State and Local Officials Stress the Need for Collaboration, Effective Leadership at New York State Political Science Association Meeting
In a time of unrest and uncertainty, with political parties unable to come together, it’s hard to look past the noise and strive for collaboration. However, City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Yvonne Flowers and Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado provided guidance and hope at the New York State Political Science Association’s annual meeting held on campus.
The April 11 event was co-chaired by Associate Professor of Political Science Taneisha Means and Assistant Professor of Political Science Mallory Whiteduck.
“There probably is no more important topic in this political environment than what it is to collaborate across levels of government,” said Vassar President Elizabeth H. Bradley. “Our federal government has changed 180 degrees in two or three months, and that leaves the state and local governments reeling. How do we react to this?”
Flowers discussed her efforts to address homelessness, economic development, and infrastructure issues in Poughkeepsie, highlighting a $150 million lead pipe replacement project and a $10 million grant for downtown revitalization. She has done much of this by networking and learning from her political colleagues.
“When I was elected, I had to not only deal with the city’s challenges, but had to find a way to navigate through politics during a time when there was so much dissension in government,” said Flowers. “However, thanks to an amazing management team, staff, and council members, I felt better facing these challenges. I became confident when I started building relationships with individuals at all levels of government.”
For example, she credits state Attorney General Letitia James with ensuring the Dutchess County Drug Task Force had the resources and funding they needed to help police officers deal with the fentanyl crisis. “The Mayor of Mount Vernon, Shawyn Patterson-Howard, invited me to the United States Conference of Mayors, which I had known nothing about, but learned about resources that were available to me,” Flowers explained. “I learned about funding to help with the lead pipe replacement. Governor Kathy Hochul also gave us a pathway to receive more funding, and we became one of the first 20 cities in New York State to become pro-housing, which means that we get priority funding for housing and economic development.”
This resulted in the creation of two housing projects in the City of Poughkeepsie, valued at $7 million. Flowers listed many more positive outcomes from her networking and collaborations, including a $10 million grant that will spark economic growth within the city.
Congressman Pat Ryan invited Flowers to hear former President Joe Biden speak. “It was an interesting opportunity, but I see the divide between Democrats and Republicans, and it’s heartbreaking,” she said. “However, the relationships that I have formed have helped me get through my challenges.”
Flowers says it’s encouraging that she has a group of people that she can count on. “We want a better city and country, and these partnerships and collaborations are very important for that to happen. We don’t get along all the time and have disagreements, but we are working hard together to see our city grow.”
Delgado emphasized the importance of collaboration across government levels, highlighting the challenges of implementing federal policy changes and the need for effective leadership at the state and local levels. He also discussed his independent approach to governance and the necessity of bold, innovative leadership to navigate current political challenges.
However, more work needs to be done, he said, “in terms of who we are and where we’re going to be moving forward. It’s incumbent upon us now, and I think all states, for that matter, to figure out how to govern. The people in our states and our communities are relying on us to write this. We have to work collaboratively to figure out what communities are most stressed and which communities are most impacted, and navigate this, and not produce another round of partisan politics.”
Means said, “Much of our national discourse and media is consumed by federal politics, but our conference’s Friday keynote and Saturday plenary reminded us of a timeless truth: All politics is local.”
In addition to the panel, Town of Poughkeepsie Supervisor Rebecca Edwards also spoke to the stakes of this political moment. “She reminded us that some of the most critical issues transcend party lines (e.g., homelessness)—it’s not about red or blue, but about real community needs,” said Means. “Together, these three public servants demonstrated the power of bipartisan and multi-level cooperation, showing us that principled, people-first politics is not only possible—it’s happening in our local and state communities. I am happy that Vassar could host these critical talks.”