Mid Hudson Times Oct. 31 2018

T IMES MID HUDSON Vol. 30, No. 44 3 OCTOBER 31 - NOVEMBER 6, 2018 Fall back on Saturday Cupcake A-Palooza Page 29 3 ONE DOLLAR SERVING NEWBURGH AND NEW WINDSOR Jacobsen and Manley battle for 104th Assembly seat Alembic fallout A divided city looks to move forward By KATELYN CORDERO [email protected] Jacobson Katelyn Cordero Councilwoman Hilary Rayford (r.) blows on a kazoo to celebrate the defeat of the propsed Alembic project at the council’s Oct. 22 meeting. By KATELYN CORDERO [email protected] The City of Newburgh was left divided and bruised by the Alembic project that split the community in half. The project to renovate the Dutch Reformed Church, The City Club and 2 Montgomery Street was rejected by the city council with a vote of two abstentions, four in favor and one against. Members of the community and city council took turns at the city council meeting on October 22 at City Hall voicing their opinions on the issue. The tension in the room was thick as time came for the vote. Councilwoman Karen Mejia prepared a speech showing the impact the project had on her personally. “Over the past year I have held my tongue despite some of the blatant lies that have come out the mouths of the most vocal opponents to the Alembic project,” said Mejia. “I have sat here patiently week after week month after month as some of you have attempted to slander my reputation, insulted my family and insulted the dignity of low income people and the integrity of people with disabilities in the City of Newburgh and especially those who deserve a decent place to call home just like everybody else.” Over the process of the project Mejia was accused of having a conflict of interest with the developers of the project. She spoke out on Monday night to push back against the people who made the allegations. One of the men she called out was Drew Kartiganer, a man who has spoken up to council time and time again. “I will start with you Drew Kartiganer you self righteous hypocrite how dare you insult my integrity by making the most ridiculous and false accusations,” said Mejia. No matter how often you repeat the same lie it is untrue. But more importantly I want you to understand that just because I’m sitting on this side of the table I will not be lectured by a shady landlord that was caught Continued on page 7 WWW.MIDHUDSONTIMES.COM Manley Two Newburgh residents are in the race for the 104th Assembly District. Jonathan Jacobson of the City of Newburgh and Scott Manley of the Town of Newburgh are in the race for the position. The winner of the election will fill in a vacant seat left in the place of Frank Skartados, who passed away in April. The district includes Poughkeepsie, Beacon, the City and Town of Newburgh, Marlborough and Lloyd. Voting will take place on November 6 from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. To find your polling place visit election.ny.gov. Jonathan Jacobson Jacobson is running for the 104th assembly district in the hopes of ending the reliance on property taxes to fund schools, replaced with a statewide tax and sales. He looks to pass a women’s Continued on page 3