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February 22, 2019 - In This Issue:
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A Message From Mayor Steve Noble:
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Dear Friends -
Between the snow and ice this week, I've had the chance to attend some great Black History Month events. City Hall hosted the Hudson Valley Youth Jazz Orchestra in the Council Chambers on Saturday morning, which was a nice tribute to honor jazz's history. Parks & Recreation's Soul Food & Gospel event was an uplifting celebration with great food and music. There are more exceptional events still happening through the end of the month. Details can be found at the Black History Month Kingston
website.
We announced a series of important meetings this week. The Common Council wants to hear from Kingston residents about their housing issues and concerns over the course of seven Housing Hearings at City Hall. Each hearing will address different stakeholders including homeowners, tenants, landlords, developers, policy advocates and housing insecure or homeless. Please
contact your Alderman if you would like to testify before the Council and
represent one of these interests.
Last week on my radio show, I talked with Brenna Robinson, the City's Director of Economic and Community Development about the Community Development Block Grant and how it helps address housing issues in the City. On Monday, I'll continue the conversation with Majority Leader Scott-Childress. There will be many opportunities to have your voice heard regarding housing, and I hope you will join the conversation.
-Steve
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Housing Hearings to Begin February 28
This week, Majority Leader Reynolds Scott-Childress announced a series of Housing Hearings to take place over seven sessions at City Hall. The meetings will serve to inform the Common Council of the community's housing needs and issues so the Council can consider for policy change or resolution.
The first meeting of the series will be a forum, during which the floor will be open for all residents to speak about housing issues. The subsequent hearings will each address different stakeholders, and the Council will invite speakers to give testimony and represent their interests. Residents who would like to provide insight in one of the six areas by giving testimony, should contact their Alderman or the Majority Leader. The goal of these hearings is to have all groups and interests fairly represented.
February 28 Open forum: Council to ask for community input, at 6:00pm
March 6 Homeowners, at 6:30pm
March 11 Tenants, at 6:30pm
April 8 Landlords, at 6:30pm
April 29 Developers, at 6:30pm
May 1 Homeless and housing insecure, at 6:30pm
May 29 Policy advocates, at 6:30pm
The Common Council further invites all residents to provide stories, solutions, and expertise beyond the open forum. Please address comments to City Hall, 420 Broadway, Kingston NY 12401 or ward3@kingston-ny.gov
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Hudson Valley Youth Jazz Concert at City Hall
On Saturday, i
n honor and celebration of Black History Month, City Hall hosted the Hudson Valley Youth Jazz Orchestra and Ward 9 Alderwoman, Andrea Shaut, for a free concert and presentation on the history of jazz. The Hudson Valley Youth Jazz Orchestra, led by Bob & Dan Shaut, gave a wonderful performance in Council Chambers.
Mayor Noble, Bob Shaut, Alderwoman Andrea Shaut and Dan Shaut
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Henry Street Safe Routes to School Public Meeting
Residents are invited to attend a public information meeting to provide input on a preliminary design of the Henry Street Safe Routes to School Project at a meeting on March 5, 2019 from 4:30 to 6 pm.
This project, funded in part by the New York State Department of Transportation's Transportation Alternatives Program, aims to improve the Henry Street streetscape from Broadway to the George Washington Elementary School by improving access for pedestrians and bicyclists. One of the important goals of the project is to increase safety for children traveling to and from school. It is also part of Mayor Noble's transportation strategy to safely connect the City's sidewalks and paths to better serve pedestrians and cyclists and to improve the quality of life for all Kingston residents.
The proposed design includes reconstruction of sidewalks, addition of trees and a side-path for walking and biking, a covered bicycle rack at the school, and traffic calming measures in front of the school on Wall Street. On-street parking will be preserved with this design, and the street will be paved once the project is completed.
The preliminary design will be available at
https://www.kingston-ny.gov/henrystreet on March 5. Written comments about the project design can be submitted through
this survey, or by mail to Kristen Wilson, Director of Grants Management, City Hall, 420 Broadway, Kingston, NY, 12401 or in person at the main office at the George Washington Elementary School, 67 Wall Street, Kingston. All written comments must be received by Friday, March 29 at 4:30pm.
Henry Street Safe Routes to School Project Public Information Meeting
Tuesday, March 5, 2019 (Snow Date: Tuesday, March 12)
4:30 - 6:00pm
George Washington Elementary School Auditorium
67 Wall Street, Kingston, NY
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Parks & Recreation's Black History Events
Parks & Recreation hosted a series of free events to commemorate Black History Month, including last night's Gospel & Soul Food Night at the Rondout Neighborhood Center. We enjoyed delicious soul food, music, dancing and incredible vocal performances. It was a treat to hear Alderwoman Rita Worthington sing along with New Progressive Baptist Church gospel choir!
Carnival Night will be held tonight, Friday, February 22 at 6:00pm at the Rondout Neighborhood Center. There will be food and games, and is another fun opportunity to celebrate and honor Black History in our community.
Riverview Baptist Church Gospel Singers
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Mondays with the Mayor
Last week's guest on "Mondays with the Mayor" on Radio Kingston, was Brenna Robinson, the Director of Economic and Community Development. We discussed housing assistance and the Community Development Block Grant process.
Click
here to listen to the entire interview.
The conversation on housing issues will continue this Monday with Majority Leader Reynolds Scott-Childress, who will be on the show discussing upcoming Housing Hearings that the Common Council will be hosting. Listen live on Monday at 3:30pm at RadioKingston.org or 1490AM.
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Kingston Happenings 
The City of Kingston often receives requests to share upcoming events happening in our community. Our partners at
KingstonHappenings.org
do an excellent job of centralizing this community information. So while our website is the best resource to gain information about City of Kingston sponsored events and important municipal information, Kingston Happenings can give you a greater preview of community events. Check them out today!
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