Ramon Fernandez

To the Editor, of The Peekskill Herald:

​I want to begin by thanking Mayor McKenzie and the Common Council for responding quickly to the concerns raised by residents regarding local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. In a moment filled with fear and deeply troubling headlines, their willingness to listen matters.

​Peekskill’s diversity is personal to me. Born in the U.S. and raised in the Dominican Republic, I have called Peekskill home for 20 years. I see my family reflected in our neighbors. However, that sense of safety is currently fragile. Many within our Hispanic community are afraid to do ordinary things—grocery shop, take kids to school, or call the police—out of fear of ICE.

The reality we are seeing across the nation, is that racial profiling often outweighs legal status when it comes to detentions.

​Resolutions are a fantastic first step, but they are not enough. I strongly agree with the comments made by School Board Member Ángel Flores at the Common Council meeting on January 12th. As Trustee Flores rightly stated, "A resolution isn’t a law... Resolutions mean nothing. Laws are what we need."

​Having served as a Councilman; I know that resolutions express intent but are not binding. They can be reversed and do not provide the same clarity for city employees or law enforcement as a formal law.

​I urge the Common Council to take the next step: codify these protections into a Peekskill For All ordinance/local law. An ordinance/local law creates clear, lasting expectations that exist beyond any one administration. It brings transparency and ensures that our local resources are used to protect everyone, not to assist in federal overreach.

​Peekskill calls itself a “friendly town.” Living up to that name requires more than words; it requires the permanence of law. Let us move from resolution to ordinance/local law to ensure Peekskill remains a home for all.

​Respectfully,

​Ramon Fernandez
Former City of Peekskill Councilman

Al editor de The Peekskill Herald:

Quiero comenzar agradeciendo al alcalde McKenzie y al Consejo Municipal por responder rápidamente a las preocupaciones planteadas por los residentes con respecto a la cooperación local con las autoridades federales de inmigración. En un momento lleno de miedo y noticias profundamente inquietantes, su disposición a escuchar es fundamental.

La diversidad de Peekskill es muy importante para mí. Nacido en Estados Unidos y criado en la República Dominicana, he vivido en Peekskill durante 20 años. Veo a mi familia reflejada en nuestros vecinos. Sin embargo, esa sensación de seguridad es actualmente frágil. Muchos miembros de nuestra comunidad hispana tienen miedo de realizar actividades cotidianas, como ir de compras, llevar a sus hijos a la escuela o llamar a la policía, por temor a ICE.

La realidad que vemos en todo el país es que el perfil racial a menudo prevalece sobre el estatus legal en lo que respecta a las detenciones.

Las resoluciones son un excelente primer paso, pero no son suficientes. Estoy totalmente de acuerdo con los comentarios del miembro de la Junta Escolar, Ángel Flores, en la reunión del Consejo Municipal del 12 de enero. Como bien señaló el concejal Flores: "Una resolución no es una ley... Las resoluciones no significan nada. Lo que necesitamos son leyes".

Habiendo sido concejal, sé que las resoluciones expresan una intención, pero no son vinculantes. Pueden ser revocadas y no brindan la misma claridad a los empleados municipales ni a las fuerzas del orden que una ley formal.

Insto al Consejo Municipal a dar el siguiente paso: codificar estas protecciones en una ordenanza/ley local de "Peekskill para Todos". Una ordenanza/ley local crea expectativas claras y duraderas que trascienden cualquier administración. Aporta transparencia y garantiza que nuestros recursos locales se utilicen para proteger a todos, no para colaborar con los abusos del gobierno federal.

Peekskill se autodenomina una "ciudad amigable". Estar a la altura de ese nombre requiere más que palabras; requiere la permanencia de la ley. Pasemos de la resolución a la ordenanza/ley local para garantizar que Peekskill siga siendo un hogar para todos.

Atentamente,

Ramon Fernandez
Exconcejal de la ciudad de Peekskill

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https://peekskillherald.com/35608/news/reader-mail-theres-lots-on-your-mind/

How can you call for the protection of peaceful protesters in Iran while American citizens are being killed in Minneapolis?
¿Cómo se puede pedir que no maten a manifestantes pacíficos en Irán, cuando están matando a tu propio pueblo estadounidense en Minneapolis?

