City of Beacon Fires Highway Department Employee One Day After He Files Harassment Complaint

On January 7th, 2026, the City of Beacon fired Highway Department employee James (aka Jimmy or Jim) Cottrell one day after he submitted a formal Discriminatory Harassment Complaint to the City of Beacon, received by the City’s Human Resource Director, Sara Morris on January 6th, 2026.

Jimmy was hired by the City of Beacon on December 19th 2022 as a Motor Equipment Operator, according to the Resolution appointing him. This date is also on his Letter of Recommendation that his supervisor and Highway Department Superintendent of Streets, Michael (Mickey) Manzi wrote when hiring James. In that letter, the hiring of James was due to a “recent resignation,” though the name of the person who resigned was not given.

One Highway Department resignation that year was from Edward (Eddie) McNair from the same position of Motor Equipment Operator, who resigned effective April 25, 2022 due to unresolved “racial issues” and “forms of retaliation,” according to Eddie’s resignation letter submitted to the City of Beacon’s HR Director Sara Morris that A Little Beacon Blog has seen. Eddie is also known in the community as a coach for Beacon Hoops and the middle school boys basketball team, among other involvements.

James Cottrell’s Termination Letter Packet from the City of Beacon dated January 6, 2026.

James’ Discriminatory Harassment Complaint form was submitted to Beacon’s HR Director Sara through the window at Town Hall, and hand-stamped to have been received on 1/6/2025. However, James submitted it on 1/6/2026, the day before he was terminated. He received a text from Sara saying that she received the complaint, but wondered if the hand-written typo was an error or on purpose. That was the last he heard from the City of Beacon about his complaint.

The next correspondence James received was his Termination Letter the following day 1/7/2026, attached to a thick stack of charges of Misconduct and/or Incompetence against him. A picture of that letter has been published here.

James’ First Days On THe JOb In The Highway Department

The complaint James made was for “workplace harassment and retaliation” that occurred throughout his employment, he alleges. Six examples were listed in his complaint. These are listed in short here, and expanded upon for detail further down in this article:

  • Radio Harassment

  • Continued Targeting

  • Unequal Enforcement of Rules

  • Green Street Park Incident (involved tree stump removal and best practice)

  • Misuse of City Equipment

  • Unequal Treatment in Timekeeping Policy Enforcement

In his first days on the job, Jimmy told ALBB that his boss, the Superintendent of Streets, Mickey Manzi, approached him in person to say hello. “He came over to welcome me aboard and everything, saying ‘Good to have you here, and just watch out for the guy Reuben Simmons, when you meet him.’” James thought that welcome message was odd.

“I just looked at him,” James told ALBB, “and I said ‘What?’ And I was just thinking that you would think that the boss would want me to get along with all the coworkers there. That’s not something a boss should say to a new employee.”

ALBB has written about Reuben Simmons before, who faced his own combinations of harassment of retaliation by employees in the City of Beacon, including attempted termination, being put on administrative leave without pay during Overtime Season (snow plowing) in January 2021, and ongoing filings of disciplinary charges: “Black Highway Department Employee & Community Organizer Put On 30-Day Unpaid Leave Since January 2021” This period was during the first new days of City Administrator Chris White’s first days on the job, who just recently unexpectedly retired.

After working in the Highway Department for a bit, James did meet Reuben and they did become friends. As did another co-worker, Chris Servedio, who told ALBB that he was told the same thing by his boss Mickey when he was hired. The friendship between these employees, and another co-worker, Kyle Sacket, became, in James’ opinion, a point of tension for their boss Mickey and other employees in not only the Highway Department, but with an employee in the Water Department as well.

Where James Alleges The Targeting and Harassment Stems From

James alleges that the retaliation he says he experienced is rooted in crosshairs with friendships, which caused a combination of an unequal application of employment rules, “bashing” on the department radio and in meetings, and an overall uncomfortable work environment.

“It's all a baby stuff to me,” James told ALBB. “And I don't want to be a part of it. I even told Mickey that in a meeting. So basically, Employee A started not liking me because I became friends with Kyle, and Mickey didn't like me because Employee A doesn't like me now because I became friends with Kyle, and that's kindergarten stuff. I told Mickey, 'I don't want to be a part of it.’ So basically, this is where it all started, and then they were just bashing me.'"

Over the course of his employment, Jimmy served through what he said was a “toxic work environment.” On his formal complaint outlined below, four co-workers signed on to be witnesses and speak publicly about this situation: Chris Servedio, Ruben Simmons, Zach Ross, and Kyle Sacket.

Before we get into the Charges of Misconduct And/Or Incompetence, some context must be presented:

The City of Beacon’s Pattern Of Termination By Numerous Alleged Misconduct and/Or Incompetence Charges

The pattern of attempted termination by stack of Misconduct and Incompetence charges was first noticed by ALBB when longtime Highway Department employee Reuben Simmons was put on unpaid leave in January 2021, two years after his position of Highway Superintendent was dissolved in part with efforts from current Superintendent of Streets Michael Manzi who replaced him. This was revealed in Reuben’s arbitration hearings when he was disputing his termination. Charges against Reuben at that time were later dropped. But new charges would be made, followed by new disciplinary actions.

In January 2021, Reuben declined to sign a statement from City Administrator Chris White that he would resign, or agree to let the City of Beacon terminate him for any reason, according to documents that ALBB has seen and reported on that year. Reuben went on to advocate for himself through arbitration hearings. He eventually won, in that he did not get fired and is still currently employed, though continues to face employment challenges.

During that time, ALBB reported on cited tensions in the Highway Department here: “Beacon’s New HR Director (Gina Basile) Hears From City Employees About Discrimination, Inequality, Growing Tensions; Suggests Solutions; Begins With Highway Department.”

Gina then left her position within the year without the issues she brought up being resolved, according to employees in the Highway Department. Gina was replaced by Sara Morris, who is Beacon’s HR Director today.

During Reuben’s unpaid leave, City Administrator Chris banned Reuben from speaking to any Highway Department employees or touching any property of the City of Beacon during work hours.

After the City of Beacon extended his unpaid leave by another 30 days (but had to pay him for those, as per CSEA Union rules) Chris put Reuben on a second unpaid leave later that June 2021, while Reuben fought in arbitration hearings to keep his job. Reuben was placed back into employment, but was isolated in the Street Sweeper truck, where he is only connected to other employees via walkie-talkies.

A suspected $111,000 of City of Beacon’s budget was allocated to pay the City’s legal efforts to terminate Reuben during that process under Chris White’s recommendation. Reuben’s efforts to keep his job continue as new actions by City Administrator Chris continue.

ALBB ITSELF WAS ALSO Banned By City Administrator Chris For Saying “Hot Mess” In Headline Of Article in 2021

After ALBB published that article series, which included “During Hot Mess Of Water Department Hires, Beacon Passes Diversity and Inclusion Statement,” Beacon’s City Administrator Chris scolded Katie at ALBB via email, and declined to answer any more of her questions unless he could have editorial control over her word-choice in articles (see his letter to her at the bottom of this article here).

Chris went so far as to ban every City Department head from answering Katie’s questions for other reporting (not even to answer a summer paving schedule when Katie served as the Spirit of Beacon Chair), according to several department heads, including Mark Price (Parks and Recreation Director), former Chief of Police Sands Frost, and then Lt. Tom Figlia who is now the Chief of Police.

Who Is James (Jimmy) Cottrell?

According to his resume attached to the Resolution hiring him in 2022, James is a “self-starter, physically fit and strong.” His specialty and passion is climbing trees and evaluating them before trimming or removing them and grinding the stumps. He owns Cottrell’s Tree Service, where he ran a crew of workers when not serving in municipal Highway Departments.

James was a Tree Trimmer for Yorktown Highway Department, and assumed the position as foreman in their absence. He operated and taught coworkers, how to operate excavators, skid, steers, brush hogs skidder buckets. This, while he served as a main climber and taught crews how to operate equipment like bucket trucks, and how to climb trees safely and properly.

He got his start at Lewis Tree Service in Westchester County from 2004-2016, where he developed operational knowledge of using stump grinders, a stump router, forklift and bobcat.

James had since been terminated by the time the Highway Department took down the fallen tree during a violent storm last month, so ALBB does not know his impression on if proper safety measures were taken, or if a professional tree removal crew should have been hired.

When Did The Alleged Harassment and Targeting Of James Start?

James said it started early when one Employee A began not liking him. Then James became friends with Kyle, which James said caused tension between him and his new boss Mickey. James told ALBB: “So basically, Employee A started not liking me because I became friends with Kyle, and Mickey didn't like me because Employee A doesn't like me now because I became friends with Kyle, and that's kindergarten. I told Mickey, ‘I don't want to be a part of it,’ you know? So basically, this is where it all started.”

