CITY OF PEEKSKILL
City to Examine Legislation on E-Bike Enforcement
Could legislation recently passed in the City of Middletown, New York, be the answer to the City of Peekskill’s e-bike and e-scooter safety issue?
Following a meeting with Middletown representatives who passed legislation on e-bikes/scooter enforcement, Peekskill Chief of Police Adam Renwick will be returning to the Common Council to share what he’s examined.
City Manager Matthew Alexander said at the Tuesday, May 26, meeting that the legislation looks at how electric scooters are used on sidewalks.
The legislation prohibits a speed greater than 30 miles per hour, puts age restrictions on scooter use, requires riders to give right of way to pedestrians, mandates wearing protective headgear, prohibits where electric scooters and bicycles can be left throughout the city, and prohibits them to carry more than one person at a time, unless specifically designed to do so.
Alexander also shared that the city has increased enforcement of violations specifically involving the use of scooters, e-bikes, dirt bikes, and other such devices in the downtown, resulting in seven arrests. One such incident for an e-scooter being operated around the 500 block of Highland resulted in an arrest for the possession of crack cocaine.
– Eric Harvey
Driver Killed in Rollover Accident
A rollover accident in the City of Peekskill on Thursday, May 21, resulted in the death of the driver.
Chief of Police Adam Renwick told the Peekskill Herald in an email that at about 5:56 p.m., Peekskill police officers responded to the intersection of Main Street and Benefield Boulevard for the report of a motor vehicle accident with injuries. Upon arrival, officers discovered that a single vehicle rollover accident had occurred.
The Peekskill Fire Department and EMS also responded to the scene and immediately began providing medical treatment to the operator. The operator was transported from the scene to a local trauma center, where they later succumbed to their injuries.
The accident remains under investigation at this time by the Peekskill Police Department with the assistance of the Westchester County Police Accident Investigation Team. At this stage of the investigation, no additional information is being released.
Fire Chief James Seymour IV told the Herald in an email that the department, Peekskill Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and Cortlandt-Peekskill Paramedics responded to the scene. The incident involved the need for responders to use extrication equipment to remove the patient from the vehicle.
Asked for data on any prior accidents that have occurred at the intersection for this year and last year, Renwick said the department is currently reviewing available accident data for both this year and last year. Once that review is completed, he will provide any releasable information.
– Eric Harvey
City Looking at $500,000 Shortage in 2026 Budget
The City of Peekskill is projecting to break even with its 2026 budget but at the cost of using its fund balance, which was planned to be used only in emergencies. Avoiding using that balance, the city says it is looking at a $500,000 shortage.
Comptroller Toni Tracy presented the first quarter budget actual review to the Common Council on Monday, May 18.
Overall revenues project a surplus of $14,719, bogged down partially by cannabis sales tax and prisoner transport, which have projected shortages of $46,000 and $34,313 respectively. Paramount rent and employee health contributions have projected surpluses of $12,000 and $51,532 respectively.
Expenditures have a projected shortage of $14,858. Current projections for employee retirement and police and fire retirement are about $805,000 more than anticipated. Projected excesses include contingency-SAFER grant ($350,000), hospitalization ($569,929), and retiree insurance ($74,668).
“The city manager and I have been going through the budget frequently,” Tracy said. “We’re also meeting with department heads. They’re all being very conservative as much as possible and trying to really get the best outcome possible. And as we move forward, also with revenues, even into the second quarter, we’ll have more actual numbers for a half of a year period that will give us a much better idea of how we should come out at the end of the year.”
Tracy will be presenting information on the capital plan in June to the council prior to it being voted on and approved by July 1.
– Eric Harvey
Council Tables Vote on Policy for Sale of Surplus City Real Property
The Peekskill Common Council tabled a vote to adopt a policy for the transfer of unneeded and surplus city owned real estate property on Tuesday night, May 26, in order to make refinements to the language.
