It *Was* Friday! | Retail Therapy Guide 6/3/2022
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HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL
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Gas Tax Cut and Capped Drastically By Dutchess County - Capped At $.08/Gallon
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First proposed in March 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine as gasoline prices started spiking, Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro and County Legislature Chairman Gregg Pulver proposed that the gas tax collected by Dutchess County be cut and capped to $.08 effective June 1, 2022. Currently, the County collects 3.75% of the total sale of a customer’s fuel purchase. New York State requires that sales tax be collected on gas, according to a press release from the County Executive.
That formula must be either a cents-per-gallon or a percentage of the total sales. Dutchess County opted for the percentage model, and picked 3.75%. From the County press release, “if a gallon of gas costs $4.25 for example, the County receives $.16 per gallon in sales tax. Under County Executive Molinaro’s proposal, the County would implement a cents-per-gallon methodology, rather than a percentage of a climbing price, with county sales tax charged only on the first $2 of the per-gallon gasoline price, or a total of $.08 per gallon.”
“County will cut and cap sales tax collection on gasoline with a change to its sales tax calculation for retail motor fuel and diesel motor fuel purchases, providing the maximum benefit for consumers allowed under State law,” according to a press release issued by the County.
As explained by Colleen T. Pillus, Communications Director for Dutchess County Executive Office in a reminder email sent to the media at the end of May: “The amount of county sales tax collected on each gallon of retail motor fuel will be capped at $.08. Under the current sales tax methodology, consumers pay 3.75% county sales tax on their total motor fuel purchase, in addition to a myriad of other State and federally imposed taxes and fees.”
As an aside, when Dutchess County cut sales tax on clothing under $100, Colleen confirmed that sales tax from gas sales collected in Dutchess County is one of the largest generators of income for type of sales tax, compared with clothing, online sales, and other goods. She told A Little Beacon Blog: “ The state has previously shared that the two largest areas of sales tax generation are gasoline sales and auto sales – this is statewide, not just Dutchess.”
According to Colleen’s email to the media, “Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro, together with Legislature Chairman Gregg Pulver, first proposed this cut and cap in March and the County Legislature adopted it in April, numerous other counties followed Dutchess County’s lead in this effort to provide some relief to consumers. The earliest date it could go into effective under NYS law is June 1st.”
The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance did send out notice to retailers alerting them of the upcoming cut and cap with the notice found here.
Recap Of City Council's Workshop This Week Includes STRs, Lowered Tax Assessments, and Infrastructure
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City Council’s Workshop for this week contained a big ticket item, and a couple notable moves. The items in the 2023-2027 Capital Program have been proposed and budgeted. These include major infrastructure upgrades, renovations, and a wish list of vehicle and equipment purchases.
Capital Plan 2023-2027
The items proposed in this budget would go through an arduous process if approved, and would happen over the course of 5 years, while rotating the debt and mixing it with federal grants that reimburse the City of Beacon for some of the expenses. Several items are proposed. An overview of two of them are below.
Melzingah Reservoir Rehabilitation Construction and Mt. Beacon Tank Construction and Engineering
This project will include sealing leaks in the infrastructure, which will stop the loss of many gallons of water a day, as well as improve safety. According to City Administrator Chris White, the Pocket Dam loses 90 gallons of water a day in seepage. This project has been evaluated for some time, and City Administrator Chris is looking to start it.
Firehouse Renovation at Lewis Tompkins
This project has been discussed for even longer, involved many studies and feedback from firefighters and the community, and is ready to get started, says the City Administrator. Beacon’s 3 firehouses will consolidate into 1 firehouse at Lewis Tompkins.
Tax Assessment Disputes
Each year, property owners can dispute their assessment. Two property owners did recently, and the City of Beacon has agreed to lower their assessments.
Short Term Rental Enforcement Software
Communities across the country are trying to enforce local rules created to keep harmony between properties used for Short Term Rentals that use platforms like Airbnb. There’s a subscription for that, and City Administrator Chris is recommending that Beacon use it to enforce its legislation and encourage more Short Term Rentals to get required permits with the City.
Go to the entire agenda here, and watch the replay of the meeting.
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Memorial Day Weekend is overshadowed by sales and pool parties. We all need to relax and celebrate new summer wardrobes by supporting the boutiques on Main Street - but we really need to make several moments for the Veterans who sacrificed for us in ways most will never see or experience.
