Plans for urban renewal in the City of Poughkeepsie this year will include waterfront development and the demolition of the long-abandoned Nelson House on Market Street.

Mayor John Tkazyik addressed a crowd of about 150 Tuesday night at the annual State of the City address at City Hall.

“I will join with the county executive in a proposal for this contaminated structure of mold, asbestos and water damage to be razed and replaced with a multi-use structure, including desperately needed parking and office space,” he said.

Speaking of what he said was a “growing list” of vacant properties from people abandoning their homes, Tkazyik said he and County Executive Marc Molinaro would collaborate in forming a plan to develop Market Street into a “two-way thoroughfare” to enhance business and improve access to city and county buildings.

The mayor also announced the formation of a comprehensive waterfront development plan with funding from the Dyson Foundation. The plan, he said, would integrate the southern waterfront with Kaal Rock Park, Waryas Park, the Children’s Museum, the Hoffman House, the Walkway Over the Hudson and other waterfront properties.

The city will also take a closer look at mass transit services, Tkazyik said.

“It is incumbent upon us to reduce administrative costs and end the subsidy that the general fund is transferring to transit on an annual basis,” Tkazyik said, adding the city would look into the possible elimination of redundant bus routes.

Other plans include making structural improvements to the Walkway Over the Hudson and the installation of an elevator on the Highland side.

After leading a moment of silence for slain City of Poughkeepsie Police Detective John Falcone, who was killed in the line of duty last February, Tkazyik said city crime was down in certain areas.

Excluding fourth quarter reports, he said, data indicated a decrease from six homicides in 2010 to five in 2011, a decrease of robberies from 127 in 2010 to 87 in 2011 and a drop in the number of aggravated assaults from 224 to 155.

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — Calling 2011 the toughest year in the city’s history, Poughkeepsie Mayor John Tkazyik prefers to looks ahead to what he calls “more prosperity” for the city.

Tkazyik delivered his 2012 State of the city speech in front of a crowded city council chambers. He says while the previous year included the murder of a police detective, terrible flooding and an untimely snowstorm, Poughkeepsie in 2012 is welcoming new challenges. Challenges the mayor cites as keeping violent crime statistics down, expanding shared services with other municipalities and continuing the revitalization of the city.

“It is our implacable optimism that has begun the rebirth of our Main Street once left for dead. It is our wise utilization of resources that has waterfront development on the move again. And it is a reformed city hall open for business with a new atmosphere of cooperation with the private sector,” Tkazyik said

In November, Tkazyik won re-election for a second term as Poughkeepsie mayor.

POUGHKEEPSIE – Mayor John Tkazyik said embracing diversity is what the new city government in Poughkeepsie is all about. The mayor began his annual State of the City message with particular praise for the new council chairwoman, Democrat Gwen Johnson, noting she is the first woman, and first African-American in city history to hold that post.

“I am encouraged by the welcoming statements of Council-Chair Johnson at the reorganizational meeting and I’m optimistic this Common Council will work towards the betterment of the city.

On key issues putting pressure on Poughkeepsie, Tkazyik said weather was a top priority.

“Extreme weather events besieged the City of Poughkeepsie and presented serious challenges to the Public Works Department. Over 76 inches of total precipitation was recorded in various forms whereas the normal amount of precipitation for this area is 46 inches. “Our DPW labor force repeatedly worked around the clock to address damages from the various storms.”

The mayor noted the costly impact of storms came on top of “…the worst economic and financial conditions in generations …”
Expanding the tax base will remain a top priority of his administration, said Tkazyik.

“Otherwise, the burden on remaining taxpayers will increase and more homeowners could abandon their properties, creating a mortgage default spiral in our community that win be difficult to pull-out of.”

Specifics include getting vacant properties, including the Hoffman House and Reynolds House, back on the tax rolls. The mayor also hopes to work closely with Dutchess County’s new county executive, Marcus Molinaro and the county legislature to generate a plan for the blighted section of Market Street. The partnership will also include addressing mass transit.

On law enforcement, Tkazyik had particular praise for the Police Department, stunned by the death in the line of duty, of detective John Falcone, early in 2011.

“In the face of all these difficulties, police department personnel have performed admirably, while first working through the death of Detective Falcone and then with a diminished workforce.”

Tkazyik wrapped up his annual message on an optimistic note.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Poughkeepsie remains on the move, Poughkeepsie remains a beacon of hope and Poughkeepsie has set the trend for other cities to follow. I haven’t done this alone; it is through partnerships and strong relationships that we have accomplished this together.”

Peter Leonard’s column appears every other Fri­day. He is the director of field work at Vassar College. Reach him at 845-437-5280 or leonard@vassar.edu.

POUGHKEEPSIE – Hundreds of residents, officials and well-wishers packed the Grandview ballroom on Poughkeepsie’s waterfront, to observe the inauguration of the mayor and city council.

Mayor John Tkazyik begins a second term following a close reelection last November. As a Republican, he faces the next two years with a strong Democratic majority on the common council. Bipartisanship was stressed in his inaugural speech.The mayor said city officials may have “our partisan difference and disagreements” on how to allocate the scarce resources of a city that faces cutbacks in state and federal aid.

“But today, let us acknowledge there is nothing partisan of safe streets and clean parks, nothing partisan about ridding this city of drugs and gang violence, nothing partisan about creating a climate conducive to job growth, or creating a ladder of opportunity where people can climb as far and as fast as they would like,” he said.

Tkazyik said the diversity of the city’s population should not divide Poughkeepsie, but serve as a source of strength.

The mayor noted past achievements. “We have made progress in making this city a safer place to live, an emerging hub of economic activity. We have managed to keep a budget in balance and a tax levy under control, by working together for the common good,” Tkazyik said.