After several incidents, James filed complaints with his union representative, Jordan Rider. One impressionable time for James was when he was driving the truck during snowplowing. The Highway Department came in during a storm and were plowing at 10pm through the night. “The next morning,” James told ALBB and Jordan for her union paperwork: “everybody's out getting breakfast at 9 o'clock in the morning, and I was one of them. I have to eat too. So Employee A drives by and he sees me at Bob's. Employee A gets on the radio. He's like, ‘Oh, I see Jim getting a breakfast sandwich at Bob's, 9 o'clock in the morning.‘ Meanwhile, we're supposed to be plowing. Meanwhile, we've been out since 10 o'clock at night.”

Before continuing, there are two things to know about snowplowing:

  1. “Areas” Highway Department employees are assigned to “areas” of town that they are responsible for. These are unofficial grids that even former Mayor Randy Casale enforced when he was Highway Superintendent for 16 years (Randy is who appointed Rueben to the Superintendent Role role after Zep Thomesalli retired, and before Mickey Manzi’s involvement to kick Reuben out of that department head position). Randy confirmed to ALBB that these invisible grids are not formed or regulated by the union or any other entity. Just neat and tidy attempts to organize the crew. These “areas” have since been used against employees like James and Reuben when collecting charges of Misconduct and/or Incompetence, if they are to venture out of the area. Like to Bob’s Corner Store instead of Mr. V’s, if Mr. V’s is in the “area” of that employee.

  2. Radio Walkies: Everyone can hear on the radio, including Reuben when he’s in the Street Sweeper truck being kept away from other employees. Though usually in the winter he is “allowed” to drive the snowplow truck. Dutchess County can also hear dialogue on the radio, which is recorded. Both later commented about how unprofessional this radio interaction about a breakfast sandwich was.

James continued with his story in an interview with ALBB: “I call Employee A on the phone, and he doesn't answer. Then I call him an hour later. I said, ‘Employee A, is this really necessary?’ I was like, ‘This is not kindergarten. I'm not dealing with this. Why would you want to do that?' I'm hungry and I'm getting breakfast.’

“Employee A was like, ‘Well you're out of your area.’

“I was like, ‘My area is a quarter mile down the road and there’s a deli up the road from my plower area. What are you talking about?’

“Employee A said, ‘Well, you know, you shouldn't be going out of your area.’

“I was like, ‘So I should starve. What's this really about?’”

“So this is the stuff like the petty stuff that Mickey was doing. Another example is when Mickey would go over to radio. All the roads would be black. He'd go on the radio purposely to make me look like an ass. He’d be like, ‘Jim, your plow is not down.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, that's because the road is black Mickey, and, uh, you know, it's, it's not snowing right now.’”

What Are The January 7, 2026 Termination Charges Against James?

There are nine charges total, presented in full below, that were in his Termination packet, which was signed by Mayor Lee Kyriacou:

Charges 1: “On [specific date], you called out of work without having enough accrued time resulting in your use of unpaid time without authorization.”

Charges 2, 4, 5 and 6 were more specific: “On August 28, 2025, you were absent from work and disregarded a counseling and/or memo from the Superintendent of Streets, Michael Manzi, without having enough accrued time resulting in your use of unpaid time without authorization.”

Charge 3 had to do with the punching in the timeclock: “On October 24, 2025, you were late to work and failed to follow a directive from the Superintendent of Streets Michael Manzi, when you asked another employee to punch you into work on your time card at 6:59am when you were not at work, engaging in theft of time and/or public money.”

James concedes to ALBB that these instances did happen. He says there are more charges than these examples, which an employee would need to dispute each one with proof and paperwork to absolve them.

When being terminated by the City of Beacon, the employee has the right to object to the notice of termination and statement of charges by filing a grievance within 8 days or exercising their rights under Section 75 and/or 76 of the Civil Service Law. James opted to pursue rejecting the charges.

Elaboration On Charge Of Earned Time Off (ETO) and Approved Time Off

In some situations, the charges of Misconduct are debatable, and are rooted in technicalities that his boss Mickey has discretion to wave or pass charges on. For example, James told ALBB, he gained verbal approval from Mickey on being able to leave for an appointment with his attorney (James was going through a divorce at the time), but James neglected to get a note from the attorney, which then counted as the unapproved leave as a charge of Misconduct or Incompetence, though he had verbal approval of it, but forgot to follow through on the attorney note as evidence.

In another example, James told ALBB that he requested time off for an appointment with the ETO (Earned Time Off) he earned from overtime in snowplowing, but Mickey denied him the privilege of using his ETO for the time off. “He denied me on that ETO,” James told ALBB, “but he granted ETO to a new guy who had been there three months who also accrued the time. I had accrued the time in overtime I completed that year, but Mickey said that in a previous year’s bracket, it was off. I told Mickey I’ve been here 3 years and this guy has been here 3 months and this is a new year. Mickey told me ‘don’t worry about it,’ and did not grant me my ETO for my appointment.”

Elaboration on Time-Card Punch-In or Out

As for the punching in or out on the time-card charge, that issue was in James’ Discriminatory Harassment Complaint, as he alleges that he witnessed this policy be enforced selectively, with other employees punching in and out for each other without getting penalized.

James said that after 2 years of his alleged ongoing discrimination and harassment, one time of having someone else punch him in on the time clock was reported. "There was a notice up there on the time clock that said nobody could punch anybody in or out on the time clock. Sometimes when someone was like 6 minutes late, someone called someone, saying, 'Hey, can you punch me in?' So, I mean, I’m not saying it's right. But everybody was doing it.”

When ALBB asked if the notice had always been up there, James answered that it got put there because so many employees in the department were doing it, including the person who made the initial observation complaint to the boss Mickey. “The notice went up because, Employee P, the mechanic and Union Shop Steward at the Highway Department, went to Mickey to tell him he saw it happening. But Employee P was doing it as well. So that didn’t make sense. After the sign went up, Employee P still did it, as did other employees. In fact, one employee regularly comes in to work 30 minutes late, and nothing is said about that.”

James continued: “Three weeks later, another guy who was doing it before starts doing the same thing already again, having somebody punch him out because he wanted to leave 15 minutes later. I'm like, 'What the heck's going on here?' So, a few weeks later, I had my buddy punch me in because I was running like, I don't know, 4 minutes later or something. I should have just took it on the chin and not even asked him the favor, but I asked him, he's like, yeah, sure, I'll punch you in. Everybody else was still doing it. But then Employee P, the guy who was also doing it and first reported it before the sign went up, reported me after the sign went up. And it seems he reported only me and no one else.”

James got called down to City Hall to have a meeting with Mickey. “I get called down to City Hall, and the other guy did not. I'm said, 'What's this about?' and Mickey said 'Somebody punched you in. We got you on camera.'“

James explained to ALBB that the room with the time clock in it had no camera, but they may have seen him drive in his truck. “I'm like, 'Everybody else was doing it, and you didn't call them out.' He told me it doesn't matter. So I said 'So you're still targeting me.' And Mickey said 'I didn't say that.' So we had another meeting about me being targeted. Nothing got done.”

He told ALBB: “I went to Jordan and I went over all this stuff, dating back for like 2 years of all the bashing that came to me and all the targeting. We went over it and she wrote all the notes of all the bad stuff that happened. But nothing got done about it. We had a meeting with the CSEA representative Jordan and Scott Hughes, our Highway Department employee union president, Beacon’s HR Director Sara, and Mickey Manzi, Beacon’s Highway Superintendent of Streets. In that meeting, I said: ‘You guys are targeting me.’ Mickey said ‘No, no.’ I was like: ‘I'm telling you, in front of Jordan and Scott, that you are, because you know you are, and you're denying it right now in front of me and them. It’s got to stop.”

The First Reporting Of Alleged Employee Recording

James told ALBB of the first time he reported what he says was an employee videoing other employees. "When the Mickey doesn't like somebody,” James said, “he wants you fired and he'll do everything he can in his power to do it. Even though you're out doing your job. So then you gotta do your job and then look over your shoulder. With Mickey, you got Employee A from the Water Department. He's his buddy out there. He also got Employee RK. Foreman. He was actually filming my buddy, Chris Servedio. Employee RK was Mickey's crony for videoing us to make sure we're out not doing anything wrong, which we weren't.

"Finally, I said in the last meeting that I had with Jordan, the union rep, and Scott Hughes, the employee union president, and then Mickey and Sara. I said: 'You guys are aware that Employee RK videoed us, right, for 2.5 years now?'

"Mickey's like, 'No, I'm not aware of that.'

"So I said: 'I'm telling you right now.'

Mikey's like: 'Well, he's not.'

"I'm like: 'No, I'm telling you he is.'

"He's like: 'Oh, you have an example?'

"I was like: 'Yeah, Mickey, I do.' And Sara is there looking at me all wide-eyed, waiting for an answer. I was like: 'Here's the example: 2 weeks ago. Chris was sitting in his dumptruck taking his 10 minute break from 9-9:10am while collecting Bags and Brush over at Forestall School where the little Central Hudson driveway is, not doing anything wrong. Employee RT passes him, comes back, has his phone out and he's videoing Chris taking his break.' And I tell Mickey that, he's like: 'Ah, I'm not aware of that happened.'

"I was like: 'Well, I'm making you aware in this meeting and I'm making all you aware of what's going on.'

