For the record, since this statement was made about the Water Department being “completely Caucasian,” on September 21, 2020, a person of Color may have been hired to the Water Department.
On September 21, 2020, many issues were discussed in the public City Council meeting: how the virtual Spirit of Beacon Day Parade was going to work (a day that was founded as a method of healing, coming together, and showing appreciation after racial eruptions and riots in Beacon in the 1970s), the spike in COVID-19 cases in a local nursing home, easements for Edgewater (a hot-button property for development hawks), handling of the 2020 Assessment Roll as it pertains to Property Taxes, etc.
The promotions of 3 employees of the Highway Department that were also on the agenda otherwise seemed mundane. Under the surface, however, in private meetings of City Council called “Executive Session,” where no press or the public is allowed, these promotions were a loaded topic. Steve Bechtold, Peter Delfico, and Nicholas Durso are Highway Department employees slated to receive promotions.
In order to approve the promotion, the City Council needed to vote on it. The vote was postponed that night, after Stefon Seward, a community member called in during Public Comment to voice his concern, was later validated by Councilmember Jodi McCredo, who stated she was uncomfortable with the vote. The vote was tabled, and A Little Beacon Blog has reached out to the City of Beacon to see if any movement has been made since then. We are awaiting a response, but the City usually doesn’t comment on personnel questions.
This article explores the details between the question from a member of the public at the beginning of the meeting, and the response from a Councilmember, which was almost silenced by the then-City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero (who has since left that job) by the end of the meeting.
Question On “Behaviors Are Questionable” Expanded Upon
Stefon Seward, a founding member of Beacon4BlackLives and an appointed committee member to the Beacon Police Chief Search Committee, called in to that September 21, 2020 night of the City Council Meeting to voice his concerns about the promotions in the Highway Department.
He stated: “I'm calling to talk about the 3 individuals that are going to get a raise, who you are voting on today. I think you should put a freeze on that, because some of their behaviors are questionable. I think there should be a little more talk before they get that raise.”
A Little Beacon Blog inquired about what behaviors Stefon was referring to. In an earlier podcast recorded this summer at “Wait, What Is That?” ALBB learned from Reuben Simmons, a Highway Department employee, that Steve Bechtold had brought a personal gun to work on company time, making other employees uncomfortable. Reuben, who is Black, emailed management Michael (Micky) Manzi about it. Michael is the current department head (Reuben used to be his boss, but was demoted on a job title technicality), Superintendent of Streets. Michael emailed back that Steve would be told not to bring the firearm to work in the future.
Reuben requested to have Michael’s email about the gun included in Reuben’s personnel file, but City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero declined that request, Reuben told ALBB.
The bringing in of the gun was about 6 months after Reuben filed a harassment claim against Steve in 2019, after Steve allegedly circulated an unsanctioned petition which advocated to have Reuben not be on a negotiation committee for the Highway Department’s new contract, which has remained unsigned after it expired (the City of Beacon’s website links to a latest contract of 2015), and is up for renewal any day, or whenever it makes it to the next agenda of the public City Council meetings.
According to Reuben, who served as CSEA Union President from 2009 to 2017, Steve made an assumption that Reuben was on the negotiation committee, and Steve did not want him there, so he had written a petition and circulated it around to the white employees of the Highway Department, without showing it to the 2 other Black employees also in the Highway Department, according to Reuben.
Reuben learned about the petition, and went to the department’s current Union President, Paula Becker, about it, who allegedly said she did not know about the petition. “My issue was that if you're going to petition,” Reuben told ALBB, “show it to everybody so that it's fair.”
Paula works for the City of Beacon as a staff member, in addition to serving as the Union President for CSEA. The union structure is to have the president also be an employee of the city. When A Little Beacon Blog reached out to Paula in her capacity as union president to confirm a future development concerning Reuben’s current employment status with the City of Beacon, the current City Administrator Chris White (Chris replaced Anthony Ruggiero in January 2021) gave instruction not to contact any staff about these issues, and to contact him directly. Chris also did not comment as to Reuben’s current employment status.
According to Reuben, the 2 other Black employees were then shown the petition, and did not sign. The petition allegedly was delivered to Paula’s desk. Superintendent Manzi knew about the petition, Reuben said, as he and Manzi discussed it during a meeting with then-Mayor Randy Casale in his office. “Management [Michael Manzi] should not have been influencing and condoning this behavior,” Reuben told ALBB. Current Mayor Lee Kyriacou was a city councilmember at the time.
To follow up on the harassment claim rooted in the petition against Steve, then-City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero inquired with Paula to see the petition, but that time he was told that this was a Union issue, and protected under certain laws, according to Reuben. No one saw the petition after that, according to Reuben. He said that the City of Beacon, by way of City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero, did not investigate the harassment claim, citing that there was no physical evidence of its existence.
Months later, when the gun was allegedly brought to work, Reuben did not seek to file another harassment claim because of how his first claim was handled. Reuben still wonders why the petition to keep him off a committee was circulated, since he was not on the negotiation committee in the first place, he told ALBB.
It should be noted that the City Administrator works with a labor attorney on these issues. In this issue, the City was working with Lance H. Klein of Keane & Beane, the law firm that the city works with on real estate, labor, etc. When ALBB first started reaching out to get more information on this employment story in the summer of 2020, City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero could not answer all of our questions, and CCed the labor attorney Lance Klein on the responses, and offered to have a phone call instead.
This year, City Administrator Chris White has also offered to have a phone call in response to questions asked about job titles, and has decided that until an in-person conversation about how ALBB writes articles happens, after the publication of yesterday’s article “During Hot Mess Of Water Department Hires, Beacon Passes Diversity and Inclusion Statement,” he will not be answering any questions from ALBB.
Now that we have partially unpacked that issue from 2019, let’s get back to September 21, 2020, the night of the City Council meeting and votes for Highway Department promotions. Stefon went on to state: “We need more diversity in the Water Department. It is a completely Caucasian department, and that's a little scary, being that we are a diverse town. I feel that we need to have a diversity look in every walk of life, everything we do for our town.”
A Little Beacon Blog looked into the demographics of the Water Department. The City of Beacon will not release stats, even when we asked about the demographics of the Police Department and were told by then-City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero to submit a FOIL to get the information. The FOIL was apparently ignored. This was before the City of Beacon published all of the names of the police officers on their website, after pressure from the national Black Lives Matter movement that went local on Beacon’s Main Street in the form of protests, emails, and calls into public City Council meetings, along with the New York State ordered re-imagining of the policing in the community with Executive Order 203.
To get an idea of the demographics, we asked for thoughts from Reuben Simmons, who has worked for the City of Beacon since 2002, and who served as the union president for the City of Beacon CSEA Local 814 unit 6662 from 2009 to 2017. His response: “I did look into it a few years ago while I was the union president, because an employee from the Water Department who was white was uncomfortable with racial slurs being spoken regularly by Water Department employees, including supervisors, in reference to other city employees who were Black. It resulted in me having to have an employee transferred from the Water Department to the Highway Department.”
City of Beacon Regulates Personal Guns In The Workplace in 2021
On December 14, 2020, during a City Council workshop meeting, Beacon’s new HR Director, Gina Basile, introduced new policies that she wanted the City of Beacon to adopt, one being a Firearms Policy. The Firearms Policy states that City employees cannot bring personal guns or weapons of any kind, including knives that are 4 inches or longer, and cannot store them on City property (ie inside of a locker or vehicle).
During that December 14, 2020, public City Council meeting, the councilmembers pondered the ramifications of this for Police Officers, wondering if this was confusing with their professional guns used for work. Gina and Anthony advised that there was no crossover; guns assigned for work were fine. The City Councilmembers were mostly certain that no person would bring a personal gun to work, but Councilperson Dan Aymar-Blair said that he had received a complaint from a constituent about a police officer bringing a personal gun to work.
Councilmember Jodi McCredo’s Statement To Pause Highway Department Promotions, Wanting More Information
Councilmember Jodi McCredo has been aware of the employee tensions in the Highway Department for some time, as have other councilmembers and Mayor Lee Kyriacou. Years ago, Jodi was the subject of a hand-delivered, unsigned letter written in the first person (using the word “I”) but from the Highway Department at large, delivered to her front porch.
That letter described discontent using ill logic at the appointment of a fellow employee, Reuben Simmons, to the position of Highway Superintendent (which he was later stripped of, using Civil Service rules to legally do so). The letter stated that the appointment did not encourage promoting “from within,” despite Reuben being a current employee. It was if he did not exist. A Little Beacon Blog has seen that letter, and published it along with the podcast here. At the time years ago, Jodi brought in the letter to a private Executive Session meeting, not knowing what to do with it, she told ALBB.
The results of that letter campaign resulted in Dutchess County telling the City of Beacon that Reuben did not have the qualifications to hold the Superintendent of Streets title because he “never held a supervisors title.” Thereby moving him and his salary back down to Maintenance Worker. The Superintendent of Streets position went to Michael (Micky) Manzi after Mark, the City’s first candidate off the Dutchess County list, turned the job down, according to Reuben.
Michael Manzi currently holds the position today. Back then, on February 4, 2019, Jodi was part of a unanimous public City Council vote for Michael’s promotion, where before casting it, she turned to the audience in the courtroom and asked: “What do you guys think?” She was met with shouts of agreement and applause, which can be seen on the Council video here at the bottom of the page. Jodi has gone on to say to ALBB that the letter “had absolutely no influence on any decisions.”
Back to September 21, 2020, with the promotion of the 3 Highway Department employees on the agenda for the evening. Jodi was not so sure this time. Resulting from Stefon’s comments, and having the prior experience of not knowing details and then learning them later, Jodi moved forward with speaking about her hesitation concerning the promotions. She stated:
“Stefon Seward mentioned a couple of things that I want to address: He spoke about people getting raises today. I want to clarify - “ At this point in her statement, then City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero, who has since left this job for another in Dutchess County, attempted to interrupt her to stop her from speaking with an "Um…".
Normally, the City Administrator likes the Council to not discuss personnel issues in public, but Jodi continued and kept speaking.
“It’s not an issue with a raise, it's an issue with a promotion because of position. But I also want to go back to something I have said in the past many times, which is I really don't feel comfortable voting on things like that without having all of the information. I don't know what it was he [Stefon] was referring to when he said what he said. Now I am in a position again where I do feel uncomfortable about this and I do think it is something we need to talk about.