Days: Every Sunday in May
HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL
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Katie's From ALBB Statement On Guns, Texas, and Mental Health
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This is a reposted statement from A Little Beacon Blog’s Instagram. If you’re a regular reader of A Little Beacon Blog, you know that we try to keep it to news and entertainment, and not statements. But after the massacre in Texas of little children by an assult rifle that killed them so badly so fast, here is our statement:
Bias Alert:
Legislation yes.
Waaaaaaay more classes and inspections and insurance needed to carry.
18 rounds in 1 second for our Forrestal Heights murder needs to not be in anyone’s hands.
But that wouldn’t have stopped this situation in Texas or Buffalo.
This systemic situation.
Adults need to stare at ourselves hard in the face to ask ourselves what we are projecting onto our children.
Our young young ones, and our teenage children.
An additional line to this statement:
Get rid of the guns.
You know it’s too much.
Anyone squealing about this for “home invasion” crap is coming from the most selfish, self-serving, racist place.
Yeah, racist.
Get rid of the guns.
Jordan "Jae" Jones Is Mourned By The Hudson Valley Community
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When Jordan “Jae” Jones went missing, therapists and friends of his family began spreading the news. According to the information passed in the social media grapevine, Jordan was on the autism spectrum (Aspbergers), was 20 years old, always wore black, and had left his wallet and phone at home.
After days of being missing, Jordan was found deceased. His family posted on their private social media accounts to share intimately.
Jordan was active with The Art Effect. That organization shared the news publicly, to highlight Jordan’s accomplishments and to share information about his funeral: “It is with broken hearts that we share that Jordan ‘Jae’ Jones was found deceased. Jae was an incredible person and talented youth producer and this is a great loss for The Art Effect and our community. Today, the Trolley Barn Gallery will be closed to the public as we provide a safe place for our students and staff to gather and grieve together. 💔 If you are able, please consider making a donation to the family’s GoFundMe to help with funeral arrangements: https://gofund.me/cfb0b2ee”
You can read the sweet comments about Jordan on the GoFundMe page here.
Car Lit On Fire In Madam Brett Park, "Could Have Taken Woods," Beacon Police Allegedly Say
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UPDATE 8/1/2022: The Beacon Police have released their report about this car fire. Read about it here.
On Wednesday, May 18th, 2022 in the early morning hours, a car was driven or drove into Madam Brett Park, turned left into the parking lot, continued onto the walking path along Fishkill Creek, and then was consumed in fire accompanied by loud explosion sounds. Madam Brett Park is managed by Scenic Hudson, and this part of it is in the jurisdiction of the Beacon Police. Both agencies have been contacted for comment by ALBB, but neither have responded yet. Should they, this article will be updated.
Tree tops at Madam Brett Park scorched by fire of the car that was parked and on fire on the walking path at 4am on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.
While that area is densely wooded, there are residential houses that overlook the scenic area. At least one resident was woken up by the the sounds of the burning car, overcome with the feeling like their bed was shaking. They said that the explosive sounds sounded like someone was throwing bricks in a dumpster, or gunshots. Smoke billowed up to the tree tops, scorching the tree tops.
The Beacon Police were called at 4:11am and they arrived by approximately 4:20am along with the 3 trucks of the Beacon Fire Department, who worked to put out the fire. A Beacon Police Officer told a resident that the gunshot sounds heard were the windows and tires of the vehicle exploding. When the resident called the next day to follow up, an officer reiterated that the sounds were the exploding windows and tires.
According to a witness, by 5am, the first responders were allegedly still down on the path dealing with the aftermath of the fire as smoke was still being produced.
One resident asked a Beacon Police Officer if this car fire was the work of the “kids who hang out up the path.” Apparently kids hang out further up the path, and an occasional housing-challenged person who sleeps under a structure. According to the resident, the police officer said: “This wasn’t kids.”
In the past, the resident has been told that the area where the kids hang out is not in the jurisdiction of the Beacon Police.
According to the resident, the police officer thanked the resident for calling them, stating that he was concerned that the fire may have spread in the woods.
At approximately 6:35am, a tow truck came to take what the resident described as a “carcass” of a car. They said that the car was unidentifiable at that point, but resembled a medium SUV perhaps in the Jeep family. By 7am, there was water on the ground allegedly from the from fire trucks.
