including these items in the budget every year, as the city should have done, 205 00:17:44,400 --> 00:17:47,600 the city right now is forced to bond the purchase of capital equipment. 206 00:17:48,280 --> 00:17:51,460 I call upon this council to begin to adequately fund every year 207 00:17:51,460 --> 00:17:54,640 a capital budget sufficient to meet the capital needs of the city 208 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:57,580 without resorting to bonding these expenses in the future. 209 00:17:59,360 --> 00:18:02,100 Our planning department and numerous boards have been very busy 210 00:18:02,100 --> 00:18:04,500 and I'll review their highlights later in the speech. 211 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:09,600 Our recreation department continues to provide a full array of activities to our citizens 212 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:14,180 despite budgetary cuts and cuts in personnel, and they do it without complaint. 213 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:18,260 Our Youth Bureau has secured $407,000 in various grants. 214 00:18:18,860 --> 00:18:21,340 Over the five-month period, Dr. White has been on the job. 215 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:25,920 Citizens should know that without these grants, the city cannot afford to offer 216 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:29,300 this wide array of services and programs that we currently do. 217 00:18:30,820 --> 00:18:37,880 So far, Dr. White has been successful in renewing all existing grants and pressing on to seek new ones to serve our youth. 218 00:18:39,500 --> 00:18:46,700 In case you haven't noticed by this short recitation, we are limited to what we can accomplish due to the current state of our city's financial affairs. 219 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:56,360 When I took office, I analogized the city's condition to that of a patient in an emergency room, and I said the first thing a doctor would do would be to stop the bleeding. 220 00:18:56,360 --> 00:19:00,940 I am very pleased to report to you tonight that we have stopped the bleeding. 221 00:19:01,500 --> 00:19:07,440 The evidence is clear, but more importantly, to look at where we are, we must look at where we came from 222 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:12,360 and a path that we still must travel to achieve financial security. 223 00:19:13,420 --> 00:19:15,600 This graph will give you a historical perspective. 224 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:20,860 It clearly shows you the operating deficits of the past six years leading up to this administration. 225 00:19:21,660 --> 00:19:31,780 These deficits, these structural deficits are operating deficits totaled $18.3 million in the six-year period prior to my administration, 226 00:19:32,260 --> 00:19:40,820 meaning the city averaged an operating deficit of over $3 million every year for six straight years. 227 00:19:42,100 --> 00:19:49,720 As you can see, we ended 2014 with a structural deficit of about $1.5 million, which is not good news. 228 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:54,940 But in looking at where we are coming from, I can confidently report to you that we have 229 00:19:54,940 --> 00:20:00,180 cut that annual average operating deficit of $3 million and a half, and I believe we 230 00:20:00,180 --> 00:20:03,680 have turned the corner and finally have this city heading in the right direction. 231 00:20:12,540 --> 00:20:17,400 By working together, we have reversed this past habit of hiring outside consultants, stopped 232 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:22,500 the natural reflex of the previous administration to commission study after study on virtually 233 00:20:22,500 --> 00:20:23,620 every issue they faced. 234 00:20:23,620 --> 00:20:30,640 We have introduced a degree of reasonableness to disputes anyone may have with the city and thereby avoiding lawsuits. 235 00:20:31,620 --> 00:20:36,380 I am proud that under this administration not a single lawsuit has been filed against the mayor or council, 236 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:42,400 and further that this administration has not conducted a single study, 237 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:49,140 hired a single outside consultant, or retained a single outside legal counsel during my administration. 238 00:20:56,840 --> 00:21:01,760 Significantly, this reverse is a past practice where over $4 million was spent on those expenditures 239 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:03,340 during the previous six years. 240 00:21:04,180 --> 00:21:07,060 I and the council should be very proud of this accomplishment. 241 00:21:08,060 --> 00:21:14,240 While no mayor should be happy with any deficit, we are happy that we have changed the direction 242 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:17,840 the city was heading into and have cut that deficit by 50%. 