Iced-In Ideas :: Things To Do, Shop and Eat In Beacon Guides 12/20/2024
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How Fidelis Care Initially Denied $17,985 Emergency Hospitalization For Diverticulitis Attack
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Before Luigi Mangioni, I was unaware of the reality that is the persistent denial of claims in what is American health insurance. Until I was sent such a denial notice on October 2, 2024 for my unanticipated Diverticulitis attack on July 4, 2024, that totaled $17,985.09 at that point. It has since reached $23,400.09 as more claims were submitted. Fidelis Care, under the NYS Essential Plan, denied the care provided on July 5-6, 2024. An appeal was filed by someone not me - I did not know about it - on September 12, 2024. By October 1, 2024, Fidelis sent a Final Adverse Determination Denial Notice to me confirming that they decided “we are not changing our decision to deny your inpatient emergency admission.”
From the time I received the letter, I had 4 months to appeal. The letter stated that if I didn’t agree with this decisions, I could “talk to a lawyer or someone else, like a family member [who can] ask the State for an External Appeal. This may be the best way to show how this service is medically necessary for you.”
This was stressful. I began dealing with this problem the week of Thanksgiving, when I had time to make phone calls. It was then I learned that on November 14, 2024, another claim was submitted for $21,934.12, which was paid. Reducing my amount owed to $100.
Thank goodness. But here’s what transpired for the denial process:
The Wording Of The Denial Letter
The Final Adverse Determination Denial Notice was worded in a scolding tone. It stated: “You asked for admission to the hospital because you had pain in your abdomen and a problem with your bowels.” The first part was true, but not the second. I had actually been bleeding vaginally for 2 months for unknown reasons, but resulted in my discovery of 2 small ovarian cysts. The letter continued: “You were not unstable. You went home the next day.”
A bullet list followed of reasons why I did not need the care I received. Some of that care included at least one line item of “Nuclear Medicine Inpatient” for $6,959, as well as room and board in the ER, lab work, CAT scan, ultrasound, more antibiotics to address the infection, etc.
The bullet list of denials stated: “These criteria are not met because the information provided did not show you had:
Unstable vital signs that did not improve
Severe abdominal findings on exam (indeed I was speechless with so much pain)
Persistent significant bowel bleeding resulting in drop in blood counts
Severe abnormality on imaging study such as bowl blockage or perforation
Bacteria spread to the blood
The letter continued: “The medical necessity for paying for your hospital stay at the ‘Inpatient’ level of care has not been established. Care can be provided at an ‘Observation’ level of care. These levels of care refer to how the facility is paid, not to care received. The request to approve your stay as an inpatient is denied on appeal.”
Symptoms And Reason For Hospitalization
The night of the attack, I felt sharp pain at 9pm. Having experienced a fully ruptured appendix 14 years ago, I recognized this pain as one that would not go away. But I went to bed hoping it would. At 3am, I woke up again, extremely nauseous. Having Vasovagal syncope as an adult, I now faint when I vomit. So I put pillows onto the bathroom floor to catch me, and lay down to wait it out.
The pain persisted and worsened. I woke up my daughter to have her wake up my neighbor to drive me to the hospital instead of calling the ambulance, just in case the added expense of an ambulance got messy. I rode in the back seat of her car lying down until we got to the ER at New York Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital in Peekskill (very much worth the drive, the hospital and staff are amazing).
I had no other symptoms of Diverticulitis. Based on my cycle bleeding, I suspected was experiencing a ruptured ovarian cyst. But no. The CAT scan revealed Diverticulitis. In the ER, two different doctors oversaw me, plus an OBGYN to address the mystery bleeding. One ER doctor insisted I stay overnight so that the four different antibiotics they were administering could control the infection. He was concerned the infection would worsen. As the antibiotics dripped via IV, my pain decreased slightly, but persisted. The doctor wanted me admitted overnight.
There were no available beds upstairs in the hospital, so they admitted me to my ER room as a hospital bed, and dinner was served on a tray. Later, I was transferred to a hospital room upstairs that was a conference room transformed into a room for two patients.
The bullet list of why Fidelis Care denied the Diverticulitis claim.
In the morning, I was anxious to walk around. Being a daily runner and skateboard pilates stretcher, my body is used to moving. During COVID, I walked off my infection then, so I got up to walk off this infection. Get the toxins moving. The nurses noticed me walking slowly in circles on the floor, balancing on my rolling IV drip, lapping the even slower patients who were doing PT for their legs. Sloths lapping sloths.
The nurses spoke to my new doctor, who when he came to see me, said that he heard I was trying to jail-break out. I would not have minded resting at the hospital, and the doctor encouraged me to stay, but the nurses nudged that if I was in this state, that I should leave the hospital to recover at home. We agreed, and I went “went home the next day,” as the denial letter described.
Receiving the Claim Denial Letter
Receiving the claim denial letter was frightening. The letter encouraged me to talk to my lawyer, but I don’t have a lawyer on retainer. I have my hair stylist twice a year, but that’s all I can barely afford.
I called the number provided in Fidelis letter, went through a bunch of extensions until I reached someone who was sympathetic. He told me to start with the Billing Department at the hospital, to log into the Fidelis portal to get more paperwork, and to call my attorney. Who was this mystery attorney?
Convinced that the doctors and nurses input the wrong codes, I called the ER directly to ask about the doctor mentioned in my denial letter. They told me to call Billing also, and to log into their portal to gain access to even more paperwork about my hospital stay.
