As of early December 2019, Beacon has emerged out of the drought that started in October 2019, according to City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero, who made the announcement at the 12/09/2019 City Council Meeting.
“The reservoirs continue to refill,” explained Anthony, with some still being below normal. But the Melzingah Reservoir (the city’s smallest) is “running over,” he said. In 2018, the drought proclamation was lifted in February.
In these gray days, it is important to get out of the house and take a walk. The new pavilion at Long Dock Park, a park by Scenic Hudson that began construction in 2017, is quite pleasant. The city’s historic gateway known as Long Wharf (constructed in 1815), this area used to be a drop-off point for cargo and passengers when Beacon and Newburgh relied upon manufacturing and the Hudson River as an economic waterway, according to signage at the park. The wharf used to have buildings, and then it became a dumping ground for industrial debris.
Today, it is a park for your enjoyment, featuring paved walkways, picnic tables and benches. Parking is available near the Metro-North train station, but is slim. In the summer, food trucks may be out and about. Scenic Hudson is taking applications for food trucks, which you can learn about here. See Scenic Hudson’s website for more information.
Photo Credit: A Little Beacon Blog
A phone scam posing as Central Hudson is in full force, and this one is pretty sneaky. The scam phone call comes in as a recorded message with the voice of a woman, similar to the female recorded voice at the actual Central Hudson when you call for help or to pay your bill via phone. The message advises you that your house is scheduled to have the electricity shut off today because of nonpayment on your account. The details are below of what to expect and how to avoid this scam, but first, a poem:
‘Twas the day after Christmas, when all through the house,
The children were running, even the mouse;
The bills were arriving, put away with care,
In hopes that the money soon would be there;
The bill pile and to-do list were spread on the bed,
While visions of what would get paid when spun in parents’ heads,
Mama with her coffee answered a phone call with a snap,
And heard "This is Central Hudson - your electricity is scheduled to be shut off today" causing her to spill her coffee on her lap.
She arose with a clatter,
To call the recommended number to see what was the matter.
And almost paid the bill in a flash,
But thanks to a technical difficulty, they didn't get her cash.
The phone call comes in, and “Central Hudson” flashes up on your phone screen’s caller ID. If you answer, because why wouldn’t you answer a call from Central Hudson, the recorded voice that sounds like the usual recorded voice at Central Hudson tells you that electricity to your house is scheduled to be shut off today due to nonpayment, and to call this number: (800) 503-2410.
A few things might run through your mind, which helps this scam work. These are mentioned here to remind you to ignore those assumptions when a phone call like this comes in while you are in a vulnerable place, like after the holidays or at tax time:
“I thought I just got my bill… Don’t they wait like two billing cycles before going down the cut-off-your-power route? How can they do this the day after Christmas?”
“I guess I better call the number… When people are late - wait, but am I late? - do they put your ability to make payment in a special place, like with a special billing department who is connected to the guys in the trucks going around shutting off people’s power? I don’t know! I better call immediately!”
The phone number at the time was working. The recorded voice sounded just like the regular recorded voice at Central Hudson. They have options to press numbers to report a power outage, or pay a bill. Fortunately, the option to pay a bill didn’t work, and disconnected the call.
Hang up immediately when a deceptive phone call like this comes in, and call Central Hudson directly to inquire about your account, and report the scam.
Hours later, the scam phone number had been disconnected.
Central Hudson can confirm in their call logs if they called you or not. When you call directly to pay your bill, they can confirm that your bill is indeed not even late, that they did not call you, and that your payment was received, if you made it directly through their own phone system.
Phone scams can come in the form of directives to create money orders or store-bought debit cards. A list of other known Central Hudson scams are available here at Central Hudson’s website.
In addition, there are phony peddlers going around front porches of homes to tempt people into leaving Central Hudson for a “clean energy source.” This is also a scam, and A Little Beacon Blog will be following up with an article and pictures about the scam shortly.
This New Year’s Eve, people using Lyft to get to or from a destination in Newburgh can get $10 off two rides, with a maximum of $10 per ride, thanks to an initiative put together by local officials and Lyft. Newburgh is one of three areas across New York State engaged in the effort, according to a press release issued today by Assemblymember Jonathan G. Jacobson’s office.