"And then Scott was like: 'I didn't know what was going on.' And I said: 'Yeah, you don't even know the half of it.’”

James concluded in his interview with ALBB: “After I said all that in the meeting, he stopped videoing us. But after I brought it up in the meeting, they told me to video him back to get proof. I just left it alone. I was filmed about 20 times and saw him. Filmed me when I was with him and not with him. Pretty crazy environment out there. I tell you, it's very toxic."

James’ Complaint One Month Prior To Being Terminated About Being Recorded by An Employee Wearing Video Glasses

On December 10, 2025, one month before filing his next set of complaints, James filed a formal workplace complaint regarding a different unauthorized recording of him by a second person, Employee RB, thus causing a hostile work environment, he said in his complaint.

His letter read:

To Whom It May Concern,

James Cottrell’s letter of complaint about being recorded without his consent by a fellow employee wearing video recording glasses.

I am submitting this letter as a formal complaint regarding ongoing concerns about potential unauthorized recording in the workplace and the discomfort and distress it has caused me. I was assigned to work with co-worker Employee RB. I observed Employee RB wearing a pair of glasses that I believed may have contained a recording device. While we were completing our tasks, he questioned me about the route I was taking in a manner that made me further suspect I was being recorded.

Previously, Employee RB informed me that his former supervisor in the Water Department, Employee RK, had recorded multiple employees of the Highway Department, including myself. I have already raised this matter with Superintendent Manzi and HR Director Sara Morris.

At the end of the workday, I observed Employee RB in Superintendent Manzi’s office, which further heightened my concerns that I may have been the subject of discussion without my knowledge.

Today, December 10, 2025, when I reported to work, I again saw Employee RB in the time clock hallway wearing the same glasses. I directly asked him if he was recording me and noted that it was very dark day outside (overcast). The incident proceeded into the restroom where he stated to me that “Employee C is wearing glasses” and followed that by saying: “I can do what I want.”

Being recorded without my knowledge or consent makes me extremely uncomfortable and creates a work environment that feels hostile, unsafe, and intimidating. I do not feel this behavior is appropriate or acceptable in the workplace.

I am requesting that this matter be formally investigated and that steps be taken to ensure that no employee is being recorded without explicit consent or a clear, authorized purpose. Additionally, I ask for assurance that I will not be subjected to retaliation for bringing this concern forward.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I am available to provide additional information or a statement as needed.

James’ Second Set Of Complaints

The following complaints were submitted by James to the City of Beacon’s HR Director Sara Morris on January 6, 2026, one day before he was terminated.

In his complaint, James wrote:

“This matter was previously raised with my Labor Relations Specialist in the CSEA Union, Jordan Rider. At that time, I was informed that a meeting would be scheduled with the City of Beacon to address these concerns. As of today, no such meeting has taken place. Since raising these issues, I believe I have experienced retaliation and have frequently felt unconformable and distressed coming to work throughout the year. Below is a summary of the incidents talked about with the Union on April 8th, 2025 forming the basis of my complaint:

  • Winter 2023 - Radio Harassment:
    While on the radio, Employee A from the Water Department stated, “Looks like we have another J. P. on our hands,” referring to me. When I asked what that meant, I was told that “J.P.” was viewed as being “slow,” which I took as an insult. Following this, both Employee A and Mickey made fun of me over the radio. This was particularly upsetting as it occurred publicly in front of coworkers and others with access to the radio system.

  • Winter 2023 - Continued Targeting:
    During the same winter, Mickey and I exchanged words over the radio regarding plowing operations. I believe this incident escalated the situation and contributed to me being further targeted.

  • Spring 2024 - Unequal Enforcement of Rules
    I was counseled for dropping my children off in a City vehicle. However, in early Spring 2023, I personally observed Employee A dropping children off at Sargent School using a Water Department truck. This inconsistent enforcement made me feel singled out.

  • Summer 2023 - Green Street Park Incident
    I was asked to assist Employee C with a rotten tree at Green Street Park. When I arrived, Employee SG and Employee C were present. It was clear that the City did not have the proper equipment to safely handle the job, and I expressed concerns about safety.
    Employee C then made a joke along the lines of ‘Yeah, and we’re not going to do that for $29 an hour,’ which I laughed at.
    When I returned to the shop, I was called into a Meeting with Mickey and reprimanded for allegedly refusing the job and joking about pay. I explained that I did not refuse the job, that my concerns were about safety and lack of equipment, and that I did not make the joke, Employee C did. Despite this, Employee C was not spoken to or disciplined. Again, I felt unfairly targeted.

  • Winter 2024 - Misuse of City Equipment
    At the beginning of Winter 2024, I observed Employee R plowing his personal driveway with a City truck.

  • Timekeeping Policy Enforcement - 2025
    Mickey informed all employees that no one is permitted to punch in or out for another employee, and a notice was posted above the time clock. Since that announcement, I have observed Employee S having other employees punch him in and out when he arrives late or leaves early, without apparent consequence.

Taken together, these incidents demonstrate a pattern of harassment, unequal enforcement of policies, and retaliation after I raised concerns. This has negatively affected my work environment and my comfort and well-being at work. I respectfully request a formal investigation, a meeting to discuss these matters, and appropriate corrective action to ensure a fair, respectful, and non-retaliatory workplace.

Thank you for your time and attention to this serious matter. I am willing to cooperate fully with any investigation.

Sincerely,
James Cottrell - Motor Equipment Operator
City of Beacon

James was fired the next day.

What Happened To James After He Was Terminated?

James was escorted out of the the Highway Department building by City Administrator Chris White and Mickey Manzi. Being called down to meetings throughout his employment "felt like an interrogation," James told ALBB. "Like if you're at a state trooper barracks or something. Pretty crazy stuff. I actually never been involved in this ever in my life, with a job. Never even got fired. This is the 1st time," James told ALBB.

"But I learned a lot. I tell you that, and you know, Ruben schooled me on a lot of things. He used to be the employee union president for the Highway Department years ago. He encouraged me to go to union meetings about harassment and interrogation. There was a certificate you could get, so I got the certificate. I thought I needed to, the way they are here."

James told ALBB that he hung his certificate on his mailbox in the Highway Department, "Just so Mickey could see it too. That I went to one of them classes."

Does James still have the certificate? "I was going to leave it there, but I knew they were just going to throw in the garbage when they terminated me because they walked me out to my truck, you know, like I was some kind of criminal. They sure did escort me out, and they meant business. But I think that's standard procedure anyway."

James thought about it a minute. “I wasn’t even mad or upset when it happened. I knew it was for the better, that I had to get out of there. My time was up.”

To see what “meaning business” could look like, a few years ago, Chris White had a memorable moment putting his hands on a local Beacon activist who was protesting the Palestinian genocide in the Veterans Building, which you can see here and watch video. A complaint was made against Chris by NYCLU for violating the Open Meeting’s Law as Chris called for the arrest of citizens and blocked their sign.

Those familiar with the employment situation in the Highway Department tell ALBB that Chris Servedio has since quit, as he felt he was next to be fired. The City has since posted for the position, but one applicant allegedly never showed, another did not want the position, and the third applicant did not have the required license.

James has since accepted a new position as Laborer for the Village of Sleepy Hollow in Westchester County. “It’s a normal work environment!!” he explained to ALBB.

On March 16th, City Administrator Chris White, age 56, announced his retirement, which Mayor Lee Kyriacou stated in a later meeting was sooner than expected. Chris White’s last day was going to be in this summer in June, but yesterday, it was revealed that he has taken a leave of absence and will not return to his job.

This week, James’ attorney with the CSEA, Bill Burke, informed James that the City of Beacon is willing to drop all of the charges and pay out the 5 personal days and 2 weeks vacation owed to him for “falsely terminating” him.

This is a developing story. Another article will be published soon about a different situation James was involved in that relates to workplace safety.

MUST SEE: "Peekskill Riots" Documentary Screening On-Site In Cortland, NY - Saturday 2/21/2026

"Peekskill Riots" Documentary Screened On The Site Of The Peekskill Riots
Day: Saturday, February 21, 2026
Time: 2pm
Location: 297 Locust Ave, Cortland, NY
A rare opportunity to watch the documentary on Civil Rights champion, Paul Robeson and the Peekskill Riots at the seen. Says the filmmaker, Jon Bennett: "The Vancourtlandville Historical Society and I will be screening the documentary with a Q+A session between me and the audience immediately afterwards. I hope to see you here this Saturday as we discus this important part of American history."
Information >

I have never separated my work as an artist from my work as a human being. I’ve always put it more strongly. To me, my art is always a weapon.
— Paul Robeson

Whistleblower Video & Testimony Shows Physical & Sexual Abuse Of Autistic Teen At Anderson Center For Autism - Lawsuit Launched

From a Press Release issued by Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP that describes multiple documented patterns of physical and sexual abuse of autistic kids at Anderson Center for Autism in Dutchess County in the Hudson Valley:

ECBAWM Brings Federal Lawsuit on Behalf of Autistic Young Adult Alleging Abuse and Disability Discrimination at Anderson Center for Autism

Our son went to Anderson Center for Autism because we believed it was a place of safety, expertise, and care. Instead, we learned through a whistleblower’s video that he was subjected to sustained physical and sexual abuse in the very home that was supposed to protect him.
— Anil Babbar, father of A.B., the autistic teen abused at Anderson Center for Autism

(NEW YORK, NY) — Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP filed a federal civil lawsuit on behalf of Anil Babbar and Shalini Babbar, as guardians of their autistic son, A.B., in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against Anderson Center for Autism and two individual defendants named in the complaint, Garnet Collins and Nadine Thompson, who were employed by Anderson at all relevant times.

