Poughkeepsie Mayor Flowers Attends State Of The Union Address

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — Poughkeepsie Mayor Yvonne Flowers attended the State of the Union address Thursday as the guest of Rep. Pat Ryan, D-Gardiner, and was able to meet with other elected officials.

Flowers said it was a tremendous experience attending the event and said she was grateful to Ryan for inviting her.

“Anytime I have the chance to promote our city and get an audience with those who can provide us with financial assistance and resources, I believe it’s imperative for me to tak that opportunity and make the most of it,” she said.

Flowers and Ryan met with leaders of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to discuss bringing infrastructure funds to Poughkeepsie.

They also met with Georgia Rep. Lucy McBath, who previously led “Moms Demand Action,” a group dedicated to ending gun violence.

Ryan called Flowers a “true champion” for her community.

“She’s a history-making leader, driven purely by service, empathy and care for her neighbors,” he said. “I’m proud to have her as a partner in the fight to address the housing affordability crisis, combat gun violence and remove lead pipes.”

Flowers is a lifelong Poughkeepsie resident and is the city’s first African American mayor. Her dedication to serving the community was instilled in her early in life, following in the footsteps of her father, community leader John M. Flowers Sr.