Poughkeepsie mayor urges local help after Social Security office closure; city outlines immigrant outreach

Poughkeepsie Mayor Flowers said the city is coordinating with county and federal partners after the local Social Security office was removed from the renovation list and services were redirected to Middletown, and she described steps the city will take to help residents access benefits.

The mayor told the Common Council the city is discussing transportation options and shared-service approaches with the county, and working with federal elected officials to preserve access to Social Security services. “Right now, the services are going to be diverted to Middletown,” Mayor Flowers said. She added the city and county are exploring options including satellite or pop-up service locations and in-person help for seniors who must use online systems.

The matter drew public comment from Daniel Latona, who said the city should do more to provide immigrant residents with information about their legal rights. “Being an undocumented immigrant is not a crime,” Latona said, and urged the city to distribute…