243 00:21:18,780 --> 00:21:22,940 I want to thank my council for their hard work in achieving this result. 244 00:21:22,940 --> 00:21:23,800 For 245 00:21:30,580 --> 00:21:34,800 those who wonder how we possibly could have run up such deficits and survived, the 246 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:41,220 most glaring source of survival was the systemic abuse of a healthy fund balance. 247 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:47,560 The six-year wave of red ink was wiped out a healthy unrestricted fund balance in 2007 248 00:21:47,960 --> 00:21:56,320 of approximately $11.6 million and left that fund balance at $7,500 at the end of that 249 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:57,760 six-year disastrous period. 250 00:22:00,830 --> 00:22:06,750 As you can see, we have closed the books on 2014 with a dramatic increase in our unrestricted 251 00:22:06,750 --> 00:22:11,950 fund balance, but a city or a size to be financially healthy should maintain an unrestricted fund 252 00:22:11,950 --> 00:22:14,850 balance of somewhere between $6 and $8 million. 253 00:22:15,730 --> 00:22:21,830 While we have a long way to go, by looking at where we have come from in 2013, there 254 00:22:21,830 --> 00:22:25,630 can be no doubt that we have turned the corner and have the city heading in the 255 00:22:25,630 --> 00:22:27,810 right direction for the first time in seven years. 256 00:22:27,810 --> 00:22:34,010 I ask you to join me in acknowledging my counsel for their support and hard work because without 257 00:22:34,010 --> 00:22:35,690 them this result would not have been possible. 258 00:22:43,640 --> 00:22:47,400 The second step to restoring the emergency room patient's health would be to restore 259 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:47,780 breathing. 260 00:22:48,100 --> 00:22:52,700 In our case, we do that by reversing the six-year trend of decreasing total assessed 261 00:22:52,700 --> 00:22:54,860 valuation of our city's property. 262 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:59,800 In order to have healthy growth, any city must have a three to five percent increase 263 00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:01,340 in assessed values every year. 264 00:23:01,340 --> 00:23:05,580 This graph shows the exact opposite over the previous six years. 265 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:13,120 Here you can clearly see our total assessed valuation decreased every single year leading up to 2014 266 00:23:13,120 --> 00:23:19,520 with an overall decrease of over 7% or an average decrease of 1.2% per year. 267 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:22,920 This is a sign of a city in bad financial health. 268 00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:28,180 By the steps we have taken, as you can see, we have turned the direction of the city 269 00:23:28,180 --> 00:23:34,220 by stopping the slide and cutting the rate of declining assessments by 50 percent as the 270 00:23:34,220 --> 00:23:37,640 decrease in 2014 was only one half of one percent. 271 00:23:38,220 --> 00:23:41,460 I'm very proud of this result and I congratulate the council for that. 272 00:23:50,010 --> 00:23:54,910 I believe that we can reverse this trend and increase our assessed valuation and we can 273 00:23:54,910 --> 00:23:57,210 do that only with the help of this entire council. 274 00:23:58,050 --> 00:24:02,890 Quite frankly, I do not believe it's going to be very hard to do, especially with 275 00:24:02,890 --> 00:24:07,650 some of the most talented, forward-thinking, creative, award-winning and talented private 276 00:24:07,650 --> 00:24:10,490 investors and developers in this very room tonight. 277 00:24:12,030 --> 00:24:17,630 We have been successful with changing little things in Peekskill that have had a huge impact 278 00:24:17,630 --> 00:24:20,570 and we have done those things that little or no cost to the city. 279 00:24:21,290 --> 00:24:25,630 We have invigorated the city with a feeling that anything is possible and despite our 280 00:24:25,630 --> 00:24:29,090 finances Peekskill is still a great place to live, work and invest. 281 00:24:29,810 --> 00:24:33,950 How great was it to see 5,000 people on the street in 15-degree weather? 282 00:24:34,770 --> 00:24:38,770 No longer will people have to travel to New York City or White Plains to ring in the New Year 283 00:24:38,770 --> 00:24:41,970 with a ball drop, fine dining or excellent entertainment. 284 00:24:43,030 --> 00:24:45,270 We close Division Street every weekend. 285 00:24:46,770 --> 00:24:50,890 And this has resulted in restaurants seeing an increase of 20-25% in their business. 286 00:24:51,370 --> 00:24:55,650 How great is it to see formerly vacant streets open and full of diners on a Sunday evening? 