Peekskill Mayor Touts State of the City in Address
Great things are happening in the City of Peekskill, and more is on the horizon.
That was the message delivered by Mayor Mary Foster in her 2013 State of the City Address last week.
“Thanks to a thousand people too numerous to list we have created a sense of community that is second to none,” Foster said at City Hall. “Working together we look out for each other, we create a safe community and we make sure everyone is included in our success. Working together we have created a healthy city, beyond that which can be described in a State of the City report.”
“The true state of the city is the environment that you create; one that attracts newcomers to live and work here and retains our longtime families and businesses; one that encourages our young people to learn and start careers but to return to their roots; one that fosters a sense and duty to ‘give back,’” Foster remarked. “Working together we have made great things happen in Peekskill.”
Foster, who was first elected mayor in 2007, maintained Peekskill was a “hot” city for economic growth.
“Our safe urban vibe continues to attract new and unique businesses; some in the arts, some in technology, some in sound production and engineering, and some in retail,” Foster said. “Starting next month, you can get inked by Rihanna’s tattoo artist and raise four chickens in a coop friendly environment. Starting next month you can visit the Yellow Brick Road Café while you gaze out at the permanent installation of The Diver on the riverfront.”
The continuing development of the waterfront will be “crucial” to Peekskill’s long-term success, according to Foster.
“Connecting a welcoming waterfront to nearby restaurants and shops, hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts and our downtown is part of a focused strategy that we build upon each year,” she said. “The Holiday Inn Express, the newly renovated Inn on the Hudson, the new zoning allowing bed and breakfasts are accomplishments in 2012.”
In 2013, Foster listed several planned developments, including reopening of the Paramount Center for the Arts, groundbreaking for the Central Firehouse, Scenic Hudson Park at Peekskill Landing and southern riverfront park improvements, engaging a developer for Lower South Street and improved, dedicated parking for library patrons in the parking lot next to City Hall.
Despite the city’s well publicized budget constraints that resulted in several employee layoffs, Foster declared Peekskill as being “fiscally sound.”
“Based on smart financial planning we are maintaining a prudent fund balance while also continuing to invest in Peekskill’s future,” she said. “And this is contributing to great confidence in our city and our future. There is greater investment. And, this will mean more business, more jobs, and more opportunity for all of Peekskill’s residents.”
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/
