OPINION: Beacon City Council And Some People Of Beacon Should Be Cautious About Poo-Pooing Franchises and Corporate Box Chains
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The announcing of the closing of Rite Aid in Beacon has rattled the people of Beacon. Beacon’s Rite Aid made it through the first bankruptcy, but all stores are closing in the second bankruptcy unless a brand like Walgreen’s parent company buys remaining stores and assets of the brand.
On Monday, Beacon’s City Council banned drive-thrus. The entire council, with the exception of Mayor Kyriacou, voted to ban drive-thrus. This came up because the Healey family on Rte. 52 proposed that they would use a large portion of their car dealership lot to transform into a Dunkin’ Donuts with 2 other commercial spaces connected and apartments above.
However, Councilperson Pam Weatherbee, who took it upon herself to spearhead a re-imagining of the entire Fishkill Corridor, with the blessing of Mayor Lee who appointed a Fishkill Corridor Committee to have a Group Think about it, does not want a Dunkin’ Donuts. Nor do some other people of Beacon who spoke loudly against it. Others who wanted a Dunkin' Donuts with a drive-thru didn't come to City Council Meetings to voice their opinion because they were busy doing their laundry at the laundromat next door because they don’t have washers and dryers in their homes. Councilperson George Mansfield felt that once you approve something like this, more fast food chains come “like a virus.”
Councilperson Jeff Domansky stated he much preferred somehow slowing the vehicular traffic on Rte. 52 - a major artery in and out of Beacon - so that he could enjoy a leisurely bike ride to a craft beer brewery like Industrial Arts Brewing. The brewery has “a phenomenal location with an amazing views and you can't beat the trip there,” he said before he voted to ban drive-thrus. A vote to essentially kill the Dunkin’ Donuts and accessibility measures for Autistic people, people with children, people who do still need to drive. But he didn't care. Nor did he care about the employment that a Dunkin' can provide as he was served a beer.
As for employment, which the Dunkin’ Donuts project was handing to Beacon, the Council was not impressed. When discussing self-storage facilities, that the Council was also considering banning because they aren’t sexy enough, Councilperson Amber Grant felt that self-storage facilities didn’t employ “enough” people.
Paul Yeaple, founder and owner of the hamburger joint Poppy’s as well as the building it was in (he sold the building to what became Meyer’s Olde Dutch), agreed that Dunkin’ Donuts didn’t employ “enough” people, ending his thoughts with “F*ck Dunkin’.” After selling his building, he went on to open a food truck at the river (another controversial topic with brick and mortars), and then a hot dog stand for one season.
Councilperson Paloma Wake felt that this drive-thru decision should not be a business first decision. But should be people and climate focused first decision. But businesses employ people. And people shop from businesses. Especially elderly and low income people who do shop from Rite Aid and Dunkin’ Donuts.
With the potential loss of employment for the employees of Rite Aid, how much further outside of Beacon will they need to go to get flexible shifts 7 days a week? Towns that are based on tourism of clothing boutiques and restaurants are fragile. The profit margins of boutiques and restaurants are slim. And their staffing goes up and down with the weather. Literally. If it’s a rainy day, forget it. Sales for that day are a wash.
The Beacon Planning Board reviewed the plans and traffic safety offerings of the Dunkin’ Donuts project, and approved it. In the proposal, the Healey’s noted that it is only viable with a drive-thru. But with the City Council’s new ban on drive-thrus, the project will most likely die.
Beacon’s City Council needs to be cautious that it is getting what it wished for in a Hallmark Town or Disney Village. These things are pretend. They are on TV. And on cable no-less! We have to pay to watch them or go there.
While Beacon does serve as a film set at times, employment issues are real. The people of Beacon who stick their noses up at stores like this perhaps can live on the remote jobs they have. But others cannot.
Beacon’s City Council should rethink it’s discriminatory, disclusive vote and remove the drive-thru ban.
