CITY OF PEEKSKILL

Candidates for Mayor, County Legislator to Debate

Peekskill voters will have the chance to see candidates for two offices discuss current issues in forum debates organized by the League of Women Voters (LWV) of Northern Westchester.

Current Mayor Vivian McKenzie and challenger Ramon Fernandez will answer questions from voters on Oct. 28 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Peekskill Fire House on Broad and Main streets. Questions can be submitted online before Oct. 21. 

The LWV has also arranged for an online forum between incumbent County Legislator Colin Smith and challenger Kevin Byrnes to be held on Oct. 21 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom.

Debates among the candidates for three open seats on the Peekskill Common Council couldn’t be arranged by the LWV.

For more information, click here. 

K&D Trucking Company Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

A trucking company specializing in heavy hauling located on Lower South Street has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

K&D Industries of NY filed a petition on Sept. 18 in the U.S. Bankruptcy court in Manhattan, citing debts of $2.29 million and assets of $704,538. The largest creditor is the U.S. Small Business Administration with a $2 million unsecured debt. Karl Bjorkland is listed as president of the company.

Chapter 11 bankruptcy is most commonly used by businesses to allow the company to reorganize its debts while continuing to operate.

– Jim Roberts

Affirmation Filed by Attorney for Former Officer Who Is Suing City

An attorney for former Peekskill officer Michael Henderson claims the City of Peekskill Police Department made promises it did not keep in an affirmation filed Sept. 26.

Henderson, who agreed to resign in February after violating a department policy in a disturbing manner, was decertified as an officer by the state after the department listed him as a “removal for cause.”

In June, he filed an Article 73 petition against both the department and the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), claiming the department violated a settlement agreement and that the DCJS did not give him a fair chance to present his case. Both parties have moved to dismiss the motion.

Stephen Preziosi, attorney for Henderson, challenged the department’s statements that the city was obligated to report the reason for Henderson’s separation of service and claimed that the department was obligated to convey only that Henderson resigned and nothing more.

He cited paragraph 11 of the agreement, stating, “In response to any question that may be posed to Henderson or the City regarding his resignation, they shall limit any response to state the words to the effect of: ‘The situation has been resolved in a mutually acceptable manner.’”

Preziosi claimed Henderson was not removed for cause, was not removed during a probationary period, and there were no disciplinary charges ever filed against him, nor none pending at the time of his resignation.

– Eric Harvey

Water Main Break at Intersection of North Division Street and Frost Lane

The City of Peekskill announced on Thursday, Oct. 2, that the Water Department was working on a water main break at the intersection of North Division Street and Frost Lane.

The city warned in their announcement residents may experience low or no water pressure and or discored water. The issue was resolved at about 9:30 p.m. and water was restored the same night, according to the city.

DeSilva’s Deli on Elm Street Listed for Sale

A long-standing deli in the neighborhood near the middle school is on the market.

DeSilva’s Deli, located on Elm Street with excellent visibility and steady foot traffic, is a “turnkey business ready for its next owner,” according to the real estate listing.

“The entire interior has been completely renovated, featuring a modern design, a fully equipped kitchen, updated display cases, and ample storage space.”

The building contains 980 square feet, and the asking price is $85,000. The listing is posted here by Schunk Realty Group.

City Taking Bids for Fern Tree Storefront Restoration

The City of Peekskill is requesting proposals from qualified, experienced, and licensed general contractors to provide general contracting services to improve the overall building aesthetics of the Fern Tree located at 13 South Division St.

The project consists of restoration and painting of the exterior of the storefront and will be funded through the Downtown Revitalization Fund (DRF), administered through the City of Peekskill and the NYS Office of Housing and Community Renewal (HCR), as part of Peekskill’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). 

An electronic PDF copy of the proposal must be submitted via email before 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16.

The RFP is posted here. 

Two Restaurants Hosting ‘CHHOPtoberfest’ October 6-19

The owners of Benny’s Brown Bag and Copperhead Club are sponsoring a fundraising campaign called “CHHOPtoberfest.” Customers can order special menu items for two weeks from Monday, Oct. 6, to Sunday, Oct 19, with donations to Caring for the Hungry and Homeless of Peekskill (CHHOP) promoted at the two establishments.

Those who start a recurring monthly donation to CHHOP of any amount will be invited to a special happy hour at Copperhead Club, hosted by both Benny’s and Copperhead later this year.

A sticker (pictured here) has been designed for the occasion and will be given to those who make a one-time donation at either restaurant.

