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Beverley Chang on Why She’s Running for Peekskill City Council
To the Editor:
Peekskill has been my home since 2017, and in that time, I’ve fallen in love with this community, its people, its energy, and its incredible potential. I believe in a Peekskill where every voice matters and every family can truly thrive. That belief is what inspired me to run for City Council.
As a physician assistant (PA), advocacy is at the heart of what I do. Every day, I work to make sure my patients are heard and have access to the care they need. I’ve always seen my role as more than a provider; it’s about being a Patient Advocate. I want to bring that same passion for advocacy to City Hall as a People’s Advocate, representing the people of Peekskill with the same care and dedication I give to my patients.
Through my volunteer work, especially as Health Committee Chair with the NAACP Peekskill Branch, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with local organizations and service providers to raise grant funding, expand access to health resources, and bring valuable information directly to our community. These experiences have strengthened my belief that meaningful change happens through collaboration, compassion, community engagement, and listening to one another.
When elected, I plan to continue that spirit of connection by hosting regular “meet and chat” sessions where residents can share their thoughts, concerns, and ideas. I want to be accessible and approachable, because the best ideas start with conversations with the people who live here.
Peekskill is facing real challenges, whether it’s improving pedestrian safety, addressing food insecurity, or ensuring that new housing developments benefit our residents first. I look forward to hearing from community groups like Peekskill Walks, connecting with our county government, elected state officials, and housing agencies in search of real, sustainable solutions. I’ll always push for policies that prioritize the needs of our neighbors, including exploring a local preference policy for housing so that our residents are not left behind.
Not every issue will be easy to solve. But as a PA and as someone who cares deeply about this city, I promise to listen, collaborate, and advocate for the people of Peekskill. My commitment is simple: to use my voice and my vote to represent theirs.
With gratitude,
Beverley Chang
Peekskill, NY
‘SNAP Isn’t a Handout,’ Says 2026 Congressional Candidate
To the Editor:
In May, I wrote an op-ed titled “Trump Makes Westchester Starve Again .” It was a warning about what Trump and Rep. Lawler were doing to vital nutrition programs that so many HudsonValley families depend on. This week, we’re seeing the horrible outcome of those actions.
Thanks to Mike Lawler and the other spineless Republicans in Congress, on November 1st over 2.9 million New Yorkers (close to 15% of the state’s population) (How many people receive SNAP benefits in New York every month? | USAFacts) are facing the unthinkable: empty pockets and empty stomachs, not because they’ve done anything wrong—but because Congress and the Trump Administration are failing at their jobs.
This government shutdown has brought critical programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to a halt, leaving hungry families uncertain about how they can feed their children. In the Hudson Valley, where the cost of living is already among the highest in the country, that uncertainty isn’t just stressful—it’s devastating.
For over a decade, I have worked in underserved communities and I have seen the toll that financial and food insecurity takes on families. In 2014, after seeing working families struggling to make ends meet, I founded 914Cares, a nonprofit that provides basic essentials (clothing, diapers, hygiene products, baby essentials, period products and books) to families in need. I’ve talked with parents who skipped meals so their kids could eat. I’ve handed diapers to moms who hadn’t changed their baby’s diaper that day. And I’ve seen how, when we come together as a community, we can change lives.
Right now, families who rely on SNAP are being treated like bargaining chips in a political game. Let’s be clear: SNAP isn’t a handout. It’s a lifeline for working parents, seniors, and veterans who are doing everything right but still struggling to make ends meet. It’s one of the most effective anti-hunger programs our nation has ever created—and every day it’s suspended, real people suffer. And it’s a smart investment – each dollar spent generates $1.54 in direct economic activity for farmers and retailers, and SNAP for children has an ROI of $62 in long term value over that child’s lifetime.
Luckily, we live in New York where our governor has allocated over $100 million for food aid to protect New Yorkers from going hungry. But sadly, the monthly SNAP benefits distributed to New Yorkers costs over $650 million dollars so these funds will cover less than a week of benefits. Washington needs to do its part, and that means Mike Lawler needs to do his job.
According to the United Way’s ALICE Report (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), 38% of households in Westchester County and nearly half in Rockland live above the poverty line but still can’t afford basic necessities like housing, child care, food, and transportation. These are our neighbors—the people serving us coffee, caring for our children, keeping our communities running. And they are exactly the families who depend on SNAP to get by.
If I’ve learned anything from my time at 914Cares, it’s this: when we treat our neighbors with dignity and respect, everyone thrives. When we invest in families, we strengthen our entire community. But community organizations like ours can’t—and shouldn’t—be expected to replace the role of a functioning federal government.
I’m running for Congress because NY-17 deserves a Congressperson that works for our community, not Mar a Lago. As I did at 914Cares, I will be a coalition builder, a collaborator and a problem solver. I will focus on solutions, not finger pointing. Because no one should ever have to choose between paying rent and putting a diaper on their baby.
No one should ever have to beg for help just to survive. This shutdown has shown us exactly what’s at stake. It’s time to send people to Congress who actually believe in doing the work—and putting families first.
Sincerely,
Jessica Reinmann
Chappaqua, NY
