Editor’s Note: The Peekskill Herald’s “10 questions …”, column is for readers to know more about those who work in city government, own businesses, and support our city’s development. Today’s column features Leslie Lawler, who started the Peekskill Community Network.
What led you to start the Peekskill Community Network in January of 2015?
I recognized a need that the community was hungry for local information. After bouncing the idea off a few of my “Mover & Shaker” friends and neighbors, the group was born and took off like a rocket. In June 2020, we amended the name to the “Peekskill Community Network — The Original Forum.”
How long have you lived in Peekskill?
I’m a life-long resident.
What are some of the positive attributes of running the group?
Positive outcomes as a result of community members rallying together because they are connected within the group are incredibly rewarding. Whether it’s someone whose pet is lost, and members starting looking and find the pet; or someone needs information about what to put out for bulk collection, or who to call at City Hall regarding a permit, or someone posts that they have children’s clothes to offer — seeing community members come together to help one another makes it so worthwhile.
Where do you source information to report, like obituaries? When did you start including outside content?
I follow numerous sources — municipal social media pages, local business pages, and members will share different bits of local information as well. Including outside content developed organically. Again, I recognized a need that members wanted cogent and credible information, and I started including it.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced running the group?
The biggest challenge can be summed up in something I posted on my personal page yesterday [December 30]: “Some people will love you no matter what you do, and some people will never love you no matter what you do.” Simply put, it’s impossible to make everyone happy.
What has surprised you most about running the network?
The good — when someone is helped because of the kindness and integrity of our members.
The bad — when tempers flare and inappropriate comments start to fly.
Are there any hallmark moments in the group’s history?
Many! We have two off-shoot pages dedicated to two community endeavors. The #PeekskillCleanRoutine is in its 8th year of community cleanups and spreading community stewardship awareness. We also have “The Peekskill Community-Wide Tag Sale” page dedicated to holding our community-wide tag sales once and sometimes twice a year. We also held a live interview Q&A during the 2019 Mayoral Election with Candidate Vinnie Vesce, Jr.
How did you arrive at the community rules?
The group rules were organically developed by the members themselves in response to hiccups that occasionally occur during heated conversations.
Do you edit or make corrections to posts? Are there any regrets you have about some of the conversations that have taken place on the network?
No posts are edited or corrected. If a member is posting something that is factually incorrect or not credible, I or another member will post the correction as a comment to the original post.
What kind of action do you hope the group will inspire?
One thing I hope that we can inspire is for people to take concerns beyond the level of posting a complaint, which they are certainly well within their right to do as it does bring awareness to issues, and be part of the solution. For example, yesterday [December 30] we had a very active thread take shape about trash on Bank Street. In the midst of over 100 comments, two members stated they knew the owner of the store where the trash had dispersed, and one reached out to him. Within the hour, it was all cleaned up! That is indeed being part of the solution beyond the complaint.
What’s the most important change that needs to happen in Peekskill?
I feel that a serious analysis and discussion, followed by a plan of immediate correction, needs to occur regarding bringing our city services and resources in proportion to the growing population in Peekskill. We desperately need more DPW Staff, Police and First Responders and Municipal Staff to meet the needs of our growing population. Reprioritizing our financial needs vs “wants” is the first step to making this a reality.
What would you like to say to the Peekskill Community?
I wish everyone a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year! I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for all their contributions to making “The Peekskill Community Network – The Original Forum” the amazing group that it is.