Being a mother of 3 kids and a business owner, there is not much time in the day to chase these types of billing issues. If I worked as a medical professional or had more restrictive employment schedule, I’d have even fewer opportunities to fight this battle that had a 4 month deadline. I was one month in. The Tuesday before Thanksgiving, as I drove the kids to my parents during the work day, I had my 14 year old call the Billing Department on speaker while my other two listened.
The kids could not believe how much time this was taking. Digging into extensions, being put on hold, telling our story to whoever picked up. Finally, we reached Erwin in Billing at New York Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital. A Thanksgiving Miracle! Still incredulous, I asked Erwin to look a few more times to make sure. This seemed to good to be true.
A week later, I got a new Summary of Claims Activity report from Fidelis that stated that the Billed Amount had increased to $23,400.09, and that I owed $100. The insurance coverage seemed verified at this point.
I’m still holding my breath, waiting for more bills, but that’s the status as of now. Overall, Fidelis has been great insurance for no cost and low deductibles for those with low incomes who qualify.
As for the mystery bleeding, a midwife at the Women’s Center at Sun River Health in Beacon on Henry Street suggested that the infection was triggering my cycle every day. Once the infection cleared up, she predicted the bleeding would stop. She was right. I also saw Rebekah Azzarelli of Beacon Homeopathy to further discuss and manage the cycle. She mixed me a bottled remedy to be taken daily, and I’ve been quite pleased ever since.
I am grateful for the care, and believe everyone should be entitled to free health care regardless of income bracket, employment or marital status.
Last Call For Ward 4 Councilmember Replacement - ALBB Will Publish Your Applications
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During last week’s City Council Meeting (12/16/2024), Mayor Lee Kyriacou declared “Last Call” to receive applications for Councilmember representing Ward 4 to replace Dan Aymar-Blair, who resigned to begin his newly elected position of Dutchess County Comptroller. The next step would be for the Mayor to appoint a replacement. The Council would then need to vote to approve the replacement. If they do not qualify that vote, the Council can appoint their own candidate and vote. And if they cannot do that, the Council can hold a special election, according to Beacon’s Charter.
This is the 3rd appointment situation for Beacon’s City Council in the past year, for a 6-person Council. The first two appointments happened when Wren Longo, representing Ward 3, unexpectedly resigned. In January 2024, Mayor Lee declared his appointment of Amber Grant to come out of Council retirement to fill the At Large seat, and moved Pam Weatherbee over to Ward 3, even though she had been elected to the At Large seat. There was no public review of these moves.
Back in November, during the 11/18/2024 City Council Meeting, Councilmember Paloma Wake requested public review of all applicants the Mayor was considering for appointment. Mayor Lee dismissed her at first by saying “Dan’s body isn’t even cold yet. Come on. We will get there when we get there.” He later said he would love 150 applicants, and said he had received some.
Mayor Lee did not indicate if he would make public the applicants. He insisted that his preference was for people who have been in “contested elections” before.
Who lives in Ward 4 who is interested in filling the final year of Dan’s seat? If the Mayor will not make this public, A Little Beacon Blog will publish your applications, if anyone has indeed applied. The Republican committee in Beacon might be defunct or dysfunctional, and the Beacon Democrats can be cliquey. Independents may just go their own way, but fight odd battles. Fresh talent trying to break through the primary process might experience a difficult time.
During this time of breaking pavements and systems, this could be your time. Contact ALBB if you have submitted your letter of intent that explains how and why you want to serve, and ALBB will republish your letter.
Things To Do, Shop and Eat In Beacon Guides 12/20/2024
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Free Smoke Alarm Detectors and Installation From Beacon’s Fire Department and American Red Cross
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Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth
The Free Smoke Detector Program is back from the Beacon Fire Department. Years ago, then Fire Chief Gary Van Voorhis would urge people to call the Beacon Fire Department to have the fire fighters come by to install free smoke detectors in houses, apartments or businesses. Seemed like an offer too good to be true, or that one wouldn’t want to burden the first responders with, but Chief Van Voorhis insisted in almost every opportunity he got from the microphone at City Council meetings.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth
Chief Van Voorhis has since retired, and Chief Tom Lucchesi came out of his retirement as Assistant Chief for the City of Newburgh to replace him. A Little Beacon Blog reached out to the new Chief to inquire if the program was still current. Sure enough, it could have been, but there was unused inventory, so the smoke detectors had been returned to the American Red Cross. Chief Lucchesi reached out to the American Red Cross to replenish Beacon’s supply, and the boxes just came in!
How The Free Smoke Detector Program Works
You simply call the Beacon Fire Department at 845-831-1334 and let them know you’re interested. They will ask you how many bedrooms and floors you have in your place of residence. Then, they will come over to install. That’s it!
Don’t be shy. If you have zero smoke detectors, or if you have ones with dead batteries that have been beeping away night and day. That can all be fixed now for free. Fire prevention is their priority.
In ALBB’s case, two fire fighters came over to install the smoke detectors. Before they installed the first one, an emergency call came for smoke detected on Main Street. They dashed out in their truck to get to the scene. Fortunately, there was no emergency, and they were back with their power drills to install the smoke detectors into the ceilings.
When they returned, ALBB asked Chief Lucchesi if when he came into people’s homes and looked around, if he only saw fire hazards (she asked, as she looked at the Christmas lights plugged in everywhere). “Especially during the winter,” he answered, “we see more. Space heaters are used more frequently, lights. Outlets get overloaded.”
These smoke detectors have batteries that are good for 10 years, have no low battery chirps, are self-testing, and come with voice alerts. The American Red Cross provides a packet of information that includes encouragement to make a Fire Escape Plan.