La familia Romero les invita cordialmente a la Misa de Memorial por el eterno descanso de Manuel Romero (Romero Taxi). Al cumplirse un mes de su partida, nos reunimos para honrar su memoria y celebrar su vida.
​Cuándo: Este sábado 24 de enero a las 10:00 AM
​Dónde: Iglesia de la Asunción, 131 Union Ave, Peekskill, NY

The Romero family invites you to join us for a Memorial Mass to pray for the eternal rest of Manuel Romero (Romero Taxi). One month after his passing, we gather to honor his memory and celebrate his life.
​When: This Saturday, Jan. 24th at 10:00 AM
​Where: Church of the Assumption, 131 Union Ave, Peekskill, NY

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Happy Thanksgiving!
Today, our hearts overflow with gratitude to God. We give thanks for our families, for the precious gift of life, for health, for meaningful work, and for the blessings of shelter, clothing, and food He provides. Above all, we are grateful for the opportunity to serve others.

Our wish today is for all who lack food, shelter, and clothing to be blessed with these necessities. We also extend our deepest thanks for cherished friendships and for everyone who enriches our lives. May your day be filled with warmth, love, and bountiful blessings!

¡Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias!
Hoy, nuestros corazones rebosan de gratitud a Dios. Damos gracias por nuestras familias, por el precioso regalo de la vida, por la salud, por el trabajo significativo y por las bendiciones de un techo, ropa y alimentos que Él nos provee. Sobre todo, estamos agradecidos por la oportunidad de servir a los demás.

Nuestro deseo hoy es que todos aquellos que carecen de alimentos, techo y ropa sean bendecidos con estas necesidades. También extendemos nuestro más profundo agradecimiento por las amistades preciadas y por todos los que enriquecen nuestras vidas. ¡Que su día esté lleno de calidez, amor y abundantes bendiciones!

November 7, 2025
To the Editor:

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude to the citizens of Peekskill following the recent mayoral election and to offer my congratulations to Mayor Vivian McKenzie on her re-election.

First and foremost, I offer my thanks to God, as I always have, for making the impossible possible. I also want to thank the community for its incredible support. My deep appreciation goes out to my family—my wife Elizabeth (Mercedes) , my children Angelica, Elizabeth, and Anthony—and my phenomenal campaign manager Meghan Sheldon and the entire team, including Amy, Michael, Dana, Domenica, Kidy, and Mike, along with all the volunteers, youth, seniors, community leaders, small donors, and business owners who stood with me.

Crucially, I want to acknowledge the 32% of voters who crossed party lines to support our community-focused campaign. You are the heroes of this race, and you deserve to be heard. While we did not prevail this time—which is the nature of democracy and running against a major party—I believe the message of our campaign resonated with many.

I offer my sincere best wishes to Mayor McKenzie for her new two-year term. “If she does well, Peekskill will do well, and we all want that,” I affirmed on election night. Though I will be stepping back briefly from direct political involvement to focus on family and personal life, I’m not going anywhere. I promise to remain very active locally, driving my taxi and focusing on community engagement.

I want to end with a strong call to action: I encourage and ask all citizens, especially those in leadership positions, not to lose hope and not to be afraid to actively participate in politics. Our democracy weakens if we cease to participate.

I urge our city’s leaders and citizens alike to analyze the troubling decline in voter turnout in our local elections over the past decade. The numbers speak for themselves:

| Year | Total Votes | Key Observation

| 2017 | 4,973 | Closely contested race:

2,528 (D) Andre Rainey

2,445 (R) Frank Catalina

| 2019 | 4,902 | |

| 2021 | 3,907 | Significant drop in turnout |

| 2023 | 2,490 | Unopposed incumbent (lowest turnout in the last four cycles) |

| 2025 | 2,417 | The lowest turnout in a contested mayoral race (1,641 (D) McKenzie vs. 772 (TLP) Fernandez) |

We must ask ourselves: What has happened, and how can we change to increase voter turnout, since it has been declining so considerably? Analyzing this trend is vital for the health of our city’s democratic process.

Thank you all very much. May God bless the city of Peekskill.

Sincerely,
Councilman Ramon Fernandez
Peekskill, NY

peekskillherald.com

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Ramón Fernández agradece el apoyo tras las elecciones Concejal de Peekskill Ramón Fernández, agradece a los votantes, felicita a Vivian McKenzie y llama a fortalecer la participación electoral