Mid Hudson Times Feb. 24 2016

TIMES MID HUDSON Vol. 28, No 8 3 FEBRUARY 24 - MARCH 1, 2016 Science medal Comedy night Page 20 Page 14 3 ONE DOLLAR SERVING NEWBURGH AND NEW WINDSOR Girl, 11, shot on Benkard Police appeal to public for information City approves $7.5 million for capital projects By SHANTAL RILEY [email protected] An 11-year-old child was shot near the corner of Liberty Street and Benkard Ave. on Friday. By SHANTAL RILEY [email protected] An 11-year-old girl was shot as she exited a taxicab on Friday. According to City of Newburgh Police, she was shot once in the hip. Police are now seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the shooter. The shooting took place around 10:30 p.m. as the girl exited a taxi with her mother on Benkard Avenue. An unknown shooter fired several shots from Liberty Street, city police said in a statement Saturday. The girl was taken to St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital for treatment. Her injury is not life threatening, police state, and her condition was reported to be stable on Monday. There were no other injuries in the shooting. “If anyone witnessed this incident, I urge them to speak with us,” city police Chief Dan Cameron said in the state- ment. “We cannot tolerate this violence in our community. Having information and not reporting it is a form of accepting this violence.” City Mayor Judy Kennedy echoed the appeal Monday. “Everybody in this community has got to help,” Kennedy said. “Sitting still and being quiet is not a neutral action. You are contributing to the violence in this city if you know who Continued on page 18 WWW.MIDHUDSONTIMES.COM The Newburgh City Council approved $7.5 million this week to pay for capital projects, including mandated sewer upgrades, bridge repairs and several police vehicles. The funding will be obtained through a bond anticipation note (BAN), expected to be issued by the city later this spring. Capital projects to be funded include the purchase of four police vehicles, repairs to the Mill Street Bridge, closed in 2014 after it was deemed a public safety hazard, and sewer system fixes required under a recent New York State Department of Environmental Conservation consent order. The City Council approved the BAN by a five-to-two vote at city hall on Monday. Councilwomen Cindy Holmes and Hillary Rayford opposed the resolution. “I need to see what I’m getting for my money as a taxpayer,” Holmes said, explaining her decision at the meeting. Another $500,000 is expected to be approved by the City Council next month for the demolition of ten dilapidated houses in the east section of the city. In order to approve this portion of the BAN funding, city Comptroller John Aber said, the council must wait until Continued on page 18