Nelson goes off-script with State of the City address

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Mayor Marc Nelson delivering his State of the City address.

POUGHKEEPSIE – Despite having a copy of a planned speech in front of him, Mayor Marc Nelson repeatedly went “off-script” as he called it, in presenting his State of the City address on Wednesday evening.  His lengthy performance included criticizing the media for not reporting on a sales tax agreement as much as he would have liked.  The mayor, in office for 88 days, gave a speech recapping accomplishments during his previous job as city administrator and provided a glimpse into new initiatives he is working on with the common council.

Nelson is known for being a student of finances which is why the former mayor, now State Senator Rob Rolison hired him as finance commissioner several years ago.  Nelson assisted Rolison in all but erasing an almost $13 million deficit Rolison inherited from his predecessor.

Continuing his record of financial successes, Mayor Nelson said, “The city has worked diligently to reduce a $12.3 million general fund deficit that we expect to be eradicated through the creation of the 2024 budget this year,” adding “Reducing our deficit and rebuilding our fund balance holds the key to restoring our investment grade quality bond rating, which will lower our cost of borrowing. This is particularly urgent given the economic challenges caused by inflation and rising interest rates.”

Without going into much detail, Nelson announced a new initiative that will create a Downtown Business Improvement District, with the assistance of the property owners within the Main Street corridor, saying the district is the result of considerable economic development activity in the city.  “The formation of the business improvement district will give voice – and funding – to our community so that decisions aren’t made solely by City Hall, but by all the stakeholders of the district,” the mayor said.

The mayor also announced that the city will be putting $140,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the arts to grow and nurture the arts community and make the city more of an arts destination.

He also pointed to the city’s increased capacity to help youth through key initiatives and new resources. The city has created a Division of Youth Opportunity and Development at City Hall, and last year hired Karen Williams as its first director. Williams has worked with other city staffers to implement the city’s Youth Activities & Opportunities Grant program which began with $140,000 in seed money in 2018 and has grown to nearly half a million dollars this year, which Nelson called a “remarkable accomplishment for the city.” 

Council Chairperson Natasha Brown introduced Nelson to the crowd, which is the exact opposite of the relationship that existed between the city’s administration and council during the former chairperson’s tenure.  Nelson spent a considerable amount of time praising the working relationship that has been rekindled, noting that several recent initiatives are the result of a working relationship between the executive and legislative branches at city hall.

After Mayor Nelson’s address, Mid-Hudson News spoke with Councilwoman Yvonne Flowers about working together.  “The relationship between the current mayor and the council is doing better – much better,” said Flowers who, like Nelson, is seeking the Democratic nomination to run for mayor.  On the initiatives, Flowers said, “It comes down to the fact that we all have to collaborate to make the improvements that we need to make in our city,” adding “I think we’re on the right track with the progress that is happening.”




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