According to the press release: “Senator James Skoufis (D-Hudson Valley), Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson (D-Newburgh), and City of Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey partnered with Lyft to provide discounted rides on New Year’s Eve to ensure riders in the City of Newburgh can access affordable, reliable transportation. The initiative is part of a shared commitment to reduce impaired driving as people celebrate the holiday season.”
The discount is good from Tuesday, December 31, 2019, to Wednesday, January 1, 2020. Riders can use the promo code NEWBURGHNYE to receive $10 off two rides, with a maximum of $10 per ride. The code will work as long as one of the locations, drop-off or pick-up, is in the City of Newburgh. A rider must have the Lyft app installed on their phone, which they can get from their phone’s app store for free.
In the press release, Mayor Torrance Harvey said: “Senator Skoufis, Assemblyman Jacobson and I agree that public safety is Newburgh’s #1 priority and we thank Lyft for offering a great discount to our residents to ride on New Year’s Eve. We don’t want people drinking and driving. Celebrate smart!”
"Our community's safety, both on and off the road, is of the utmost importance to me," said Senator James Skoufis. "That's why I was grateful to partner with Lyft to establish two discounted rides for anyone traveling to and from Newburgh on New Year's Eve. I hope our community takes advantage of this and everyone celebrating the new year with their loved ones has a safe and warm ride home."
"New Year's Eve should be fun, but safe,” said Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson. “I applaud Lyft for encouraging people not to drink and drive. The discount they are offering will help keep the roads safer for everyone.”’
“We are grateful to Senator Skoufis, Assemblymember Jacobson and Mayor Harvey for their partnership on this important initiative,” said Jen Hensley, director of public policy at Lyft. “Since 2017, Lyft has provided affordable and reliable transportation throughout Newburgh, helping people to get to work, school, and home responsibly after a night out. This New Year’s Eve, we are proud to work together with thoughtful leaders to ensure Lyft riders celebrating in Newburgh have no excuse to drive impaired.”
Photo Credit: A Little Beacon Blog
At 10:32 pm on a Thursday evening, right before bed, I checked Facebook for any updates. A link was shared in a Moms group I’m part of. The link was to an article at Medium by a 37-year-old mom who works for BARK who posed as an 11-year-old girl in order to catch and trap any online lurker trying to send sexual content to children. BARK uses AI (artificial intelligence) to alert parents and schools when children are experiencing issues like cyberbullying, depression, threats of violence or targeting by sexual predators.
I reluctantly read the article, learning how easy it was for a sexual predator to find and talk to young people using Instagram - like, in seconds thanks to hashtags and selfies - and begin a conversation with an 11-year-old who doesn’t know much about birds and bees. I made a mental note to think about how to make my kids aware of this reality, as we constantly navigate their use of devices, which in many cases, make online social interaction required in order to play them (Nintendo Switch and XBox, etc.).
This morning in this week’s issue of the Highlands Current, editor Chip Rowe reported on a related story of what I read about at BARK - but IRL (In Real Life) - in Cold Spring. A former mayoral candidate, Charles E. “Chuck” Hustis III, who served two terms as a Village of Cold Spring trustee and worked as a substitute teacher who last was in a Cold Spring classroom in 2016, was arrested by the FBI on Monday and charged with “attempted enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity,” according to federal officials, the article stated. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. He was released to home confinement on a $150,000 bond, as reported in the article.
The article went on to expose how the man was caught - from the first report by a 16-year-old male who received solicitations from the accused - who was one of his substitute teachers - via Facebook Messenger.
The rest of the details of this step-by-step almost-encounter are made clear in the Highlands Current in this week’s edition of the paper, or any time after the print issue is gone it’s published online. After the teenager reported it, an FBI agent took over his Facebook account to pose as the teenager. The FBI agent was able to get photos and other evidence that were sent by the accused, and agree to meet (while posing as the teenager). The suggested meetup by the accused was to take place at the Foodtown parking lot, where he has been a manager.
The article suggested that anyone with relevant information should contact the agency at (800) 225-5324.
The 2020 budget for the City of Beacon is making room to hire more first responders and personnel at City Hall, some of which is made possible by different federal grants.
