To the Editor:

This was the fourth year in a row (at least) when many of us had to watch the State of the City address and simultaneously feel our blood pressure rise.

Among the inaccuracies and half-truths, all wrapped up in insincere talk of serving the broader community, there was one item that really stuck out to me…the budget brag.

A million dollar surplus! I thought to myself, so clearly the over cap tax increases the last  few years weren’t necessary, right? Why is there any money left at all when our downtown is still derelict, when our small businesses and the city at large are struggling? (The crossing signals in front of City Hall don’t even work, for god’s sake.) …When we never rehired a Parks Director or Animal Control Officer? On and on. Why the surplus?

But it’s worse than I thought.

A friend astutely pointed out that it’s not even a budget surplus at all. The city received a one-time, approximately $2 million grant from the federal government, under the previous administration. We’re not a million dollars in the black due to a year of smart governance and a healthy tax base. Without that grant, the city is in the red over $1 million. Not because of any grand ambition or amazing public upgrade for the city, but just because.

This is lunacy.

The likely dead (I hope I’m wrong) RAL [Plumbing] redevelopment project alone would have brought in over $50 million in investment to Peekskill, six-figures in fees directly to the city, perpetual property taxes, new businesses and neighbors… lots of Good Things here.

Now think of all of the other projects these people have sabotaged over the years.

Our current leadership is slowly destroying the potential and long-term health of our city. Things that are alive change and grow, and continuing to treat Peekskill like a piece of a veal only has one outcome…

If we really want to be the friendly, vibrant, diverse, creative hub we’ve been claiming to be, we need to move past the small table, back door political culture that continues to sow resentment and apathy.

We deserve better, and we can do better.

Brian Orsi
Peekskill