Mayor's Message

2024 Arbor Day & Tree Planting at GW School

Uptown Paving Completed

Hinchey Secures $6M for Kingston Bulkhead

Mayor Proposed School Zone Speed Cameras

MHET Home Upgrades Program

Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show

Weekly Roadwork Update

City of Kingston Job Opportunities

Mayor's Message:

Dear Friends -

This week, I met with the Public Safety committee to discuss Kingston acquiring school speed zone cameras. Our most common concern from residents is speeding, specifically in school zones. We have been working on infrastructure projects like the Henry Street and Franklin Street Safe Routes to School projects and the upcoming Clinton Avenue Transportation Project, we still have frequent reports of speeding in school zones.

I am so pleased to work with Senator Hinchey and Assemblyperson Shrestha to get approval to implement a demonstration project that not only captures speed data, but automatically tickets speeding vehicles, and mails the traffic violation to the registered owner.

Keeping our children safe in their community is a cornerstone of our jobs as elected officials, and I sincerely hope we will be able to get these cameras in place and create a safer atmosphere for our school children.

-Steve

Arbor Day 2024

This year's Arbor Day ceremony at George Washington Elementary School included peace singers, poems by students, and the planting of a sugar maple, courtesy of the Kingston Memorial Tree Fund.

Thanks to the GW students, Principal Wanda LoBianco, teachers & staff, and the Kingston Tree Commission for planning this lovely event!

Mayor Noble and Principal LoBianco with the newly planted sugar maple

Uptown Paving Completed

The first round of 2024 paving on North Front Street from Fair Street to Washington Avenue and Main Street from Clinton Avenue to Wall Street has been completed!

The next round of paving will be announced soon. Paving season is expected to continue through October 2024. 

Hinchey Secures $6M in NYS Budget for Kingston Bulkhead

This week, State Senator Michelle Hinchey visited the Kingston waterfront to celebrate securing $6M in the NYS budget to repair Kingston's Rondout Creek bulkhead. This vital funding will help us stabilize the shoreline, will structurally protect the Hudson River Maritime Museum building, and will give Hudson River Sloop Clearwater a safe place to dock for many years to come.

Read Senator Hinchey's announcement here.

School Zone Speed Cameras

Mayor Noble appeared at the Common Council’s Public Safety & General Government Committee meeting this week to discuss a School Speed Zone Demonstration Camera Program that would establish a school speed zone camera pilot program in the City of Kingston.

If approved by the Council in May, Senator Hinchey and Assemblyperson Shrestha will present the bill to the State Senate and Assembly. The Bills A9359 & S8607 would then have to be signed by the Governor.



New York City, Syracuse, and Albany have received approval previously and are instituting the speed zone cameras in their school zones. In NYC, they've seen vast improvements. In 2021, more than half of vehicles that received one violation did not receive a second. The number of violations at camera locations fell over 70 percent during the hours they were turned on, which both reduces the odds of a crash happening and reduces the likelihood of severe injury if a crash does happen. Some major roads within New York City saw even more dramatic improvements.

The average daily number of red light violations issued at camera locations fell by over 77% since the program began. Right-angle or “T-bone” crashes at camera locations are down 80%, and rear-end crashes are down 61%.

If you're in favor of Kingston passing legislation to allow these school speed zone cameras in our community, let your Alderperson know!

Deadline Tomorrow for Home Upgrade Grants Application

The deadline for Mid-Hudson Energy Transition (MHET) Home Upgrade Grants (HUG) is fast approaching! This program aims to assist residents in making crucial improvements to their homes for enhanced health, safety, and utility cost savings.

MHET will collaborate with income-qualified Kingston homeowners to leverage federal, state, and local clean energy incentives, facilitating home improvement projects that directly lower utility costs. Initiatives such as air sealing, insulation, and remediation of mold, lead, and asbestos are among the strategies aimed at improving affordability and sustainability.

The deadline for expressing interest is April 27, 2024. Interest forms can be found here.

Reach out to homes@mid-hudson.energy or 845-372-1728 with questions. More information at https://www.mid-hudson.energy/home-upgrade-grants/.

Mayor Noble's Listening Tour

We had a great turnout for the Ward 1 meeting this month!

Mayor Noble will continue his listening tour in Ward 2 on Monday, May 20. We have a new location for the meeting, which will now be held at Old Dutch Church. If you live or work in Ward 2, we hope to see you there!

The next Ward meetings will be announced in the coming week.

Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show

Mayor Noble's weekly radio show, "It's the Mayor" airs on Tuesdays at 5pm on Radio Kingston. This week, Mayor Noble spoke with Kristin Kessler, Project Manager in the City of Kingston's Department of Health & Wellness about her work with the Creating Healthy Schools grant.

Click below to hear their conversation!

Weekly Roadwork & Infrastructure Update

Post Office Park – work continues with excavating and pouring concrete for pathways, bench areas, and bicycle pads. Please be advised that these walkways contain glow stone and that residents may observe a slight glow from the park. This is part of the design and presents no harm to the public.

Henry Street Safe Routes to School project – Paving and remaining tree planting is being completed on Friday, April 26. No work is planned for week of April 29. Striping is expected in the week of May 6.

ADA Ramps Citywide – crews will continue excavating corners and pouring the curbs, ramps, and sidewalks along Pearl Street. Ramps on Pearl Street are expected to be completed in two weeks and then final restoration will begin. Restoration continues along Main Street.

Central Hudson – Construction will continue next week on Saint James Street between Green Street and Prospect St. Expect road closures and/or detours in areas of active construction.

Weekly roadwork updates will be posted on the City website here.

Paving today on Henry Street

City of Kingston Job & Board Opportunities

The City of Kingston is hiring! The following positions are currently open: 



Traffic Electrician

Engineering Technician

Junior Planning Aide

Motor Equipment Mechanic 

Wastewater Treatment Plant Mechanic II

Upcoming Civil Service Exams include:

Business Manager on June 1, 2024

Youth Advocate on June 1, 2024

More information available at https://kingston-ny.gov/employment.

The City of Kingston has over 25 boards & commissions, and we're always looking for volunteers to serve the community.

Find the application at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KingstonBoards.

The Kingston 311 app, website, and phone system allow residents to quickly and easily report issues and submit service requests.

The Kingston 311 app, available for Android & iPhones, is a fast and simple way to connect to City officials in non-emergency situations. Photos can be attached to illustrate service orders.



This system is a valuable resource to submit municipal service requests. Examples include:

• Streetlight replacement
• City signage, including overgrowth blocking traffic signs
• Snow removal, reporting parking violations, and other snow-related issues
• Parks & playground repairs
• Report graffiti or vandalism
• Trail issues

Dial 311 from any phone within City limits to reach us, use the app or visit www.kingston-ny.gov/311/