via Poughkeepsie Journal, 1/18/2012
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. Continue reading
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. Continue reading
via Mid Hudson News, 1/17/2012
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. Continue reading
via Poughkeepsie Journal, 1/13/2012
Sarah Fuller, Poughkeepsie Mayor John Tkazyik’s girlfriend, thought they should set up for 400 people; the mayor thought 300. Sarah was right.
And the standing-room-only crowd for the swearing-in ceremony of Poughkeepsie’s mayor and Common Council enjoyed an oddly apolitical, optimistic day. Continue reading
via Mid Huson News, 1/3/2012
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. Continue reading
Tkazyik sworn in for second term as Poughkeepsie’s mayor
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.
via City of Poughkeepsie, 12/27/2011
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.”
via Poughkeepsie Journal, 12/21/2011
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.