Mid Hudson Times Mar. 13 2019 | Page 4

4 Mid Hudson Times, Wednesday, March 13, 2019 I n B rief City Dems make endorsements The City of Newburgh Democratic Committee voted to endorse four candidates for the City of Newburgh offices on the November ballot. The endorsement vote was held after the conclusion of a 90- minute Candidate Forum that covered issues from water security and economic development to infrastructure and gentrification. “For the three seats on the City Council, we had six excellent candidates making strong presentations before an audience of nearly 50 people,” observed Deborah Danzy, Vice Chair of the Democratic Committee. The City of Newburgh Democratic Committee made the following endorsements: Mayor Torrance Harvey for the Mayoral seat. Council Member Robert Sklarz for the Ward 3 City Council seat. Council Member Anthony Grice for the Member at Large seat. Steven Majano for the Member at Large City Council seat. The candidates that participated in the Forum were Rocio Silva and Council Member Robert Sklarz for the Ward 3 City Council seat, Council Member Anthony Grice, Steven Majano, Michelle Basch, and Omari Shakur for the two Member at Large seats, and Mayor Harvey for the Mayoral seat. Candidates are collecting signatures for their Designating Petitions throughout the month of March. The Primary Election is Tuesday, June 25, and the General Election is Tuesday, November 5,. City adopts Danskammer resolution The Newburgh City council unanimously passed a resolution to apply for intervenor funding at Monday night’s meeting. The resolution is not necessarily in opposition of the Danskammer Energy plant, it merely states the city will apply for intervenor funding to become party to the Article 10 Process. The resolution calls on the City Manager to file a notice of intent to become party to the Article 10 application proceeding and to submit an application for intervenor funds. Becoming a party to the Article 10 process means the city will be able to provide information to the Article 10 application submitted by Danskammer Energy. The intervenor funding can only be used to pay for expert witnesses, consultants, administrative costs and legal fees associated to information submitted for the sitting board in the Article 10 process. Some council members have vocalized their opposition to Danskammer Energy Plant publicly, Councilwoman Patty Sofokles is still on the fence with her decision regarding Danskammer. “With Danskammer I’m looking to get the intervenor funding. I don’t know what’s going to happen when Indian Point closes,” said Sofokles. “The gas pipe is already there we also have to be concerned with what’s going to happen in 2020 when Indian Point closes. I support renewable energy but can we get that in 2 years before Indian point closes.” -Katelyn Cordero New smoking laws adopted The Newburgh City council passed a new smoking law in the City of Newburgh prohibiting smoking in public places. The law is an amendment to the local law on tobacco. Councilman Anthony Grice spearheaded the initiative working with local anti-smoking groups and corporate counsel Michelle Kelson to create the legislation. The purpose of the amendment is to reduce the exposure of secondhand smoke to the public, especially for children and to reduce litter and contamination in public places. The prohibits smoking in city parks, outdoor recreation areas, in areas or events where people cannot readily escape second hand smoke, within 25 feet of an area with a mobile vending cart, or a mobile vendor operating on city-owned or city-leased property, within 25 feet of the entrance or window to any city owned property or mass transit shelter. The fines will begin at $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second offense, and $250 for a third offense and each violation following that. This law will go into effect on May 1, 2019, once the proper signage is put up on the necessary properties. -Katelyn Cordero Five arrested in NW spa operations The New Windsor Police have announced the arrest of five women were arrested following an undercover operation into illegal massages and prostitution occurring at four Spas / Massage Parlors in the Town of New Windsor Four spas were targeted by New Windsor Town Police, State Police from the Community Stabilization Unit and troopers from the Middletown and Montgomery barracks. At the Moon & Sun Spa at 357 Old Forge Hill Road, Hyekyung Baek, 47, of Woodbury, was charged with unauthorized practice of profession and prostitution. At Orange Spa at 276 Winsor Highway, Enshu Kim, 44, of Flushing, was charged with unauthorized practice of profession and prostitution. At 207 Relaxation Spa at 899 Little Britain Road, Aijin Ying, 44, of Flushing was charged with unauthorized practice of profession and resisting arrest. At A&A Spa at 357 Windsor Highway, Yu-Xian Cui, 53, of Flushing and Zhen-Shun Zhu, 62, of Flushing, were each charged with unauthorized practice of profession and prostitution. All five were released after posting $1,000 cash bail each. NJ man is fugitive from justice On Tuesday, March 129 at approximately 09:50 a.m., the City of Newburgh police department received a phone call stating that a man had taken a gun from a vehicle and ran into Apartment #15 of the Mullins Apartment complex at 40 Walsh Road. Officers from the City of Newburgh, Town of New Windsor, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene and set up a perimeter around the apartment. A short time later a female and child exited the apartment and it was learned that a male and small child were still inside. Entry was made into the residence and Irvington New Jersey resident Eric T. Stevens, 31, was arrested. Stevens was charged with being a fugitive from justice stemming from a New Jersey bench warrant for Murder in the 1st degree, signed on September 24, 2018 by the Honorable Judge Ronald Wigler. Mr. Stevens was held pending arraignment. As a result of the Investigation City of Newburgh resident Quincy Howard, age 29, was charged with Falsely Reporting an Incident in the Third Degree. Mr. Howard was charged and released pending arraignment on Thursday, March 14. No one was injured as a result of this incident. Next giving day is March 15 The monthly giving day at St. Mary’s Church in Newburgh will take place on Friday, March 15 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Organizer Marietta Allen said the following items will be available in Mannix Hall of the former St. Mary’s School building to eligible residents: walnuts, yellow American cheese, genoa salami, seafood, beef, chicken, pork loin, pork taco meat, deli, hot dogs, instant potatoes, eggs, milk, mayonnaise, grapes, plums, frozen entrees, almond butter, blueberry butter, Ritz crackers, rice, beans, elbow macaroni, soup, condiments, cereal, spaghetti, sauce, cookies, candy, canned fruits and vegetables, personal hygiene items, and baby items. Giving Day is open to one member of each household. Please bring some form of identification, including a utility bill. Future Giving Days, always on the third Friday of the month, are April 19 (Good Friday), May 17 and June 21. Contact Allen at 541-8144 for more information Deputies to participate in St. Patrick’s Stop DWI crackdown Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus, Sheriff Carl E. DuBois, District Attorney David Hoovler, and STOP-DWI Coordinator Craig W. Cherry announced today that police will be cracking down on impaired drivers in Orange County throughout St. Patrick’s Day weekend. The Orange County Stop-DWI program is providing funding to police agencies to provide for police sobriety checkpoints and extra patrols to help ensure that our roadways will be safe. “St. Patrick’s Day if you are attending an event where alcohol will be served: • Designate a sober driver before the party begins and give that person your car keys. • If you don’t have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home, call a cab, sober friend or family member to pick you up or just stay where you are until you are sober. • Never let a friend leave your sight if you think they are about to drive while drunk.