
On Tuesday, July 29th, CVH members met face to face with 3 of the most powerful Newburgh City Officials. Mayor Nick Valentine, City Manager Jean-Ann McGrane, and Director of Planning and Development Bob McKenna came to the Forum to answer to CVH's concerns about housing policies in the Master Plan and the planned Waterfront Development. 6 CVH members gave testimony about their experiences with housing living as a low income resident of Newburgh, and then asked a specific question to each of the City Officials.
On Monday, June 30th, the City of Newburgh held a small, exclusive press event announcing $1.25 million in state funds coming to support the proposed waterfront development. State Senator Bill Larkin and Secretary of State Lorraine Cortes-Vasquez were the invited guests, and Congressman Maurice Hinchey made a surprise appearance. Although the event was announced only days before, and was held under a tent set up to accommodate about 25 people, 5 CVH members made our way there.
On June 16th, Community Voices Heard members marched to Newburgh's City Hall and into the Council meeting that was happening that night. Even getting caught in a thunderstorm didn't stop almost 50 members from marching from our office on Lander St. to City Hall, where we held a press conference outside. CVH leaders Maretta Melvin, Anne Dehaney, and Brenda McPhail spoke at the press conference, and were interviewed for Cable 6 news!
On March 20, CVH members met with Newburgh's City Planner Ian MacDougall and Assistant Planner Garrett Duquesne. We invited him to meet with us so we could present our 6 recommendations for the City's Master Plan. The housing section of the Master Plan includes very little protections for low-income housing and very little direction to ensure affordable housing in the future. CVH members Jennifer Smith, Cleo McKinney, and Cleveland gave testimony about how their lives are impacted by the lack of good low-income housing and how the City could improve it with their Master Plan.