As of this article publishing, the Beacon Police have not responded to ALBB for comment, or posted a press release with further information to their Facebook page, as they do from time to time. It is unknown at this time if an investigation is being conducted into the cause of the fire.
According to a sign at Madam Brett Park, this park and Long Doc Park, buth managed by Scenic Hudson, have been victim to vandalism recently.
Back in 2017, one of the old factories caught on fire in the early morning hours after an explosion was heard, and was consumed in flames. The City of Beacon Fire Department was assisted by firefighters from Glenham and the Village of Fishkill, according to the Poughkeepsie Journal. It is unknown if the cause of the fire from the investigation was ever discovered or released.
Anyone with information is directed to call the Beacon Police Department 845-831-4111 with any tips.
Business Directory Update: Personal Shopper - Abijah Spence
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Abijah Spence is a self employed gig worker who reached out to A Little Beacon Blog about being included in ALBB’s Black Owned Business Directory for his Personal Shopping & Delivery service. That’s the kind of hustle it takes to start and run your own business. After years of working in the Gig Economy, and experiencing the pros and cons of several delivery apps, Abijah’s favorite delivery app to use is the Dumpling app. “This is the only app that lets me set my own price for delivery charges, doesn’t take my tips like other big delivery companies have tried to do to me, and gives me control over how I grow my business,” Abija told A Little Beacon Blog.
Abijah is a Personal Shopper who can get things for you from stores that are synced with the app like Key Food Beacon , Aldis, Hannaford, CVS, Home Depot, and more. But the app also allows for you to type in your own store not in the list. We tried it with Brett’s Hardware for leaf/lawn bags that we have been needing for weeks but keep forgetting to pick up and need them now but can’t get to the store. Abijah will be on his way! Schedule him now.
“Honestly, the Dumpling app is very easy,” Abijah told us. “Anywhere you want me to go, you type in the store if it’s not already in the list, and type in what you want. The app stores your credit card, and when I go in to pick up your things, the store charges your card that’s on file with the app. I don’t see your card - only Dumpling holds that info. I bring you the receipt of exactly what you purchased, if it was on sale, etc.”
To get Abijah, visit ALBB’s Business Directory where we link directly to him. You’ll need to download the Dumpling app. Easy.
Thank you to all of the business who list their services as sponsors of ALBB. If you want to list your business and become a sponsor of ALBB’s Business Directory, you can find out more information here! >
A Reader Reports Another Aggressive Driving Experience Allegedly With Earthcare Truck
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Today (Friday) at around 1:15pm, a reader of A Little Beacon Blog was driving north on 9D, getting ready to turn onto the Newburgh/Beacon Bridge. A truck behind them starting beeping their horn. The reader thought perhaps the truck driver thought they were going too slow. In response, the reader gave the driver the gesture of flipping the finger, and then the driver allegedly became more aggressive with the horn.
The truck driver, who the reader described as a white male, maybe in his 40s who was wearing glasses that may have had a tint like from transitions, allegedly rolled down his window and started screaming at the reader while they were driving. The reader could not hear the words that the truck driver was yelling. As the reader was crossing the bridge, the driver of the truck came up in the passing lane and crossed in front of the reader, who then took a photo of the truck, which allegedly was an EarthCare truck.
The reader then read A Little Beacon Blog’s article published earlier this week featuring another truck driving incident, that highlighted what appeared to be an EarthCare truck driver blowing through a crosswalk on 9D near Rose Hill (not an intersection with a traffic light, but a crosswalk), where a parent an child were standing waiting to cross. After the truck blew through the crosswalk, the parent flipped off the driver, who then slammed on his breaks after blowing through the crosswalk (the tire marks can be seen in the middle of the road in that article), and indicated that the was going to exit the vehicle, but did not and continued driving.
For this traffic safety incident on the Newburgh'/Beacon Bridge, the reader told ALBB that they called the Beacon Police at 1:23pm, who said they would call EarthCare about the reported incident. EarthCare is a company that contracts with the City of Beacon to haul wastewater to the Wastewater Treatment Plant down at Dennings Point.
A Little Beacon Blog sent a Contact Us form to EarthCare at 4:30pm, and will report back if they respond. Read about how they responded to ALBB after the first incident here.
The license plate number of the alleged truck is 8569A. The reader said that the driver was a white male who wore glasses. The reader had the feeling that the glasses were not sunglasses, and may have had a tint, but could not be sure.