The complaint alleges that while A.B. was a resident in Anderson’s Chestnut House residential program, he was subjected to abuse, neglect, and disability-based mistreatment, and that Anderson failed to take appropriate action despite alleged warning signs and reports.

According to the complaint:

  • A.B., an autistic young adult who requires round-the-clock care, lived in Anderson’s Chestnut House residence and attended school through Anderson’s education program;

  • on August 11, 2024, A.B.’s mother received a message from a whistleblower reporting alleged abuse and including a video recorded on June 5, 2024 where the non-verbal autistic teenager cried for his mother as his caregiver, Garnet Collins, grabbed A.B. by his genitals and pushed him across a room.

  • The whistleblower was interviewed by FOX5NY where he alleges there are other victims who are abused inside of Anderson Center for Autism.

  • The whistleblower said that was suspended after repeatedly reporting the abuse. After his employment was suspended, the whistleblower pursued and gained video of the abuse so that they would believe him. The whistleblower told FOX5NY that that “almost everyone” is being abused regarding the kids being housed at Anderson Center for Autism, but that A.B.’s incident “is the only incident he caught on camera” the whistleblower told FOX5NY.

  • in the video, the caregiver Garnet Collins grabbed A.B.’s genitals and dragged him into a bedroom. Garnet was later sentenced to 1-3 years of prison;

  • the complaint further alleges that this conduct was part of a broader pattern, including alleged food deprivation, physical aggression toward residents, and a hostile environment for individuals with disabilities.

“As a mother, I will never forget the physical and sexual abuse my vulnerable, special-needs son endured at the hands of those entrusted to protect him. The acts were violent, deliberate, and deeply humiliating — a complete violation of his dignity. While the abuser is now behind bars, our fight is far from over. We will not rest until the Anderson Center for Autism is held fully accountable. We are fighting for justice for our son, and for every child who deserves safety, dignity, and true protection,” said Shalini Babbar, mother of A.B.

“Our son went to Anderson Center for Autism because we believed it was a place of safety, expertise, and care. Instead, we learned through a whistleblower’s video that he was subjected to sustained physical and sexual abuse in the very home that was supposed to protect him,” said Anil Babbar, father of A.B. “His dignity was taken from him, his trust in caregivers shattered, and our family’s life was divided into ‘before the video’ and ‘after the video.’ We must hold abusers like Anderson and other institutions responsible for their participation in the criminal ecosystem servicing the special needs community.”

“The total lack of humanity in this case is appalling. This family trusted Anderson to take care of their son. Instead he was abused and mistreated in ways no person should ever experience. We filed this lawsuit to seek justice for A.B. and to help ensure this never happens again,” said Ilann M. Maazel, Partner at Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP.

“What happened to A.B. in this case is the shocking result of repeated and systematic failures by an institution whose purpose was to protect A.B. and others like him within their care. While A.B.’s disability may have allowed Anderson to cover up its misconduct in the past, we are proud to represent A.B.’s family in bringing the repeated abuse and neglect to light today, and ensuring Anderson is held fully accountable,” said Sara Estela, also of Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP.

The complaint also alleges that supervisory personnel were made aware of concerns prior to the incident, including that Resident Manager Nadine Thompson was allegedly informed of abusive conduct weeks earlier and did not take action.

The caregiver Garnet Collins later pled guilty to the felony of endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person in the first degree and misdemeanor forcible touching.

The Impact on The Autistic Teenager, A.B.

The complaint alleges that after A.B. was removed from Anderson on the same day the family received the whistleblower message, he experienced significant behavioral deterioration, as well as repeated psychiatric crises and hospitalizations beginning in October 2024 and continuing into 2025.

The complaint further states that after his removal, A.B. exhibited trauma-related symptoms including fear, behavioral dysregulation, and repeated references to the alleged abuser, and that treating clinicians observed signs consistent with intrusive or reliving symptoms of trauma. The complaint states that A.B. was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, and that the family has incurred substantial costs for around-the-clock behavioral supports and related care in response to the ongoing impact of the alleged abuse.

More Physical Abuse Discovered At and Reported On at Anderson Center For Autism

This lawsuit comes amid longstanding public scrutiny of New York’s disability services system. A 2011 New York Times investigation reported that Jonathan Carey’s parents had previously removed him from the Anderson Center for Autism after discovering written records describing the use of food restriction and extended isolation as behavioral interventions. The New York Times further reported that Carey later died while in care at a state-operated facility, and that public attention to his death helped spur reforms aimed at strengthening oversight, transparency, and accountability in New York’s disability-services system.

In August 2025, the Times Union reported that New York State Police arrested an Anderson employee in Hyde Park after staff reported observing bruising on a residential patient, and authorities alleged the employee restrained the patient while holding a pillow against the patient’s face.

Claims and Relief

The complaint asserts claims under federal and state law, including disability discrimination claims under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as claims for negligence, negligent supervision/training/retention, assault and battery, Fair Housing Act claims, and New York State Human Rights Law claims. Plaintiffs seek compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, and other relief, and have demanded a jury trial.

###

Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP is a nationally-recognized litigation boutique that focuses on civil rights, commercial, criminal, and ethics matters. Our civil rights practice includes wrongful convictions, sexual harassment and assault, police and prison misconduct, children’s and disability rights, housing rights, election law, all forms of discrimination, and class actions. Our commercial practice includes complex commercial litigation, partnership disputes, real estate and land use, investigations, ethics and discipline, and appeals. www.ecbawm.com

The Lease For Poughkeepsie's Social Security Office Listed On DOGE Wall Of Receipts For Savings

The Social Security Office in Poughkeepsie has made the DOGE Wall of Receipts, as first reported by WAMC. The lease for it, listed at $359,135/year, is slated to end July 31, 2025. It is one of 47 Social Security offices that are on list thus far.

Lease for the Poughkeepsie, NY Social Security office on the DOGE website.

White Plains' lease, valued at $511,908, is scheduled to end on May 31, 2025. The DOGE website says that the Lease termination notice was sent on 1/29/2025. DOGE projects the savings to be $262,689. It is not clear who is feeling this savings, since people cannot access a service at the office they paid for with their taxes.

Lease for the White Plains, NY Social Security office on the DOGE website.

The Social Security office in Horseheads, NY is also on the list, valued at $311,690 and a "savings" is listed for $1,558,450. The note on that "receipt" is: "Agency response on no longer a need for space provided by Portfolio. This payment assumes a 5-year continuation of the lease."

Lease for the Horseheads, NY Social Security office on the DOGE website.

Says Senator Rob Rolison who represents Beacon and used to be the Mayor of Poughkeepsie is quoted by WAMC as having said: "The public, they have a right to have clear and accurate information as it relates to government services. It’s like, ‘Maybe we’re gonna plow the roads today, or maybe [not]?' It’s not fair. Savings are great, especially when it comes to government. But when we’re talking about Social Security, people deserve better."

Or people deserve what they are currently paying for.

The Social Security office in Newburgh closed last June 2024. While the initial closure notice that was given for the Poughkeepsie office was that it was going to be temporary and done for renovations, there is no evidence of renovations having taken place. The phone number to the Poughkeepsie office routes in a robotic circle, eventually landing a caller in West Nyack, the office for which is also temporarily closed for renovations. According to WAMC, the Kingston Social Security office closed for "temporary renovations" years ago and never reopened.

Congressman Pat Ryan, whose district includes Beacon, has been suspicious of the renovations. Congressman Ryan spoke with WAMC last Friday, saying that this closure is what he feared: "“This will deeply harm so many of my constituents, so many people in the Hudson Valley that count on being able to go to an office to access the benefits that they have worked their whole lives to earn."

As reported by WAMC: "New York Attorney General Letitia James sent a letter to Acting SSA Commissioner Lee Dudek this week asking him to reconsider closing the hub, which serves as a central point the Hudson Valley. James says the White Plains office currently has a backlog of roughly 2,000 cases, and that ‘eliminating the office would exacerbate the problem and harm even more vulnerable New Yorkers.’”

Closing these buildings feels like when the Post Offices were closing or experiencing severe staff reductions, including at the Beacon location.

Currently, the offices in Peekskill or Middletown are the closest to Beacon.

