On her way to attend the public inauguration ceremony for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on New Year’s Day, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul made a stop at the Central Firehouse in Peekskill where she presided at the ceremonies swearing into office officials of that city.
Hochul administered the oath of office to members of the City Council Beverley Chang, Charles DiGruccio and Darren Rigger as well as incumbent Mayor Vivian McKenzie who was elected to a third term. Hochul also swore in the city’s newly-appointed Police Chief Adam Renwick.
In a speech, Hochul called on Peekskill officials to build more housing.
“That’s the only thing that’s holding back our state and beautiful regions like the Hudson Valley,” Hochul said. “And how about the transformation for the waterfront? You wonder how would this take so long in the first place?”
A study of a section of Peekskill’s waterfront has just been completed and officials are reviewing numerous recommendations made to encourage waterfront development.
“Any community along the Hudson should be a vibrant magnet for tourism and living, and people to be able to have the calming effect of being on one of the most beautiful waterways in our nation,” Hochul said. “Having served 14 years in local government, I know there are a lot of challenges.”
Hochul said that officeholders need to have empathy and compassion for the people they serve and in turn constituents will appreciate the fact that they have a government that is actually relevant in their lives.
“Solve their problems, and they’ll understand why you ran for office – why you stepped up. There’s nothing that can stop you when you have a dream and a belief that’s going to be good for the people,” Hochul said, while noting that local officials have a distinct advantage over those in state or federal government.
“You don’t have to go through getting something passed in the legislature, passed in Congress,” Hochul said. “You can sit here and make a decision and say, this is going to be good for our community and therefore we’re doing it. That’s what I sometimes miss about the flexibility and the agility of local government. You don’t have to win over a lot of people, you’ve got the residents on your side, your colleagues, and you just do it. And that’s extraordinary. Don’t take for granted that power.”