287 00:25:04,000 --> 00:25:09,900 2015 is the city's 75th anniversary as a city, and that committee has been very busy for over a year now, 288 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:14,180 planning events including a large fair this summer and a formal gala this fall. 289 00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:18,720 They have minted their own coin that's for sale along with shirts, sweatshirts and a journal. 290 00:25:19,340 --> 00:25:23,720 I want to thank Jenny Cummings and her entire team for all the work that they've put into this effort. 291 00:25:31,210 --> 00:25:37,370 When I took office, the city of Peakskill had the dubious distinction of being the only city in the state of New York 292 00:25:37,370 --> 00:25:42,390 that was not open during normal business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. I want to 293 00:25:42,390 --> 00:25:45,870 thank the council for joining me and correcting this monumental mistake of 294 00:25:45,870 --> 00:25:51,230 the past. In the 2014 budget we inherited the budgetary mistakes of the 295 00:25:51,230 --> 00:25:54,830 past were going to be paid on the backs of our most at-risk youth with 296 00:25:54,830 --> 00:25:58,850 nickel and dime fees. I want to thank the council for agreeing with me that 297 00:25:58,850 --> 00:26:05,210 this proposal was wrong and that it would not stand. When I took office our 298 00:26:05,210 --> 00:26:11,230 treasured Depew Park was near shambles. Broken roads were ordered closed. Instead, my administration 299 00:26:11,230 --> 00:26:17,170 ordered them repaired and open. Our tennis courts had fallen into disrepair, and citizen 300 00:26:17,170 --> 00:26:21,930 cries for their restoration were ignored for years. That changed four months into this 301 00:26:21,930 --> 00:26:27,570 administration. Our drop off for citizens at the DPW garage was only opened every 302 00:26:27,570 --> 00:26:32,630 other weekend causing long delays and unsafe traffic conditions. I promised to open the 303 00:26:32,630 --> 00:26:37,730 off every Saturday and to abolish the fees. Thankfully the council agreed to at least 304 00:26:37,730 --> 00:26:42,370 open the garage every weekend, but I will not rest until this unfair and short-sighted nickel 305 00:26:42,370 --> 00:26:47,550 and diming of our taxpayers with these fees is abolished. I again call upon the council to 306 00:26:47,550 --> 00:26:49,430 immediately abolish these fees. 307 00:26:57,160 --> 00:26:59,620 Another little thing that we did that has had great results 308 00:26:59,620 --> 00:27:04,260 is the opening of Bank Street to two-way traffic, the way it always was and the way 309 00:27:04,260 --> 00:27:05,280 it was intended to be. 310 00:27:06,440 --> 00:27:11,560 Besides these little things and more significantly, we have moved long languishing public works 311 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:12,700 projects to completion. 312 00:27:14,140 --> 00:27:18,380 At Peaksville Landing, we were able to complete the long-delayed project in less than a year. 313 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:24,000 Significantly and unknown to the public was that I refused to sign a previous agreement 314 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:28,520 which would have forever given Senate cuts in 50% of all park-generated revenues 315 00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:32,600 and also give them veto power over anything the city might want to do in the future 316 00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:38,380 without their prior consent. I want to thank the council for supporting my 317 00:27:38,380 --> 00:27:42,280 objection to these conditions. While we thank Senate Cutson for their assistance 318 00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:46,560 in obtaining the park, we stood together in the principle that we would never 319 00:27:46,560 --> 00:27:50,520 turn over revenue or control of any city-owned park to any outside group. 320 00:27:57,380 --> 00:28:01,720 We have commenced the final stages of the development of the riverfront with 321 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:06,780 the walkway, which as you can see here will be a magnificent edifice 322 00:28:06,780 --> 00:28:07,620 just when it's completed. 323 00:28:08,420 --> 00:28:10,440 And I'm told that it will be completed within one year. 324 00:28:12,890 --> 00:28:15,590 The Lincoln Depot, for reasons I cannot explain 325 00:28:15,590 --> 00:28:17,550 other than personalities at best 326 00:28:17,870 --> 00:28:19,510 or politics at its very worst, 327 00:28:20,070 --> 00:28:22,330 this is the condition the Lincoln Depot project sat 328 00:28:22,330 --> 00:28:23,370 for six long years. 329 00:28:24,110 --> 00:28:26,430 Upon taking office, I gave resolution 330 00:28:26,430 --> 00:28:28,870 of these petty differences top priority 331 00:28:29,350 --> 00:28:31,910 and over a few coffees with the consent of this council, 332 00:28:32,350 --> 00:28:33,470 the best interests of the city 333 00:28:33,470 --> 00:28:35,530 were put before personality and politics. 