Dutrchess
County Legislator Barbara Jeter-Jackson at
Mallory’s side for his announcement
POUGHKEEPSIE — City of Poughkeepsie Councilman Robert Mallory Jr. Saturday
launched his campaign for mayor.
He made the announcement before a crowd of supporters at the River Station
Restaurant.
“We have a wealth of opportunities here in Poughkeepsie and we need
to take advantage of them and that’s why I am running for mayor
of the City of Poughkeepsie”, said Mallory.
The former council chairman shared his vision for the city and his agenda
if he is elected mayor. He said he believes the key to utilizing the city’s
opportunities and mitigating its problems starts with community action.
“As your elected mayor, I will increase and enhance community engagement
because getting the community involved is the only way that we solve and
address our problems,” said Mallory. “Our problems, in itself,
meaning our youth, employment, crime, all of those things in itself are
related to community engagement.”
He says he will create a job readiness program for youths that will include
rehabbing buildings in blighted neighborhoods while, at the same time,
provide job experience to the participants. In addition, he said he would
create a task force made up of surrounding communities and organizations
to promote, as well as keep, businesses from leaving Poughkeepsie and
he said he would work on obtaining a façade grant for Market and
Main streets to help boost eco-development.
Currently, on the city council, Mallory is working on an issue he hopes
will be brought to public participation in the next two months. “One
of the things that I am part of, that I’m hoping that initiative
will go through, is our bus routes, to make them more efficient. I sit
on the City of Poughkeepsie Bus Service Committee and we’re looking
to consolidate our bus routes to make them more efficient and that should
help out with employment, those attending colleges and things of that
sort.”
At this point, Mallory, a Democrat, has one opponent in an expected September
primary, Poughkeepsie School Board member Randall Johnson.
While no Republicans have announced, Dutchess County Legislature Chairman
Robert Rolison is exploring a run for the city’s top spot.