The budget reflects the addition of three career firefighters over a three-year period in the Fire Department budget. Earlier this year, the City of Beacon received a SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) Grant in the amount of $537,423.15 in federal funding. The grant pays for 75% in the first two years and 35% in the third year. The total number of career firefighters in Beacon is 16.
The hiring of one police officer is in the 2020 budget, bringing the total patrol division to 30 officers. The Department’s total personnel would be 37, including the Police Chief, Captain and the Detective Division. “The intent,” according to the budget report, “is that this officer would be a dedicated Main Street Patrol.”
A full-time human resource (HR) position is in the City Administrator budget for $65,000. “The main responsibility of the HR person,” according to the budget report, “will be to recruit new employees, retain and develop the existing work force, maintain all personnel files, employee benefits and compensation guidance, administration of civil service, training in required local and state policies, and assist in preparing policies and procedures.”
The budget also reflects the inclusion of the part-time Deputy City Clerk as full-time in the City Clerk budget (1410) for $18,685.
The City of Beacon is on a mission to be more climate-smart and climate-friendly. Financial incentives are attached to this path, which are measured by a wide-ranging point system. The Climate Smart Coordinator stays on top of those points and looks for opportunities to gain points. According to a report from the current Climate Smart Coordinator, Beacon has 174 out of 300 points. The higher the points, the more opportunities open up. Currently, the coordinator is working on greenhouse gas inventories and alternative fuel structures. She is hunting for more points, and is feeling optimistic, per her presentation at the 11/25/2019 City Council Meeting. The Climate Smart Coordinator position is in the City Council budget for $9,500.
Included in the overall budget is $20,000 in the Recreation budget to work with the Dutchess County Workforce Investment Board (DCWIB) to provide summer work experience opportunities for Beacon youth.
The copy of the City of Beacon’s 2020 Budget in the Beacon Public Library at the Reference Desk. You can request to read it, and you’ll find it at the Reference Desk, or download Beacon’s budget online as a PDF here.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin
Budget season is here, and Beacon’s budget is about to get voted on in December, on the 9th (rescheduled from December 2 due to the winter storm); it must be done prior to December 31, 2019.
We are highlighting a few areas of spending in articles to come next, but wanted to shed light on the big base numbers, and how they have been going up or down over the past few years. This abstract is from the executive report submitted by the City Administrator, Anthony Ruggiero, MPA, who credits Susan K. Tucker, CPA and director of finance for the City of Beacon, for involvement with the production of the budget.
Much of this report is excerpted in quotes from the budget report itself, which you can find at the Beacon Public Library, or you can download Beacon’s budget online as a PDF here:
“The tax cap law established a limit on growth of the annual property taxes levied to 2% or the rate of inflation, whichever is less. This year the tax cap is 2%. There are very limited adjustments that are factored in and only PILOT payments apply to the budget this year. The cap is on the tax levy, not the tax rate.”
For Beacon: “The allowable levy at cap is $11,455,743 for the 2020 budget, which is an allowable increase over 2019 budget of $491,562. This is a 4.48% increase from the 2019 Budget and is directly related to the Tax Base Growth Factor.”
The homestead and non-homestead tax rates both saw a decrease. An override of the tax cap is not being recommended, according to the budget report: “The tax cap legislation provides for an override of the tax cap with a majority plus one vote in favor of it by the governing body. This is not being recommended.”
A homestead tax rate decrease of -6.7219%
A non-homestead tax rate decrease of – 2.9146%
Did you get the letter in the mail about your Assessed Value of your home? Did it increase? It did for a lot of people who moved here some years ago, which, according to Mayor Casale and the City Assessor, Kathy Martin, is an expected catch-up, as they explained during a City Council meeting about where the housing assessments should be.
THIS YEAR:
The homestead assessed value increased by 12.33% or $113,555,017.
The non-homestead assessed value increased over last year by 6.94% or $18,784,639.
According to the report: “This year represents the sixth year since 2010 that the overall assessed values increased, and did so by $132,339,656. For the first time in 10 years, the Homestead values are $11,457,133 more than it was in 2009.”
The report points out that the assessed values are not where they were at the height of the real estate market in 2008: “Homestead values remain $15,586,532 less than it was in 2008. The non-homestead assessed value has fluctuated through the years, and while it increased $18,784,639 this year, it is only the 3nd year in a row that it has been more than in 2010.”