If you live in an apartment managed by a company, you can still call the Beacon Fire Department. They may opt to work with the management company, but be a nudge to make sure it gets done, if the management company is neglectful.
Beacon Police and Mental Health America Behavioral Specialist Help Woman At Loopers Plaza
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Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth
On Monday, December 2, 2024, at around 2pm, the Beacon Police said they "received a call for a welfare check on a suicidal female possibly in the area of 1020 Wolcott Avenue,” according to Police Chief Figlia in his press release published on Facebook.
That address is Loopers Plaza, home of All in One Food Mart, Sal’s Pizza, and other businesses. According to an employee of All In One Food Mart who saw the video of the woman and spoke to A Little Beacon Blog, the woman looked to be in her 20s and had come from the direction of Sal’s Pizza into All In One Food Mart. The employee said that they had never seen her before, that she was not a regular customer, but that it did seem like she was dealing with mental health issues.
The employee said that she entered the store by backing in, walking backwards, while holding a knife to her throat as Beacon Police were following her into the store to speak with her. According to the employee, she retreated to the back of the store by the coolers, still with the knife to her throat. An officer circled around to the back of the store, and approached her while she was standing at a food table under the TV in the middle of the store. She eventually put the knife down onto the table, the employee said, put her hands up, and was taken away by Beacon Police.
According to Chief Figlia’s press release:
“Beacon Police as well as our Mental Health America Behavioral Specialist [Lashaveous Dicker] located the individual there and found her calm but incoherent. While they attempted to speak with the individual she produced a kitchen knife from her pocket, held it to her own throat and then slowly retreated into the All In One Food Mart as officers continued to try to talk to her.
“At that point one group of officers evacuated an employee from the store while another entered and continued to try to engage and de-escalate the individual, though she was largely unresponsive. The second group of officers then also engaged with the individual and shortly after she dropped the knife. She was then taken into custody without further incident. At that time, it was discovered that she had what appeared to be a previously self-inflicted wound to her stomach. She was then transported to the hospital by ambulance for medical and mental health evaluation.”
Two weeks after this incident, while ALBB was interviewing the employee for this story, another woman - different from the the subject of this article - who was white was in the parking lot, also being slowly approached by at least two Beacon Police officers, who were trying to talk to her.
Police Referral and Signing Bonus Passes - $10,000 Per Hire Who Stays Longer Than 6 Months
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The slightly revolving door of the Beacon Police Department just got a golden appliqué. At the December 16, 2024 City Council meeting, the Council unanimously passed a resolution presented by City Administrator Chris White for the payment of $5,000 to a member of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) who refers a Police Officer of New York State to the City of Beacon’s Police Department, and $5,000 to that Officer if they stay in the job longer than six months.
Salaries of Beacon Police Officers have also increased 5% since September 2024, when the Council voted unanimously to move the salaries to more closely match municipalities around the region.
Staffing Challenges
For over a decade, the Beacon Police Department has been understaffed. With 36 positions available, the department currently has 8 openings, with 2 out on injury, and 1 in the academy who is not yet able to serve on their shift. The constant demand for more officers to regularly patrol Main Street for traffic violations - either on foot or on bike or from sitting in the car - is difficult.
On August 19, 2024, Police Chief Thomas Figlia presented to the Council that the department was in what he called a “crisis,” with officers leaving Beacon for other municipalities with higher salaries. As reported by the Highlands Current, “Of the 31 police officers hired in Beacon since 2014, 12 have left for better-paying jobs elsewhere, Figlia said.”
Salary Differences
At the August 19, 2024 City Council Meeting, the Council unanimously agreed to pass a 5% raise for police salaries. The Starting Salary in 2025 would have been just over $61,000, according to the 2022-2025 PBA’s contract. According reporting by the Highland Current, salaries of the Town of Poughkeepsie were presented to Council, which showed that “a patrol officer in Poughkeepsie reaches his or her top pay of $106,414 after four years of service. In the Town of Poughkeepsie, it’s $113,300 after five years. In Beacon, a patrol officer hits the ceiling of $98,553 after six years. The 5 percent raise, which the council approved unanimously, brings the number to $103,481. The ceiling rises to $106,068 next year.” City Administrator Chris declared at the August 19th meeting before the vote that Beacon is no longer competitive with other nearby municipalities.
On August 19th, the 5% raises were passed, bringing the Starting Salary from $61,683 to $64,767 starting September 1, 2024. Then starting January 1, 2025, that would increase to $66,062, according to the Memorandum of Agreement between the PBA and the City of Beacon.
NYPD Recruitment
The hiring pool grew larger with recent changes in Civil Service law in New York State that allows Beacon to hire officers from the New York State Police Department (NYPD), City Administrator Cris stated during the meeting. “We've been interviewing a few.” He went on to voice his preference for recruiting NYPD officers: “The officers are kind of a close-knit community, and if we get one person from NYPD, that person has all of the contacts they worked with in the city and then can say they have a personal incentive to try to recruit them for us.”
Does The Referral/Hiring Bonus Combo Impact Retention?
This referral/hiring bonus combo is the latest attempt to fill the force with officers. However, it is not clear why this referral bonus would help retain an officer once hired. The bonus is paid out to the two parties after the officer has reached 6 months of employment. It would be helpful to know Beacon’s retention rate.
The public is informed of when new officers are hired or promoted, as they require a vote from Council. Retirements are also announced, as they are congratulatory and require new pension payments. But when officers are fired, demoted, or leave for another position, this development is not announced, and is reserved for Executive Session, which is closed to the public.