Menorah Lighting From Chabad of Beacon Had Donuts, Latkes, Fire; But No Mention Of Genocide

For the second year in a row, newly established Chabad of Beacon hosted a Menorah Lighting at Pohill Park, with a temporary structure that cannot remain overnight. Unlike in year’s past where the Bicycle Menorah from Beacon Arts and Beacon Hebrew Alliance would set up a menorah sculpture for 8 nights of differently themed dedications (aka Illumin8), this current City Administrator won’t allow such temporary structures to remain daily. The full video of this menorah lighting, and a bit of the fire show, are at the bottom of this article.

Donuts and Latkes at the Menorah Lighting.

The evening before dusk was full of neighborly spirit, plump donuts, fresh latkes, and music from a DJ playing remixes of Chanukah songs set to Top 40 beats. Sharing of treats is important to this holiday, as per one of the blessings that was passed out on a flyer: “Chanukah, Oh Chanukah, come light the Menorah. Let’s have a party, we’ll all dance the hora. Gather round the table, we’ll all have a treat.”

The main emphasis for the lighting of the candles, as presented by Rabbi Shaya of Chabad Beacon, was the presentation of the idea of being a light in the darkness. He said there are two opinions to lighting the menorah:

  1. Light 8 candles all at once, starting with 8, and going down from there. Signifies a group, working together to light the darkness. The only way to be a light in the darkness is to be all together. You can't be alone. “Once you do all 8 together, you're tighter as a group, you can fight the darkness,” he said as he explained the opinion.

  2. Light 1 candle first, then 2, then 3, “like we are doing tonight,” Rabbi Shaya said.

    What is the difference of opinions, he asked? “The Menorah is all about being a light in the darkness. Lighting 1 light can light the darkness…You don't need a group with you,” he said. “You don't need 15 people. Whatever the good deed is that you're doing, you are lighting up the darkness.”

Rabbi Shaya's message was: "Let's be the light."

There was no mention of the genocide that Israel is enacting onto the people of Palestine in the name of Jewish people, some of whom insist “Not in my name.” This omission made celebrating the music difficult for those in attendance who do acknowledge and are following the genocide, which is being live streamed on our phones every second of the days and nights for 449 dark days, with no lighted end in sight.

The Fire Show

The Chabad of Beacon encouraged all to attend, promising a fire show to accompany the candle lighting. While the fire dancer was talented, watching the bursts of flames twirl around her was triggering for those who care about people being genocided with fire.

Those who witness the genocide have been watching decapitated babies burn, their charred bodies remaining in the arms of men trying to save them. At least three people including Aaron Bushnell, the active duty member of the US Air Force who fatally set himself on fire in protest of the genocide.

Rabbi Shaya with a second Rabbi who lit the rest of the candles after Mayor Kyriacou.

The day before the Menorah lighting in Beacon, the Israeli army burned down Kamal Adwan Hospital, the last functioning hospital in Northern Gaza. “Doctors have been kidnapped, medics were burned alive, anyone who was mobile was forced to strip and told to travel by foot to the Indonesian hospital, which is not currently functioning,” reported @HealthCareWorkersForPalestine, who are encouraging people to call major media outlets to demand that they report on this, which US media outlets continue to black out. Keeping the genocide in darkness.

That, plus the homeless woman who was burned alive in a New York subway car as she stood paralyzed in pain, her identity of which cannot be found as of yet. The fiery visuals of the Chanukah fire show in Beacon were difficult to absorb.

The Lighting

Rabbi Shaya invited Mayor Lee Kyriacou to light the first candle. As Mayor Lee accepted the flame with which to light the first candle, he said: “So this is a tiki torch. A cross cultural event. But only to say…Thank you all for being here. Please enjoy your holidays however you celebrate them. Let's always be a Welcoming community. And that's all.”

Under the previous administration of Mayor Randy Casale, citizens of Beacon pushed for it to be a Welcoming City in 2019, when all could not agree on risking federal funding to be a Sanctuary City. After Mayor Lee lit the menorah, he said: “Mai Tais are going to be in the back, after we finish the lighting. And then we do the Polynesian hula dance.”

“Not In Our Name”: Beacons Of Light Represent Jews Against Genocide

Silently, and in the periphery of the menorah lighting, stood five people representing some Jewish people in Beacon who are protesting the Israeli genocide of Palestinian people.

A second Menorah Lighting has been organized for January 1, 2025, for people who need to recognize the genocide in order to celebrate. The theme is “Nobody is Free Until Everybody Is Free.”

A courageous thing to do, as those in the Jewish community are split. Those opposing Israel’s murder of Palestinians (sometimes known as Anti-Zionist Jews) have been mocked by other Jews who do not acknowledge, or defend the genocide (sometimes known as Zios or Zionist Jews), which follows the belief that the founders of Zionism weaponized Judaism to gain and maintain white supremacy.

One representative of the anti-genocide group passed out flyers promoting a second menorah lighting for January 1, 2025, with the theme “Nobody Is Free Until Everybody Is Free.” They did so safely and comfortably throughout the crowd, talking to some neighbors.

One of the organizers of the anti-genocide group, Phoebe Zinman, told A Little Beacon Blog: “Some people were really appreciative and grateful that we were there.” One neighbor approached the small group to ask who they were with. Phoebe said: “I told them we weren’t a coalition with a name. We were a group of Jewish people who had been in conversation and doing things since October of 2023.”

The Reception Of Anti-Genocide Jews At The Chabad Menorah Lighting

Three of the attendees of the anti-genocide group that attended the Chabad Beacon’s Menorah Lighting. From left: Loren Miller, Phoebe Zinman, and Lucky Longo.

One man waving an Israeli flag told the anti-genocide Jews from Beacon: ‘You’re ruining our celebration.’ The anti-Zionist, anti-genocide Jews went on to describe what a different man said to them, who was wearing a tank top and was adorned in tattoos: “He said he would come ruin Christmas for us, and I said ‘We’re Jewish.’ And he said ‘I don’t care. You’re chickens for KFC.’ Which is hilarious to me. Does that make Palestine KFC? Does that make him a chicken standing up for being a chicken? So he just wants to be free to live as a chicken who won’t be slaughtered…like how Gazans are being slaughtered?
— Phoebe Zinman, as told to ALBB

ALBB asked Phoebe how their presence was received at the menorah lighting. “We wanted to be here as a presence, showing that Palestine will not be erased. It’s part of this, and it’s not appropriate to celebrate Chanukah when this is happening. Like we’re killing….their children are our children.”

Speaking as a Jewish person, Phoebe and the other Jewish organizers wanted to make it explicit: “We can’t celebrate; we can’t participate in this holiday while this is happening. A celebration that doesn’t acknowledge what’s happening is not appropriate.”

The “Tank Top” guy who called the anti-ceasefire group “chickens for KFC.”

On the reverse, some celebrating attendees told the anti-genocide group that their presence was not appropriate. One man waving an Israeli flag told them: “You’re ruining our celebration.” Phoebe described what a different man said to them, who was wearing a tank top and adorned in tattoos: “He said he would come ruin Christmas for us, and I said ‘We’re Jewish.’ And he said ‘I don’t care. You’re chickens for KFC.’ Which is hilarious to me. Does that make Palestine KFC? Does that make him a chicken standing up for being a chicken? So he just wants to be free to live as a chicken who won’t be slaughtered…like how Gazans are being slaughtered?”

Lucky Longo, a non-Jewish participant with the anti-genocide group, told ALBB: “My sign says “From Darkness to Light; Stand For Palestinian Rights.” Lucky told ALBB that she wanted to be inclusive for Chanuka, “but I wanted to bring awareness as a non-Jewish person to this as a community member also.” As for their reception, Lucky said: “It was slightly ignored, but also, not super receptive. I still think in the back of people’s minds it will bring awareness.”

The man waving the Israeli flag who told the anti-ceasefire group that they were “ruining” the celebration. Overall the celebration was very celebratory. The anti-genocide group was standing in the background silently.

Ceasefire City

Beacon is a Ceasefire city. Through a pressure packed few weeks, Beacon’s City Council did sign a Ceasefire Resolution. It takes courage to be the light in the face of white supremacy. Supremacy is maintained through the darkness of intimidation by bullies. Perhaps Chabad Beacon will be that light for others to follow in their new home of Beacon.

Perhaps one day, Chabad Beacon will acknowledge and denounce the genocide, and stand against leaders doing so in the names of so many.

Israel Has Killed The Soul Of Our Soul, Khaled Nabhan, After Killing His Grandchildren (Reem) - Videos Included

Illustration by @folkloren_

Editor’s Note: ALBB publishes on Palestine because American media either does not, or reports misleading information, sometimes on purpose. Locally, coverage has either been misleading (Mid Hudson News), deleted (thanks, Times Union) or not published at all. Only the Chronogram has published any representation of this cause, and that was thanks to ALBB’s vulnerability in the ceasefire movement in Beacon. Therefore, in the spirit of Beacon that is giving, caring, and inclusive, we have expanded coverage.

The soul of our soul was killed yesterday. “Palestinian grandfather Khaled Nabhan, who gained attention around the world through a viral video in which he mourned his granddaughter, Reem, who he tenderly called the ‘soul of my soul,’ was killed by an Israeli strike on Nuseirat camp in central Gaza,” reported @trtworld.