The future projection of the Fund Balance is as follows: “This budget utilizes a fund balance amount of $379,842. This is an increase of $26,271 from what we’ve utilized in the FY 2019 Budget from Fund Balance and Debt Reserve. Each year with the improving economy and new developments on the tax rolls, the budget and assessments continue to strengthen. The future non-reliance on fund balance appropriations to balance the annual operating budget will help to provide for a more reliable and sustainable fiscal condition and to better allow the City to adjust during difficult fiscal times.”
Through the hustle and bustle of busy Beacon traffic, the Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps (BVAC) is easy to spot among the cyclists and array of vehicles. Celebrating their 60th anniversary this year, Mayor Randy Casale praised the Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps during City Council meeting in May for their dedication and efficiency, with service at no cost to the City of Beacon. For #GivingTuesday, we wanted to extend his message by highlighting the service they provide to us, which is one that other cities pay for.
BVAC was incorporated in 1959 by Walter Detwiller, a Beacon police officer and member of the Beacon Engine Company. Comprising both volunteer and career emergency services personnel, BVAC has drastically improved survival and recovery rates through their work to combat sudden injuries and illnesses. BVAC earned New York State Certification in 1990, and became Defibrillation-Certified in 1991. In October 1996, they began providing complete advanced life support by way of contract providers.
Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps rescuing a hiker from Mount Beacon on September 8, 2019.
Photo Credit: BVAC
Despite the humble connotation to the “volunteer” title, the Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps is one of the busiest volunteer services in the county. Approximately 2,500 calls are run per year, an average of six to seven calls per day.
They currently run a fleet of three modern, fully equipped, New York State-certified ambulances, a first-response vehicle, and a mass-casualty incident trailer. A utility terrain vehicle is also maintained for rescues within the mountainous terrain of Mount Beacon, and has been used this year to rescue lost and injured hikers from Mount Beacon. Most recently:
September 8, 2019: “Lost and Injured Hikers Rescued From Mount Beacon” (94.3 The Wolf)
November 17, 2019: “Injured Hiker Rescued On Mount Beacon” (101.5 WPDH)
March 16, 2019: “9 Hikers Rescued From Snow-Covered Mountain In Hudson Valley” (Hudson Valley Post)
According to the Mayor, as he spoke during the City Council meeting, volunteer and paid providers are threatened by the lack of volunteer and workers in the emergency and medical field, due to the closure of local hospitals. There is a struggle to supply an ambulance across the country; workers in the emergency field are typically paid minimum wage, not enough to compensate for the efforts of the job.
As explained by Mayor Casale, the first 911 call is not what adds strain to emergency responders, it is the third and fourth call that puts pressure on both paid and volunteer services. It takes about two hours for an ambulance to be available after a call. Before the closure of local hospitals it only took an ambulance a half-hour to get back on the road for another call. BVAC alleviates this pressure while providing financial relief for the city.
Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps is completely free of charge to the City of Beacon. For the 60 years this service has been available, not once has BVAC used a single tax dollar, according to Mayor Casale. Other communities pay upwards of $300,000 for a single ambulance. The City certainly feels the efforts of BVAC. Outside of City Hall, Beacon residents are aware and appreciative of their service.
A Little Beacon Blog’s publisher Katie was helped by the Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps upon first moving to Beacon. “I was having what we later learned was unofficial chronic appendicitis. It hadn’t ruptured yet, but during our first backyard party, I had an episode where I was in pain and put myself to bed. My husband called 911 and the Ambulance Corps. came and could not have been nicer. Talk about embarrassing when they carried me down the stairs out of the house in front of our new neighbors! But I felt so safe.”
If you are interested in joining the Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps, you can click here to find out how to apply. Membership application forms are attached on that page.
Donations can be mailed to:
1 Arquilla Drive
PO Box 54
Beacon, NY 12508
Call (845) 831-4540 with questions.
See their Facebook page for updates on emergency calls, and fundraising opportunities.
BVAC’s #GivingTuesday Fundraiser is going on now! But you can donate at any time if you see this article later.
Photo Credit: Brianne McDowell while commuting to her job in NYC at 4:26am.
In a statement issued via the City of Beacon’s Emergency Alert System, City Hall will be closed today, and tonight’s City Council Meeting and scheduled Public Hearings have been rescheduled to next Monday, December 9.