Workplace culture may also need some nurturing, as vacation days are encouraged to be “bought back” by the City and not used by the officers, as explained by City Administrator Chris on December 16th. He promoted vacation-days-for-cash, which encourages officers to not use their time but to sell their unused days. Workplace culture currently encourages time off for life balance and mental health. City Administrator Chris focused on getting “bodies in the door” during the meeting, a phrase which is not indicative of showing value.
Improvement to the facilities may also help. One or two budget cycles ago, then Police Chief Sands Frost mentioned the locker room at the Police Station being in need of an upgrade. With the new Fire Station across the street with the new geothermal floor, perhaps it is time for a little more comfort down at the Police Station.
With overtime being paid to members of the Highway Department to renovate the men’s 3rd floor bathroom at City Hall, perhaps renovations can be made to the Police locker room if there is another $50,000 paid by Central Hudson to Beacon to do more paving after Central Hudson completes work under the street in the Spring.
Or, if the $10,000 per new hire is not used for recruits, or sunsets on December 31, 2025, perhaps the lump sum can go toward renovations at the Police Station.
Israel Has Killed The Soul Of Our Soul, Khaled Nabhan, After Killing His Grandchildren (Reem) - Videos Included
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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
$5,000 Police Referral Bonus and $5,000 Signing Bonus Proposed To Attract NYPD And Others To Beacon
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Photo Credit: City of Beacon Police Department
At the 12/9/2024 City Council Workshop, City Administrator Chris White proposed a hiring incentive of $5,000 referral bonus and a $5,000 sign on bonus to be paid to a member of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) who brings in a Police Officer of New York State. If approved at tonight’s City Council Meeting, this would be a pilot program and would run from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025, unless the City and PBA wanted to extend the program.
City Administrator Chris implied that he wanted to attract more officers from the New York Police Department (NYPD), and was interviewing one such officer now, who he hoped would spread the word to other NYPD officers if hired. “The officers are kind of a close-knit community,” City Administrator Chris told the Council, “and if we get one person from NYPD, that person has all of the contacts they worked with in the city and then can say they have a personal incentive to try to recruit them for us.”
There would be no limit to how many referral bonuses could be received if an officer was hired and stayed for 6 months. City Administrator Chris proposed: “If everything meets the requirements, they can do this numerous times, like more than one. It's not just you can only do it once if they have, like, four people and it all works out.”
People referring the officers would need to be a current member of the PBA in good standing, and would be paid after the officer stayed for 6 months. Both the referrer and the hire would be paid after the officer stayed for 6 months.
The City of Beacon’s Police Department has been short staffed for a number of years, since at least Randy Casale’s administration. The department is slated to have 36 officers, but there are currently 8 openings. Two officers are out on long-term injury; one in the academy is not available to shift yet; and another officer recently announced they are leaving for a state police job in February or March.
Per the contract with the PBA, there are minimum shift standards. If those are not met, then officers can work overtime to meet the standards. Beacon has budgeted $1 million dollars for Police overtime in the 2025 budget, City Administrator Chris explained.
Other incentives have been tried, he said, including raising wages for PBA by 5% in September, and an incentive bonus last year of $11,000. He also said they “tried to mitigate our use of overtime through allowing them to sell back vacation days.” City Administrator Chris said “if we could hire 8 people, that would cost us $880,000 and that would help to stem the the heavy use of overtime that we're forced to do just to meet the minimum shift standards.”
Going into vacation days, City Administrator Chris highlighted what they did in an old contract last year: “We had made it so that if you were here less than 7 years, you had to. If you use more than X amount of days, you had to bundle them into 5 days, and what it ended up doing was having people burn time. And for us, when somebody takes time off that they didn't need to take, it generates overtime. And instead, what we did is, we allowed them to break that up and then sell some of those days back. And that did help a little bit, but it's…unless we get more bodies in the door it's going to be hard.”
It was not clear what City Administrator Chris meant when he quantified the time as “time off that they didn’t need to take.” Since taking time off work is considered a benefit to one’s mental and physical health. Which does impact moral.
These bonuses would not be available to officers who the City hires through canvassing the Dutchess County Civil Service Police Officer list.
Unicorns & Elves :: Things To Do, Shop and Eat In Beacon Guides 12/13/2024
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Beacon Unicorn Fund Launches With Benefit Event Live Music, Auction At Dennings Point Distillery
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Dave Shelly began telling people last fall that he had Stage 4 Glioblastoma Multiforme - and had weeks or months to live. Receiving this information was shocking. ALBB received it outside of the bathroom at the Hudson Valley Food Hall as Dave was visiting friends at the Roosevelt Bar. The odds of beating it were not in his favor, he said. Dave and his wife Jill were known as involved and generous community members in Beacon. Dave’s commitment was special and unique to him.
Dave was known as The Pink Unicorn for his commitment to and enthusiasm when putting on his air filled suit every Saturday to walk around Beacon. When he passed away, ALBB published this about him: “Beacon’s Pink Unicorn Lowers His Horn For The Last Time David Shelly- Passes,” which shows how his wife Jill felt just days later.
The Beacon Unicorn Fund Launches
This Friday is the official launch of the Beacon Unicorn Fund that Jill put together with a little help from her friends. What follows is their press release in full:
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Be part of an evening filled with music, digital art, and community connection. This Friday, December 13, 2024, join us as the Beacon community comes together to honor the legacy of the Pink Unicorn of Beacon, David Shelly, with the launch of the Beacon Unicorn Fund at a special Benefit Event at Dennings Point Distillery 10 Chestnut Street from 7:00PM to 9:00PM.