“I'm just going to throw that out there because if I'm not in the situation and people aren't coming to me, I don't know what questions to ask, and it's a little awkward. I also want to put out to the public if you do have information that you think Councilmembers should have before a vote, please share that information with us. You have our phone numbers and you have our email addresses. Contact us, talk to us. Inform us. Nine times out of 10 we don't know, and that helps us know what questions to ask and what information to look for. I'm not saying anything about what he said specifically, because I have no idea. But the point is, I have no idea. And I probably should.”
All of the other City Council Members agreed to table the promotion, and Air Nonken Rhodes made an enthusiastic motion to move the discussion to Executive Session, where it could be further discussed in private.
There are times when people do know or are told about something, but may not be presented with paper documentation to prove something without a doubt, and then the information gets dismissed, contributing to a silent segregation. During this time, decades after the Civil Rights movement resulted in laws that are intended to prevent discrimination, actions taken even within those laws can still create a form of silent segregation that is harder to prove.
While the City of Beacon recently apparently hired a person of Color in the Water Department - Ricardo Brown - Mayor Kyriacou stated the night of that vote that diversity was added. Not only has the City of Beacon not confirmed with A Little Beacon Blog what Ricardo’s job title is - after a possible mix-up on the City’s agenda for Justin Herring (the agenda said Justin was Water and Sewer Superintendent but Edward Balicki is currently listed as that, even though Ed’s LinkedIn has him listed as Chief Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator at City of Beacon) - having true diversity means to embrace others, to listen to them, and believe them. Call them back after a job interview. Include an email complaint in a personnel file.
As to the confusing development of Water Department job titles after October 5, 2020’s meeting to hire employees, City Administrator Chris White has declined to provide confirmation.
Diversity Is Not Guaranteed By A PDF On A Wall Or Website
Any city can put up a PDF of a Diversity and Inclusion Statement on the City of Beacon on a wall or on a website, but that’s not a guarantee that diversity or even fairness and decency are happening. Not when complaints are ignored, dodged and delayed with FOIL requests. When Mayor Lee Kyriacou said that Beacon delivered diversity on October 5, 2020, with the hire of one person of Color, that does not make the diversity cup even half-full.
Diversity is speaking up against a vote. It is believing a story. It is asking questions about a story in public to find more connections in order to believe it. Diversity is being anti-racist, which means that you are actively speaking up against something that feels like a person was just made to feel invisible, and then became invisible, with a legal checkmate of a demotion. Diversity means to question current Civil Service laws, to see if they are working as intended, or if they are protecting a comfort level that doesn’t serve all equally.
Editorial Note: This article is long, but please consider reading in full. This article was intended to be a simple announcement of the City of Beacon passing “Resolution Adopting Diversity and Inclusion Mission Statement” on October 5, 2020. However, during the City Council Meeting where that vote took place, a lot of discussion happened around the hiring practices of Beacon’s Water Department.
Reporting on employment within the City of Beacon has been difficult because discussions about the hiring, firing and disciplinary action of employees happens in a private meeting called an Executive Session, which happens after a public City Council meeting, or within City offices presumably during the work day. The Executive Session will be announced, and Council will go into it for a designated reason, for example: “Personnel” or “Real Estate,” and the camera shuts off.
Therefore, what is said in public is often framed carefully by the speaker, and can imply further issues, but not state them explicitly. It requires the listener to read between the lines in order to follow along with what is happening. Once the full picture is learned, often these public meetings about employment make more sense. Until then, many quotes are needed in order to figure out what is happening, or not happening.
Beacon’s Presentation Of Its Diversity and Inclusion Mission Statement
Beacon’s Diversity and Inclusion Mission Statement, posted on the new Human Resources page, like a shield. Job Postings are now listed underneath this document.
The City of Beacon signed into law a Diversity and Inclusion Mission Statement on October 5, 2020. It came on an evening where the City of Beacon was announcing 2 new appointed hires to the Water Department: Justin Herring as Water and Sewer Superintendent, and Ricardo Brown as a Water and Sewer Maintenance Worker. During the presentation of the Diversity statement, the term “we’ve got work to do” was used several times. Councilperson Air Nonken Rhodes made a point to say: “This isn’t lip service.”
Mayor Kyriacou told the public: “We hired a professional HR person, Gina. We're not a big city; it's the first time we're doing this. We are sharing it with the Town of Fishkill. I look for sharing opportunities with the Town of Fishkill. I thank Gina for her work recently. Makes a difference on the messages we communicate to our managers, to our staff, and to our community as a whole.”
Public Calls In To Question The Hiring Process Of Water Department Hires
Stefon Seward, a founding member of Beacon4Black Lives and appointee to the Police Chief Search Committee who identifies as Black, asked about the City’s expectations about that Water Department position, plus the Highway Superintendent position.
The second caller was Weldon Henson, who called at the end of the meeting during the second opportunity for public comment, in order to express that he interviewed for an advertised Water Department job with Beacon’s new HR Director, Gina Basile, on August 26, 2020, but was never contacted after that. A Little Beacon Blog has reached out to Gina and the current City Administrator Chris White for confirmation, and received this response from Chris: “We do not comment on interviews and personnel issues.” ALBB would like to verify with Weldon, and if he is reading this, please feel free to reach out.
The callers’ questions, and the City’s answers, have been transcribed in full below. Because of their questions, more was expressed about the hiring process of city jobs, otherwise known as the Civil Service process. The hiring and firing process of city employees is hard to follow, namely because most discussions about them happen during Executive Session, which is a private meeting that happens after the public City Council meeting. Reporters reaching out with questions are usually told: “You’ll need to submit a FOIL,” (former Administrator Anthony Ruggiero told us this), or “The City does not comment on personnel items” (what current Administrator Chris White said to ALBB). Questions to the HR Director Gina Basile usually go unanswered, or she defers to someone else on staff.
Was The Water Department Job Posted Internally? What Is The Hiring Process?
During the City Council meeting, questions were raised about if the Water Department job(s) were posted internally. It is not clear where that would be posted, or what the requirements are for that posting. As of today, there are job listings on the city website’s Human Resources Page, which is a new page for the City of Beacon. It is unknown if people are expected to refresh the page daily for new listings, or refresh a Dutchess County Civil Service employment page, or if employees are expected to simply notice flyers on the wall while they are walking by (if they are walking by), thereby putting the responsibility on them to see internal listings. It is unknown if emails are sent out to any lists, or if announcements are made in Department meetings, if such meetings happen.
The City Administrator last year, Anthony Ruggiero, explained that the job for the Water Department was posted internally at first, before being advertised publicly. After Anthony’s explanation, City Councilmember Amber Grant asked one more time about the internal posting before the final vote on the appointments of two people into the Water Department titles. This question of an internal posting seemed to be of high interest during the meeting.
In the past, and for another department, when asked if he knew about a Highway Department job opening, Reuben Simmons, a Maintenance Worker for the Highway Department, answered that he was not aware of open positions in the Highway Department toward the end of 2020 that were mentioned during City Council meetings in ways that indicated people were already being considered for the positions by the current Highway Supervisor, Michael (Micky) Manzi.
Reuben was the Highway Superintendent before Dutchess County told the City of Beacon that his job title did not exist - even though the former Mayor Randy Casale also held that job title decades ago - despite being recommended by and approved of by Anthony Ruggiero. Reuben was thereby demoted back down to Maintenance Worker, and Michael Manzi, a former co-worker, became Highway Superintendent of Streets. A slightly different job title that comes with a different required test and certification. It’s like being called “Boss” or “Boss The Boss,” with different tests to prove worthiness of either job title, but with similar (or the same) job responsibilities.
The “job title” question reference is notable because a single word change in a job title can alter someone’s career. Chances are, you don’t have to deal with this at your job. But City of Beacon employees do. The wording in a job title can mean that you lose almost everything that you have been working up for, if someone else wants your job and uses Civil Service rules to checkmate you out. Your job title and duties could change in the blink of a Resolution.
About The Hiring Process for City Employees, AKA “Civil Service” Jobs
The questions of Stefon and Weldon are transcribed below from the recorded City Council meeting. The previous City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero was always patient with explaining how the process works. The results of that process, however, can be surprising.
Stefon Steward: “I'm just curious if the titles on the agenda for the new hires are correct, and if they are, did the City consider hiring someone internally for this position? I was looking at the website... It says that Ed is on the Water and Waste Department. I want to know what Department does he manage, and does he have the proper license to run this plant and do this job? What are the duties and responsibilities for the Highway Superintendent. What are the City's expectations for this? Is it true that one of the appointees' family members, Justin Herring, has… The family does business with Beacon, is anyone getting any financial kickback from his appointment for his position?”
Ed Balicki, shown on the City of Beacon’s website as Water and Wastewater Superintendent on 3/2/2021. Justin Herring was appointed to his position on 10/5/2020.
Toward the end of the City Council Meeting, Anthony answered Stefon’s questions. As of today (March 2, 2021), Ed Balicki, who has worked for the City of Beacon since 2013 according to his LinkedIn profile, is listed on his LinkedIn as Chief Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator at City of Beacon. But on the City of Beacon’s website, he is listed as Water and Wastewater Superintendent.
Yet this new job appointment is for Justin Herring to be Water and Sewer Superintendent. (Note the slight difference in words in the title there. That can play a major difference in Civil Service rules by disqualifying someone out of their current job.)
Further, according to Reuben Simmons of the Highway Department, Justin Herring was a candidate for the Operator or Maintenance worker position. In the Meeting Agenda, he is listed as Superintendent.
On March 2, 2021, ALBB has reached out to HR Director Gina Basile and City Administrator Chris White for confirmation of job titles since this October 5, 2020 meeting, and was told by Chris that a response would be forthcoming. This response of a job title confirmation so far has not come. If it does, this article will be updated. If you are reading this, then a response has not yet come.
Anthony Answers Questions Regarding The Job Title and Hiring Process
Anthony answered Stefon’s question: “Titles: Those titles are in the municipality known as Civil Service. There are ‘competitive,’ which means there is a list [of qualified people] where you have to take a test, and there are ‘non-competitive,’ where you don't [have to take a test.] These titles aren't, but by the Civil Service Employee Association (CSEA) contract, first you have to post them internally. If nobody applies internally, then you can go out and advertise.”
ALBB has inquired with the HR Director Gina Basile and the current City Administrator Chris White as to whether the City’s contract with CSEA is current. According to city employee Reuben Simmons, who served as a past Union President for the City of Beacon CSEA Local 814 unit 6662 from 2009 to 2017, the Highway Department contract has not been negotiated or signed since 2019. The current contract posted on the City’s Human Resources page as of today is dated 2010-2015, and looks to have been first uploaded to the City of Beacon’s website in October 2020. Which would seem to mean that the Water and Highway Departments are currently not in any contract.