”Due to inclement weather, City Hall will be closed today and will reopen at 8 am on Tuesday, December 3. The City Council meeting and associated public hearings scheduled for tonight have been adjourned to Monday, December 9 at 7 pm.”
You can sign up for the Alert System by visiting the City’s website, or scrolling down this website (A Little Beacon Blog) to find the link in the right-side column. You can select how you want to receive the alerts: phone, text, or email. All of the above, or one or two of the above.
Beacon has had a bicycle tree representing its welcome into the holidays for the last nine years. For the last eight of those years, this tree was the only ceremonial tree that was lit up at Beacon’s welcome intersection at the corner of Main Street and Wolcott, which is also the location of Beacon’s Welcome Center.
A large evergreen tree stands rooted in the ground next to the Welcome Center, and it has had lights on it, but it wasn’t being used for the city’s official tree lighting. The tree of wheels was. This year, the City of Beacon will have a tree lighting - of the earth-rooted tree - but the Beacon Bicycle Tree will not emerge.
Why? Why did Beacon have a tree of bicycle wheels for its annual lighting in the first place? Some people wondered this silently, while enjoying the annual tradition, and others wondered it aloud, in criticizing manner, a manner of complaining that this was a tradition imposed upon them.
The real reason the Bicycle Tree was created, according to Ed Benavente, the artist behind the interactive sculpture, is that there simply was no ceremonial tree lighting prior to his sculpture version. Nothing was lit up in a ceremony of any kind at Beacon’s front door. If no tradition existed at all, then the experience was a blank canvas that Ed was tempted to fill - with the help of some of his friends.
For the past several years, the City of Beacon has not been an investor in public events. The public events that people enjoy, like the Spirit of Beacon Day, the kids Halloween parade, and other such events, are the result of groups of people feeling so strongly about an event that they get together and organize it. The Bicycle Tree became one such project; Ed gained support from BeaconArts to produce and promote the work. Eventually, the City of Beacon also got behind it financially, and became a partner in the tree lighting.
At the time of the tree’s inception, Beacon’s art scene was thick with artists filling in the voids where festivities were not happening. BeaconArts as an entity started as a way to help promote artists, but adopted a lot of business promotion since that was lacking as well.
Ed explained to A Little Beacon Blog his inspiration to start the Bicycle Tree:
“I started this project along with the Beacon Arts Community Association at a time when public Christmas celebrations seemed to be waning and lacking a central event. I wanted to see if we could create a related art project that was different and meaningful in spite of having no funding. By incorporating the themes of recycling and transportation, I cobbled together the first Bicycle Tree. A half-dozen or so people then gathered around it to sing Christmas carols led by Kelly Ellenwood (an opera singer) and Stephen Clair (founder of Beacon Music Factory). The spirit of the season was invoked and a tradition was born. My intention was to do this once or twice, but the enthusiasm grew, more volunteers stepped up, more bicycle parts were donated and Beacon Arts eventually partnered with the city Park and Recreation Department to establish an annual event drawing an estimated 500 people one year for the lighting ceremony.”
As Ed shared his scoop with A Little Beacon Blog, he was removing his well-known hammer sculpture that resided in front of Brett’s Hardware on West Main Street, set up as part of the outdoor public art exhibition, Beacon3d. That event has just ended, as it always does at this time of year.
PS: You can always buy any of these Beacon 3D sculptures… They become part of our lives as we walk past them daily or weekly, but really they are just on display. Contact the artist to find out how. Usually artists are not salespeople and they might forget to mention that.
Ed shared the news with a bit of an Eeyore tone. Not entirely happy about it, yet solid in his decision. He tried describing the current status of the Bicycle Tree, that it was pushed aside, under his summer lawn equipment, that was going to take a long winter’s nap until the artist shed got cleaned out come spring.
“Each year brings new challenges,” reflected Ed. “Each year, I wonder if it can be done. Each year I have been encouraged and supported by a team of volunteers and the community at large. This year, I have to concede that my own time and energy is lacking and it's time to take a break.”
According to Ed, his grand visions of the Bicycle Tree were never fully realized. Each year, he did add new interactive elements to it. Kids could turn gears and make wheels move over here or over there. New lights were brought in and strung up.
