Community Conversation Recap

New City manager

Thanks to Arianna Koudounas who organized the 4th community conversation that was attended by the new city manager, Michael Ciaravino. Over 70 were in attendance for this conversation. Here’s a recap of everything that happened:

Newburgh City Manager Michael Ciaravino spoke to a large group of Newburgh residents at Mount Saint Mary College on Sunday, July 20, as part of the Newburgh Community Conversation series.

Ciaravino’s topic was “Newburgh: A Report Back on Economic Development.”  The event was hosted and sponsored by the Mount in the newly renovated Dominican Center, formerly Mount Saint Mary Academy. Lisa Gallina, director of admissions for Mount graduate and adult degree programs, introduced Conversation Facilitator Arianna Koudounas and Ciaravino.

Ciaravino has been Newburgh’s city manager for six weeks, since moving his family here from the Cleveland, Ohio area. He’s covered quite a lot of ground in Newburgh already, both figuratively and literally. He’s ridden along on police patrols, observed city employees at work, responded with fire fighters to a call, and “cleaned” the windows of City Hall.

Ciaravino described his early experiences in Newburgh, and spoke about his vision for revitalizing Newburgh as a post-Industrial American city. “Newburgh can be an example. How will the urban centers in post-industrial America recreate themselves in ways that are meaningful and sustainable? We can help to set the bar.”

Attendees were also pleased to hear that Ciaravino plans to move this family from Ohio to Newburgh very soon. If you would like more information about Newburgh Community Conversations, contact Arianna  arianna.koudounas(at)gmail.com.

One Comment

  • ‘Er, the ‘Check Engine Light’ is on. Another emergency sewer repair…
    http://www.cityofnewburgh-ny.gov/home/news/road-closure-grand-street
    This makes five such repairs in the ‘City since the beginning of July ’14 alone, that I’m aware of, and Lake St. over the Quassaick creek has been closed since June 7 ’14 (also linked to a sewer line leak). In addition, Central Hudson has been busy either “monitoring” or repairing gas line leaks. Yet, tptb unremittingly remain silent on this issue. Any one who has “restored” an old house knows that emergency repairs are a costly buy of time. I’ll add, the DPW is not a contractor of the lowest bid to be sold short to mend an infrastructure that needs a major capital improvement. “Revitalization”? “Growth”? ‘Adds a whole new dimension to the proverbial five lb. bag. The two carrying costs of a functioning city, one running inanimate a few feet below ground and the other walking and breathing upright above, are about to exceed sustainability. Am I missing something? Does Newburgh have a wild card it hasn’t played yet or has cognitive dissonance finally gone parabolic?
    I’ll assume the Lander St. project is to be a Gated community encompassing housing equipped with dry toilets and wood stoves.