The focus was on students during Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg’s ceremonial inauguration at Peekskill High School on Friday, Jan. 3.

The student-led inauguration featured Gabriella Smart singing the national anthem, poetry recited by Ella Morel, and a selection from the PHS string quartet. Levenberg took the oath of office from students D’Andre South and Ella Morel who were masters of ceremony.  

“I owe a big thank you to the voters who once again put their trust in me and have given me the opportunity to continue representing the 95th District in the New York State Assembly,” Levenberg said. “I’m eager to continue my mission of building healthy communities, which can only be accomplished with many partners at the federal, state, county, and local levels.”

The ceremony was attended by local and state officials including Mayor Vivian McKenzie, Common Council members Brian Fassett and Dwight Douglas, City Manager Matt Alexander, Town of Cortlandt Supervisor Dr. Richard Becker, Croton Deputy Mayor Len Simon, State Sen. Pete Harckham, County Legislator Colin Smith and interim Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins among others from Levenberg’s 95th Assembly district.  

In her remarks, Levenberg said she chose Peekskill High School because she wanted to share the experience with young people and give an opportunity for the next generation to learn about who their representatives are and how accessible they can be.

“The purpose of representative government is for local people, your neighbors, and community members to take your perspectives into account when making laws, and to use those perspectives to make government work for all of us,” she said.

Levenberg referenced disappointment from the results of the presidential election and contrasted the soon to be inaugurated president Donald Trump with the recently deceased former president Jimmy Carter whom she praised. She said with every election there are lessons to be learned and urged voters to remain informed and engaged in democracy.

“I’m here today because if there is one thing I want our young people to know, it’s that all politics is local,” Levenberg said. “There’s so much that we can do to make the world a better place, if each of us starts right in our own neighborhood, leading with kindness.”

The assemblywoman recanted her public life career, going from a stay at home mom, to one of the founders of the Ossining Micro Fund, to being a communications director and chief of staff for her predecessor Sandy Galef, to a school board member, then Ossining town supervisor, and finally an assemblymember in 2023.

Some accomplishments shared included passing legislation to improve quality of life and protecting the environment, bringing back $1.7 million in state funding to support ADA accessible playground equipment, resurfacing parks throughout Peekskill, securing more than $400,000 in additional funding for organizations like the Peekskill Youth Bureau, the Field Library, and Caring for the Hungry and Homeless Of Peekskill.

“I talk about that good work not to toot my own horn, but to point out that you can do this too,” Levenberg said. “People come from all walks of life to serve at levels of government and any of your experiences, whether more traditional ones like student government and mock trial or non traditional ones… like drama club can contribute.”

Levenberg emphasized kindness and referenced her internship program as an excellent way for people to get their experience in government. She concluded her ceremony by presenting a lifesize check of $30,000 from the state to the school district to improve the high school’s auditorium lighting.

Following the ceremony, Levenberg told the Herald she will continue to focus on building healthy communities, affordable places to live, access to health care, food, clean air, and clean water, and fight to make sure residents get the benefits of living here in the state in the context of the state budget.

“We have our work cut out for us as we start our new session on Jan. 8,” Levenberg said. “We know that there are many things that New York State needs to do to continue to protect both our residents as well as visitors to the state. And I’m going to continue to focus on those very critical pieces.”