Anthony continued: “In this particular case, that is what happened. Nobody applied internally, so we went out and advertised. Gina handled the process. As the Mayor indicated, she's creating something from nothing. She's trying to get organized. The department head prepares a memo to her ‘requesting this position is budgeted, I'd like to go through the process.’ It comes to me, we talk about it, and then I sign off on it. If it's OK, we go after the process. Gina takes it from there and advertises.
“She tries to make it as diverse as she can. As I was saying, she's creating a whole process as it is. She's got work to do, we've got work to do. She's been wonderful, by the way, let me just say.”
Anthony continued to address Stefon’s question about Herring: “They do not, from my understanding, do any work. They do haul. They do take their trucks and their haulers down to the wastewater treatment plant. We might rent some of the port-a-potties that we have in the parks, but that's to the extent that we know right now. Nobody's getting any kickbacks, certainly we will verify that. Certainly that has not happened.
“There was questions about some of the titles. Ed Balicki was switched up to the Water Department. He was handling both. His title was Chief Wastewater Operator. We do have to fix that title for him. He did go to school for Water Certifications and License, and also all the operators in the plants have all the license. So we are fully compliant.”
You can find this quote in minute 55 of the meeting video.
Question From An Apparent Applicant For The Water Department Position
At the end of the meeting, during the second opportunity for public comment, Weldon Henson called in to ask about what he describes as an un-responded-to interview he had for a job in the Water Department. His question is in minute 1:10 of the meeting video.
Weldon: “I didn't quite hear you on the Water Sewer Maintenance. Were they looking for inside Beacon or outside Beacon for the hiring?”
Anthony: “Both. First, the first part of the process is to advertise internally, within the workforce, and then to advertise externally to anybody, if nobody internally is interested. So then it goes outside. For these positions, there is no list. So you can just advertise and interview candidates.”
Weldon: “Oh, OK, because I was a resident that applied for the job, actually got the interview for the job, but I never heard or received anything back.”
Silence followed from the City Council.
Anthony: “I can follow up with Gina on that.”
Weldon: “I had the interview on August 26, 2020, I think it was a Wednesday at 12:30pm.”
Mayor Kyriacou: “OK. And Anthony, you are able to do that? And Colin (the Mayor’s Assistant) has it on the record.”
Weldon: “Thank you for your time.”
Mayor Kyriacou: “Of course.”
The Voting Of The Diversity And Inclusion Statement
Sometimes, councilpeople state their thoughts before or after passing a Resolution. Statements from two councilpeople are below:
Councilperson Air Nonken Rhodes: “This isn't just lip service. I've observed in the ways that I've seen the City operate behind the scenes, and in conversations around hiring, and in everyday work. This is something that everyone I've talked with really believes in. I'm really glad to see it put in writing here. This will be something we can aspire to and really live up to. I'm glad to see this enshrined, and something we can look to in every hiring process.”
Councilperson Jodi McCredo: “Like we've said with so many other issues, this is a starting point. We do realize that we have a ways to go. This is a nice guidance towards making those changes and improvements that need to be made.”
The City of Beacon is an equal opportunity workplace – and proudly so. We do not just accept differences – we embrace, support and celebrate them – knowing that diversity improves our performance and better serves our community.
The City of Beacon’s mission is to represent and serve all of our residents, including providing them with high quality services at reasonable taxes and fees, along with excellent customer service. The way we accomplish this is by representing everyone, listening to all ideas, and through the hard work and dedication of our employees.
We want to represent everyone. To do that well, we need a workforce that is representative of the community.
The City of Beacon is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce. Our employees thrive when we achieve this. We aim to create a workplace that reflects and recognizes the diversity of our employees, and residents. We strive to provide services that benefit everyone in the community by including perspectives from backgrounds such as those that vary by race, ethnicity, social background, religion, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, trans-gender status, veteran status, and national origin.
Having a diversified workforce builds a better team, enhances our skills, broadens our ideas, and is integral to effective performance.
The City Administrator for Beacon is a position that is responsible for knowing about every nook and cranny about the City, and managing the City’s projects and intentions. Without a City Administrator, Beacon would have a hard time functioning. The former Administrator, Anthony Ruggiero, had been with Beacon for 5 years, and gave his notice at the end of 2020 that he would be taking a new position as Assistant Commissioner for Administration with the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health.
Background On Beacon’s City Administrators
When Anthony came to Beacon, he stepped away from an administrator position in Peekskill, where he reportedly had a “tumultuous” experience with the Peekskill Mayor Frank Catalina. Mayor Catalina took issue with a settlement for a suspended police officer that Anthony approved, according to reporting in the Poughkeepsie Journal. “‘The City of Peekskill is a council-manager form of government,’ said Ruggiero in that article in 2015, “which is a ‘weak-mayor’ form of government where the city manager handles hiring and firing,” he said. “Beacon, on the other hand, is a mayor-council, or ‘strong-mayor,’ form of government,” he said.
According to quotes from the mayors of Peekskill and of Beacon (then-Mayor Randy Casale) in the Poughkeepsie Journal, Anthony was encouraged out by Mayor Catalina, who introduced Civil Service-type rules to find disqualifications regarding whether Anthony was qualified for the job, which included having a college degree, having at least 3 years managerial experience, and living in Peekskill.
According to the article, Anthony was given a deadline to move to Peekskill, when he lived in Fishkill. When Anthony took the job in Beacon 5 years ago (Beacon does not have a rule where the Administrator needs to live in the city), he nevertheless worked very close to work, with a 5-minute commute, according to the article. Anthony went on to have a successful career in Beacon, shepherding it through many projects and the spending of improvement grants on the City’s infrastructure.
Civil Service Rules As Foundation For Employment Shifts
Anthony is no stranger to a city employee being pushed out of a job position due to Civil Service rules. He was the City Administrator when Reuben Simmons, a longtime employee with the Highway Department who is of mixed race and identifies as Black, was promoted to the Highway Superintendent position. He was recommended for that post by Anthony, according to Reuben, who stated that in a podcast.
After a stint in that position, someone disagreed, and found disqualifications in Reuben’s position when it was determined that Beacon actually had a Supervisor of Streets position, and not Superintendent, which required a different Civil Service test and management qualifications. Reuben was demoted back to a maintenance position after a process involving Dutchess County, Beacon’s City Council, and a letter anonymously delivered to the front porch of a Beacon councilperson from the Highway Department.
At the time, Anthony replaced Acting Administrator Timothy Dextor, who was a volunteer firefighter for the City of Beacon, and Building Inspector until he retired a few years ago, after a long history of aggressive fire code zoning and enforcement, and a dramatic sign battle with a business owner who hung a resist white supremacy sign, and a community of Airbnb owners who feared his code enforcement if they did not invest in fire-safety code requirements.
Enter Chris White As Beacon’s Newest City Administrator
After Anthony gave notice, Beacon Mayor Lee Kyriacou went through a hiring process and appointed Chris White, a former city councilperson for Beacon in Ward 3 from 1996-1997, with whom Mayor Kyriacou served years ago.
Chris told the Beacon Free Press in mid-February: “Serving on the Council also was the start of my career in public service, so my years in Beacon were a formative time for me.” Formerly, Chris had been the Deputy Director in the Ulster County Planning Department. Mayor Kyriacou has praised Chris’ management of land projects for infrastructure, development, and acting on the side of the natural environment.
According to the Highlands Current, Chris spent 10 years managing a district office for Rep. Maurice Hinchey, and holds a bachelor’s degree in politics from New York University and a master’s degree in public administration from SUNY Albany. He told the Beacon Free Press that serving as Beacon’s City Administrator was his goal job: “When I earned a Master of Public Administration degree more than a decade ago, my intent was to work towards being a City Manager. When the opening came up in Beacon, I thought it was worth leaving my position in Ulster County, particularly because of my familiarity with and fondness for Beacon and my prior experience here as a City Councilmember.”
According to Mayor Kyriacou, he screened over 30 applicants and felt the best with Chris. The Mayor had worked with Chris before in Beacon, during Chris’ councilperson days. “Chris stood out because of his planning and project expertise, his regional knowledge, and his genuine passion for Beacon,” the mayor told viewer-attendees during a City Council meeting.
Chris is known for being involved with stopping the construction of a proposed sewage sludge incinerator, telling the Beacon Free Press: “[My time on Council] was a time of transition for the community and for me personally. Beacon was sorely in need of revitalization when I was on Council in the mid-1990s and Main Street was dominated by vacant and underutilized properties. Some of the zoning changes and decisions made during my time on Council boosted early revitalization efforts.”
Since coming on board, Mayor Kyriacou, known for delegation of administrative tasks and responsibility, has taken action to give Chris as much administrative authority as possible. For example, during the 2/1/2021 City Council Meeting, after discussing “Resolution Authorizing City Administrator Christopher White as the Primary Log-In Holder for the City of Beacon Equitable Business Opportunities (EBO) Account,” the Mayor asked the City’s Attorney, Nick Ward-Willis, to draft a law “describing the nature of our government that we can provide to somebody that says something like: “The City Administrator can actually do this… You don’t need to go to the Mayor for… whatever, like taking title to a vehicle… It arises every so often, and it’s usually the dumb reasons, not the really good ones.”
“We at MAGGIE & EASE are committed to preparing great food and providing a remarkable and enriching experience through bold flavor and savory delights made generously with love.” Try their desserts at Dia: Beacon art museum & Homespun Foods on Main. St.
Sound Asleep Media is a production company in Beacon, NY offering photography & videography services including parties, portraits, family photos, and events.
A Coffee Lounge located in Newburgh, NY with an experience that serves old-world passion evoking a strong sense of community. “Blacc Vanilla may not be an industry leader in the café business, but they have consistently been very active within the city community: hosting community and political events, providing relief for folks during disasters, and creating a business, as well as a community partnership.”
“Whether you’re new to Pilates or at an advanced level, at APG Pilates we work with each person individually and in small groups to help you achieve your personal goals. Pilates is designed to improve physical strength, flexibility, and posture, and enhance mental awareness.” Located in Newburgh, NY, APR Pilates is designed to improve physical strength, flexibility, and posture, and enhance mental awareness.
