Using legislation to combat crime, city officials are discussing changing restaurant business hours and scheduled a public hearing for August 12 to get input from citizens.
At the July 15 Common Council meeting, City Manager Matt Alexander proposed amending Chapter 213 of the city code to include a restaurant closing time of 2 a.m. (While last call for restaurants/bars is typically 4 a.m. in New York State, individual counties and municipalities are able to change their closing time).
This proposed amendment comes following two recent incidents that occurred on Main Street between 12 a.m. and 4 am.
In the wee hours of June 10, a stabbing took place on the 900 block of Main Street. Responding to reports of an altercation, Peekskill police officers found a male victim, later identified as Carlos Rodriguez, 33, with severe lacerations to the lower part of his body. Rodriguez died six days later as a result of the injuries he sustained during the altercation. The Peekskill Police Department is actively attempting to locate Walter F. Bustos Solis, 44, a suspect in this case. As of now, the department has not released any updates to the public.
Several weeks later, around midnight on July 5, gunfire broke out in the area of the 900 block of Main Street. An investigation by the Peekskill Police Department confirmed that a firearm was discharged during an altercation that began inside Ofori’s World Cuisine.
On July 9, the Peekskill Police Department, along with law enforcement members assigned to the FBI safe streets task force, apprehended New York City resident Quincy Lamar Williams, who has been identified as the suspect responsible for discharging the firearm. Williams was arraigned in the United States District Court-Southern District of New York on July 10, on federal charges related to this shooting.
During his report, City Manager Alexander stated to council members, “These violent and disturbing acts will not be tolerated or ignored and know that our police department is pursuing the offenders and will continue to go after them.”
The first time Peekskill’s Common Council was advised to look into making 2 a.m. the closing time for all restaurants was at the June 10 council meeting by business owner John Sharp. Speaking on the stabbing that occurred earlier that day, Sharp said “We keep having businesses that are acting irresponsibly late at night serving irresponsible individuals.”
“It causes a problem for us as small business owners because it puts a vibe out to people coming to Peekskill, and even worse it’s literally doing damage physically to people.”
Resident and business owner Brian Orsi spoke against the proposed amendment at the July 15 meeting. “I think this resolution is wrong and is going to harm Peekskill, now and in the future.”
“I think there are other ways to responsibly address these issues then hindering the city of Peekskill’s business potential,” said Orsi. He suggested the city go after establishments that fail to adhere to the stipulation of their liquor licenses which requires them to operate a kitchen while alcohol is served.
“You could have the [NY] State Liquor Authority penalize them for operating improperly. I think that would very quickly aid in solving some of these late night issues.”
A public hearing on this topic will be held on August 12, 2024 at 9:30 am at the Neighborhood Center when the Common Council holds its meeting outside of City Hall’s Council Chambers.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Hearing
Five nonprofit organizations presented their proposed projects for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application at the July 15 meeting. The CDBG is a federally funded grant, allocated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to eligible municipalities.
The first presenter was Kathy Cerreta, President and Treasurer of Peekskill Presbyterian Church. Cerreta informed the council that Peekskill Presbyterian Church is seeking CDBG funds to offset the cost of replacing the sidewalks along the entire perimeter of their property at 705 South Street. The estimated cost for this project is 75,000.
“Many congregants, students and visitors walk to the site, numerous citizens including Peekskill Middle School students cross our property everyday and there’s a Westchester County Bus Stop on the corner of South and Washington Streets – therefore having safe sidewalks is essential to the building use and to the community,” said Cerreta.
Peekskill Presbyterian Church shares its building with Puerta del Cielo and Peekskill’s Head Start program, which serves 48 Pre-K students..
Next was Bruno Gross representing First Baptist Church, located at 690 Highland Avenue. He explained that the church is seeking funds for four projects. They include: the installation of an elevator, kitchen renovations, repavement of two parking areas and sidewalk repairs.
Following Gross was Elizabeth McCorvey, Executive Director of the Family Resource Center of Peekskill. McCorvey told council members that the Family Resource Center is requesting funds to make their affordable housing units more energy efficient and safer.
“Although FRC applied and obtained NYS Empower funding to help make its housing more energy efficient for the impoverished households who rely on our shelter, the Empower funds are limited to insulation and lighting and does not cover other much needed energy efficient measures,” said McCorvery.
Aside from their Washington Street location, FRC has a total of three other sites in Peekskill, 237 Smith Street, 150 N. Division Street, and 158 N. Division Street. The total amount FRC is seeking from the CDBG is $300,000.
Cynthia Knox, CEO of Caring for the Hungry and Homeless of Peekskill (CHHOP), also presented her organization’s project for the CDBG application. CHHOP is seeking $125,000 in CDBG funds for the organization’s newest program, Tierra Solida/Solid Ground. Tierra Solida is an eviction prevention program that supports low-wage workers, low-income families, and immigrant workers with grants to aid in housing stabilization. This program was launched this year and so far has helped 15 community households, according to Knox.
The final presenter was Brian Orsi, founder of Undertone Arts. Orsi informed the council and public that Undertone Arts is seeking $50,000 in CDBG funds for the organization’s signature event program, ONE TWO HEART U. According to Orsi, since 2020, ONE TWO HEART U has held 15 events, reaching over 3,000 people. The program offers professional video and photo services for artists, free marketing and promotion, including social media and vendor spaces at events.
If awarded funds, Orsi says Undertone Arts will continue to compensate performers and scale up what they’ve already been offering.
After the nonprofit organizations finished their presentations, the city opened a public hearing on the city’s CDBG application. The projects proposed in the city’s application include: replacement of the electrical panel in the elevator at the Neighborhood Center, upgrade of the Riverfront Green restroom to increase its size, ADA accessibility and winterization, installation of a mini-soccer pitch at Depew Park, and intersection/pedestrian signal improvements at North Division/Main Street, Nelson Avenue/Main Street, North Division/Park Street, and South Division/Brown Street.
Resident Gregg Gutkes expressed his approval of the city’s decision to include intersection/pedestrian signal improvements in their application.
Citizens Desiring to be Heard
At the end of the meeting, five residents spoke to the Common Council on various topics. Resident Lee Esther Brown questioned why Councilman Rob Scott was still on the council after being charged in April with filing designating petitions containing forged signatures for a seat on the Westchester County Board of Legislators in the June 2023 Democratic primary election.
Brown requested an update from the council. “You put a letter out talking about his arrest, so you need to update the public because you’re supposed to honor the public trust.”
Mayor Vivian McKenzie responded to Brown’s comments, “Until the council is presented with anything where he has done anything wrong, whether it goes through court, there is nothing for the council to do.” She added that the council is following protocol and there is no action for the council to take at this time.
Scott’s next court appearance is on September 3, 2024 in White Plains.
Other resolutions passed on July 15
The Common Council unanimously passed 17 resolutions at its July 15 meeting. They include:
- Authorizing the city manager to accept three grant awards up to $200,000 each for upgrades at McGregory Brook, Peekskill Hollow Creek Basin and Peekskill Riverfront and request proposals for each project.
- Authorizing the city manager to enter into an agreement with Barton & Loguidice D.P.C. for professional design, bidding, and construction services for the city’s Sewer System Improvement project.
- Authorizing the city manager to apply for grant funding through the 2024 NYS Consolidated Funding Application for Paramount Theater HVAC upgrades.