334 00:28:35,530 --> 00:28:44,910 As you can see the grounds have been cleared and being prepared for the construction of the visitor center, which will finally be built this year. 335 00:28:45,690 --> 00:28:56,690 I want to thank former Mayor John Testa, former city manager Patrick Garvey, Bob Hales and the entire Lincoln Board Foundation for their hard work in seeing this project through despite these unnecessary delays. 336 00:28:56,990 --> 00:28:58,510 And I believe Pat Garvey is here tonight. 337 00:28:59,310 --> 00:29:00,890 Pat, thank you. 338 00:29:08,010 --> 00:29:10,450 This is the location of the new central firehouse. 339 00:29:10,450 --> 00:29:18,130 When we took office, this plan was to build almost everything but a firehouse. 340 00:29:18,570 --> 00:29:23,090 It included a museum, a 300-person meeting room, a regional training facility, 341 00:29:23,670 --> 00:29:27,110 and unfortunately a $20 million price tag that this city could ill afford, 342 00:29:27,590 --> 00:29:31,410 not to mention the removal of an entire shopping center from the tax rolls forever. 343 00:29:32,310 --> 00:29:36,230 Together, this council came together to approve an actual firehouse 344 00:29:36,230 --> 00:29:40,630 that met the needs of the fire department and the ability of our taxpayers to pay for it. 345 00:29:41,310 --> 00:29:44,750 By cutting the size by one-third, we cut the cost by 40%. 346 00:29:44,750 --> 00:29:48,410 I'm very proud of this, and the members of this council should be too. 347 00:29:55,370 --> 00:29:59,630 The city owns property on Corporate Park Drive that kind of looks like this right now. 348 00:30:00,080 --> 00:30:06,600 We are actively discussing developmental plans that may take that property and make it look like this. 349 00:30:07,500 --> 00:30:13,240 This project, if approved, will bring an employer of 20 to 25 full-time jobs to Peekskill 350 00:30:13,240 --> 00:30:18,100 and five to 600 visitors per week who are members of traveling softball teams, 351 00:30:18,620 --> 00:30:23,300 not to mention the return of this seven acres back to the tax rolls where it belongs. 352 00:30:30,620 --> 00:30:34,400 While these public projects have changed the face and perception of Peekskill, 353 00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:40,600 It is the private sector that is the true barometer of the financial health of any city, not public projects. 354 00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:46,160 Based upon the number of new businesses that have opened here, our future looks brighter than ever before. 355 00:30:46,940 --> 00:30:51,380 When I ran for office, Restaurant Row was touted as the destination place of Northern Westchester. 356 00:30:52,100 --> 00:30:58,620 While we did have a vibrant array of restaurants, I pointed out that our best block had a vacancy rate of over 20%. 357 00:30:59,380 --> 00:31:05,700 Together we advanced the plan to increase development of long-neglected areas of Main Street where vacancy rates were much higher. 358 00:31:06,500 --> 00:31:11,780 Well today the vacancy rate on our best block, Restaurant Row, is 0%. 359 00:31:11,780 --> 00:31:12,740 Due 360 00:31:18,370 --> 00:31:21,790 to businesses like MaxTax and the Guitar Shop. 361 00:31:22,790 --> 00:31:27,850 But even more dramatic is the development of long-neglected Main Street where new and exciting businesses have opened 362 00:31:27,850 --> 00:31:32,930 and they include places like my favorite lunch spot, the Gourmet Deli. 363 00:31:34,590 --> 00:31:36,530 McSpecter State Farm Insurance Agency, 364 00:31:37,410 --> 00:31:40,730 Sufley Clothing, and Tiffany's Cafe, 365 00:31:41,070 --> 00:31:43,790 owned and operated by Tiffany Montoya, who I believe is here tonight. 366 00:31:44,290 --> 00:31:46,690 Tiffany, raise your hand. 367 00:31:52,530 --> 00:31:55,110 Tiffany Montoya sets an example for all single mothers 368 00:31:55,110 --> 00:31:55,570 everywhere 369 00:31:55,570 --> 00:31:59,190 that you can go out and create a business and operate that business 370 00:31:59,710 --> 00:32:03,670 profitably right here in the city of Peakskill. Berkshire Hathaway Real 371 00:32:03,670 --> 00:32:06,070 Estate, Joe and Cynthia Lopoulos, I believe are here tonight. 372 00:32:06,070 --> 00:32:12,010 They rededicated their efforts to redo their business and have now opened under the Berkshire Hathaway name. 373 00:32:13,170 --> 00:32:19,050 Save More Auto Parts is currently under construction at the site of the former YMCA building that burnt down a few years ago. 374 00:32:19,390 --> 00:32:24,930 Finally, that site in our downtown, central downtown district, will return to the tax rolls. 375 00:32:25,290 --> 00:32:26,490 And I'm very happy about that. 376 00:32:27,630 --> 00:32:34,130 The Iron Vine Restaurant is a new and exciting restaurant on Main Street that in three short months is the talk of Westchester County. 