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Councilmember Riley Shares Thoughts on Mayoral Candidate Fernandez

To The Editor:

As someone who has served alongside Councilman Ramon Fernandez on the Peekskill City Council for the past four years, I feel compelled to offer some insights into my experience working with him.  To be clear, I personally like Mr. Fernandez. He is very personable, and I have no doubt he loves this city. He is also a devoted family man. That said, in my opinion, I do not believe he is qualified to serve as Mayor of Peekskill for the following examples.

During our time on the council working as colleagues, there are multiple occasions when I have questioned his competency and commitment to the business before the city and its impact on our residents. Councilman Fernandez is often late to meetings, is often unprepared as if he hasn’t read materials provided by staff and frequently repeats discussions that have occurred and concluded as though he is hearing them for the first time. These behaviors suggest a superficial approach to governance. 

One concerning example that stands out to me occurred during the 2024 budget process. The City Manager proposed a budget with a 4.65 percent increase. The Common Council worked diligently to craft a budget that would lower the proposed rate and ease the burden on the taxpayers. Yet at the conclusion of the budget negotiations, when the final resolution came to a vote, Councilman Fernandez voted against the common council budget which had a lower tax rate than the city manager’s budget.  His vote would have effectively supported the higher increase proposed by the City Manager. 

What I realized at that moment was that he fundamentally misunderstands the budget process and had the rest of the council not proceeded with the revised budget, taxpayers could have been saddled with a much higher tax increase.

Beyond issues of competency, events of the last year have called Councilman Fernandez’s integrity into question. Earlier this year it was revealed by his own admission during a state judicial investigation that Councilman Fernandez requested favors from a sitting judge in Peekskill to accommodate a friend. Although a technical lapse in statute of limitations limited the City’s ethics committee’s ability to rule on the matter, the facts of what transpired were fully documented and released publicly. 

Rather than taking responsibility, Mr. Fernandez portrayed himself as exonerated and celebrated the outcome publicly. He never wholeheartedly apologized to the community, instead blaming others and dismissing the matter as a political attack. And while the ethics committee could not take action based on the statute of limitations Councilman Fernandez became the first sitting councilmember to be formally censured by the majority of the council. This is not a distinction any public servant should carry, let alone someone aspiring to serve as mayor.

Peekskill is at a pivotal moment. We are experiencing growth in our downtown, revitalization of our waterfront and increased investment in arts and culture. Our city deserves a leader who is prepared, principled, and committed to ethical governance.

 That is why I support the reelection of Mayor Vivian McKenzie and cannot in good conscience support my colleague, Councilman Fernandez. I urge voters to do the same.

Sincerely,
Patricia Riley
Peekskill, NY

From Vacant to Vibrant: Solutions for Peekskill’s Empty Storefronts 

To the Editor:

Last month, I introduced myself to the Peekskill community and shared some of my priorities as a candidate for City Council. Today, I want to focus on one pressing concern: the growing number of empty storefronts.

These vacancies hold our city back and limit its potential, undermining both the fabric of our community and the strength of our local economy. Instead of welcoming, vibrant storefronts, we see stretches of blank windows—some papered over—that break the flow of our city streets. When these spaces remain dark for months or even years, they signal neglect, lower property values, and reduce opportunities for neighbors to connect.

The impact multiplies: pride in community fades, sales and jobs are lost, and tax revenue disappears—all while the city continues providing essential services like picking up trash and recycling, snow removal, and improving parks and recreation. Imagine how many more DPW employees, recreation staff, or code enforcement officers could be supported if these storefronts were filled with businesses, art, and community activity.

While the City Council has a role to play, part of the challenge lies with property owners who leave spaces empty while benefiting from tax breaks or other incentives. Tackling this issue will require government action and community engagement working hand in hand with bold, creative, and coordinated solutions.

To start, the city should establish a city-managed registry to catalog vacant properties. This registry could connect owners with prospective tenants, artists, and community groups—perhaps in partnership with the BID and Chamber of Commerce. Collaboration between property owners and the Peekskill Arts Alliance could transform empty spaces into rotating art galleries or exhibits that draw visitors. Even when closed in the evenings, illuminated displays could brighten our streets and showcase local talent.

Other possibilities include small performance venues for poetry and theater or satellite co-working spaces for remote workers seeking a quieter alternative to coffee shops. As an educator, I envision community classrooms where workshops, art or cooking classes, and lectures bring residents together to share skills and ideas—or community centers where young people can safely gather and build friendships. Each of these ideas would breathe life into our city while fostering connection and economic growth.

On the policy side, the Council can pass legislation that favors occupancy rather than rewards vacancy. One approach is an escalating “vacancy tax” on commercial properties that remain empty beyond a certain threshold. Developers adding new storefronts should be required to actively market and fill those spaces rather than leaving them dark. The city can also work within existing zoning restrictions—or evaluate new zoning options—to encourage more flexible uses of underutilized properties, making it easier to convert or temporarily repurpose vacant spaces. Alternatively, the city could offer temporary tax breaks to owners who lease or activate their spaces for public or creative use—flipping the reward from vacancy to vitality.

When elected, I will urge the Council to conduct a vacant-storefront audit, convene stakeholders, and pilot ways to bring scattered empty storefronts to life with creative uses so neighbors can gather and enjoy the city. As I mentioned in my previous letter, Peekskill is at its best when we come together—and I truly believe that. I’m asking for your vote so together we can revitalize these spaces, strengthen our economy, and build a more connected community. 

Sincerely,
Charles DiGruccio
Peekskill, NY

Sierra Club Alumnus Touts 2026 Congressional Candidate

To the Editor:

Beth Davidson has shown us that she will always stand up for the environment in the Hudson Valley. And she is exactly who we need in Congress.

Holtec, the company overseeing Indian Point decommissioning, will release a whopping 1,000,000 gallons of radioactive wastewater right into the Hudson River. State law originally barred this, but now that a judge struck it down, Holtec announced they will move forward with the release. Federal law could prevent this, but instead our Congressman Mike Lawler is claiming that this move presents “de minimus” risk. So much for helping us protect the biggest gemstone of our communities.

Beth Davidson, meanwhile, has stepped up. She has asserted that the Hudson “is not a dumping ground,” and called on Governor Hochul to challenge the judge’s decision, which she later did. As Chair of the Rockland County Legislature’s Environment Committee, she has a long record of fighting to protect the health of her community. Now she’s proven she will do the same for our communities across the river as well. 

I’ve worked on environmental issues for decades with the Sierra Club, and Beth is the real thing. This is what we need out of our representative in Congress, and it’s why I will be voting for Beth Davidson next November.

George Klein
Ossining, NY