This inspiring evening is scheduled to include live music performed by Jeremy Schonfeld, Gus Schonfeld, and Jen Malenke. The event will also include video tributes with a pre-taped interview with David Shelly, himself, and Scott Ramsey as well as a music video featuring The Costellos. There will also be a conversation with David’s wife, Jill Shelly, a silent auction, and heartfelt tributes all to help raise funds for the Beacon Unicorn Fund.
This fund reflects Dave and Jill’s shared dream of providing financial aid to Beacon residents experiencing hardship. It is a way to keep Dave’s mission of community support alive, ensuring his acts of kindness will touch lives for years to come. Suggested donation to attend is $20 and proceeds from the event and the silent auction will directly support the Beacon Unicorn Fund, helping those in need and honoring Dave’s legacy of generosity and joy. For more information about the fund, the Benefit Event and to donate to the Beacon Unicorn Fund, click on the QR code or visit www.beaconunicorn.fund
Who Was the Pink Unicorn of Beacon?
David Shelly moved to Beacon in 2016 and became a cherished figure when he brought his dream of joy to life in March 2021. Known as the Pink Unicorn of Beacon, Dave could be found dancing at the Farmers Market, strolling down Main Street , and spreading happiness with free flowers, hugs, and ice cream vouchers. His vibrant personality and selfless acts created a legacy of love that continues to inspire. Even as he faced a diagnosis of stage 4 glioblastoma multiforme in October 2023, Dave’s spirit remained an enduring source of hope. He passed away on December 15, 2023, leaving behind a legacy of kindness and a vision for the Beacon Unicorn Fund, which Jill Shelly is proud to bring to life.
New Krispy Krunchy Chicken Opens On Fishkill Avenue At Home Town Deli From Beacon, NY Owners
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The Home Town Deli on Rte. 52 across from the Town of Fishkill Town Hall has a new addition/offering inside: Krispy Krunchy Chicken from the local owners of Krispy Krunchy Chicken Beacon on Main Street next to Key Food and Maximus Smoke Shop,
who has since moved his smoke shop to be next door to Home Town Deli and this new Krispy Krunchy. Now you can enjoy the fried chicken before you hit the highway or in between errands in the area! Or for a sit-down lunch date. Plenty of parking!
The hand-breaded, Louisiana style, halal fried chicken is rolled daily in the breading to be fried and freshly placed under the warming lamps for you to enjoy. Says owner Max: “Come over and try us. Say hi!” Seating is ample and everything shiny and new. Deli sandwiches are available, plus loads of cookies from the likes of Pepperidge Farm and Tate’s. Parking is easy too. Chicken includes tenders, wings, and drumsticks with choices of sauces, to be paired with those wedge fries that cook so good the next day in a skillet for make-at-home hash browns. And the biscuit! Enjoy.
Located at 812 NY-52, Fishkill, NY. Follow them on Instagram @krispykrunchychickenbeacon
How Beacon Could Hold An Election For City's 3rd Vacancy On City Council
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In the past year, there have been 3 vacancies on Beacon’s City Council. The third is opening at the end of this month when Dan Aymar-Blair resigns to begin his new Dutchess County Comptroller position that he won in a narrow election. If all goes as Mayor Lee Kyriacou wants it to, the Mayor will follow the first step of the City’s Charter by appointing someone, who the Council would then also approve, as they did with the first unexpected vacancy situation in January 2024. But does it need to? Or can an election take place?
In November, City Council Member Paloma Wake requested and recommended that the Mayor announce an application process, and share with the public who the applicants are and why they want to serve. While the Mayor did make an announcement this time, which was only at City Council and has not been posted on the City of Beacon’s home page or Facebook page, he did not agree to making the applicants public. If the Council does not support his appointment, they can consider their own, or move to hold an election.
According to the City of Beacon’s Charter: “If a vacancy in an elective office is not filled by the Mayor with Council approval within forty-five (45) days of its occurrence, the Council shall have the power to fill such vacancy by four (4) affirmative votes of the Council. In the event that no appointment is made to fill the vacancy as hereinbefore provided, the Council may call a special election to fill such vacancy for the unexpired term. Such a special election shall be held no later than ninety (90) days from the occurrence of the vacancy.”
How Did The First 2 Vacancies Happen?
The first two vacancies were due to the unexpected resignation of Wren Longo of Ward 3. Her resignation was a rumor for weeks, and then confirmed by Mayor Kyriacou during a City Council Meeting.
In January 2024, to fill Wren’s resignation, neither the Mayor nor Council opted for an election for another representative. Instead, Mayor Lee shifted over a Council Member to make a second opening. Former Council Member Pam Weatherbee had come out of retirement to run unopposed for the At Large Council position, in part to have a stronger voice in the redevelopment of the communities and streets around Rte 52 known as the Fishkill Avenue Corridor after the Healey Dealership vacated its location there.
Councilperson Pam also lives in Ward 3, but Wren already occupied the Ward 3 seat as Pam ran for the At Large seat. When Wren resigned, the Mayor decided to move Council Member Pam over from the At Large position to the Ward 3 seat, which opened up the At Large seat to someone who could live anywhere.
While it is assumed that applicants for the Ward 4 seat need to live in that area, it does not seem to be specified in the Charter about how to temporarily fill vacancies. A Little Beacon Blog has reached out to the Mayor and City Administrator Chris White for confirmation, but received no response, as Chris has a no-response policy to all questions posed by ALBB to any department head after ALBB published an anti-discrimination article on the City’s policy. ALBB also emailed the City Attorney Nick Ward-Willis of Keane and Beane, and also received no response.
