POUGHKEEPSIE – The Democrat majority on the Poughkeepsie Common Council, headed by the new Chairman Christopher Petsas, is moving the city forward, but he said much more needs to be accomplished.
In the annual address of the chairman, Petsas said the council is committed to a cleaner, safer, more vibrant city. He talked of advances in economic development, but called on the Republican mayor to fill the position of economic development director, a post that has been vacant for years.
Petsas said the council is committed to keeping Poughkeepsie’s
bus system operated by the city, preserving historic sites, providing
more youth activities, converting Market Street fully to a two-way thoroughfare
and enhancing public safety through community policing.
“The turnaround of this city will take much time and indeed much patience, and from my own personal experience as a life-long residence of this city, I know that patients is running thin in some corners of the city,” the chairman said.
Democrat Petsas called for Republican Mayor John Tkazyik to fill budgeted public safety positions that remain unfilled and implement an ordinance requiring banks to post bonds to ensure that vacant buildings are maintained.
Poughkeepsie still has critical issues that must be resolved including
the heroin epidemic, crime and attracting new jobs and businesses to the
city, said Petsas.
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