To dig into the mind of Ed, to discover more about why he designed this design, one would check out his Artist Statement. That’s where artists state what drives them. According to this statement at the Austin Art Projects, Ed was the perfect fit for an interactive project like this, that involved religion and meaning and the human experience:
The work of Ed Benavente is largely focused on the illustrative portrayal of the human condition. Whimsical yet often with a footnote of serious thought and contemplation.
We may never know what his engineering vision was. “Although the Bicycle Tree will be absent this year,” says Ed, “the Bicycle Menorah may still make an appearance, as well as the Bicycle New Year's Ball drop at Fountain Square (Dogwood). The Bicycle Reindeer might also make an appearance here and there.”
“Christmas tree fans should not despair,” encouraged Ed. “There will be a traditional, real, live Christmas tree lighting event on Saturday, November 30 at Polhill Park, complete with music, snacks and Santa!” Details about that lighting are here.
Just so you know, Ed used to pedal Santa down Main Street in his mysterious Bicycle Reindeer bike. At this point, the bike is not scheduled to be anywhere. So the only chance you have to see it is … keep your eyes peeled for its red glow and musical sounds as it makes its way through Beacon - maybe.
Report back if you hear or see it.
PPS: If you want to send Ed your thoughts and memories of the tree, you can email him at ed@beaconarts.org
He has received one such comment, via ALBB’s Instagram, from @emilymac8: “Ed Benavente, if you're seeing this please know your work was a magical part of Beacon childhoods, especially my daughter who was born in 2009. Thank you for filling what was a void, and filling it in a quirky fun interactive way.”
Last year marked the first year that a group of organizers orchestrated a Christmas tree lighting around an actual live tree, versus the Bicycle Tree that had been built in years prior. The new tradition, with the nature-based tree, will continue for 2019. The Bicycle Tree, however, will not be built for 2019. You can read all about why here.
Details for the tree lighting for Beacon are below:
City of Beacon Tree Lighting
Day: Saturday, November 30, 2019
Time: 4 to 6 pm (lighting to happen at dusk, ETA 5:50 pm)
Location: Welcome Center - Main Street and Route 9D, Beacon, NY
Make an ornament, enjoy hot drinks and cookies, enjoy carols sung by Scouts and welcome Santa Claus. The tree will be lit at dusk.
Information >
Perhaps this is the year you have accepted that Thanksgiving has been swallowed by Christmas, and that is OK. For those who view it as a gathering of friends and family for some very heavy food, why not treat it as a holiday about that?
Decorators of houses may have traditionally waited until after Thanksgiving to put their yard art out, but this year, the lights have started blinking from front porches and apartment windows.
Some of you have already brought home your Christmas trees on the roofs of your cars. You know who you are.
So it’s time to go all in on the winter holiday season. Therefore, thank you City of Beacon for putting up the wreaths this Monday morning!
In an urban climate currently defined by building growth in Beacon, Mayor Randy Casale, Beacon’s two-term mayor for the last eight years, was out-seated by current City Council Member, Lee Kyriacou. Mayor Casale served in public service in Beacon for a total of 40 years, most notably (besides his mayor gig) as the Highway Superintendent, and possibly most memorably as a City Council member until he ran for election and won two terms in a row.
Lee ran on a platform of cautious development and rezoning of Beacon’s rules and regulations that allow buildings to be designed in a certain way, and for a certain use. Over the years, several building projects made their way through Zoning Board, Planning Board, and City Council meetings. Several that were granted approval after required modifications are being built right now, including three four-story buildings on Main Street, which has become a hot topic for many residents of Beacon. Zoning restriction such as this was one of Lee’s main campaign points.
Mayor Casale’s institutional memory goes deep. His involvement in many decisions rolls through several City Council administrations, such as the years-long discussed Tioronda Bridge rebuild (controversial for how close to its original state it can get, versus functionality) to the equally lengthy debate across several years and studies about the three firehouses in Beacon, and if they should be consolidated into two or one.
After covering City Council meetings for articles such as this, it has become clear that issues spread over years of council administration turnovers, require additional funding for new studies to be made for new councilperson requests, and new angles to be considered for the same project. Mayor Casale kept up with all of it.