377 00:32:34,130 --> 00:32:37,110 having been featured in two county-wide magazines already. 378 00:32:37,930 --> 00:32:44,990 I want to acknowledge Gabe Barrango Sr. and his son, Gabe, for their blood, sweat and tears, their faith and investment in Peekskill. 379 00:32:46,850 --> 00:32:47,370 Gabe, 380 00:32:53,580 --> 00:33:01,120 residents should know that this private investment in Peekskill has resulted in properties selling for over $1 million for the first time in our city's history. 381 00:33:01,700 --> 00:33:06,400 In fact, in 2014, three properties sold for more than $1 million each. 382 00:33:07,060 --> 00:33:12,460 The result has been highly acclaimed dining and cutting edge nightlife in Peekskill. 383 00:33:12,840 --> 00:33:16,860 One person who has been a longtime resident of Garrison and owner of the Hot Rod Hotel 384 00:33:16,860 --> 00:33:20,500 and three New York City restaurants who decided to shed those restaurants 385 00:33:20,500 --> 00:33:22,900 and establish new ones here in Peekskill. 386 00:33:23,360 --> 00:33:27,060 The Hudson Room has changed everything about Peekskill's food and live entertainment offerings. 387 00:33:27,740 --> 00:33:32,200 The Hudson Room opened only nine months ago and is already a five star New York Times rated restaurant. 388 00:33:32,760 --> 00:33:34,560 I want to acknowledge Lou Lanza here tonight. 389 00:33:34,560 --> 00:33:35,520 My 390 00:33:45,860 --> 00:33:50,300 friends, the downtown business district is on the move, but for too many years we have been stagnant. 391 00:33:50,860 --> 00:33:57,000 Yet despite those dark years, there was a steadfast group of private investors that I would like to recognize here tonight. 392 00:33:57,840 --> 00:34:05,380 These people came to Peekskill, saw our rich potential and invested sometimes their entire life savings in our downtown business district. 393 00:34:05,960 --> 00:34:11,020 They formed a solid foundation upon which we are seeing this rebuilding happening now. 394 00:34:12,040 --> 00:34:15,060 First, the number one employer in the city of Peekskill, 395 00:34:16,340 --> 00:34:18,220 White Plains Linnan and Bruce Botchman. 396 00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:27,960 Yesterday, White Plains Linnan employed 600 people. 397 00:34:28,160 --> 00:34:29,080 Today, 675. 398 00:34:29,640 --> 00:34:31,140 Tomorrow, how many, Bruce? 399 00:34:31,400 --> 00:34:31,600 Tomorrow. 400 00:34:35,530 --> 00:34:38,890 I'm going to list a couple of people here who really have made an impact on Peekskill 401 00:34:38,890 --> 00:34:40,650 when nobody else was investing in Peekskill. 402 00:34:41,130 --> 00:34:42,950 Sonny Kovr, the Peekskill coffee house. 403 00:34:49,510 --> 00:34:51,690 Arone Drew Claxton and Ted Bitter, the bean runner. 404 00:34:51,690 --> 00:34:52,630 John 405 00:34:56,120 --> 00:34:58,660 Sharp, The Birdsall House, and Gleason's. 406 00:35:02,430 --> 00:35:04,350 Maybe I just run down the list and give him 407 00:35:04,350 --> 00:35:09,550 a big thunderous applause at the end. Arnie Pagley, Division Street Grill, Rich and Jean 408 00:35:09,550 --> 00:35:14,530 Credito, 12 grapes, long recognized by Westchester Magazine of one of Westchester's best. Chuck 409 00:35:14,530 --> 00:35:19,370 McGreel, Quiet Man Pub. I first met Chuck when he was working by himself laying down 410 00:35:19,370 --> 00:35:24,790 every tile on his floor that one summer. Remember that, Chuck? Bruce Prehault, 411 00:35:24,790 --> 00:35:29,250 The Piksgill Inn, the Babalia family who renovated the Riley building and other buildings in town. 412 00:35:29,650 --> 00:35:35,570 Marlene Ball, Escort Realty, Marlene Productions, our very own Vivian Mackenzie, the Kathleen's Tea Room, 413 00:35:36,110 --> 00:35:37,950 Kaden Loudon, Asmuth Communications, 414 00:35:40,510 --> 00:35:42,750 Ros Sankin, her family, Homestyle Desserts, 415 00:35:43,110 --> 00:35:46,150 and they renovated the Piksgill Brewery building and many, many others. 416 00:35:46,410 --> 00:35:47,790 Let's give them all a round of applause. 417 00:35:58,810 --> 00:36:00,290 I think Rose is retired now. 418 00:36:00,890 --> 00:36:05,050 Now that she made all of us gain 10 or 15 pounds, she retires. 419 00:36:06,850 --> 00:36:10,690 To all of you though, I want to thank you for investing in Peekskill when no one else did. 420 00:36:11,190 --> 00:36:16,510 And I want you to know that without your foresight, Peekskill may not be seeing the influx of new business 421 00:36:16,510 --> 00:36:18,650 and development that we are seeing now. 422 00:36:19,170 --> 00:36:21,870 And even the Wall Street Journal in New York Times is recognizing. 423 00:36:23,570 --> 00:36:26,970 I have in the past criticized the lack of new construction in our city. 424 00:36:26,970 --> 00:36:32,970 While we welcome the renovation and repurposing of existing buildings, it is new construction 425 00:36:32,970 --> 00:36:38,050 by private investors that will add to our tax base and increase our total assessed valuation. 