For those who acknowledge the genocide on Palestine by Israel with U.S. support, there are no words after this news broke yesterday. Except as @muslim exclaimed when they posted this illustration of Khaled and Reem with the weeping roses or poppies, (art by @folkloren_ ): “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon. 💔 May he be reunited with the “soul of his soul” Within the highest ranks of jannah.”

What is happening is, what the occupation and imperialist powers here in the U.S. don’t realize is, with each kill, our souls run deeper to resist. Methods change. Beauty is incorporated. Stealth mode activated. Because what these occupiers don’t realize is that the ground has been broken. The flowers rising up out of the darkness under the cement sidewalk. Our bodies turned inside out. Muscles and blood exposed, like the chart of the human body when viewed as layers of muscles and veins. Raw. It is not numbness we feel. It is conviction. It is the throwing of dirt onto the fire of fear to smolder the fear out.

What the occupiers don’t realize is that with each kill, we are learning new things. History is re-opened, and we examine histories we glanced over in years past. Syria is re-opened and examined. Like it hasn’t been for years at this level by so many people. Examination and debate about the Middle East is in full view, with details emerging that usually get brushed off as “not my problem,” and “over there.”

The pages are turning so fast now. Invisible ink becoming visible in gold on the page. We don’t know what will happen. Or how it will happen. But the quill is writing the story each day.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon. May Allah grant mercy.

Videos from @wearthepeace @boutainaazzabi @queenofpalestine @europe.palestine.network @thesunbirdmovement @noor.harazeen

"A Call To Truth" :: The Thanksgiving Myth: Celebrating Genocide

During this time of recognized genocide in Palestine by Israel, largely funded by the United States and protected by some European powers, Thanksgiving as a Day of Mourning is becoming more recognized. Below is a statement by Heart of Falastine, who shared this slide deck to illustrate. Beneath the slide deck is a video of an annual recognition at Plymouth Rock of land theft, cultural extinction and normalized dehumanization created by BTNewsroom.

By Heart of Falastine:

“Thanksgiving is not what you think it is. Beneath the myths of ‘peace and harmony’ lies the brutal truth of genocide, land theft, and the erasure of Indigenous peoples. This colonial holiday celebrates the domination of land and the dehumanisation of those who belong to it.

“As millions prepare to gather in blind celebration, let us remember: Thanksgiving is a justification of violence disguised as gratitude. It perpetuates the same colonial mindset that sees the earth as property to be conquered, rather than a sacred relationship to be honoured.

“This season, refuse to celebrate the lie. Stand with Indigenous peoples. Acknowledge the truth. Reject colonial erasure. Choose solidarity over complicity.

📖 Inspired by the wise words of the Kanak people of occupied Kanaky (colonisers call it “New Caledonia” 🇳🇨 )

*******

By BT Newsroom:

“Hundreds marched at Plymouth, Massachusetts in observance of the National Day of Mourning. Organized by the United American Indians of New England, Indigenous people and supporters gather each year on Thanksgiving to honor the holiday’s true history of colonialism.”

Hudson Valley Activists Drop Banners Demanding U.S. and NYS Divestment From Israel’s War Crimes

Early Wednesday morning (5/29/2024), a group of local Hudson Valley activists hung banners on four I-87 overpasses visible to northbound traffic. The banners call for the end of U.S. and NYS funding of Israel war crimes in Gaza, and bring attention to the slaughter of displaced civilians currently ongoing in Rafah by the U.S. funded Israeli military.

The banner that hung south of Newburgh read: “Permanent Ceasefire.” For Kingston, the banner read: “Divest From Genocide.” For Saugerties, the banner read: “Let Gaza Live.” For Leeds, the banner read: “Free Palestine.”

Over the last several days, the Israeli military invaded Rafah, a designated “safe zone”, and carried out massacres by bombing displaced families in tents, killing dozens of people, according to AlJazeera and other news outlets. The death toll is still rising.

American citizens have been pleading with their elected officials to stop voting for more military aid to Israel for over 8 months, and to support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Yet, elected officials have continuously refused to listen to their constituents. “We call upon every decent human being to demand an end to U.S. military and financial support that has enabled the total dehumanization and genocide of the Palestinian people. As Jews, we are horrified by Israel’s brutality and total disregard for human life. We say 'Never Again is Now! Enough!' said two activists who are senior citizens of Beacon, NY.

"The massacre of civilians across Gaza, and now in Rafah, is a direct result of the Biden administration and Congress’ continued political and military support for Israel’s genocide in Gaza," say the activists. "Now is time for the U.S. to stop funding Israel’s genocidal campaign and to place an arms embargo against Israel in accordance with U.S. and international law, to end U.S. complicity with war crimes."

The activists pledge to continue demonstrating in different ways. "Hudson Valley residents will keep organizing to demand a permanent ceasefire, an end to the immediate horrors devastating Gaza, funded by U.S. taxpayers, and to end the occupation. We urge every person of conscience to join our demands to stop the genocide in Gaza and free Palestine.

ALBB Talks On 91.3 FM Independent Radio About The Shutdown Of The Newburgh Beacon Bridge On April 15, 2024

Thank you to the Trova & Mas Show and Carolina on 91.3FM, Independent Radio at Vassar College, for having us on to talk about the shutdown of the Newburgh / Beacon Bridge on April 15, Tax Day for the Economic Blockade from 8-9am organized nationwide to send a message to federal and local governments to Free Palestine and to stop investing in (aka divest from) Israel’s killing of so many Palestinians (which is bleeding into Lebanon). ALBB did not organize that and didn’t even know about it! But we did report on it.

Co-host Carolina asked what points we wanted to cover, and some of these points were made:

  • Participating protesters on the bridge included Palestinians, Jews, Arabs, Non-Arabs, Muslims, Non-Muslims, Whites, and other allies.

  • Protests in have been held on sidewalks in Beacon, Poughkeepsie, Newburgh, and Kingston.

  • Pat Ryan was demonstrated against in Beacon at the City Council Swearing In Ceremony at the Memorial Building by demonstrators who wanted a silent protest with a banner that said Ceasefire, but Beacon’s City Administrator and some managing Veterans blocked the banner and physically touched the demonstrators, causing the event to escalate and get loud.

  • The first demonstration to Pat Ryan was at his Poughkeepsie office near Vassar College.

  • Some Beacon Jewish citizens organized their 8th night of Chanukah lighting at his Newburgh office.

  • Ceasefire Resolutions were passed in Beacon and Newburgh. A ceasefire resolution still needs to pass in Poughkeepsie. Poughkeepsie needs to show up!

  • A woman from Poughkeepsie is from Palestine and lost at least 20 of her family members in Gaza from Israeli bombardment.

Trova asked what final message we wanted to get out, and we said that while this is a global issue, we see how our United States Government is treating Brown people in Palestine, at a very shocking level by allowing this to happen and is in part funding it, and that translates back here to our local communities. Systems aren’t broken, they are working as designed. Those systems need to change.

Pro-Palestine Protestors Shut Down Westbound Hamilton Fish Newburgh Beacon Bridge As Part Of An International Coordinated Economic Blockade On Tax Day

HAPPY MONEY MONDAY!! That’s what we celebrate at ALBB’s sister business, the media resource Tin Shingle (hey Anonymous, Cowardly Letter Sender! You missed one of my businesses!! And it won’t by my last!!)

Happy Tax Day Economic Shutdown Day. Free Palestine.

Repost @hv4freepalestine :
BREAKING: Pro-Palestine protestors have shut down the westbound Hamilton Fish Newburgh Beacon Bridge as part of an international coordinated economic blockade on Tax Day with @a15actions to compel the U.S. government to divest from the genocide happening in Palestine. Hudson Valley organizers join over 50 cities around the world in disrupting the global economy in response to a call from Gaza to fight for a liberated Palestine.

From the Hudson Valley organizers: “Tax Day is a reminder that the Biden administration has made over 100 transfers of taxpayer dollars in military assistance to Israel since the beginning of the genocide in Gaza. We refuse to allow business as usual to continue while Palestinians are murdered by Israel using American weaponry and tax dollars. Those committed to Palestinian freedom in the Hudson Valley have tried many tactics—we’ve demonstrated, we’ve lobbied our representatives, Pat Ryan and Marc Molinaro, for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, we’ve visited their offices, we’ve educated the public. Those on the highway today are done waiting on congressional representatives. We are committed to keeping up the pressure until the genocide ends and Palestine is free.”

Beacon's Swearing-In Ceremony Disrupted By Pro-Palestinian Supporters Who Were Physically Handled By City Administrator and Veterans

Congressman Pat Ryan, who represents Beacon in District 18, is being followed everywhere by Pro-Palestinian supporters to demand that he call for a permanent ceasefire of Israel’s genocide of Palestinians. The people don’t need to travel far, as they are usually residents of the towns Pat Ryan visits to give remarks to during Swearing-In Ceremonies of these communities.