Are you in the Black community and run a business in the Hudson Valley? Let us know about you! Listings in the Black Owned Business category are free. All other categories can sign on as sponsors for a listing.
The BLM sign in Clutter’s window, at 163 Main Street, Beacon, NY
During the summer of 2020, some storefronts in Beacon put up signs that said: Black Lives Matter. Some residents put out flags on their lawns. Some people did nothing at all, perhaps showing their support in other ways, or maybe just watching and learning. Some people who said they were in favor of Black lives, mocked the signs, and refused to put them up.
While the summer of 2020 is over, as are those initial waves of protest marches in Beacon (for now), the signs are still up in storefronts. Pictured above in this storefront window is Clutter’s sign of support: a simple BLM inside of a box right under Clutter’s main logo, to the left of the front door. It’s located where it cannot be missed.
That sign - and all of the other signs in Beacon’s storefronts - matters because this discussion is not over. When the first march happened in Beacon, someone asked in social media comments: “Is there racism in Beacon? I thought that ended in 1970s after the riots.” That statement alone shows how close racial tension is - as the 1970s weren’t that long ago. But segregation took a different form - a silent one. For those of us living with it if our skin is Black; or writing about it; or for those of us marching; or for those of us speaking up at meetings; or for those of us speaking up in the family kitchen, it is not over.
Signs out on the street are important because they show support. Listen to the chat with Pete Seeger’s granddaughter, Moraya Seeger DeGeare, MA LMFT, at ALBB’s sister company, Tin Shingle. She is mixed race, calls herself “white passing” in that she lives with a privilege as her skin is lighter, has beautifully large hair, and on this late winter day speaks of appreciation for walking by a Black Lives Matter sign in someone’s lawn or storefront.
During that chat, she said that if she saw that a business made zero mention of race or social developments happening now in their social media or storefront, she began to feel a sense of distrust. In the new year of 2021, there have been some local companies who were dormant in their social media all 2020, or mentioned nothing of the world around them. The pandemic became politically charged, and social injustice was the other topic anyone was talking about. If a company comes back online after 11 months of silence, to have their photo being one of promotion of a new product, that could speak volumes. But we’ll never know, because silence. To get past silence, one needs courage.
“I Love Black People. But I’m Not Putting Out A Sign.”
Hearing that from a business owner was difficult to experience. It was said with disgust and waving a limp fist. The person confessed love for Black people, all of their Black friends, but saw no need to show it in a sign. In fact, they felt that the signs were not authentic.
This was not the first time the limp fist was waved by a person who professed to support Black people. With eyes lit up, a second person during a different encounter waved the limp fist, in mockery, when speaking of others who were showing support, marching in marches, hanging signs. It was heartbreaking to watch. It was unclear how to process the information.
Imposter Syndrome With BLM Signs
A person may feel Imposter Syndrome with the sign. The Biggest Fear is that one will get called out: “Hey, you don’t really mean it! You’re an imposter! You’re trying to be trendy!” Those are of course words of demon critics in one’s head, and of actual statements that people may fling. Truth is - it doesn’t matter. Of course, authenticity matters. But baby or big steps into these waters are important. No matter what one’s steps were in the past, or continue to be in the present and future.
Of course, having a sign out (or writing about it) doesn’t absolve anyone from participating in racist behavior. Every day, one needs to check their privilege (Myisha T. Hill)
With All The Buzz, Lots Of Silence, But Crickets Are Watching
While protest marches will continue, and news headlines will continue, and new legislation will be adopted, this issue will stay active. Yet, many in many communities will stay silent, watching. We learned that silence is violence in 2020, but still some may be more comfortable there. Not being silent is extremely uncomfortable. However, the heartwarming part is that from the crickets - the once-silent audience that doesn’t respond - there are whispers making their way to those of us writing about these issues. It has come in the form of participation from formerly silent people who didn’t feel comfortable in this space. It is why we continue. Crickets are coming from the Black community and the white community, in very subtle signs.
For the white community, the most silent of all, there are a lot of deer in headlights, moving cautiously with their learning and processing. For the Black community, they seemed to have said a lot already, and are maybe done speaking to crickets. While some have taken up the call again and continue to pound.
BLM Signs And Comfort In The Community
While some Black people have said they feel safer or welcomed walking into a store that does have a sign, or at least acknowledgements in their social media, reporters may feel it as well. While these topics have often not been covered - the most comfortable thing being to turn a blind eye and not research it - the results are extremely uncomfortable to write about at the community level. Nationally - it’s easier to report on uncomfortable topics when it is about faceless companies with multiple leaders, or politicians who are so far away.
Here in Beacon, or Poughkeepsie, or Peekskill, or Cold Spring, a reporter may have just written about someone they shared a play date with with their kids. Or bought a meal from. Or bought a trinket from. The goal being not bring down or tear down, but to report on an issue that may need repairing.
This Is Why The Signs Continue To Be Important.
For those who are staying silent - white people and Black people - for the myriad of reasons that keep a person silent, it’s OK. There are silent ways to show support, and you probably know what those are, and you are probably doing them. Your signs are subtle, and you’re taking your time.
Hello Beaconites!
And Hello Other People Visiting here!
Happy Weekend.
A couple things before we get to the good shopping, eating and donating that is in Beacon:
Rents are on the rise in Beacon, due in part to NYC friends moving here. Which is fine! Come on up. But. This real life Beaconite dog friend is kicking off our new series on Affordable Housing, and what that means. Outside of required "affordable housing" below market units required in buildings sometimes. Pictured here is his shocked expression at receiving the news that their rent was to be increased by 12% in a Beacon apartment. Other stories are in the article.
Driving. Not sure who is taking what liberties with driving like crazy people on Main Street, but we don't drive around public transportation buses on Main Street while they are servicing passengers, nor do we do U-Turns anywhere. If you see my car doing it - check who is in the driver seat. Could be a hubby. If you're from NYC or NJ, please know that Beacon streets don't follow the same rules.
Classes and Camps: Spring is coming, you can feel it, right? We'll get more snow, but wheels are turning on how to plan for Spring and Summer. If you run a business that offers classes, ALBB really wants to list them for you in our Kids + Adult Classes Guides! Main Street businesses get a basic listing for free (just address and web link). As part of our advertising program starting at $100/month, businesses can have their classes with days, times and descriptions listed out. It will be one of the best marketing investments you make, and you'll be contributing to this publication, which allows us to keep publishing. Thank you to our sponsors now!
THE RETAIL THERAPY GUIDE Edited and Written By: Marilyn Perez and Katie Hellmuth Martin
Sample Sale at New Form Perspective
Day: Last Days: Saturday & Sunday, February 27-28, 2021 Location: NFP: Studio, 457 Main St, Beacon, NY
The @nfpstudio Sample Sale is real and no joke! Beacon is fortunate to have NFP localized in Beacon, even though they are a coveted fashion brand popular in NYC and larger markets. Located for years next to Joe’s Irish Pub, they gave homage to the pub when it closed and have been hosting their sample sale there. Open several days per week, this is your last weekend to shop the sale in the former pub.
The Label Foundation Basketball Club Fundraiser
Day: Now Location: GoFundMe
The Label Foundation started in the Summer of 2020, at the height of the protest marches in Beacon. One of the founding members is John Galloway Jr., who back then decided to run for a vacated seat on the the Beacon Board of Education, and was appointed. The Label Foundation started with a bunch of young men who you can meet here in little videos, and has been busy every since doing clothing drives and other service initiatives. Their mission is: "As a collective, we vow to bring people from all walks of life together in order to guide the youth in the right direction. We will complete this mission by giving back to our community, pushing the envelope creatively, using our platform to express positive content, and leading by example through our brotherhood."
This fundraiser is to introduce their Basketball Club! "We have vowed to bring people from all walks of life together to guide the youth in the right direction- and that’s what we’re doing. Due to the times, inner-city and underprivileged kids have not had the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities within a safe environment for nearly a year.
"Here’s what we’re up to, providing an opportunity to participate in safe, welcoming, and inclusive youth development. Our players will be educated and mentored on academic topics, ranging from early financial literacy, formidable role models within the area to civic engagement. We need your help making this endeavor successful.
"Our team necessities are fees for tournaments, equipment, jerseys, and gym time." Donate Now >
Annual Soup For Greens Fundraiser
Day: Sunday, February 28, 2021 Time: 10am-2pm Location: Beacon Farmers Market, 413 Main Street, Memorial Building
From the Beacon Farmers Market: "We are so delighted to have Virginia Piazza Pottery as a regular and devoted supporter of Soup4Greens! Her work is well-loved in our community. Come find and buy her bowls this Sunday as part of the generous donations we have received for this event.
"Curious as to why all of this matters? Last summer, between the Beacon and Newburgh farmers’ markets, more than $2300 worth of fresh, free produce made it into the hands of people who need it, on top of what they were able to purchase using Snap or their expendable income.
"This effort was made possible by the #Greens4Greens program created by Green Geen Beacon and Common Ground Farm and this is the program that will directly benefit from every dollar made on Sunday. Fresh food is a universal right. Please help us bring much needed nourishment to our community."
African American Art Show at the Howland Cultural Center
Dates: Last Weekend: February 6th-28th Time: 1pm-5pm Saturdays and Sundays
The Howland Cultural Center presents is annual African American Art Show. Featured artists include Jean Benoit, Ronald Brown, Rhonda Green-Phillips, Arnold Hayes, Kyra Husbands, Corey Lightfoot, Thelma Lightfoot, Marline A. Martin, Richard Outlaw, Symantha Outlaw, Myles Pinkney, Sandi Pinkney, James Earl Ransome, Lesa Cline-Ransome, Eddison Romeo, Oliver Spearman, and Donald Whitely. Information >
Food Drive For Pantry At Beacon Rec Center - Operated By Open Arms Christian Ministries
Dates: Right Now Time: Open Hours of Key Food (268 Main Street) or Barb's Butchery (69 Spring Street)
Key Food and Barb's Butchery have teamed up to collect donated food for the Open Arms Christian Ministries, which runs the Food Pantry each Saturday at the Beacon Recreation Center. See the large donation bin at Key Food checkout, and ask about Barb's while you're there. Non-expired, non-perishables please. Food items you would also eat!
EAT CHURCH
3091 U.S. 9, Cold Spring, NY
Noodles are a great comfort food any time of the year. Check out one of the specials from Eat Church - Dan Dan Noodles - Spicy Sichuan wheat noodles w pork, peanuts, and sesame paste. Tingly and nutty. Addictive. $16
Find them at Marbled Meat Shop, 3091 Route 9 in Cold Spring Friday & Saturday, 4-8pm with their Double Double Bang Bang Revue menu! Order Online Now >⠀ Eat Church is an ALBB Sponsor!