426 00:36:39,670 --> 00:36:44,810 In a city that saw the construction of one single new building, a Walgreens drug store 427 00:36:44,810 --> 00:36:49,750 in the entire six years of the previous administration, I am pleased to recognize the following 428 00:36:49,750 --> 00:36:55,530 new projects that are not cartoons or pipe dreams but are here now on the table 429 00:36:55,530 --> 00:37:01,490 ready to be built. First, West Ledge Nursing Home just completed a major renovation where 430 00:37:01,490 --> 00:37:05,750 they almost doubled their size to improve care to their patients and added 30 new permanent 431 00:37:05,750 --> 00:37:13,030 jobs. Securture Windows, a nationally recognized manufacturer of replacement windows. Securture 432 00:37:13,030 --> 00:37:18,410 Windows was on the verge of leaving Peaksville due to the inability to expand. We inherited 433 00:37:18,410 --> 00:37:23,250 a legal mess that we tried to expedite that we did expedite and resolved and 434 00:37:23,250 --> 00:37:30,790 And now that process will allow secretures to expand to this beautiful building and stay 435 00:37:30,790 --> 00:37:31,370 in Peekskill. 436 00:37:31,810 --> 00:37:33,650 He will create 10 to 15 new jobs. 437 00:37:34,150 --> 00:37:37,870 I want to thank John Secreture and his family for hanging in there while we cleaned up 438 00:37:37,870 --> 00:37:40,230 that mess and allowed this project to go forward. 439 00:37:48,840 --> 00:37:54,120 Hudson River Health Care Center, Peekskill's number one primary healthcare facility for 440 00:37:54,120 --> 00:37:54,660 our citizens. 441 00:37:55,120 --> 00:37:59,480 They have undergone growth over the years, but right now with the acquisition of the 442 00:37:59,480 --> 00:38:03,760 hardware store side of their building and this new construction they will more 443 00:38:03,760 --> 00:38:09,020 than double in size to better serve our community. The story of its origins are 444 00:38:09,020 --> 00:38:12,400 legendary around here but I would like to recognize the Reverend Jeanette Phillips 445 00:38:12,400 --> 00:38:14,820 for her outstanding contributions to this community. 446 00:38:23,140 --> 00:38:24,160 Thank you Reverend Phillips. 447 00:38:28,110 --> 00:38:30,030 Finally somebody's had blessed me in this room. 448 00:38:35,380 --> 00:38:36,680 This is the lot across the 449 00:38:36,680 --> 00:38:41,540 street from Zepp's restaurant on Central Avenue. Herman Peritski has been 450 00:38:41,540 --> 00:38:45,080 trying to get approvals for a project there for 10 long years. 451 00:38:46,480 --> 00:38:49,200 I'm so happy tonight that this project has been approved 452 00:38:49,580 --> 00:38:52,000 and that ground will be broken soon on this luxury apartment 453 00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:53,280 building in the next few months. 454 00:38:53,880 --> 00:38:55,640 Herman Puritsky, welcome back to Picsco. 455 00:39:03,240 --> 00:39:04,580 The Ginsburg Development Corporation 456 00:39:04,580 --> 00:39:07,760 owns property up on the hill by Dr. McGurdy's house, 457 00:39:08,180 --> 00:39:10,400 where the abbey is located. 458 00:39:11,260 --> 00:39:13,100 The abbey project is another project 459 00:39:13,100 --> 00:39:15,900 that was, for various reasons, including politics, 460 00:39:15,900 --> 00:39:19,440 delayed, which only harm the taxpayers of the city. 461 00:39:20,380 --> 00:39:27,620 For the Abbey, Mr. Ginsburg has proposed a world-class inn and spa together with three mid-rise luxury apartment buildings. 462 00:39:28,300 --> 00:39:35,580 The convent will be the inn, the church will be the spa, and remarkably, only four of the approximately 70 acres will be disturbed. 463 00:39:36,460 --> 00:39:43,040 Mr. Ginsburg will build a professionally designed series of walking trails and an observation tower on the remainder of the property 464 00:39:43,040 --> 00:39:48,760 and then donate that 55 acres back to the city of Peakskill, finally making Ford Hill Park 465 00:39:48,760 --> 00:39:51,780 an active park for all of us to actually use and enjoy. 466 00:39:59,010 --> 00:40:05,010 I call upon this common council and city agencies to act without delay in approving this concept. 467 00:40:05,470 --> 00:40:10,370 This property has been in its present state for over 50 years and is long overdue to be developed 468 00:40:10,370 --> 00:40:15,290 into something beautiful and great and returned to the tax rolls at full value where it belongs. 469 00:40:15,290 --> 00:40:21,270 As part of that project, the Ginsburg Development Corporation is going to be obligated to build 470 00:40:21,270 --> 00:40:25,570 22 affordable townhouses on Main Street directly across the street from Bowman Towers. 471 00:40:26,290 --> 00:40:30,710 This will revitalize that entire area with home owners, not home renters. 472 00:40:33,420 --> 00:40:37,360 I first met Steve Valliotis in 2013 when I was running for office. 