The proposed policy lists the necessary steps for getting a property listed as surplus, or not needed. There are four methods of sales discussed, including auction, a request for bids, listing with a licensed real estate broker, or giving an appraisal-based negotiated sale.
City Manager Matthew Alexander said the goal of the policy is to have a published document for the public to see for transparency.
On the same night, the Common Council was scheduled to vote on a resolution declaring the city-owned property at 946 Second St. as surplus and unneeded. The resolution would authorize a request for bids as the method of sale for the property but was tabled as well due to the policy vote being tabled.
The city-owned property on 946 Second St. has been the subject of debate among city officials and several residents calling for there to be an exclusive sale to resident Tanya Dwyer.
Dwyer, a director of foreclosure prevention and affordable housing advocate, envisioned transforming the property into an affordable two-family home and paid $7,500 for the appraisal and associated costs of the property, prior to the city asking others if they were interested in making a bid.
In sharing her concerns over how the policy would “benefit existing property owners,” she said, “One house does make a difference. We have people with jobs living in cars in Peekskill. We have people with jobs living in shelter in Peekskill. One house is going to make a tremendous difference to one of those communities. It’s going to keep them stable.”
Prior to her statement, Councilman Brian Fassett shared several recommendations for adjustments to the policy and voiced his support for the city having a policy, saying the city’s job is to protect taxpayers, restore public confidence, and secure value for the city assets at the highest priority.
“As city legislators, our role is not to pick the winners and the losers, but to ensure fair, consistent, and transparent procedures for all city transactions,” he said. “So I think heading into this policy, it will establish an open process for declaring value, selling surplus city property. It protects us against favoritism and ensures transparency for the residents.”
– Eric Harvey
Hillcrest Wins Disney Musicals Grant
Theatrical experiences are coming to Hillcrest Elementary Schools, thanks to Peekskill City School District being awarded the Disney Musicals in Schools: Stage Connect grant, which provides an online teacher training platform that helps public elementary schools produce “enduring” musical theater programs.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Mauricio and the board of education celebrated the announcement of the award at its meeting on Tuesday, May 19. Board president Jillian Villon made the district aware of the opportunity.
Principal Crystal Hernandez said the application included a written grant process and a video from teachers about how they would use the program to help their students and grow the program. Teachers concluded the video by singing part of “A Whole New World” from Disney’s Aladdin.
“When this wonderful opportunity came to our doorstep, Dr. Mauricio had reached out to me to say, ‘Hey, do you think we can make this happen?’ And we immediately said, ‘Of course,’ because that’s who we are,” Hernandez said. “We kind of hustled to make it happen. We sent out an email to our staff to be able to say, ‘Hey, we need six people for this to commit right now for a grant that we’re not sure we’re going to get, but we’re going to figure it out.’”
She continued, “And immediately the waterfall of emails started to pour in of people raising their hands, not even realizing what they were signing up for, but excited to bring this opportunity to our students.”
The theatrical experience is for the 2026-27 school year.
– Eric Harvey
City Adopts Amendments for Cannabis Districts
After opting to allow cannabis dispensaries and consumption facilities in 2022, the City of Peekskill is unable to expressly limit the number of dispensaries it can have. However, it can limit the locations where they appear.
On Tuesday, May 26, the Peekskill Common Council unanimously approved zoning text amendments reducing the number of zoning districts where cannabis dispensaries, consumption sites, and delivery services can be sited.
The proposed changes from the Planning Department limit dispensaries to M districts (M-1, M-2, and M2-B), C-1, and C-2 districts in Peekskill to reduce impacts on residential neighborhoods. It also requires applicants be awarded a license from the state before they can receive a special permit from the city.
According to the resolution, the amendment further prohibits licensed dispensaries, consumption sites, or delivery sites to be located within 1,000 feet of another licensed dispensary, consumption site, or delivery service, unless it receives public convenience and advantage approval from New York State Cannabis Management Board, in keeping with state regulations.