Mayors guide decisions and vote on resolutions, but they also run a meeting. Mayor Casale ran an efficient meeting, giving people a chance to speak, signaling that he acknowledged a complaint, but firing back if speaking got too aggressive. Mayor Casale’s reputation for where he stood on every issue preceded him. Several city leaders in neighboring towns have said: “Well, you always know where Randy stands,” which could be in reference to his sometimes stern yet always outspoken manner.
During this year’s Beacon Historical Society Friendraiser held at The Roundhouse, which jointly honored its former longtime president and voice, Robert Murphy, as well as the Tioronda Garden Club, Mayor Casale was on-hand to present. Mayor Casale is an honorary member of the Tioronda Garden Club, and is best-known for his daily watering of the pink petunia baskets on Main Street every spring and summer. During a low-budget period of Beacon’s history, the watering of the Main Street flower baskets was removed from the budget. Mayor Casale replaced the responsibility by watering them himself with the watering truck
As he reached the podium, the room moved to a standing ovation. He deflected the appreciation back to the people of the City of Beacon, stating it is their will, volunteerism, and spirit that has kept Beacon on its path, to the point that other cities are trying to emulate it. Mayor Casale also revealed that he knew he wouldn’t always be the mayor, and made sure to put back the watering of the flowers back into the budget. He ended his speech by wishing the new administration well and support.
What are the next steps for Mayor Casale? A Little Beacon Blog reached out for comment: “Right now I am going to look at whatever options come my way and decide what the next chapter will be. I will be available if someone wants to ask questions or if I can assist.”
Will he run for mayor again? “Option’s always open,” he replied.
Thank you, Mayor Casale, for your leadership.
Apparently parking rate hikes at Beacon and Poughkeepsie’s Metro-North (MTA) train stations were to be voted in today, according to a press release issued by Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson (D-104). According to the release, Jacobson and 11 of his legislative colleagues learned about the proposal to increase the daily and yearly parking rate, and to add a new charge for otherwise free parking on Saturdays, via regular local media when it was reported on this past Saturday, November 9, “in the middle of a long holiday weekend,” according to Jacobson’s press release. The proposal was to be voted upon today.
The MTA’s proposal would increase daily, monthly, and annual parking rates as well as implement charges on Saturdays, when parking is currently free.
The proposed fee hike would increase the daily parking rate in Poughkeepsie from $3.75 to $4.50 and the annual rate from $358 to $394. In Beacon, the daily rate would increase from $3.50 to $4.25 and the annual rate from $298 to $328 for residents and from $358 to $394 for nonresidents.
“Charging parking fees on Saturday will also hurt riverfront tourism and depress attendance at many of Beacon and Poughkeepsie’s riverfront festivals, since most attendees park in MTA lots,” noted Jacobson.
On November 1, Jacobson attended a meeting between Metro-North leadership and members of the Assembly, but the proposed increases were never mentioned by Metro-North.
After learning about the rate increase via local news, Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson (D-104) issued a joint statement with 11 of his legislative colleagues opposing the MTA’s proposed parking fee hikes at dozens of train stations, including Beacon and Poughkeepsie.
“The new charges are penny wise and pound foolish,” said Jacobson. “Instead of encouraging more people to use the trains, this proposal encourages people to drive to Manhattan, especially on Saturdays.”
“I am happy to report that due to the outrage expressed by me and my colleagues, any decision on these parking fee increases has been delayed to December at the earliest,” said Jacobson.
The votes were rolling in and updating until about 11:30 pm the night of Tuesday’s election. As of 6:57 am Wednesday, some results have not changed, and the Dutchess County Board of Elections website still marks the results as Unofficial.
So far, here is how it is looking:
BEACON MAYOR
Lee Kyriacou (DEM, WOR, GRE) 2,161 57.02%
Randy J Casale (REP, IND) 1,474 38.89%
Lee has served on Beacon City Council for a number of years, impacting zoning law to tighten regulations on what can be built. Historic preservation is also important to him. He ran his platform on this.
BEACON CITY COUNCILMEMBER WARD 1
Terry Nelson (DEM, WOR, GRE) 735 99.19%
Terry ran unopposed. Rent control is one of his key areas on his agenda.