473 00:40:37,980 --> 00:40:41,320 He showed me this lot and an office building that he owned 474 00:40:41,320 --> 00:40:44,560 and his desire to build a luxury apartment building on that site. 475 00:40:44,560 --> 00:40:51,120 He also told me of the problems that he was facing with the city, which prevented him from formally proposing that project. 476 00:40:53,210 --> 00:41:00,950 This project, now approved, will breathe new life into the entire area and expand our downtown business district up Park Street. 477 00:41:01,310 --> 00:41:08,810 It will force the renovation of the long neglected Crossroad shopping center that now has been saved by the reduced size of the firehouse. 478 00:41:09,390 --> 00:41:11,350 You see, all of these projects are interrelated. 479 00:41:11,350 --> 00:41:17,090 I want to thank the Council for making the necessary zoning changes that will allow this project to go forward. 480 00:41:25,670 --> 00:41:31,490 Ken Carney and his company have proposed a project on Main Street that stretches back to Diven Street on this particular lot 481 00:41:31,490 --> 00:41:33,890 that has sat like that for at least 12 years. 482 00:41:34,870 --> 00:41:37,470 The Carney project is magnificent. 483 00:41:39,390 --> 00:41:44,650 This project is exciting because it will greatly expand both our tax base and provide additional artist loss 484 00:41:44,650 --> 00:41:47,890 that will nearly double the number of existing loss in the city. 485 00:41:47,890 --> 00:41:53,390 Mr. Carney could not be here tonight, but I want to thank him for his investment and faith in the city. 486 00:41:53,970 --> 00:41:57,830 And that's what it looks like from Diven Street, because it's going to stretch the whole length of the block. 487 00:42:00,920 --> 00:42:01,780 Chateau Reeve. 488 00:42:02,280 --> 00:42:06,360 Bruce and Barry Akron Gold are the owners of Chateau Reeve, the former St. Mary School. 489 00:42:07,000 --> 00:42:15,540 This building is only about 50% renovated and occupied due to several issues, namely access roads and lack of adequate water and sewer. 490 00:42:16,360 --> 00:42:29,440 Upon learning of Mr. Ginsburg's plans for the Abbey, they came forward with a plan for a complete renovation of this existing historic structure, including new roads, water and sewer service, as well as the construction of new buildings on that site. 491 00:42:30,160 --> 00:42:32,360 You see, these projects really all are interrelated. 492 00:42:33,160 --> 00:42:39,000 This could be a $20 to $30 million project, simply awaiting a green light upon the approval of the Abbey project. 493 00:42:39,000 --> 00:42:44,860 Again, I call upon the council to act without delay, and on behalf of the entire city, we 494 00:42:44,860 --> 00:42:47,120 want to welcome the Akron Gold family back to Peekskill. 495 00:42:54,060 --> 00:42:57,620 My friends, these projects will not only stimulate property values throughout the city, 496 00:42:57,960 --> 00:43:01,980 but will increase our total assessed value and reverse the seven-year trends of shrinking 497 00:43:01,980 --> 00:43:02,920 property values. 498 00:43:03,860 --> 00:43:09,080 These projects will create hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs not only during construction, 499 00:43:09,080 --> 00:43:14,040 construction, but after construction is complete, ongoing well-paying jobs that will remain in 500 00:43:14,040 --> 00:43:14,480 Peekskill. 501 00:43:15,140 --> 00:43:20,740 I call upon this council to welcome these and other development projects to Peekskill and 502 00:43:20,740 --> 00:43:24,420 to streamline the process to make these projects get online as quickly as possible 503 00:43:24,420 --> 00:43:29,440 as our taxpayers are literally dying for the long-awaited relief that is at hand 504 00:43:29,440 --> 00:43:30,560 and in this room tonight. 505 00:43:31,880 --> 00:43:33,920 I have a vision for the future of this city. 506 00:43:34,300 --> 00:43:36,080 As you can see, these are exciting times. 507 00:43:36,080 --> 00:43:41,700 The city of Peakskill. Long, dark financial clouds are showing signs of lifting, but 508 00:43:41,700 --> 00:43:45,140 I want to assure the citizens that we will move forward in a smart way that preserves 509 00:43:45,140 --> 00:43:50,640 our small-town charm. In the 1980s and 90s, Peakskill was through going through similar 510 00:43:50,640 --> 00:43:55,620 economic problems, although not as severe as today's. In response, the city threw 511 00:43:55,620 --> 00:43:59,580 open the doors for developers to write their own ticket on any project they wanted to 512 00:43:59,580 --> 00:44:04,200 build regardless of how each development fit into the Peakskill Mosaic. But times 513 00:44:04,200 --> 00:44:08,620 are changed and all private developers should know that Peekskill's welcoming door is not 514 00:44:08,620 --> 00:44:13,560 an open door. For generations, people have boothed here because Peekskill, because of 515 00:44:13,560 --> 00:44:18,920 its