Jeremy Escobar and Nayeli Valenzuela, both 18-year-olds, told Spectrum News they have constantly been hearing their whole lives that Newburgh is about to turn a corner and begin to prosper, though they have not seen the progress yet.
To hear now that the city is close to insolvency, mass-layoffs of city employees are being considered, and taxes might go up, they could make the big move now that they are both adults.
Both lived in Newburgh during the 2008 recession when the city implemented layoffs similar to the ones proposed during this week's 2020 budget presentation. Valenzuela referenced that era.
"I don't see myself staying in Newburgh," Valenzuela said during a quick break from skateboarding outside the city activity center. "I've seen the way Newburgh was before, and if that's what it's like, I wouldn't stay here. I'd rather create my own life somewhere else."
"Growing up here, I've seen tons of problems," Escobar added. "I've been listening to shootouts going on in the middle of the night and knowing now the city's starting to go bankrupt, I feel like that's a really big sign it's time to move out."
During a packed council meeting at the activity center, administrators blamed decades of financial mismanagement for the city's financial hole. Councilmembers were shocked when the city manager said layoffs, fee and tax increases could be the only way to keep Newburgh operational in 2020.
Personnel and benefits make up about 70 percent of the city's budget, leaving administrators few other areas to trim from. Nancy Lane, a mother of a city firefighter and a city police officer, said it seems the city has no creative short-term or long-term solutions.
The proposed budget includes layoffs of up to 12 firefighters and 13 police officers, as well as a 10 percent metered water fee increase and a 6 percent increase to the sewer fee.
Lane scoffed at those ideas and fears it could hurt the city in the future.
"We're going to be chasing everybody away," Lane said, "and we need that tax base."
Lane, a Newburgher since 1979, said she has no plans to move and has already mentioned her latest idea for a short-term solution to a few councilmembers.
"[Mount Saint Mary College], SUNY Orange, the hospital — they have a lot of money," Lane said. "They will call our police and firefighters if they have a problem, but they're not paying towards it. They're tax exempt. I think they should be chipping in and paying a share to help us out of this thing. Make a donation."
Mayor Torrance Harvey said at Tuesday's meeting the council would welcome ideas to create new revenue from the public.
Just before the meeting, City Manager Joe Donat told a Spectrum News reporter that administrators have not found any magic solution, but said he has confidence that staff will help the city claw its way to stability.
"We'll get through this," Donat said of the city's financial crisis. "It's just not exactly clear how."