The vote followed a public hearing on May 11 where one speaker spoke in favor of keeping facilities in the downtown while another asked the council not to regulate consumption sites until the state has its regulations in place. It also follows ongoing pushback to more cannabis businesses from both city officials and residents, as well as owners of already existing dispensaries.
– Eric Harvey
Paramedic Named Westchester County’s 2025 ALS Provider of the Year
The Cortlandt-Peekskill Regional Paramedics (RPS) announced on May 22 that its newest full-time paramedic, Lirjie Mustafaj, was named Westchester County’s 2025 ALS Provider of the Year. EMS Awards were held on Tuesday, May 19, at Westchester Community College.
In a social media post, Cortlandt-Peekskill RPS said that in addition, Mustafaj, along with several of its paramedics, were recognized with Life Saving Awards through various agencies for their actions and commitment to patient care.
Those paramedics recognized for their dedication and teamwork include Paul Fialkovic, Daryn Baia, and Samjo Samson.
TOWN OF CORTLANDT
Flushing Man Arrested for Allegedly Scamming Croton Resident
A year after police said a Croton-on-Hudson resident was scammed out of $20,000, a man has been charged with attempted grand larceny.
The Croton-on-Hudson Police Department announced in a press release on May 22 that Rongyu Cheng, 33, of Flushing, New York, was arrested.
The arrest was the culmination of a year-long investigation related to crimes committed on May 9, 2025, by Cheng and another suspect, Dengjin Chen, who was previously arrested by detectives on May 10, 2025.
Police said last year a Village resident reported that he was having issues with his printer and called what he believed to be Hewlett-Packard customer support. The individual that answered convinced the victim to obtain $20,000 from the bank for someone to pick up later.
At about 2 p.m. that day, an unknown man, later identified by police as Chen, arrived at his residence to collect the money. He was accompanied by a driver, later identified as Cheng. After the pickup, police say the victim was contacted by the same individual he spoke with previously on the phone, who stated that the victim needed to give another $20,000. The victim advised the caller that the bank was closed and he would get the money the next day. The victim later discovered he was scammed and contacted the police.
Croton-on-Hudson detectives continued to investigate the case and gather evidence to identify and charge the driver involved in this crime. On May 20, 2026, an alert was issued through the Real Time Crime Center, and Cheng was detained by the Westchester County Police Department and turned over to the Croton-on-Hudson Police Department.
He was placed under arrest and charged with one count of attempted grand larceny in the third degree. He was arraigned on May 21, 2026, in the Village Justice Court and released on his own recognizance.
State of New York
Electeds Announce State Grants to Prevent Domestic Violence
State Sen. Pete Harckham, and Assemblymembers Dana Levenberg and Matt Slater announced on May 29 that 42 departments across 17 counties will receive $786,000 in state grant funding to respond to and prevent domestic violence, hold individuals who cause harm accountable for their actions, improve services, and better support survivors in their legislative districts.
A press release said the state grants were part of a $23 million investment in the Statewide Targeted Reductions in Intimate Partner Violence (STRIVE) initiative, now in its second year, which includes 42 police departments across 17 counties and increasing funded personnel to 110 full-time and 120 part-time positions. The grants also continue to support training and coordination among police departments, district attorneys’ offices, probation departments, and community-based service providers.
Grant awardees serving residents in Harckham and Levenberg’s legislative districts include Westchester County District Attorney’s Office (receiving $447,357), Hope’s Door (receiving $234,100), Westchester County Probation Department (receiving $75,000), and the Ossining, Peekskill, and Yorktown police departments (all receiving $10,000 each).
“This funding will assist us in strengthening our response to intimate partner violence cases and continuing to support victims in our community,” Peekskill Police Chief Adam Renwick said in a release. “Domestic violence calls are among the most sensitive and challenging incidents officers respond to, and programs like this help ensure we have the resources and partnerships needed to respond effectively.”
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