Like this ceremony at Gardiner Town Hall. And this large protest march in Kingston. And this this 8th night of Hanukkah protest by Jewish constituents and kids at his Newburgh office. Prior to that, this protest also at his Newburgh office by 300 protesters. And prior to that, this first protest at his Poughkeepsie office led by some Beaconites.

The following is a description of what happened at Beacon’s Swearing-In Ceremony, which was captured on video and published below.

On Saturday, January 6, 2024, a four Beaconites, who are regular listeners or participants of Beacon City Council Meetings, were sitting in the audience of Beacon’s Swearing-In Ceremony for new Councilmembers being hosted at the Veterans Memorial Building, waiting to display their message of Ceasefire to Congressman Ryan. It was early in the ceremony, and Senator Rob Rolison (former Mayor of Poughkeepsie) and Sue Serino (newly elected Dutchess County Executive and former NY State Senator) had already spoken.

Congressman Ryan was next to speak. When he did, the four pro-Palestinian Beaconites demonstrating told ALBB that they stood up to unfurl a banner that said "Ceasefire." Say the demonstrators, their intent was to silently stand with the banner as Congressman Ryan spoke. As Congressman Ryan began his remarks, he did so by giving attention the silent visual demonstration in the back of the room by saying: “Before we get interrupted here…” as the display of a banner began to get more audible by opposing Beaconites who wanted to block the banner. The rest of Congressman Ryan’s speech in full is below.

As Congressman Ryan spoke, four more individuals also stood up to block the demonstrators and the banner with their bodies (ALBB is unable to obtain the names of the two Veterans at this time). The demonstrators described them to ALBB as:

  • Veteran with grey hair, wearing black sweatshirt (yellow emblem) & jeans.

  • Veteran with white hair, wearing glasses and black & red sweatshirt.

  • Harold Delamater, Veterans Memorial Building Manager, wearing grey sweatshirt & glasses.

  • Chris White, Beacon City Administrator

The demonstrators said that they tried to hold the banner until they were escorted out of the room under threat of arrest.

One of the demonstrating Beaconites brought his 5 month old baby with him, who was snuggled into a front-facing baby carrier onto his body.

City Administrator Chris White licking his lips in a warm up moment before putting his hands on the smallest protester, who is directly in front of him, while he inched closer to the demonstrator.

Harold Delamater of the Veterans Memorial Building pats demonstrator Veekas Ashoka on the back after helping him roll up the Ceasefire banner. Herold said he wanted the demonstrators arrested.

After a Beacon demonstrator unfurled the banner, the demonstrators were surrounded by Beacon Police, Veterans of the Memorial Building, and Beacon’s City Administrator, Chris White. At one point, according to the demonstrators which can also be heard in the video posted above, City Administrator Chris ordered the Police to arrest the demonstrators, saying: “Arrest them,” but the female Police Officer said she’d need to get approval from someone responsible for the property, the demonstrators told ALBB.

According to the demonstrators, the Police asked Veteran building manager Harold Delamater (pictured above) if he’d like the demonstrators arrested. According to the demonstrators, Harold said that he did want them arrested. ALBB reached out to Harold for comment, but did not receive a response.

According to the demonstrators, the female Police Officer gave them a warning before arresting. At the warning, the demonstrators agreed to leave without being arrested. It was at that time that the demonstrators began their exit.

Pro-Palestinian supporter Veekas Ashoka and his 5 month year old baby were shoulder bumped by a white man with silver white hair as Veekas left shouting: "How many more people have to die before you support a ceasefire, Representative Ryan? How many more kids like mine have to die?"

After that, Veekas walked backwards out of the room, shouting: "Ceasefire Now!" His 5 month year old baby watched the scene from his carrier. Veekas continued: "How many more people have to die before you support a ceasefire, Representative Ryan? How many more kids like mine have to die?" A white man with white hair who had been standing next to Veekas during the entire encounter, sideways shoulder-bumped Veekas and his baby as Veekas walked out, physically moving Veekas to the left. The man did so with arms behind his back and not one change to his facial expression. The force of his body did move Veekas’ body, which you can see in the video above.

After Veekas left, another demonstrator, the smallest of the group, held his sign up. It read CEASEFIRE!. Harold, who is roughly the same height as the demonstrator, grabbed the demonstrator’s jacket and hoisted him up as the demonstrator held his CEASEFIRE! sign above his own head. City Administrator Chris, who is was taller than the demonstrator, reached in to grab the sign from the demonstrator, who leaned away.

Beacon Police were in attendance the entire time with the peaceful demonstrators, so it is not clear why the property manager or City Administrator got physical with the demonstrators and escalated the situation. It is also not clear why the Beacon Police did not recognize this, and assigned escalation to the demonstrators, when their bodies were being grabbed by a city official and property manager.

Left: Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White, ripping a “CEASEFIRE” Sign out of a Pro-Palestinian’s hands (Middle). On the right a male Beacon Police Officer monitoring the scene.

A male Beacon Police Officer was behind the demonstrator holding his arm as City Administrator Chris was wrestling away the sign. However, the Police Officer was watching City Administrator Chris. Harold kept his hands on the demonstrator, and soon all three men had their hands on the smallest demonstrator. City Administrator Chris succeeded in ripping the Ceasefire sign in half.

City Administrator Chris White pointing the protestor to the door as Veteran’s Building Manager Harold Delamater and a Beacon Police Officers place their hands on the demonstrator to push him forward.

The tallest and third protestor exited the room while chanting “Ceasefire!” and was pushed out by Harold.

The smallest demonstrator holding the small Ceasefire sign was pushed out by a Beacon Police Officer and pulled out by City Administrator Chris. Before he was forced to leave, he chanted “Ceasefire Now!” and a round of applause returned his gesture.

Later, outside of the building, the smallest demonstrator told ALBB that City Administrator Chris called him an “asshole,” to which the demonstrator replied: “You’re violent.” City Administrator Chris apparently repeated the insult, and the two went around again before stopping. There was a Police Officer between between the demonstrator and City Administrator Chris at that point.

A demonstrator shouting “Ceasefire Now!” while being pushed by a Beacon Police Officer and pulled by City Administrator Chris White.

The fourth demonstrator recounted their experience, which was not captured in the video. They described to ALBB:

“I was being blocked by the Veteran with grey hair, wearing a black sweatshirt & jeans. This gentleman kept shouting "stop touching me" while standing in front of me and the "smallest demonstrator" when we first got up. This tactic was to misconstrue the events and make it appear as if we were violent, although two men were forcibly gripping our banner. Our goal was to silently hold the banner within Pat Ryan's line of vision. None of the attendee's would have even known we were there, if these individuals just stayed in their seats. Shouting "stop touching me" turned everyone's attention to us.

“With two men, strongly gripping the Ceasefire banner, I attempted to keep a portion of it open, unaware that I was working against two men which explains why it was so difficult to hold it up. In my attempt to keep the banner up, I was being pulled down into a table behind me. I was then scolded for leaning on the table. You can see the Veteran with white hair & glasses moving the table in the video, as if the materialistic object had more value than my safety. A male Police Officer looked me in the eyes trying to capture my attention, as he saw I was struggling to keep the sign up. I was informed that they will have to arrest us if we don't leave. I let go of the banner and walked out the door before the other demonstrators. Luckily, I escaped the altercation that followed, where the smallest demonstrator was pulled by his jacket by Chris White's hands. I chanted "Ceasefire Now" as I walked in front of Veekas.”

Said Veekas to ALBB after the demonstration: “Many members of the audience messaged me directly to express their appreciation after the event was over. One member of the audience was so moved by the action that she started chanting ‘Ceasefire Now’ and left with us.”

Congressman Pat Ryan’s Speech In Beacon

Congressman Ryan’s speech was brief and addressed the national and global outrage of the massacre in Gaza and awakening to the growing and violent occupation of Palestine by Zionist Israeli military. He said: "When the rubber hits the road, local government making Beacon a great shining example of what a Hudson Valley City can and should look like. The moment we are in the country - the world - at least in my lifetime - really incredible division. Just ask anyone taking this oath. To really reflect on what that oath means. The idea of essentially explicitly making yourself as an individual 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, below a greater common good. Below a city, below a county, a state, below a nation. Really recognizing that in a time of incredible polarization, the only path through this is a recognition that we don't all get exactly everything we want. We have to be willing to compromise and work together and be civil. That comes from ego and self pursuit of those aims is what causes that division."

Pat Ryan may have been implying that ego is what drove the demonstrators to demonstrate peacefully and silently, until they were blocked and physically handled by Beacon's City Administrator and some Veterans in the building. The Congressman should also note that part of why Beacon is a "shining example" is because of the demonstrating that citizens do for a number of different causes. Sometimes being aligned, sometimes working toward alignment.

In this case, "willing to compromise" on 23,000 Palestinian lives killed, and Israeli hostages still not safely home, who are in fact equally threatened under Israeli's indiscriminate bombardment using weapons funded by the United States Government, is not something many Beaconites will compromise on.