During the first vacancy situation in January, instead of opening a call for applications, Mayor Lee announced that he begged former Council Member Amber Grant to come out of retirement to fill the spot, saying that no one else was qualified.
But, two community members had tried running during that election: La Star Gorton who ran as an Independent having missed the Democrat deadline to be considered to primary (which would have versed her against Molly Rhodes in Ward 1). La Star’s impetus for running was her experience living in Tompkins Terrace, and wanting that community more represented.
The second candidate was Reuben Simmons, a longtime Highway Department employee who announced his candidacy for Mayor a week before the election as a write-in candidate, and earned 16% of the vote. Normally, the write-in spot on the ballot receives 1% of the vote, if that.
Mayor Lee proposed to move Pam over from the At Large seat she ran for, to Ward 3, and to bring Amber back to At Large. The Council agreed, and city business moved on.
So What Will Happen This Time?
With this 3rd vacancy, the same process is about to happen, with no public review of the Mayor’s appointment. At the request of Council Member Paloma Wake, the Mayor has agreed to be more open about taking applications, but not about making them public, as Council Member Paloma requested. Mayor Lee also reaffirmed his strong preference for appointing someone who had already been elected in the past, which severally limits the application pool from new talent emerging.
Mayor Lee said at the 12/2/2024 City Council Meeting: “I'll probably take applications for the next week. Probably the following week I'm going to remind people one more time, and then we will just shut them down.” No reminder came during the following week’s Workshop Meeting.
He continued: “I will choose from that list. I've already had people express interest. You all are welcome to do that. I'd love to have 150 interested. I will say and I said this last time, that I have a decided preference for people who have served, who have run for office in contested elections. I think that makes you much more aware of the community and aware of the role up here. Doesn't mean that is the only criteria, but is a decided preference.”
If the Council does not approve of the Mayor’s appointee, and if they cannot or will not decide on who to appoint amongst themselves, the Council Members can opt to have an open election for the public, per the City’s Charter.
Applicants are encouraged to email bswanson@beaconny.gov or send to the Mayor at mayor@beaconny.gov. Applicants may want to CC each Council Member, to ensure their applications is seen.
Justice Denied: Jordan Neely and the Cost of America’s Indifference
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Alexa Wilkinson (they/them) is an independent Photojournalist living in Newburgh having left Beacon due to the rising rent. Alexa goes on site to cover the Pro-Palestinian movement in Beacon’s Town Hall; at protests in the Hudson Valley; and on campuses in New York City. For this trial, Alexa was in the courtroom as Press for various points of the trial.
Justice Denied: Jordan Neely and the Cost of America’s Indifference
What the trial & verdict of Jordan Neely’s killer, Daniel Penny, can tell us about the dehumanization of people who are unhoused, the healthcare industry, and housing insecurity.
Daniel Penny on the right.
Photo Credit: Alexa B. WIlkinson
On the cold and rainy morning of December 9th at the 100 Centre Street Courthouse, Jordan Neely’s killer, Daniel Penny, was acquitted on a charge of criminally negligent homicide. The lesser charge verdict came after the more serious charge of Manslaughter was dropped last Friday. As the verdict was read, the courtroom erupted in a mixture of applause and anger, perfectly encapsulating the public rhetoric surrounding this case. Protestors outside shouted with signs in tow: “Justice for Jordan Neely!”
The video of Jordan’s death—six agonizing minutes of a chokehold administered by Daniel Penny—circulated widely online, leaving no ambiguity about who ended his life. Yet this verdict raises deeper questions:
How many systems failed Jordan Neely before Daniel Penny’s fateful encounter?
What does this mean for Black, unhoused, and medically fragile people in a country that criminalizes poverty?
Who gets justice in a system designed to punish the vulnerable and protect those with privilege?
Background: Who Was Jordan Neely?
Jordan Neely posting in his Michael Jackson impersonation.
Jordan Neely, a performer known for his Michael Jackson impersonations in New York City subways, was a symbol of both joy and tragedy. As reported by ABC News in an exhaustive feature, Jordan faced significant challenges from a young age. He and his mother, Christie, often struggled with housing insecurity. At age 14, Jordan’s life took a devastating turn when Christie was murdered by her boyfriend, who discarded her body in a suitcase. This loss profoundly impacted Jordan, and his mental health began to deteriorate as he entered adulthood
Photo Credit: Mildred Mahazu from An ABC article.
Jordan found brief solace in his performances, however, his untreated mental health issues and struggles with housing insecurity overshadowed his life. He became a familiar figure on subway trains, sometimes asking passengers for food or money, as his situation grew more desperate.
Despite being flagged as a “high need” individual by NYC outreach workers, Jordan cycled through shelters, hospitals, and police interactions without receiving consistent or adequate care.
During the defense’s case, we were given a glimpse of Jordan’s time in these facilities. Calling their expert witness to the stand, Dr. Alexander S. Bardey, MD a forensic psychologist. Dr. Bardey testified to Jordan’s medical history and the cause and effect of schizophrenia paired with self medication of K2/Spice (synthetic cannabinoid). A 50 page extraction of the alleged “thousands of medical records” was entered into evidence, 4 pages of which were shown to the jury and public.
“In these records, the defense attempted to blame the mental and physical state of Jordan (based on outdated records spanning from 2015-2021) for his own death at the hands of Daniel Penny. Framing Jordan as violent, odorous, scary, and unpredictable.”