When following up with the pedestrian of the earlier incident on Wolcott, that reader mentioned that the driver was a white male who may have been wearing sunglasses.
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HUDSON VALLEY FOOD HALL
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Highlights From This Week's Public City Council Meeting: 5/16/2022
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While Mayor Lee Kyriacou initially slated a Moment of Silence for COVID-19 deaths into the official agenda for the meeting, he added two more dedications in: a moment for the the racially motivated mass shooting in Buffalo, NY, and the shooting death in Beacon at Forrestal Heights on Saturday, May 14, 2022. Mayor Kyriacou called it a homicide. City Administrator Chris White expressed condolences to the family, and urged people to call the Beacon Police with any tips.
A Police Officer, Trevor Wood, was promoted to Detective. The affirmative vote was unanimous, with Councilmember Justice McCray abstaining from voting.
A Community Segment for the MLK Essay Contest was postponed due to the early dismissal of the schools to prepare for today’s thunderstorm.
The City of Beacon is moving forward with rehabilitation work for dams in order to keep the dams in good working order, and stop water seepage that is happening, as well improve run-off systems for increased rainfall so that there are no overflow issues. After revisiting the plans, the overall price was reduced.
Local Truck Screeches To Halt After Passing A Parent In Crosswalk Who Flipped Him Off
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On Monday morning (May 16, 2022) at 9am, a parent was waiting at a crosswalk to walk their child across Wolcott Avenue towards Main Street when a large industrial truck that was teal in color with a round carriage that allegedly said EarhCare on the cab, drove past the pedestrians through the crosswalk without stopping. The crosswalk is a regular crosswalk with an added yellow sign and yellow flashing lights for extra visibility. There is a button to activate the flashing lights that the child did press. This crosswalk is not at a traffic light at an intersection. It is in the middle of the road, closer to Rose Hill Day Care. The flashing lights do not need to flash in order to give the pedestrian the right of way.
“If there is a pedestrian in the crosswalk in your lane, you should yield to them.”
When asked if the flashing lights matter for a car to stop or not at a crosswalk in the middle of the road, a Beacon Police Officer who answered the desk phone that takes public inquiries stated: “If there is a pedestrian in the crosswalk in your lane, you should yield to them.”
After the truck passed them, the parent raised their arm and flipped off the driver of the truck. Seeing the gesture and looking at the parent in the eye, the truck driver, who was described as a white male, slammed on the breaks, bringing the truck to a screeching halt through and past the crosswalk. The tire tracks can be seen in these pictures. Once the truck stopped, the parent said: “You should have stopped before the crosswalk!”
An EarthCare truck parked at Beacon’s Wastewater Treatment Plant at 90 Dennings Avenue near the Transfer Station at Dennings Point. The parent said the truck that slammed on the breaks after the crosswalk on Wolcott Avenue was an EarthCare truck driving in the direction of the Transfer Station.
According to the parent, it looked like the driver was getting ready to exit his vehicle. Said the parent: “I was on the west side of the street on the sidewalk. I started walking toward the truck when he looked like he was aggressively getting out.”
When ALBB asked if the driver may have been quickly stopping for a squirrel or deer, the parent replied: “Absolutely not. And if he didn’t stop for the human child, do you think he was going to stop for a squirrel? He was looking at me in the face when he stopped”
The truck was headed in the direction of Beacon’s Transfer Station and Wastewater Treatment Plant. EarthCare is a wastewater management company contracted with the City of Beacon. A likeness photo of EarthCare’s truck that the parent saw - not necessarily the truck that screeched to a halt - is shown here in this article. The photo was taken Monday, May 16, 2022 at Beacon’s Transfer Station where the Wastewater Treatment Plant is.
Update 5/20/2022: The morning after ALBB sent a Contact Us form to EarthCare seeking confirmation and comment about the driving incident, a representative from EarthCare named Dave called at 9am to get more details and offered to pull driving records. ALBB returned his call at 9:30am, but never heard back. ALBB placed a second followup call the following day, and has not heard back.
Resident’s Brother Was Shot & Killed At Forrestal Heights Beacon Housing Authority
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The parking lot off West Center Street in the Beacon Housing Authority’s Forrestal Heights apartment complex. This is the second parking lot, around the bend from the first, where people familiar with the shooting say it happened.
The first parking lot off West Center Street in the Beacon Housing Authority’s Forrestal Heights apartment complex.