Mayor John C. Tkazyik has appointed Paul Ackermann to the position of Corporation Counsel. Mr. Ackermann has worked for the City as Assistant Corporation Counsel since 2008. Mr. Brian Morgan, current Corporation Counsel, has decided to go back into private practice.

Mr. Morgan said, “I have informed Mayor Tkazyik that I am planning to return to private practice at the end of my term as Corporation Counsel of the City of Poughkeepsie. When Mayor Tkazyik appointed me to the post of Corporation Counsel in 2008, it was with our mutual understanding that I would accept the post for the four-year term prescribed by the charter of the City, and thereafter, I would return to my law firm, Jacobowitz and Gubits, as a private citizen. Mayor Tkazyik has charted a wise course for the City to avoid tax increases and reductions of key public services. The Law Department will continue to assist the Mayor to meet those objectives.”

Mayor Tkazyik said, “I would like to thank Mr. Morgan for his years of service to the City. I wish him great success in the future.”

Mr. Paul Ackermann was born and raised in the City of Poughkeepsie graduating from Marist College with a B.A. in Political Science, Pace University School of Law Cum Laude with a J.D., and again from Marist College with a Masters in Public
Administration. Prior to working for the City of Poughkeepsie, Mr. Ackermann was in private practice with a concentration in real estate development, business formation, zoning, planning, real estate, and tax certiorari law. He has been an active member of the community as a pro bono attorney for the Poughkeepsie Neighborhood Club and Hosanna Church.

Mr. Ackermann said, “I am honored and humbled by the faith that Mayor Tkazyik has placed in me and am extremely grateful for the opportunity to represent the City in which I was raised. One of my top priorities has always been to serve the community that has meant so much to me and taught me so much. I am looking forward to working with the City Council and Mayor in constructive and innovative ways to serve the public and I understand that the challenge before me will be to uphold the tradition of exemplary representation that the City of Poughkeepsie has received from prior Corporation Counsels.”

“Mr. Ackermann has been an exemplary attorney in our department and has the experience to become Corporation Counsel. With a combination of experience working for the City of Poughkeepsie and in private practice, I am confident that he will do a great job in representing our City,” said Mayor Tkazyik.

The Mayor also announced his reappointment of City Chamberlain Deanne Flynn.

Appointments must be confirmed at the reorganizational meeting of the Common Council on January 2nd at 6pm.

Hundreds of residents, officials and well-wishers packed the Grandview ballroom on Poughkeepsie’s waterfront, to observe the inauguration of the mayor and city council.

Mayor John C. Tkazyik begins a second term following a close re-election last November. As a Republican, he faces the next two years with a strong Democratic majority on the common council. Bipartisanship was stressed in his inaugural speech.

“We may have our partisan difference and disagreements,” said Tkazyik, “about who gets what, or how to allocate the scarce resources of a city that faces cutbacks in state and federal aid.”

“But today,” Tkazyik indicated, “let us acknowledge there is nothing partisan of safe streets and clean parks. Nothing partisan about ridding this city of drugs and gang violence,” to the approval of the audience.

“There is nothing partisan about creating a climate conducive to job growth, or creating a ladder of opportunity where people can climb as far and as fast as they would like.”

The mayor declared, “We are a diverse people, we live in a diverse city. Let us today renew our vow to embrace our diversity. Let us vow never allow our diversity to divide, but instead serve as a source of strength.”

Tkazyik noted past achievements. “We have made progress in making this city a safer place to live, an emerging hub of economic activity. We have managed to keep a budget in balance and a tax levy under control, by working together for the common good,” he said.

“Let us be proud of the progress that we’ve made — but acknowledge that our work is not yet done. For there are too many in this city who are without work, not yet reached the full measure of their potential, who still live in fear of crime, still living in the shadow of the American dream.”

The mayor said that his greatest satisfaction comes from “seeing others realize success, achievement, the opportunity to better themselves, and enrich their lives and those of others.”

The Catharine Street Community Center honored 10 individuals Tuesday for their longtime support. Honorees seated in the front row, left to right, are Sally Mazzarella and Carlos Alarcon. Standing in the rear are, left to right. James Walker Jr., Wilfred Rohde, William Davis, Poughkeepsie Mayor John Tkazyik, Dutchess County Sheriff Butch Anderson, Charles North and Chris Petsas. / John Davis

In kicking off its 90th year serving the children and families of Poughkeepsie with educational, health and cultural programming, the Catharine Street Community Center honored 10 of its loyal supporters.

The center presented awards to the 10 at a ceremony and buffet Tuesday evening at the Poughkeesie Grand Hotel in the City of Poughkeepsie.

“Everyone of them has contributed significantly to the Catharine Street Community Center and the Hudson River Valley,” said Edward Summers, president of the center’s board of directors.

Dutchess County Sheriff Butch Anderson, one of the honorees, also served as event master of ceremonies.

The approximately 120 people who attended purchased raffle tickets and participated in a silent auction.

The money raised benefits the center’s after-school program.

The other nine other honorees were Carlos Alarcon, a center parent; William Davis, former center board member and longtime volunteer; Charles North, president and CEO of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce; Chris Petsas, former center after-school teacher; Wilfred Rohde, principal engineer with Rohe, Soyka & Andrews; Barry Rothfeld, president and publisher of the Poughkeepsie Journal; New York State Sen. Steve Saland, R-Poughkeepsie; Poughkeepsie Mayor John Tkazyik; and James Walker Jr., vice president at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney.

Sally Mazzarella represented Saland who did not attend.

Rothfeld also was not present.