People Sworn In

The following people were sworn in, except Wren Longo. It had been rumored that she had resigned previously. Her resignation was officially announced at a City Council Meeting later. The Mayor appointed Pam Weatherbee to replace her, and appointed Amber Grant, a former City Councilmember, to return to the Councilmember At-Large position. The Council could have insisted on a public vote, but did not do so at the Mayor’s strong urging.

Paloma Wake, Councilmember At-Large, sworn in by Justice McCray (former City Councilmember)

Pam Wetherbee, Councilmember At-Large, sworn in by George Mansfield (former City Councilmember)
Pam was later moved to Ward 3 after Wren’s resignation.

Molly Rhodes, Councilmember Ward 1, sworn in by Mayor Lee Kyriacou.

Jeff Domanski, Councilmember Ward 2, sworn in by Justice McCray, who he replaced.

Dan Aymar-Blair, Councilmember Ward 4, sworn in by George Mansfield.

Mayor Lee Kyriacou, sworn in by Congressman Pat Ryan.

Watch the entire Swearing-In Ceremony here (does not include visuals of the disruption).

Saturdays And Sundays Are For Supporting Palestine: Weekend Repeat Disruption Rally Locations

Saturdays
12:30pm
Elting Library, New Paltz, NY
Women in Black. Outdoos on thin busy sidewalk. Areas to sit. Street parking metered, free on side streets (past the library parking lot). No chants, very chill! Ignore counter protestors.

Sundays
12:30pm
Woodstock, NY

Outdoors on sidewalk near Stone Park

Sundays
12:30pm
Newburgh, NY

Outdoors with chants on flat pavement by busy road. Park at Downing Park!

Sundays
1pm
Nanuet
Outdoors with chants on wide sidewalks by busy road. Park at Shake Shack.

WEEKLY MONDAY BOYCOTTS: do all you can to disrupt the machine. Nothing is too small.

ALL DAYS: Go add to the community altar on the fence at Hasbrouck Park, New Patz

FREE KN95 MASKS!

Interview With Local Muslim Women On Their View of Iranian Protests, Hijab, Free Will & Support of Iranian Women

In writing the article covering the performance protest from Iranian born Beaconite, Maryam Mehrjui, the protests of which are based on the killing of the 22-year old Kurdish woman, Mahsa Amini while in Iranian “morality police” custody for wearing her hijab improperly, the question arises: “How will the world see the hijab as a practice, and the women wearing the hijab (also called ‘hijabis’) both locally and in the world? Will this damage the safety they feel walking around, and create more misunderstanding? Will this embolden places like France to complete their different steps of legislation to ban the hijab? Will hijabi women who love wearing their hijabs - as opposed to those who are forced to by their governments - need to take up scarves to protest to save it?”

That was 4.75 questions. To answer these questions, A Little Beacon Blog interviewed two local Muslim women - one from Beacon and one from Orange County - one who wears the hijab and one who does not - both of whom are Palestinian.

ALBB: Can the protests against forcing women to wear the hijab in Iran harm women here in Beacon or Wappingers or Newburgh who do want to wear hijab by choice?
“It is already happening,” said Sereen El Jamal, a Palestinian New Yorker living in Orange County who participated in the pro-Palestinian march in Newburgh in 2021 and wears hijab. “It is being taken like that by a lot of people. Take your scarf off and burn it. Very different.”

Sereen was recommended to ALBB to interview by Khitam Jamal Nakhleh, sister to Kamel Jamal, an outspoken restaurant owner in Beacon. Sereen is their cousin. Said Sereen to ALBB: “I haven't really spoken out about it because the way that everybody is looking at it is if you wear hijab, you are supporting the oppression of Iranian women.”

How does Sereen feel about that sentiment? “I don't have the energy to think like that,” she said. “The only thing I said was in a repost. This isn't a protest on hijab. Not necessarily. Not a protest against religion. It's a protest against the government.”

Sereen went on to explain: “That's not how Islamic law is enforced. What they [the Irani government] are doing is anti-Islamic. It is nobody's job to force you to cover your hair. We are born with free will.”

As Sereen was speaking her feelings, she expanded upon what was being protested: “I can't force people to do what I feel is right. The way that government enforces it is wrong. In no way is it right to kill a woman for not covering her hair properly. To say something badly about the religion itself, or to burn a hijab, is also wrong. We have to find a balance, to say OK, I am protesting for human rights. Not against a religion.”

Khitam, on the other hand, does not wear hijab. She explained: “In Islamic religion, you wear hijab and modest clothes. You leave it to the imagination. I'm a religious person, I try to do things good enough. My mother didn't wear a hijab until her late 40s. Her husband, my father, can't force her to wear it.”

“I'm Muslim. I don't cover my hair. I give to charities. I do everything. It is a choice for me. It is a choice for a woman to wear it or not. No one should judge you if you wear it or not. I'm going to wear it when I'm ready to wear it. If I'm ever ready to wear it.”

Feelings From Wanting To Wear Hijab By Choice

Sereen volunteered explaining how she feels wearing hijab. “For me, wearing a hijab is feeling. No one will look at me and judge me and based on ‘oh, she is really pretty.’ I know I'm really pretty. When people look at me, it's purely who I am that makes people like me.”

She continued: “I'm not looked at in people's opinion's based on my looks. Obviously I make myself presentable, and I dress modestly. Me dressing modestly - that being my choice - frees me from thinking that the whole world is thinking whatever they are going to think. It is purely who I am.”

It's more about your inner beauty. We see - most women who wear hijab - we see it in a freeing way. We see it as empowering. It's a shame that people are forced into it, to the point where they don't see the beauty behind it. They get no chance to understand why they are wearing it. What the beauty behind it is. It's wrong. For the government to do that.”

Islam and Women

“Islam as a religion is very supportive of women,” reflected Sereen. “We are given rights as Muslims...that nobody is obligated to give us. Our religion gives us rights and support and empowerment. I can't even...,” Sereen begins to express her feelings, but can’t. “People just take it and twist it most of the time.”

“A woman is so valuable because the rest of the human race would not exist without a woman. This whole ‘the women are oppressed’ - that is a patriarchal government that is oppressing women. They hide behind the religion. They say it is because it is religion but that's not how it is enforced.”

In the book “Secrets of Divine Love: A Spiritual Journey Into the Heart of Islam,” by A. Helwa, the author describes it as: “Men and women are not physically identical, but they are equal in value in the eyes of God, for the soul has no gender. As the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) says, ‘Verily, women are the twin halves of men.’ In fact the word for ‘Eve’ in Arabic is the same as the Hebrew word Hawwaah, which comes from a root word that means ‘source of life.'“

Sereen continued: “I don't believe in what you believe in, nor do you have to believe in what I believe in. You are entitled to your own religions. And I'm entitled to mine*
*Surah 109 of the Qur’an
It is un-Islamic to force anyone to do anything. The whole premise of our religion is intention. If I am forcing you to practice - oh you’re doing it because I'm telling you - then you're not doing it for the right reason.”

Sereen concluded: “God gave people free will. It is not any government’s job to force them. Let them come to that point by themselves. Rather than bringing people closer to the religion, they [the Iranian government] are pushing them away.”

Bans Off Our Bodies Protests For Abortion Rights, Happening This Week In Corning, NY & Kingston, NY - Happening This Weekend In Kingston, NY & Poughkeepsie, NY

Abortion rights supporters will continue to gather for a “Bans Off Our Bodies” day of action in support of abortion access and reproductive freedom. We won’t go back!

“The events are part of a nationwide response after a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion revealed the court soon plans to overturn Roe v. Wade and eliminate constitutional protections for abortion rights - a move that would likely lead 26 states to swiftly ban abortion.”

When:

Centerway Square, Corning, NY from 8pm-9pm TONIGHT, Monday, June 27

YWCA, Kingston, NY from 6pm-7pm Tuesday, June 28

Academy Green Park, Kingston, NY at 11:00am Saturday, July 2

Corner of Main & Market Streets, Poughkeepsie, NY at 1:00pm Saturday, July 2

#wewontgoback

Find an event near you >

Bans Off Our Bodies Protests For Abortion Rights, Happening In Newburgh, NY Tonight

“On Friday, June 24th, in Newburgh, NY, Rhinebeck, NY and nationwide, abortion rights supporters will gather for a “Bans Off Our Bodies” day of action in support of abortion access and reproductive freedom.

The events are part of a nationwide response after a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion revealed the court soon plans to overturn Roe v. Wade and eliminate constitutional protections for abortion rights - a move that would likely lead 26 states to swiftly ban abortion.”

When: Friday June 24th, 2022

Rhinebeck Village, corner of Route 9 and Market St. from 7pm-8:30pm

Downing Park, Newburgh at 7:30pm

Centerway Square, Corning, NY from 8pm-9pm

Dewitt Park, Ithaca, NY from 8pm-9pm

Nassau County Courthouse, Mineola, NY from 6:30pm-7:45pm

Union Square, New York, NY from 8pm-9:30pm

Congress Park, Saratoga, NY from 8pm-9pm

YWCA, Kingston, NY from 6pm-7pm on Tuesday, June 28

Find an event near you >