Sarah Salem resigning  as Councilmember At-Large of the City of Poughkeepsie Common Council

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Effective Immediately, I will be resigning from my position as Councilmember At-Large of the City of Poughkeepsie Common Council. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve the City of Poughkeepsie community as the Council Chair and as a ward representative for the last four and a half years. Due to the verdict delivered today in court, I believe it in the best interest of the Common Council and the city to step aside and allow my colleagues to conduct the important business before them without distraction.

 

While I am sad to leave this role, I remain firm in my commitment to helping our city thrive and am proud of what we were able to accomplish during my time as the Chair of the Council and representative of the community.  During my tenure as Chair, I and my colleagues accomplished much,  including establishing a Land Bank, initiating a Municipal ID for city residents, advancing critical environmental policies, such as a Natural Resources Inventory and Renewable Energy sourcing program, promoting Climate Smart Communities and smart growth, as well as advocating for food and housing justice, racial justice, public safety reforms, voting reforms, and human rights protections that will contribute to securing a more equitable and livable future for City of Poughkeepsie residents. I am proud to have been the first openly non-binary elected official in Poughkeepsie and New York State and will continue to work to ensure that LGBTQ+ members of our community feel welcomed and empowered.

 

I wish Vice Chair Cherry well as she assumes the role of Chair until the Council is able to carry out City Charter Section 2.08 subsection b to fill the vacancy for the remainder of this term. I thank my colleagues and friends for their support during this difficult time and trust the Common Council will continue to faithfully serve the residents of this city in my absence.

Sincerely,

Sarah Salem

Author: Harlem Valley News