MEYERS OLDE DUTCH
184 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Who needs a crispy chicken sandwich tonight??! Hand breaded, pimento cheese, coleslaw and bread and butter pickles all stacked up for crunchy, creamy, tangy perfection.
Open everyday for take out and delivery 11:30-9pm. Click here and order for takeout or delivery! Or call them at 845.440.6900. Meyers Olde Dutch is an ALBB Sponsor!
HOMESPUN
232 Main Street, Beacon, NY
and the Cafe at the Dia : Beacon
Discover these delicious treats by Maggie & Ease at both Homespun locations. Follow them on Instagram @maggieandease and take a look at their beautiful dishes made right here in Beacon. "From generation to generation our family recipes have been the hallmark by which we have remained connected to our past. Soul food, or southern comfort as we call it, has come to serve as the reminder of the home and family my grandparents and parents left behind during The Great Migration, after moving to the unfamiliar north in search of better opportunities. This #blackhistorymonth and always we at Maggie & Ease honor those that come before us and paved the way. Without them none of this would be possible." Learn more > View Homespun Menu > Homespun is an ALBB Sponsor!
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL 288 Main Street, Beacon, NY
Meet Miz Hattie (pictured right), and her husband Eric and their employee Joe. It's been a while since Miz Hattie was on the other side of the camera, but it's time. Next week she will be doing a photo shoot of all of her menu items, so that ordering from her new online is even easier. Open 6 days a week - order for lunch or dinner!
Order Now > Hudson Valley Food Hall is an ALBB Sponsor!
BAJA 328 328 Main Street, Beacon, NY
It's cold & you deserve a break from cooking! Order takeout from @Baja328! Their Blackened Tuna Salad looks amazing! Plenty of other goodness on their menu too. BAJA 328 is an ALBB Sponsor!
BRETT'S HARDWARE
18 West Main Street, Beacon
Brighter days are fast approaching and the first day of Spring is less than a month away! Whether it is gardening outdoors or container gardening in your kitchen, start prepping by grabbing some seeds available at Brett's Hardware. They have plenty in stock! Brett's Hardware is a Sponsor, thank you!
LUXE OPTIQUE
181-183 Main Street, Beacon
Take your pick of these thick, black rimmed frames from Jacques Marie Mage. You could finally be the Jeff Bloom Look-Alike you always knew you could be. Or just you, in frames that sit comfortably on your face, holding your prescription in place as you do your thing. Walk-ins welcome. Shop Online > Luxe Optique is a Sponsor, thank you!
BINNACLE BOOKS 321 Main Street, Beacon
A message from @binnaclebooks, "Just as this season is full of spring’s potential, one might think of these shelves like the ground in late winter, scattered with slumbering things and things soon to sprout. They hardly even need your tending, just a little participation. They thrive on your willingness to connect with the narratives that others have laid out at other times, some remote, some recent. One might look at these shelves and think: so much is inevitable and we’re in it, all of it, together." Binnacle Books is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
LA MÉRE CLOTHING AND GOODS
436 Main Street, Beacon
Military jackets are a great piece of clothing to have. You can do so much in styling and pairing it with other pieces. We especially LOVE this embroidered army jacket with adjustable waist line. This is the perfect outerwear for a relaxed and trendy look. Best part - it's 100% cotton!
Download the La Mére app now! It is available for iOS users and coming soon for Android users. Download our NEW app now and receive 10% off your first in app purchase. Apply code 10OFFAPP in checkout to receive the discount. Visit https://lamereclothingandgoods.com/ to download. Shop Online > La Mere is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
Is Raising Backyard Chickens Right For You? with Poultry Advisor Kim Pennock
Day: Saturday, February 27, 2021 Time: 3-4pm Location: On Zoom
HIRING: SEO Copywriter At Local Digital Agency, Hyacinth Group
The Hyacinth Group is looking to add a talented SEO Copywriter to our team. The position is part-time, but will ideally grow into a full-time position in the future. Details >
NEW BUSINESS FEATURE - TUTORING
Heads Up Learning offers courses in French literacy, English literacy, and academic support, grades 1-9. Students learn best when given the opportunity to make discoveries, find patterns, and think critically about new ideas, which is why their curriculum is built on student-centered pedagogies, and themes of citizenship, activism, and environmentalism. . Details > https://www.alittlebeaconblog.com/tutoring List your business in ALBB's Business Directory >
ANTALEK & MOORE INSURANCE AGENCY
340 Main Street, Beacon
Have you made the step up to cutting payroll to yourself as a business, and now you're adding your first employee? You'll need Workman's Comp Insurance, and Antalek and Moore can help. Got any more questions about new COVID-19 requirements? They can answer those questions too. Give them a call today: 845-831-4300 and visit their website. Antalek & Moore is a Sponsor, thank you!
TIN SHINGLE
Do you need to send a press release? Of course you do! You can send a press release about anything. It's a great way to start the process that is building buzz about your business. Tin Shingle offers a Press Release Writing service, and works with two publishing industry stars who live in Beacon to get this written for you! Beth McDonough, former publisher of Traditional Home, and Olivia Abel, former editor-in-chief of Hudson Valley Magazine. Don't you want those publishing brains behind your brand? Learn More >
KATIE JAMES, INC.
Coming Soon! Homespun is launching a Subscription Wine Box. Yes, you heard that right! Subscribe to 3 bottles a month that Homespun's sommelier picks out for you, based on your personal preferences. Ecommerce flow designed by Katie James, Inc., and we help strategize how it will all work. Do You Need A Website Too? >
The CARES ACT legislated that if a qualifying homeowner has experienced lower income due to the pandemic, they can put their mortgage into forbearance, thereby pausing payments and not incurring additional interest or penalties. The paused payments get added back into the total owned of the home, which are added to the total debt the homeowner owes. This forbearance was started by the Trump administration, and was continued by the Biden administration, who recently extended that deadline through June 2021.
Forbearance Is Set - What Does It Mean For Property Taxes?
While relief is experienced for a homeowner who lost income due to the pandemic, what happens to the property, school and library taxes that are due directly to the City of Beacon?
Some residents pay these payments directly from their own accounts, versus having the institution servicing their mortgage divide a portion of their payment into an escrow account, so that when property taxes come due, the money is there and company servicing the mortgage, like Quicken Loans or Rhinebeck Bank, makes the payment on behalf of the homeowner.
One year ago in March 2020, at the start of the pandemic, A Little Beacon Blog asked the City of Beacon how property tax was being handled. At the time, Mayor Kyriacou, who is a landlord in Beacon and owns several properties, advised us to ask state officials about it.
This year, A Little Beacon Blog inquired again, and received this response from Beacon’s City Administrator, Chris White: “The City delayed foreclosing on any properties in 2020. Normally, the City would have sent last chance agreements in March of 2020 to properties with 2018 taxes still open. In compliance with the State's COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Act, the City mailed hardship declaration forms to anyone with open taxes from 2018 giving them until May 1, 2021 to pay or enter into an installment agreement. We have also not taken action on back taxes for 2019 or 2020 so there has been some flexibility.”
New York City’s City Council passed legislation in 2020 on late payment penalty interest to 0% for a period of time. As for Beacon, Chris explained: “The interest on taxes is 1% a month but is not compounded. We allow partial payments and offer installment agreements of up to 24 months for past due taxes as long as property owners remain current on any upcoming taxes (including school) while in an agreement.”
A Benefit To Escrow Accounts: Advance Payments Have Been Made For Some Mortgages
When a homeowner has an escrow account with the company handling their mortgage, that company sets aside a portion of the monthly mortgage payment and places it into an escrow account for property taxes to the City of Beacon and to the school and library. Same can be done with homeowners insurance. It’s one less bill to worry about, and makes setting aside money automatic.
If an escrow account is not used, however, then the homeowner needs to make the payment themselves. Even before the pandemic, some residents who had not disciplined themselves to save the money found it difficult to scrape the money together. With the pandemic and economic shut-down, collecting that money could be more difficult.
Property Tax Escrow Account 101
When we reached out to Dave Curry, VP Commercial Lender for Rhinebeck Bank, to inquire as to if Rhinebeck Bank was also advancing property tax payments for residential mortgages, he went beyond the question to provide some education about escrow accounts as they pertain to residential mortgages:
“Yes, we escrow taxes into the monthly payment. For Rhinebeck Bank, we do this on both the residential and commercial side. This a typical requirement as financial institutions want to be sure the taxes are being paid on an annual basis and that the borrower is in a position to do so. Some Banks will not escrow taxes if it was requested by the borrower, however, the bank is putting the trust in the borrower to be able to manage their finances enough to pay those big bills when they come! Unfortunately, most people are not disciplined enough with their finances.”
Dave continued: “Escrowing Insurance is a different story. Normally Banks do not require the escrow of insurance. So how this works is that your monthly mortgage payment is normally broken down 3 ways: Principle, Interest and Escrow. The escrow portion goes into a separate escrow account and when the Bank receives the tax bill, they cut a check from this account. Additionally, there is an escrow analysis done on an annual basis, which determines if your monthly escrow portion is enough to satisfy the annual taxes. Sometimes there is a shortage and you will have an increased monthly payment, and sometimes there is an overage where you will be cut a check from the Bank. That is pretty much the scope of it, but very common for mortgages.”
The escrow analysis is conducted for if the taxes in the city increase or the city reviews their appraisal amounts on each home, as Beacon did a few years ago after not having done it for years, which resulted in a substantial increase for property owners. The amount set aside from the monthly mortgage payment needs then to also increase in order to set aside enough property tax money.
People who are done paying their mortgages may not be in the habit of making the monthly required payment anymore, thus needing to be disciplined enough to set aside the money for tax collection time. If they have the money, during the pandemic where some have experienced job loss.
However, renters who are still making payments to landlords are also at the mercy of their landlords as Beacon’s real estate market continues to heat up, as a result of favorable tourism media (including this blog, lots of mixed-feelings here!), sexy hypes by realtors (ex: “bidding war!…buying with cash!…”), and city-dwellers leaving NYC at a faster rate as the pandemic makes social distancing unbearable. There is no rent regulation in Beacon, so property owners can make decisions based on the market and their relationships with tenants.