In these records, the defense attempted to blame the mental and physical state of Jordan (based on outdated records spanning from 2015-2021) for his own death at the hands of Daniel Penny. Framing Jordan as violent, odorous, scary, and unpredictable. In these extractions from his many rotations through the failed NY Medical system, quotes from Jordan were also highlighted in which Jordan said “Tupac told me to change the world” and that he was scared someone was out to get him. When the medical scribe asked who Jordan thought was out to get him, he said “everyone in this hospital”.
On May 1, 2023, on a north bound F train, Jordan began “shouting” and “behaving erratically.” Witnesses reportedly said he claimed he was “hungry and tired of living without food.” Witnesses also stated that Jordan did not physically threaten anyone. Daniel Penny then proceeded to approach Jordan from behind, place him in a tight chokehold, and hold him down for several minutes while two other passengers assisted. Jordan struggled the entire time, until he fell unconscious and was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
“On May 1, 2023, on a north bound F train, Jordan began “shouting” and “behaving erratically.” Witnesses reportedly said he claimed he was “hungry and tired of living without food.” ”
The city medical examiner ruled his death a homicide caused by compression of the neck. While Penny argued that he acted in self-defense, the incident drew widespread condemnation, protests, and debates about the criminalization of homelessness and mental illness. Advocates criticized the failure of social systems that left Jordan vulnerable, ultimately leading to his murder.
A Legacy of Systemic Neglect
Daniel Penny walking in court.
Photo Credit: Alexa Wilkinson
To understand Jordan’s tragic death, one must examine the interconnected failures of the U.S. healthcare system, public housing policy, and the criminal justice apparatus. From 2015 to 2021, Jordan cycled in and out of New York City hospitals, where he was treated as an inconvenience rather than a patient in desperate need of care. Diagnosed with schizophrenia and battling drug addiction (K2), Jordan repeatedly expressed despair: “I’m sick and tired of being homeless,” he told hospital staff.
Yet the institutions tasked with helping individuals like Jordan fell tragically short. Instead of long-term treatment or housing placement, Jordan received the “revolving door” approach common in the American healthcare system. He was stabilized just enough to be discharged, only to land back on the streets—hungry, cold, and struggling to survive.
This is not an isolated case. The U.S. healthcare system routinely prioritizes crisis management over sustained care. For those battling mental illness or substance abuse—particularly if they are unhoused—the barriers to accessing adequate treatment are nearly insurmountable. Even when care is provided, it often comes without follow-up, leaving patients to fend for themselves in environments that exacerbate their conditions.
The Cruel Intersection of Homelessness and Healthcare
“From 2015 to 2021, Jordan cycled in and out of New York City hospitals, where he was treated as an inconvenience rather than a patient in desperate need of care. ”
Homelessness is both a cause and a consequence of inadequate healthcare. Without stable housing, managing chronic conditions becomes nearly impossible. Homeless individuals like Jordan Neely face stigma that dehumanizes them in the eyes of society and the medical community alike. They are not seen as people deserving of empathy but as “problems” to be moved along, ignored, or—too often—criminalized.
Photo Credit: SeastersJones
This dehumanization extends beyond Neely’s case. Just this evening, Luigi Mangione, 26, was arrested in Altoona, PA, as a suspect in the fatal shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The act was allegedly motivated by frustrations with the insurance industry, amid speculation about denied claims related to Mangione’s back surgery. This juxtaposition is stark and cruel: a man who lashes out at a system profiting from widespread neglect is swiftly met with the full force of the law, while those responsible for the system’s failures face no accountability.
In Jordan’s case, this dehumanization reached its apex when his mental health struggles were weaponized during the trial. The defense painted him as a volatile threat, conveniently ignoring the systemic failures that had abandoned him long before his death. The public’s willingness to accept this narrative speaks volumes about societal perceptions of homelessness and mental illness.
The Role of Housing in Justice
“In Jordan’s case, this dehumanization reached its apex when his mental health struggles were weaponized during the trial. The defense painted him as a volatile threat, conveniently ignoring the systemic failures that had abandoned him long before his death.”
It is impossible to discuss Neely’s death without addressing the broader housing crisis in the U.S. Decades of underfunded public housing programs, rising rents, and a lack of affordable options have left millions without stable shelter. For Black Americans, who are disproportionately affected by homelessness, the situation is even more dire.
Had Neely been housed, his story might have been entirely different. Stable housing provides a foundation for addressing mental health issues, securing employment, and rebuilding one’s life. Instead, Neely was part of a growing population left to navigate a world that increasingly criminalizes their existence. Public spaces become their only refuge, and the consequences are fatal when they encounter individuals who view them as a threat rather than as fellow human beings.
A Justice System Rigged Against the Vulnerable
Daniel Penny’s acquittal sends a chilling message: in America, the lives of the homeless, mentally ill, and marginalized are expendable. The defense’s argument relied not only on demonizing Jordan, but also on appealing to a societal bias that views the unhoused as less deserving of life.
“Daniel Penny’s acquittal sends a chilling message: in America, the lives of the homeless, mentally ill, and marginalized are expendable. ”
But the justice system’s failure is only part of the equation. It is a reflection of larger systemic failures—healthcare policies that prioritize profit over people, housing policies that ignore the basic right to shelter, and a societal framework that devalues the lives of the most vulnerable.
Moving Forward: What Needs to Change
Jordan Neely’s story is not just a cautionary tale; it is a call to action. Addressing the root causes of tragedies like his requires:
Healthcare Reform: Expand access to mental health and substance abuse treatment, including long-term care options that prioritize stability over short-term fixes.