BEACON CITY COUNCILMEMBER WARD 2
Air Rhodes (DEM, WOR, GRE) 684 99.42%
Air is on the Conservation Committee for the City of Beacon, and ran unopposed. Air is the Development Director & Assistant Executive Director at Hudson Valley Seed and cites social justice values and the environment as core to the platform. Air replaces John Rembert, who did not seek re-election. John’s platform issues were serving youth and seniors, affordable housing and overdevelopment. You’ll still see John around, as he is a military veteran who is active with the American Legion, and is an Ordained Minister of the Star Bethlehem Baptist Church.
BEACON CITY COUNCILMEMBER WARD 3
Jodi McCredo (DEM, WOR) 592 68.12%
Andrew E Gauzza IV (REP, CON, IND) 276 31.76%
Jodi is currently the Councilperson for Ward 3. Several issues are key to her platform, including overdevelopment and parking.
BEACON CITY COUNCILMEMBER WARD 4
Dan Aymar-Blair (DEM, WOR, GRE) 651 67.39%
Kelly A Ellenwood (IND) 314 32.51%
Dan has been a large presence in resisting overdevelopment and organizing others through information about Planning and Zoning issues. Kelly has served as a founding volunteer for many community programs around town, and was with BeaconArts for a number of years. One of her latest projects included getting the free Beacon Bus Loop - the G Line - off the ground and happening.
BEACON CITY COUNCILMEMBERS AT LARGE
George Mansfield (DEM, WOR) 2,689 42.62%
Amber Grant (DEM, WOR) 2,769 43.89%
Estefano Rendon (REP) 812 12.87%
George and Amber return to City Council for additional terms. George is a longtime councilmember, local business owner of Dogwood, and is in the construction industry. Key to Amber’s platform are the environment and Beacon’s new Municipal ID program.
COUNTY LEGISLATOR DISTRICT 16
Frits Zernike (DEM, WOR) 1,676 54.15%
Theoni S Salotto (REP, CON, IND) 1,418 45.82%
Frits is the current County Legislator for District 16 and represents Beacon. One of his projects has included extending the open hours for wine and liquor stores to be open past 7 pm until 9 pm. This was an issue that had been defeated for years.
COUNTY LEGISLATOR DISTRICT 18
Nick Page (DEM, WOR, GRE) 1,950 72.12%
Michael B Justice (REP, CON) 657 24.30%
Nick is the current County Legislator for District 18 and represents Beacon. One of his issues is uncovering more about Beacon’s sales tax, which is collected by Dutchess County and distributed out to Beacon by the County in a flat rate. The actual amount of sales tax generated in Beacon has yet to be disclosed. Article from A Little Beacon Blog to come on that.
COUNTY EXECUTIVE
Marcus J Molinaro (REP, CON, IND) 39,871 58.53%
Joseph Ruggiero (DEM, WOR) 28,235 41.45%
Marcus is the current County Executive.
COUNTY CLERK
Bradford Kendall (REP, CON, IND) 36,260 54.77%
Kenya Gadsden (DEM, WOR) 29,936 45.22%
Kenya has served on Beacon’s Board of Education for a number of years, seeing it through one of its dark periods when Beacon’s Superintendent position turned over nearly every year for nine years. She was on the Board when the search was conducted for Beacon’s current superintendent, Matthew Landahl, who has been a good fit with the district and community.
CITY OF NEWBURGH MAYOR
Torrance R. Harvey (DEM, WOR, LIB) 1,569 74.54%
Ali T. Muhammad (IND) 529 25.13%
Beacon’s neighboring city across the Hudson River. Torrance is the current Mayor of Newburgh, who initially came in to replace Mayor Judy Kennedy at her request in April 2018. Torrance is a history teacher. Ali grew up in Beacon and had served as a Councilperson in Beacon. (source)
CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE MAYOR
Rob Rolison (REP, CON, IND) 2,835 52.87%
Joash Ward (DEM, WOR) 2,523 47.05%
Rob is the current Mayor of Poughkeepsie. Beacon is tied to Poughkeepsie in a lot of ways, with shared municipal services.
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The City of Beacon entered into a contract with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to provide increased access to Beacon tenants facing eviction. They may also be able to help with sources of rent arrears assistance. Call the paralegal, Steven Mihalik at 845-253-6953 to inquire.
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