Some Beaconites Share Their Rent Experience
Some Beacon residents wanted to share their stories, to get a read on how other renters are faring, but wanted to remain anonymous, as landlords could be local, neighbors, influential people in the community, etc. We are respecting that for this story.
The Artist, The Dog, and the 12% Increase
Real life Beaconite after hearing the news of their 12% rent increase. The caption is from the artist.
An artist living in Beacon with her life partner recently put her dog (pictured here) up on Instagram after their landlord raised the rent 12%, hoping her dog could pull his weight a little by posing on Instagram and somehow making money. Her dog is known for his many facial expressions, so she posted a picture of his “surprised face” when they learned that the landlord was raising the rent 12%.
The caption read: “The face U make when UR landlord raises your rent 12% and U want UR dog to make money on Instagram bc other people somehow do it but U really have no time for that and wish he could just do it himself.”
This artist recently rented an office to do her commissioned work out of the home, as her life partner had surgery, which took him out of his job as he recovers at home. She needed space to spread out as orders come in and she needs to make the orders. Their residential rent will increase 12%. They are currently in negotiations.
The Renting Family Whose Residence Might Sell With Slim Chances To Buy In Beacon
Another resident with a child in the Beacon City School System used to work in hospitality, but saw her job disappear. While she and her life partner have been making the rent, the owner of the property they rent was considering selling, which would create more uncertainty about their rent. “I do feel lucky in that they could have just sold no problem months ago,” she told A Little Beacon Blog, “but told us that we could stay for however long we need to. We speak next month about renewing in the summer. Fingers crossed they haven’t changed their minds. One of my biggest anxieties right now is being pushed out of Beacon because we can’t afford it anymore. It’s fantastic for those that already own, but our chances of buying feel slimmer than they were one year ago.”
“For Sale By Owner” Listing For $800K - “NYCers Will Buy Anything!” - Or Will They?
The time came for a Beaconite, who was raised here and grew up to raise their own family, to sell his parent’s home. With the help of his siblings, they intended to sell the home themselves. The house is a Victorian “with good bones” but is not updated, and an unfinished but usable attic. His childhood nickname is still painted on the attic ceiling which served as their playroom.
The adult children were going to list the house at $800K. “We aren’t going to list it with comps (examples of recent nearby home sales),” he told me one afternoon as I lent him my extension cord for his leaf blower, in preparation for the first open house the next day. “These people from Manhattan will buy anything.”
I told him that 2 of my friends who live in Beacon were looking to buy, and I would send them right over, but at that price, they most likely could not afford. One friend with kids in the district rents in a complex, and cannot find an affordable home in Beacon. They are looking in Wappingers Falls. The other friend had outgrown their home with their kids, and also needed a larger place. They ended up buying in Newburgh.
The listing went up for $800,000. I didn’t see many cars for the open house. The following week, a realtor’s sign was out front, and the for-sale-by-owner listing online disappeared. The house popped up on Zillow for $699K, then was lowered to $625K, then $599K, then lowered again to $525K, and finally sold at $490K, according to Zillow.
While it’s understandable that everyone needs to make a buck, and pay for nursing homes for aging parents, or private nursing, or settling debts, or purchasing the next family home, a lot can be determined by the personal decision of a homeowner selling to the next person.
Councilperson Nelson Urges Landlords Not To Raise Rents - Calling Out West End Lofts
In a City Council Meeting in December 2020, Councilperson Terry Nelson voiced his disapproval with property management companies raising the rent during a pandemic, “even if it’s for $40,” he stated. Councilpeople often allude to people or companies, but don’t mention names. Therefore, A Little Beacon Blog followed up with Terry to confirm which property was raising the rent, and he stated West End Lofts, which is the complex along Wolcott that was billed and financed as affordable living with artist lofts by Kearney Realty Group.
A Little Beacon Blog reached out to West End Lofts for confirmation on the rent increase, and did not receive response. The West End Lofts complex was viewed by some residents as a solution to more apartments to accommodate more people wanting to stay in Beacon. When the property was initially cleared for development and the trees were cut, the loss of woods was traumatic for some who were not expecting it. Others viewed it as an opportunity to move their young children to Beacon. Said one resident who grew up in her parent’s home near South Avenue and now has children of her own: “I remember watching fireworks in Newburgh from my parents home (near South Avenue) through those trees. I hope I can live in those new apartments.”
West End Lofts are marketed largely to artists. There is a discount if a person is an artist. According to their website: “West End Lofts is a mixed-income artist housing development in the heart of Beacon, New York. West End Lofts consists of 50 affordable artist lofts, 21 middle-income units, and 25 market rate units.”
The Neighbor Who Lost 2 Neighbors After The Landlord Raised The Rent For New NYC Renters
A reader contacted A Little Beacon Blog with their story of their neighbors having to move out when the landlord raised the rent, replacing them with New Yorkers who left the city for a greener life, and found Beacon’s rents lower then NYC. Said the Beacon resident: “Our rent innitially was very affordable,“ she said. “A year ago, my house was sold to an investor and immediately he tired to raise my rent $150 a month after living in the space for 4 years. I very kindly said no way - and then asked him down to the original rent and had to school him that everyone in the building had lived here for years and that our landlord only raised the rent $20 years for cost of living. Needless to say, 2 tenants moved out because of that and of course people from Manhattan moved in who paid $1,600 instead of the going $1,300/$1,400.”
The connection between NYC and Beacon has always been there, with economic activity happening on the river bringing goods up and down the water. The surprise of residents from New York is not new, but the replacement of residents with rising rents is hard to watch. As is families who rent currently and want to buy are having such trouble.
If you are traveling from afar, make a day trip or stay the weekend in Beacon! There are many wonderful things to do, including, The NFP Studio Exclusives Sample Sale that is happening NOW! It is real and it is no joke!
NFP offers convertible knitwear rooted in a foundation of sculptural, timeless forms. Designer, Gail Travis, resides between her studio in Los Angeles, CA, and Beacon, NY! Beacon is fortunate to have NFP localized in Beacon, even though they are a coveted fashion brand popular in NYC and larger markets. Located for years next to Joe’s Irish Pub, they paid homage to the pub when it closed and have been hosting their sample sale there.
Styles are selling out FAST! They are open every day from 10-5 up until their last day on 2/28. Run, don’t walk!
“NFP is a vision that I have grown into a collection of wearable art that allows each person a blank canvas to create their own individual style, I challenge my self to continue the evolution of NFP to offer you, my loyal customers and friends, an endless supply of moldable forms - ENJOY!”
Back when the pandemic was declared a pandemic, Ahmaud Arbery was killed - shot - hunted down - by two white men in a pickup truck near Brunswick, GA. I watched the video on Twitter. Unfiltered. Un-”Graphic Warning.” I followed the local GA news for legal developments. Events happened to other Black people that did not make it to social media, but then George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis. Also video taped by many people as it happened. Everyone video taping stayed in their corners as events played out. That’s what we are used to - staying in our places in our corners. Thankfully these images made it to our newsfeeds, so that we could experience how Black people are seen, not seen.
Most people watching the social revolution/re-awakening of 2020 experienced deep feelings, and some people who are not Black wanted to do something. Black people started shouting: “Silence is Violence, Speak!” mainly to the white people in the room who have been bred to be mainly silent. To stay safe. To keep the place. The ground started shaking, and white people wanted to speak. White people wanted to support. But how?
The designer of ALBB’s Black Owned Business Directory logo, Perry Crosson (right), of the Hyacinth Group, a digital design firm founded and directed by Lauren Johnson (left).
Media across the country started making Black Owned Business Directories. Readers were writing in to ALBB: “Where can we support? Who can we support? What Black owned businesses can we support?” Here at A Little Beacon Blog, our fingers started typing. Writer Izdihar DaBashi feverishly emailed: “Are you making a Black Owned Business Directory? I want to make one - can we make one?” Designer Allie Bopp heard this, and said: “It needs a logo - I can make a logo!”
So we started on this Black Owned Business Directory. Right before I emailed Allie to brainstorm the logo, I realized: “Wait. We need to talk to someone who is Black, who experiences being an artist and business owner as a Black person. They are going to feel this, and this logo needs to be theirs. We need to find them to design the logo. Sadly, it has just occurred to me that I don’t know any Black graphic designers in Beacon, and I’m sure there are quire a few.”
ALBB Put Out The Call For A Logo Designer From The Black Community
Black owned businesses are here, they just aren’t always seen. Stereotypes could get in the way, blocking the vision of what is true. When I spoke to Perry to give him direction for the logo, my only direction was: “It could include many shades of color, to show different racial identities, but whatever strikes you. Take it and own it.”
Perry ruminated in it. As he developed it, his mother asked him what he was working on, and he told her. She suggested that he use the Alsdorf building in Newburgh as inspiration. It was a no-brainer for her. The building was built in 1915 as the Alsdorf School of Music and Dancing, a business started started in 1849 by Professor Dubois Alsdorf, formerly a slave in Ulster County who (acquired, gained, earned, was granted….what is the word here?) manumission. Manumission is something that frees a person from slavery. According to NewburghNY.org, George Alsdorf and his wife Caroline headed to Newburgh “within 20 years of his manumission) at 260-262 Washington Street.
Perry’s curiosity was piqued. He pursued it, dove into the research, looked into the rights of the building to make sure he could use it as a logo, and delivered. Perry’s background is in architecture, so this subject matter was even more up his ally.
Black people owning property is a big deal. They were written out of property ownership - and voting rights - in the United States Constitution and had to work themselves into the Bill of Rights over many years. Undocumented practices that excluded Black people from property ownership (vague deterrences, suggestions to take education classes before owning property, things that white people do not usually get recommended to do) may not have been written into laws, were conducted that simply made it hard for Black people to acquire the title to property. A recent example: maybe the date of a contract to close on the home was 30 days, but suddenly move to 20 days (just happened to my Black friend in December 2020). Nothing that can be proven as racist, but something that keeps a friend who is Black out of almost owning her home in Poughkeepsie. When she appealed to the homeowner to have patience with the all of the documents they needed to file, his response was “It’s not me! It’s the bank!” And the hot potato hops around the room. Thankfully, she closed on the house.
The concept of “Generational Wealth” - is a term that is new to me, but is one that is common in my white community as “old money.” People in the Black community tend to speak of “Generational Wealth” as the goal of what needs acquired in order to help their children’s paths to security be more…secure.
“Old money” takes less effort, is usually something stepped into, is sometimes squandered, and is possibly not understood, if finances are not discussed in the open within families.