According to neighbors and the Beacon Police, a man named Lionell Pittman, age 32, was shot and killed in the parking lot of the Forrestal Heights affordable housing apartment community on West Center Street, which is managed by Beacon Housing Authority, on early Saturday evening while people were coming home from busy Saturday days of kids sports, shopping, day tripping, and returning from work.
According to their press release from Detective Jason Johnson, the Beacon Police got a call for shots fired at 6:50pm. The Beacon Detective Division is asking anyone with information to contact the City of Beacon Police Department at 845-831-4111 with any tips.
According to people who heard the shots, commotion could be heard from the second parking lot around the bend from the first parking lot on West Center Street. The parking lot and the apartment units are located next door to the Beacon Recreation Center and across the street and next door to houses owned by homeowners.
According to those who heard the shots, there was a motorcycle driving around which popped off its exhaust, and sounded like gunshots, which apparently is a common sound in that neighborhood, and is definitely a common sound on Main Street and other side streets around Beacon.
Moments or seconds later, a second series of shots were heard that occurred in a period of one or two seconds. These were the gunshots that killed Lionell. According to one person, 18 shots were released in 1 or 2 seconds. Three of these shots allegedly landed in Lionell, one allegedly to his head and two in his chest. Another person reported hearing 7 shots in 1 second.
According to reporting by Bill Beale for K104.7 and Midhudson News, Lionell received CPR in the ambulance while being taken to the hospital but did not survive the gunshot wounds.
According to someone who spoke to a resident, Lionell was a brother of someone who lives in the apartment units. They felt like the shooting was a targeted event. A Little Beacon Blog is seeking confirmation on if Lionell lived there, and if a funeral will be announced for him.
At that time of the shooting, the sun was still shining and residents were pulling in and out of the parking lot. After the shots, residents apparently came out of their apartments, visibly distraught. At a later time, Beacon’s Mayor Lee Kyriacou was seen by some to be walking to houses located on the opposite side of the street to reassure homeowners that everything was safe, and that Beacon Police were investigating the crime. The suspect remains at large.
It is not known if Mayor Kyriacou went into the Forrestal Heights community where the murder occurred to visit with residents in apartments to relay the same message. A Little Beacon Blog reached out to Mayor Kyriacou and City Administrator Chris White for comment, but has not received a reply by the time of this publishing. Administrator Chris insists that all inquiries from A Little Beacon Blog for all department heads and staff go through him. Should a response come, this article will be updated.
A Little Beacon Blog has reached out to the Beacon Housing Authority’s ross coordinator, Noah Hargett, to confirm the location of the parking lot, the residential status of Lionell, and how is family is coping. Should we get a response, this article will be updated. ALBB has also reached out to the Beacon Police to confirm the parking lot location, and will update here should a response come in.
According to people familiar with the area, no news reporters have visited the scene to learn more information, which surprised them. This report showing a picture of a different parking lot is totally incorrect. Different affordable housing apartment complex.
The Christmas Day murder of Rene “Scout” Vivo, who also lived in the Forrestal Heights apartment units, remains unsolved. Rene was stabbed on Main Street, and died while walking in the direction of his home at Forrestal Heights.
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Yes, There Is A "Bans Off Our Bodies" Pro-Abortion Justice Rally In Beacon Saturday
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Wooo! Like you needed another thing to do this Saturday! Nation-wide, women, men and theys will be gathering to fight to keep government’s legislation off our bodies. No, this is not related for one second to the mandating of vaccinations. This is a life-changing event that men have almost no responsibility in when they impregnate a women. Girls who are just getting their periods for the first time are already being educated by their mothers that their rights to freedom and smart choices about when to start a family are being snatched from from them, in order to possibly snatch the baby in order to put it up for adoption or enter into foster care, both money-making situations.
Beacon
Day: Saturday, May 14, 2022
Time: 2pm - 4pm
Location: Polhill Park, Main St & South Ave, Beacon, NY 12508
More Information >
Yes, this is a bias article, and yes, we hope to see you there, or at other rallies in the Hudson Valley. Read Katie’s speech here to learn how she really feels.
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The City of Beacon entered into a contract with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to provide increased access to Beacon tenants facing eviction. They may also be able to help with sources of rent arrears assistance. Call the paralegal, Steven Mihalik at 845-253-6953 to inquire.
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