small-town charm and close-knit tapestry. We are a vibrant artist community and I would 516 00:44:18,920 --> 00:44:23,000 be negligent in not recognizing the strength of that community and transforming Peekskill 517 00:44:23,000 --> 00:44:28,020 into a city with an identity, kind of a rudder on a mighty ship. I would like 518 00:44:28,020 --> 00:44:30,980 to recognize all of the artists here, but that would be impossible, but I will 519 00:44:30,980 --> 00:44:35,980 give public recognition to Maureen Wenzig, president of the Peaksville Arts Alliance, the governing 520 00:44:35,980 --> 00:44:41,180 body that acts like a glue that holds that community together. Maureen, thank you for 521 00:44:41,180 --> 00:44:47,140 all that you do and the entire artist community. On behalf of the entire city, we want to acknowledge 522 00:44:47,140 --> 00:44:47,480 it. 523 00:44:54,650 --> 00:44:57,990 As you can see, we are a vibrant city and we're on the move. In order to bring 524 00:44:57,990 --> 00:44:59,890 in smart development, we desperately need 525 00:45:00,340 --> 00:45:03,700 We will do so in a manner that preserves the character and charm of our city. 526 00:45:04,280 --> 00:45:09,640 Therefore, I am calling upon the common council to pass and approve two major initiatives I am unveiling tonight. 527 00:45:10,140 --> 00:45:18,560 First, to pass a strong unbendable legislation that restricts building height in the downtown business district to four stories. 528 00:45:19,220 --> 00:45:22,920 We will permit taller buildings outside of the immediate downtown business district, 529 00:45:23,260 --> 00:45:26,600 but no one wants to turn Peekskill into another newer shell or white plains. 530 00:45:27,540 --> 00:45:32,120 Second, I asked the council to join me in changing the face of our downtown business 531 00:45:32,120 --> 00:45:36,020 district by opening McGregor Brook from Broad Street to the Hudson River. 532 00:45:37,580 --> 00:45:42,620 The opening of Brooks and Rivers and Streams, even in closed rivers, has been successfully 533 00:45:42,620 --> 00:45:47,300 done in cities across this country, most notably in San Antonio, Texas, where the 534 00:45:47,300 --> 00:45:51,160 San Antonio River walk was created and is now an example of being followed everywhere 535 00:45:51,160 --> 00:45:52,100 across this country. 536 00:45:52,760 --> 00:45:57,280 The city of Yonkers in the past few years has successfully opened one of the most neglected 537 00:45:57,280 --> 00:46:01,280 areas of that city to new life by creating its own river walk. 538 00:46:01,860 --> 00:46:06,040 Just last week Mayor Michael Spano unveiled a plan to open the enclosed portions of the 539 00:46:06,040 --> 00:46:08,040 Sawmill River to spur development. 540 00:46:09,100 --> 00:46:12,580 My friends, if Yonkers can do it, Peakskill can do it. 541 00:46:19,220 --> 00:46:22,800 Just imagine the new life such an opening would bring to Park Street and Central 542 00:46:22,800 --> 00:46:25,560 Avenue as McGregor Brook is open and flowing freely. 543 00:46:25,560 --> 00:46:30,000 A river walk in Peekskill will stimulate the development of the entire central corridor 544 00:46:30,000 --> 00:46:34,400 unlike anything that has ever been proposed and will bring about the long talked about 545 00:46:34,400 --> 00:46:37,680 connection between the downtown business district and the riverfront. 546 00:46:38,160 --> 00:46:42,380 I urge the council to join me on these two initiatives that will ensure that Peekskill 547 00:46:42,380 --> 00:46:44,220 forever remains the jewel of the Hudson River. 548 00:46:45,040 --> 00:46:49,760 My friends, while we have serious financial issues at hand, I believe with all my 549 00:46:49,760 --> 00:46:53,600 heart that despite these issues, the state of our city is good in getting better 550 00:46:53,600 --> 00:46:54,180 every month. 551 00:46:54,180 --> 00:46:59,080 The darkness of the past is lifting, and there's a new spirit of optimism sweeping our city, 552 00:46:59,460 --> 00:47:02,120 acknowledging that smart intelligent growth is good for our city. 553 00:47:03,440 --> 00:47:08,620 With a welcoming administration, these projects show the clear pathway out of this malaise, 554 00:47:08,980 --> 00:47:13,940 a clear path to restoring our finances, a clear path to increase and restoring our bond rating, 555 00:47:14,220 --> 00:47:16,840 and a clear path to rebuilding our great city. 556 00:47:17,460 --> 00:47:23,180 My friends, it's Dawn and Peakskill and only together can we have a generational impact 557 00:47:23,680 --> 00:47:25,120 like none ever before seen. 558 00:47:25,960 --> 00:47:28,640 And believe me, by working together we can achieve these goals. 559 00:47:29,640 --> 00:47:30,880 I want to thank you all for attending. 560 00:47:31,360 --> 00:47:33,600 May God bless you all and may God bless the City of Peakskill. 561 00:47:59,260 --> 00:48:02,460 We're going to take a 15 minute break before we start our regular meeting.