A Little Beacon Blog is always eager to hear from Black Owned Businesses to add to this directory - in any capacity - from construction to baking - so tell us about yourself. Other sections of the Business Directory are paid (we really appreciate and rely on the support!) but the Black Owned section is not.
Every now and then, my mom passes to me and my extended family email messages about the pandemic, as they are happening in Ohio, which is where I grew up. As mentioned in other articles about Ohio, weather from Ohio tends to travel to New York, so I often use that state as a predictor for what will happen in Beacon.
During this week of the lives lost from COVID-19 reaching 500,000 in this country alone, she forwarded to her children an email from the Mayor of Pepper Pike, OH, which is where my grandfather lives. My grandfather is in his 90s, and lives with the support of his children and caregivers who go to his home to make sure he has his needs met. My mom subscribes to Pepper Pike’s emails to keep tabs on the temperature of his community, and how the pandemic is viewed there.
I appreciated the memorial this Mayor Richard Bain wrote to this community. As we receive what news headlines and articles of the improving case count, lower hospitalization rates, continued struggle to get the vaccine, etc, which can cause conflicting feelings, I thought you might appreciate his words too. They are below.
From my mom (in case you need just a little more Chicken Soup for the Soul):
I know you’ve appreciated other missives that Pepper Pike Mayor Bain has sent to Grampa’s email.
Here’s one more, with perspective on where we are in this long pandemic. And what we still have to do. Even after getting our two shots.
Science rules. Miss you all.
From Mayor Richard Bain Pepper Pike, Ohio In Cuyahoga County, Northeast, OH, east of Cleveland, in the suburbs February 22, 2021
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Tonight, and for the next five days in Pepper Pike, and around the nation, we commemorate and honor the over 500,000 lives lost to the plague of Covid-19, the disease which has torn through our country, destroying lives and the families who loved them. It continues as a scourge across our land and the world and many more will die. The flags at City Hall and Morgan Park have been struck to fly at half-staff as a reminder of those who have been lost.
In comparison and to provide perspective, 405,000 members of the “Greatest Generation” were killed in 4 years of World War II. The enormous Arlington National Cemetery has 400,000 graves. The entire population of the City of Cleveland is now just over 380,000. In the future, more permanent memorials to the lives lost will certainly be erected in our nation, but for now, we pause in the midst of the battle to remember those souls who are abruptly gone, literally just months after this all began.
It was less than a year ago, March, 9, 2020, that I first wrote to alert you that the first 3 cases of Covid-19 had been identified in Cuyahoga County. Since that time, Cuyahoga County has recorded 94,021 cases and 1,695 deaths. Ohio has recorded 955,378 cases and 16,874 deaths. COVID-19 became a leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2020, particularly for people over age 35. That remains the case in 2021.
Although the vaccine has arrived, it is scarce for the great proportion of the country, including here. In Ohio, the vaccine distribution, for the time being, is limited to the “1B” population, 65 years and older. The next group of people who will be given access to the vaccine are those 60 years and older, which will be followed by those 55 years and older and then those 50 years and older.
Until the day arrives when we all have access to the vaccine, hopefully in the next months ahead, when the disease has finally been beaten back, we must remain vigilant in protecting those around us from the infection which still stalks us. I thank and congratulate you all who have joined the fight and intelligently battled during the last year. Now, with but some months ahead, we must finish strong!
COVID -19 has not quit or finished and neither must we. The disease mutates and seeks to start afresh as it infects new hosts as the disease continues to spread and exact its awful toll. Stay vigilant and we shall reach the end of this awful challenge. We have no choice but to forge ahead and together reach the end. Take a pause to reflect on what has happened, to think about the lives well lived, but lost nonetheless. They deserve that. This defining time in all our lives deserves no less. Please continue to stay safe and be well!
Today was a Snow Day in Beacon! But that didn't deter the visitors from coming in for a weekend stay and stocking up on groceries, and for locals enjoying a leisurely stroll in the big flakes of snow on an early Friday evening.
If you find yourself overheating in line while you're shopping, or suffocating under your mask and hat and scarf, consider going out in just a sweater or hoodie - many of which you'll find right here on Main Street! See A Little Beacon Blog's Shopping Guide for ideas you hadn't thought of.
THE RETAIL THERAPY GUIDE Edited and Written By: Marilyn Perez and Katie Hellmuth Martin
New Reopening Announcements:
Restaurants/Bars can stayopen until 11pm
Family Entertainment Centers can open at 25% capacity on March 25th, 2021
Amusement Parks can open at 33% on April 9, 2021
Large Sports Venues can open at 10% capacity on February 23, 2021.
Summer Day Camps are looking like they may also open...
Two Founders Discussing Black Owned Businesses In The Local Community
Days: February 24th, 2021 Time: 12pm Location: Instagram! IG Live
Digital branding producer Lauren Johnson, CEO and Founder of The Hyacinth Groupwill chat with Editor and Founder of A Little Beacon Blog, Katie Hellmuth Martin. This will be a fun and energetic chat, so join in on the IG Live! How to Listen: Super easy. Go to @thehyacinthgroupjust before 12pm on Wednesday, and hit their circle logo. PS: Isn't this flyer for it pretty? It was designed by The Hyacinth Group, who is based in Beacon. Hire them for your next small or large branding project! Their lead designer, Perry Crosson, designed he Black Owned Business logo for A Little Beacon Blog's Business Directory.
Howland Public Library presents The Roots Of Black Music In America
Days: February 7-20, 2021 Location: Vimeo
Join Karlus Trapp for a 100 year journey back through time to hear, experience and learn about the music of America’s Black musical giants. While the show is geared towards children and teens, it can be enjoyed by all ages.This joyful show encourages singing and dancing!
The Vimeo link and password will be posted on the library's Facebook page, and the show can be enjoyed at your own convenience Feb. 7th - 20th. Information >
African American Art Show at the Howland Cultural Center
Dates: Opens February 6th-28th Time: 1pm-5pm Saturdays and Sundays
The Howland Cultural Center presents is annual African American Art Show. Featured artists include Jean Benoit, Ronald Brown, Rhonda Green-Phillips, Arnold Hayes, Kyra Husbands, Corey Lightfoot, Thelma Lightfoot, Marline A. Martin, Richard Outlaw, Symantha Outlaw, Myles Pinkney, Sandi Pinkney, James Earl Ransome, Lesa Cline-Ransome, Eddison Romeo, Oliver Spearman, and Donald Whitely. Information >
Food Drive For Pantry At Beacon Rec Center - Operated By Open Arms Christian Ministries
Dates: Right Now Time: Open Hours of Key Food (268 Main Street) or Barb's Butchery (69 Spring Street)
Key Food and Barb's Butchery have teamed up to collect donated food for the Open Arms Christian Ministries, which runs the Food Pantry each Saturday at the Beacon Recreation Center. See the large donation bin at Key Food checkout, and ask about Barb's while you're there. Non-expired, non-perishables please. Food items you would also eat!
EAT CHURCH
3091 U.S. 9, Cold Spring, NY
You missed it, and Eat Church heard you! The Bang Bang Menu is BACK! Friday - Saturday 4pm-8pm at Marbled Meat Shop. That's in Cold Spring in Vera's Marketplace. This is a delicacy, folks. Order Online Now >⠀ Eat Church is an ALBB Sponsor!
MEYERS OLDE DUTCH
184 Main Street, Beacon, NY
If this doesn't hit the spot for you: Meyers Olde Dutch Risotto Balls: "Roasted Butter squash and provolone in the balls, and a squash and onion sauce sauce." But they don't last long. That's why you need to order online immediately - click here and order for takeout or delivery! Or call them at 845.440.6900. Meyers Olde Dutch is an ALBB Sponsor!
HOMESPUN
232 Main Street, Beacon, NY
and the Cafe at the Dia : Beacon
Homespun is only open Thursday-Sunday, so Now. Is. Your. Chance! Food is takeaway only for now for safety, so order online and take with you a delicious Quinoa Bowl of with Roasted Carrots, Dried Cranberries, Pepitas, Feta, Chives, Arugula, Yogurt Tahini Dressing, or their Wagyu Burger. Order Now >
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL 288 Main Street, Beacon, NY
There's a pop-up shop experience happening in the HV Food Hall this weekend! Custom made tailored suits, from The Tailory New York, which is is a women-owned and operated, appointment-only custom clothing company. The process is simple: customers will choose your fabric, design your suit, get measured, and receive your very own custom suits 4 to 6 weeks later. If you need ideas on what your suit could look like, or to expand your mind on what shapes a suit can take see right here right now.
BAJA 328 328 Main Street, Beacon, NY
This year, Baja328 has decided that just one day for National Margarita day isn’t enough! They tell their Instagram friends: "That’s why we’re celebrating for an ENTIRE WEEKEND!! Join us February 19-21 for $1 off Margs & $2 off pitchers to celebrate the Baja Way!!" BAJA 328 is an ALBB Sponsor!
BRETT'S HARDWARE
18 West Main Street, Beacon
Snow Day Fun Galore. Is it us? Or does the Kids Section at Brett's keep growing? While owner Brett does have a young family, his store is also located next door to a kids learning center, Be Creative As Possible (BCAP), the influence of which must be rubbing off on him! From crayons to paints to spray paints to glues. Kids (or you - admit it - you want to sink into a project) won't be bored this Snow Day. Brett's Hardware is a Sponsor, thank you!
LUXE OPTIQUE
181-183 Main Street, Beacon
Cuties! These little frames with the eyelet cat-eye flutter are head-turners, and ones people may not see elsewhere - except on your face. Do check these out in person in the store, but you could also see the sisters of this frame in the Boz Collection on Luxe Optique's ever-changing website.
Have you made an appointment with @luxeoptique to find you the perfect pair? What are you waiting for!? Shop Online > Luxe Optique is a Sponsor, thank you!
BINNACLE BOOKS 321 Main Street, Beacon
“Black Futures” by Kimberly Drew, Jenna Wortham:
“Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham have brought together this collection of work—images, photos, essays, memes, dialogues, recipes, tweets, poetry, and more—to tell the story of the radical, imaginative, provocative, and gorgeous world that Black creators are bringing forth today. The book presents a succession of startling and beautiful pieces that generate an entrancing rhythm: Readers will go from conversations with activists and academics to memes and Instagram posts, from powerful essays to dazzling paintings and insightful infographics. In answering the question of what it means to be Black and alive, Black Futures opens a prismatic vision of possibility for every reader.”