Financial Site Ranks Peekskill Among Leading NYC Suburbs

Peekskill has placed in the top 20 of best communities to live in suburban New York City, according to a new listing released by GOBankingRates (GBR), a consumer financial content website.

GBR has ranked the 20 safest and richest New York City suburbs for 2025, locales where high household incomes meet low crime rates and high livability.

Using the latest data from the U.S. Census, the FBI, Zillow and other sources, GBR’s list reveals some of the metro area’s most desirable communities, according to the firm.

Peekskill ranked 14th on the list of municipalities in Westchester and Nassau County. “Peekskill sits along the eastern bank of the Hudson River in the northwestern part of Westchester County. It has the lowest annual cost of living among suburbs in the top 20.”

“Peekskill is a safe city, and that’s clear from its inclusion among the safest cities in Westchester,” said Carole Voisey, executive director of the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce. “In my three years at the chamber and as a resident of Peekskill, I’ve always felt safe walking home, and I’m glad more of our neighbors feel the same.”

The rankings show Peekskill with an average household income of $115,364 and an annual cost of living at $67,469.

The entire ranking of towns is posted here.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY

County DA Cacace Forms Hate Crimes Advisory Board

Westchester County District Attorney Susan Cacace has created a first-of-its-kind initiative to build partnerships with community stakeholders in furtherance of rooting out hate and bias in Westchester County.

The Hate Crimes Advisory Board is composed of 13 volunteer members who will meet quarterly with DA Cacace and members of the Hate Crimes Unit to bring to their attention concerns from their respective constituencies. This direct feedback will allow the office to more closely monitor trends in the spread of hate-fueled incidents, both criminal and non-criminal, in Westchester.

Board members include Zead Ramadan, a longtime Westchester resident, civil rights advocate, and member of the Peekskill Area Pastor Association (PAPA); Talia Pierson, a Yorktown High School senior and founder of nonprofit Lights of Tomorrow, dedicated to building community among Jewish youth and their allies to combat anti-Semitism; and Mayo Bartlett, the principal attorney at the Law Offices of Mayo Bartlett. 

County Approves Funding for Youth Job Program

The Westchester County Board of Legislators approved measures to create summer work experience for young adults and expand employment services for people with mental illness at its meeting on Sept. 29.

The board approved agreements with eight municipalities to provide a six-week summer work experience program for youth ages 16 to 24 from income-eligible families. Fully funded by a $150,000 grant from New York Presbyterian Hospital, the program incurs no direct cost to county taxpayers. The Westchester County Youth Bureau will coordinate with local youth bureaus in Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Peekskill, Yonkers, White Plains, Ossining, Port Chester, and Greenburgh.

The board also approved expanded support for adults with serious mental illness to find and maintain jobs. The initiative includes job coaching, rapid placement assistance, and connections to community employers. New York state is providing an additional $244,858, increasing total funding to $1.39 million through 2026. Westchester Medical Center administers these services, helping participants build independence and achieve financial stability.

NATIONAL

Federal Government Shutdown Continues 

The federal government shutdown on Oct. 1 is showing its ripple effects in the City of Peekskill.

The Peekskill Housing Authority (PHA) warned residents as a result of the shutdown some non-emergency work or inspections may take longer if U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approval is needed, big projects or upgrades that rely on new HUD funding may be on hold, and requests that require HUD may take longer to process.

However, PHA said it will remain open, staff will continue to provide services, residents’ rent will not go up because of a shutdown, and residents will not lose their apartments.

Assemblywoman Dana Levenberg released a statement on Oct. 1 condemning the shutdown. 

“President Trump and his allies in Congress have brought us into a shutdown that is set to accelerate the harm they were already doing to New Yorkers,” Levenberg said. “It is hard to see what kind of deal could have been done here; the President has shown over and over again that he does not honor agreements or the law, and Congressional Republicans keep choosing to stand with him instead of standing up for their own authority or their constituents’ best interests.”

Following news of the shutdown, U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler told residents in a newsletter that on Sept. 19 he supported a measure that passed the House of Representatives extending current federal funding until Nov. 21 while they finished their work for the full fiscal year.

“This was a clean, straightforward extension of existing funding without extraneous policy,” Lawler said. “Unfortunately this proposal did not pass the Senate, as Senate Democrats blocked the measure and shut down the government. This means that many federal agencies do not currently have the authority to operate. Other programs deemed essential are allowed by law to continue.”