Affordable Housing: Invest in public housing programs and enforce protections for tenants to reduce evictions and homelessness.
Decriminalization of Poverty: Stop penalizing individuals for being unhoused, mentally ill, or in crisis. Redirect funding from punitive systems to support services.
Cultural Change: Combat stigma around homelessness and mental illness through education and media representation that humanizes, rather than vilifies, the vulnerable.
Photo Credit: Alexa Wilkinson
Jordan Neely’s death was preventable. The systems designed to protect him failed, and the justice system compounded that failure. His story and the juxtaposition of this case’s outcome to other murders like Jordan’s is a devastating reminder that in America, justice almost always depends on privilege and wealth.
Let us honor Jordan’s memory by demanding better—for him, and for everyone failed by these systems.
Applications Open For Ward 4 Council Member Vacancy; Mayor Lee Indicates He Will Limit Pool By Attempting To Pick Someone Who Already Ran In An Election
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“The Mayor makes an appointment. The Council makes an approval. I certainly won’t interfere with your process. ”
During the 12/2/2024 City Council Meeting, Mayor Lee Kyriacou announced that he is accepting applications for the upcoming vacancy of the Ward 4 Council Member seat, as Dan Aymar-Blair, who was re-elected to the position last year but ran unopposed, was declared the winner in the close and contested election for Dutchess County Comptroller.
This is the 3rd vacancy this year for Beacon, yet the first to be announced for public consideration. When the unexpected resignation of Wren Longo, Council Member for Ward 3 was announced, a public process was not held for her replacement. The entire Council and Mayor ran unopposed, and now has an appointee (Amber Grant) and a Council Member who was moved from the At Large seat to the Ward 3 seat (Pam Weatherbee). Appointing a person into a vacant City Council seat without public review of that appointee is within the City of Beacon’s Charter.
During the 11/18/2024 City Council Meeting, Council Member Paloma Wake requested that the Mayor’s consideration of Council Member appointees be open to the public, in the form of making an announcement for applications, and reviewing those applications in public before making an appointment, which the Council would need to approve, or else make their own appointment, or move to an election.
Mayor Lee’s Response To Council Member Paloma’s Request For Public Access To Ward 4 Applicants
Mayor Lee did make an announcement during the 12/2/2024 City Council Meeting stating that he had received emails of applicants already, and more applicants could continue emailing their qualifications. He strongly indicated that he would most likely appoint someone who had already gone through a “contested election.”
This preference limits the number of people who can be considered, as the applicant would have had to have been awarded a primary selection by a political party (an already difficult achievement given signature challenges), and won or potentially lost a race and legally challenged the outcome.
For the first two Council appointments that were not made public, one included an At Large position, where the Ward representative can live anywhere in Beacon. For that seat, Mayor Lee ignored two candidates who had tried running in the previous election: Le Star Gorton and Reuben Simmons. Le Star was trying to bring more representation to Tompkins Terrace, and Reuben has been involved in the community and government as a Highway Department employee (and one time Highway Superintendent) and through I Am Beacon. According to both of them, he did not reach out to them with consideration.
Instead, Mayor Lee explained that he begged Amber Grant to return to Council as the At Large representative, and shifted over Pam Weatherbee from At Large to Ward 3, which was Wren Longo’s Ward.
Mayor Lee’s Process On How To Deal With Applicants
“I’ll probably take applications for the next week. Probably the following week I’m going to remind people one more time, and then we will just shut them down. I will choose from that list.”
While he made an announcement during last week’s City Council Meeting, Mayor Lee did not indicate that any public process would be happening to meet the potential candidates, as Council Member Paloma had recommended. Mayor Lee said: “As [Attorney] Nick noted, the Mayor makes an appointment. The Council makes an approval. I certainly won't interfere with your process.”
It should be noted that the Council does not make an automatic approval. The Council, as per the City’s Charter, makes a consideration, and can decline the Mayor’s appointee. The Council can then consider their own appointee(s), or move to hold an election.
Mayor Lee continued: “I will certainly use the opportunity to say there will be an opening on December 31st on the Ward 4 Council seat. I certainly encourage anyone who is interested to apply. Email Ben Swanson bswanson@beaconny.gov. Or send to me at mayor@beaconny.gov.”
When referring to “your process," Mayor Lee did not indicate what that process looked like.
As for a deadline, Mayor Lee explained: “I'll probably take applications for the next week. Probably the following week I'm going to remind people one more time, and then we will just shut them down. I will choose from that list. I've already had people express interest. You all are welcome to do that. I'd love to have 150 interested.”
But Mayor Lee clarified his intent for how he would narrow the prospect pool: “I will say and I said this last time, that I have a decided preference for people who have served, who have run for office in contested elections. I think that makes you much more aware of the community and aware of the role up here. Doesn't mean that is the only criteria, but is a decided preference. If council receives applicants, please forward to me.”
How An Election Could Occur For The Filling Of The Ward 4 Vacancy
According to the City’s code, Section 2.04 B, the Council could hold a Special Election if they do not approve of the Mayor’s appointment. “If a vacancy in an elective office is not filled by the Mayor with Council approval within forty-five (45) days of its occurrence, the Council shall have the power to fill such vacancy by four (4) affirmative votes of the Council. In the event that no appointment is made to fill the vacancy as hereinbefore provided, the Council may call a special election to fill such vacancy for the unexpired term. Such a special election shall be held no later than ninety (90) days from the occurrence of the vacancy.”