Grab your copy at @binnaclebooks today! Binnacle Books is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
LA MÉRE CLOTHING AND GOODS
436 Main Street, Beacon
La Mere is never without the Snow Day Sweaters! Yes you need one more, and yes you can play this video to see how to style your Snow Day Sweater with a skirt. Because you are getting dressed at home, right? Snow Day Sweaters are how you stay in PJ mode, but in your best threads.
Download the La Mére app now! It is available for iOS users and coming soon for Android users. Download our NEW app now and receive 10% off your first in app purchase. Apply code 10OFFAPP in checkout to receive the discount. Visit https://lamereclothingandgoods.com/ to download. Shop Online > La Mere is a ALBB Sponsor, thank you!
HIRING: SEO Copywriter At Local Digital Agency, Hyacinth Group
The Hyacinth Group is looking to add a talented SEO Copywriter to our team. The position is part-time, but will ideally grow into a full-time position in the future. Details >
NEW BUSINESS FEATURE - TUTORING
Heads Up Learning offers courses in French literacy, English literacy, and academic support, grades 1-9. Students learn best when given the opportunity to make discoveries, find patterns, and think critically about new ideas, which is why their curriculum is built on student-centered pedagogies, and themes of citizenship, activism, and environmentalism. . Details > https://www.alittlebeaconblog.com/tutoring List your business in ALBB's Business Directory >
ANTALEK & MOORE INSURANCE AGENCY
340 Main Street, Beacon
Closing out Mentor Month at Antalek & Moore would not be complete without this highlight of this mentor!
Today we feature Susan Antalek Pagones. Susan serves at the Chair of the Go Red for Women event for Dutchess County as well as an Executive Leader for the American Red Cross Eastern New York
Susan is pictured here with fellow members of her #HVBetterU class of 2019.
Antalek & Moore is a Sponsor, thank you!
TIN SHINGLE
Do you need to send a press release? Of course you do! You can send a press release about anything. It's a great way to start the process that is building buzz about your business. Tin Shingle offers a Press Release Writing service, and works with two publishing industry stars who live in Beacon to get this written for you! Beth McDonough, former publisher of Traditional Home, and Olivia Abel, former editor-in-chief of Hudson Valley Magazine. Don't you want those publishing brains behind your brand? Learn More >
KATIE JAMES, INC.
After many years of eating Miz Hattie's Southern Style soul food, Katie James, Inc. is so excited to welcome Miz Hattie's BBQ as a website client! Located inside of the Hudson Valley Food Hall, the customers of Miz Hattie's wanted to tap and order online, and they couldn't. Well they can now! Miz Hattie's jumped into the Toast online ordering platform, and Katie James Inc. designed the main website in Squarespace where you can order online, with room for more photos, catering inquiries, and future ecommerce options for swag, bottled sauce, and more. Final tweaks of the menu and organization of sides and your favorite things are underway. Twist our arm to hang out at this BBQ spot more often! Do you have favorite food pics from Miz Hattie's? Tag her in Instagram and she might repost them! Do You Need A Website Too? >
For kids, a Snow Day is usually an undebatable Good Thing.
For parents, it is usually a disruption, with kids being home, making getting to work or medical appointments or other destinations for other kids difficult.
However, for some families, Snow Days in the time of Remote Learning during the pandemic, is a welcomed Day Off. It’s a day off from making sure kids are logging into their different classes during the day, and is possibly a day to actually get more work done. This flip was never imagined during previous years - possibly any previous year - of a parent’s Snow Day.
The Thinking Behind The Day Off Snow Day vs The Remote Snow Day
Beacon’s School DIstrict’s Superintendent Matt Landahl has been communicating his strategy behind when to go Remote during bad weather, and when to just stay home without anyone driving anywhere, and not doing any school supplied learning.
“We moved to a full closure with no remote instruction today for a couple of reasons,” he told parents via email.
“We have 6 snow days built into our calendar and we have only used 3 full closures so far this year. We can still use a couple of more Snow Days without impacting things like Spring Break. Second, for a longer-term move to Remote Learning, many of our teachers need access to their classrooms to provide remote instruction for longer periods than a day or two. I was thinking yesterday, perhaps optimistically, that the 1 Hour Delay would get us in person today and I had not thought through the Remote part of this.”
While the past two weeks have been stop and go with Remote Learning due to weather, the Snow Day Friday for this blogger was a welcome one.
Caution-first of course, but this week, Governor Cuomo has signed an Executive Order “extending closing times for bars, restaurants, gyms and fitness centers, casinos, billiards halls, as well as other State Liquor Authority-licensed establishments, from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. statewide, effective immediately,” according to the Dutchess Business Notification Network.
Family Entertainment Centers
Beginning March 26, 2021, New York State announced that indoor family entertainment centers can reopen at 25% capacity.
Living indoors with young kids and teenagers with nowhere to go has been very difficult. More difficult, however, is hearing about a family who got COVID-19 and had family members go to the hospital. While these centers may open, businesses will need to show how safe they are being, and not exceed capacity.
Amusement Parks Can Open This Spring
Outdoor amusement parks are allowed to open on April 9, 2021 at the limited capacity of 33%.
Sports Venues Can Open At 10% Capacity
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced on 2/10/2021 that sports and entertainment events in major stadiums and arenas with a capacity of 10,000 or more people can re-open with limited spectators beginning February 23. “Following the model established as part of the successful Buffalo Bills pilot program, venues and events must follow similar guidelines, including Department of Health approval for venues and events, capacity limitations, testing requirements, mandatory face coverings, temperature checks, and assigned, socially distanced seating.”
Venues will have to institute a 10% capacity limit in arenas and stadiums, as well as ensure all staff and spectators receive a negative COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours of the event.
According to the Dutchess Business Notification Network: “New York State and Empire State Development are looking to help vendors set up low-cost rapid COVID-19 testing sites for asymptomatic individuals with the idea being this will allow the state to begin the process of opening large gatherings/events. As such, the focus is on spaces near city centers/areas that will attract crowds.”
Location details include: “No or low cost 6-month lease immediately available; Street level store fronts with walk in access; About 750-1500 square feet (no additional charge for larger space). They are, on average, using 1200 sq. ft.” Email Deanna Robertson at drobertson@hvedc.com with questions.
Summer Day Camps Looking Probable To Open
The Dutchess Business Notification Network reports that “the New York Department of Health will release reopening guidance for day and overnight summer camps in the coming weeks. It is recommended that camps begin to develop their procedures and safety plan.”
Safety Measures
According to the Dutchess Business Notification Network: “All facilities must submit their plans to reopen, including the health protocols the facility will implement, to the local health department. Face coverings and social distancing will be required for all customers and staff, and customers will be required to have a health screening with temperature checks prior to entry.”
Additionally, the following guidelines must be followed:
Contact information must be collected from each party to inform contact tracing, if needed;
High-touch areas, attractions, and rides must be cleaned and disinfected frequently throughout the day;
Attractions must close if they cannot ensure distancing and be frequently cleaned/disinfected;
Sufficient staff must be deployed to enforce compliance with rules, including capacity, distancing, and face coverings;
Tickets should be sold in advance, and entry/exit and waiting times should be staggered to avoid congestion;
Indoor areas must meet enhanced air filtration, ventilation, and purification standards; and
Retail, food services, and recreational activities must abide by all State-issued guidance.
According to a press released issued by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East:
“1199SEIU nursing home workers in Poughkeepsie are among the hundreds of members of 1199SEIU Healthcare Workers East, the nation’s largest healthcare union, who will be holding demonstrations and vigils at more than 20 nursing homes across New York State, calling for greater transparency and investment in quality resident care.
“Actions will also be held at nursing homes in Schenectady, Erie, Jefferson, Monroe, Nassau, Niagara, Onondaga, Oneida, and Suffolk counties and New York City. Many of these facilities have low average hours of care per resident, use a high number of related parties to hide profits, or otherwise rank poorly in care quality.
“‘For far too long, nursing homes around New York State have made investment in resident care an afterthought,’” said Milly Silva, Executive Vice President of the Nursing Home Division.
“‘We are calling on these for-profit nursing homes to prioritize and invest in people – the residents and the workers who care for them day in and day out. Our members have been battling COVID-19 for the last year, but issues like low wages and a lack of adequate time to devote to individual patient care existed pre-COVID. Our goal is to enact real reforms to raise standards within the industry, and ensure that meaningful investment is made in residents and workers once and for all,’” Silva continued.
“The demonstrations are the latest actions led by the union to call attention to the need for systemic reform of the nursing home industry. Last week, 1199SEIU launched a multi-million dollar ad campaign, Invest in Quality Care, to press the legislature to ensure nursing homes focus on quality care to protect residents and the dedicated workers who care for them, rather than maximizing profits. On Valentine’s Day, members across New York engaged in a virtual “sticker” campaign, using social media to urge their State Assemblymembers and Senators to enact key reforms and ensure the most vulnerable in the state get the investment and care they need.
Lourdes Torres, an LPN at The Grand Rehabilitation and Nursing at River Valley, said: “Forty residents. Two aides. And me. How is it possible for me to meet the needs of my residents? Today, I tried to spend time with a very scared man who recently almost died from COVID and still has a lot of anxiety. He has no family other than those of us who take care of him at River Valley. But there were 39 other people who needed my attention, and I had to walk away. He was upset. And I was upset. So many co-workers have left or are planning to leave. That’s terrible for continuity of care. It’s terrible for those of us left. But I understand. It feels unbearable so often. The state needs to make changes in how nursing homes owners do business.”
“1199SEIU’s Invest in Quality Care campaign points out that Instead of investing in enough staff to ensure quality care for residents, many nursing home owners are hiding their profits by sub-contracting services to companies they own, often at inflated prices.
“1199SEIU and its members are calling on Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature to pass systemic reform for the nursing home industry to improve transparency, hold operators accountable for misconduct, and ensure they prioritize resident care over maximized profits.
“As New York Attorney General Letitia James found in a shocking new report on the impact of COVID-19 on nursing homes, “the current state reimbursement model for nursing homes gives a financial incentive to owners of for-profit nursing homes to transfer funds to related parties (ultimately increasing their own profit) instead of investing in higher levels of staffing and PPE.”
About 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East
1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. We represent over 450,000 nurses and caregivers throughout New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Florida. Their mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all.
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A podcast from A Little Beacon Blog. Your hosts: Katie Hellmuth martin & Brandon Lillard.
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.
Dutchess County Helpline. Open 24/7 to take your calls, listen, and give you resources.
