Beacon's Mayor Lee Kyriacou Speaks At Protest; Is Interrupted By Young Adults Rejecting Police Union's Letter; Young Beaconites Share Their Stories Of Abuse

Mayor Lee Kyriacou is speaking during the 3rd protest march on Beacon that happened on June 6, 2020. As he reads the letter issued by Beacon’s Police Union, the Patrolman’s Benevolent Association, he is interrupted by young adults who reject the letter. The contents of the letter, which condemn the killing of George Floyd, prompt several people who are black, brown, or a person of color, to come forward and share their stories of abuse and assault from the Beacon police.

What follows below is the beginning of the Mayor’s speech, and shared stories at the microphone that follow.

To bring this story out of the video and into words for more to access, A Little Beacon Blog has transcribed this story as best we can, as close to the spoken word as possible. To give you context, we indicate where different actions took place, like applause or movement. We highly encourage you to watch this spoken in the video, so that you can feel the moment and the words and remember it forever as it helps you make future decisions. You can listen and watch this story in our Instagram here.

If we made a typo in your words, please let us know and we will correct it promptly.

BEGIN
Mayor Lee Kyriacou + Young Adults In Response

Hi everybody. I’m the new mayor. I got in January 1. Little did I know I’d have a health crisis and then you have this here.

Let me read two other things, I’ll be brief in all of them. One I’m reading for the County Executive Marc Molinaro. He and I share a special bond in that we both have children with autism. He could not be here. He led the march in Poughkeepsie. And he wrote “Once again our nation’s soul has been cracked open wide by the senseless and heinous killing of George Floyd. This inhumane act has revealed once again that America’s fundamental promise that all men are created equal is a promise yet fulfilled. It is heartbreaking that his final… (this part is unintelligible) … and true equality and universal application of rights has not been achieved. We can and we must do better.”

So that’s his piece. I won’t read it all. Know that we have his support.

This one is a letter from Beacon’s Police Union, and again I won’t read it all. “To our community, friends in Beacon. Since the unconscionable murder of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police officers last week, we, the members of the Beacon PBA (that’s the union) have been struggling to find the words to express our emotions. It should not have to be said but absolutely needs to be said that each and every member of the Beacon PBA condemns the murder of Mr. Floyd and the actions by all four of the involved officers in Minneapolis. As police officers, we take our oath seriously to protect, and serve each and every one of you and your constitutional rights regardless of race, gender, religion, political party, sexual preference or age.”

It goes on, “We stand tall and strong with you to protect your right to express your voices, and causes in a peaceful and safe setting.” And I think they did their job today.

Finally some words from me. The reason…

Hang on. I’m sorry?

(Interruption)

NEW SPEAKER ENTERS

Something’s not sitting right with me today. Hasn’t been sitting right with me yesterday. That’s why I haven’t spoke today. And I’m sorry to interrupt you Mr. Mayor, but that letter from the Beacon Police was bullshit.

Come on! Come on! I understand that you have to read this from the police, but I can’t listen to something that’s not true. And I’ve been scared to speak today cause I don’t wanna be a target and I need y’all to be here behind me. (audience member calls out)

They can’t be here ‘cause they’d be too uncomfortable to be here, I promise you that.

I met this woman today. Her son was shot in 2006 by the Beacon police. For no reason, for no reason he was shot in his stomach. Targeted shot in his stomach, in his arm, in his back. She told me he went to prison. I said “Who went to prison? The cop?” NO, her son’s in prison.
[UPDATE: The Beacon Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (the Union) has issued a statement in response to story, which you can read here.]

Why? Why?

And where is that cop today? He’s not working for Beacon Police and that’s fine, but he’s in Rockland County now. He’s still a cop. He’s still out here. And let’s talk about it. Let’s talk about it.

Let’s talk about the cop who pulled me and my ex-boyfriend over a few years ago and took him to jail and left me in the middle of the street with no thought and no reason. 2 o’clock in the morning, left me there for no reason. So what’d I do? I found that ticket. I looked up his name, right, and last night I found that in 2009 there’s a lawsuit. In 2009 he arrested somebody outside of Dunkin’. Arrested him, tased him, beat him, and let the dog bite him. And he’s still working for Beacon! WHY?

(Audience screaming support, etc)

I’m sorry. (Mayor tries speaking…)

Okay, so let’s talk about it even further. When I looked at that thing I was reading last night, there was two other cops names on there that also were involved. Also didn’t give a fuck and also did the same thing. Let’s talk about how this cop came up to me today and asked to take a picture with me and said: “You know, like, I’m here to help whatever” and I look at his name tag and it was the same name I seen on the thing I read last night.

Let’s talk about it. Why are you here? Why are you here? Uggghhhhhh.

“I don’t wanna disrespect the Mayor, but I wanna let him know it’s time to take action and you gotta, you gotta look and you gotta open your eyes. (Crowd cheers)

You might not be able to feel my personal pain, you might not be able to feel all our personal pain, but you’re not deaf. You’re not blind. You can see what’s going on, and you’re the one. You can take power, you can take control of this. ”

— Young Adult Protester

I wanna say his name so bad. But can you believe I’m actually scared? Can you believe that I’m actually scared someone come down to my house and hurt my family if I say his name. That shouldn’t have to be! … watching my house at night. I don’t know what’s gonna happen at night. I don’t know what’s gonna happen to me in five months from now if I say this person’s name, but I will sit down and I will sit down in the office and I will make sure they don’t have their jobs no more and you will go back to working at the bank! Just so you know who I’m talking about, you will go back to working at the bank!

And not just that. Let’s talk about every person who’s been harassed by the Beacon police. Let’s talk about it. We got my brothers right here next to me, all harassed by the police every day. (Audience calling back about their own harassment.)

“Put your fist up if you can hear her?” (FISTS GO UP)

Yes, and I don’t wanna disrespect the Mayor, but I wanna let him know it’s time to take action and you gotta, you gotta look and you gotta open your eyes. (Crowd cheers)

You might not be able to feel my personal pain, you might not be able to feel all our personal pain, but you’re not deaf. You’re not blind. You can see what’s going on, and you’re the one. You can take power, you can take control of this.

Systems fucked, y’all. it’s fucked up. This country is fucked up. This country is so fucked up. We gotta do something. We gotta do something for our small town, regardless, this is a small part of a big world and we gotta start somewhere.

NEXT SPEAKER

Mr. Mayor, your entire city is with us in solidarity. We do not want to hear a letter from the cops talking about how they stand with us. Where are they? Are they here? NO. They’re waiting for someone to act up so they can do what they always do.

Mr. Mayor, what are you doing for us? Your whole city is here talking to you. What are you gonna do for us? What are you gonna change. How are you gonna hold the police department accountable? How are you gonna make sure this does not happen in our city ever again? I don’t want no letter!

MAYOR LEE KYRIACOU:

Wow. Let me start with a historical note. What I wanted to say, that someone said that what we need now is action and change. I agree. I think what we need now is a resolve and progress, and I want to offer you three quotes.

Just a moment, I do need the opportunity to speak. (person in crowd yells “we can’t hear you!”)

Let me start with a historical note. Those who have been here long enough recall that as a City Councilman, almost two decades ago, I had to challenge at first alone, but eventually with the unanimous council agreement, and despite repeated lawsuits leveled against me personally, and the rest of the city, I had to challenge the leadership and the practices of our police department. This was in the 2000s, not in the 2020, which led to Justice Department oversight, change of leadership, departure of certain officers, and the gradual transition to a professional and more community oriented police department.

That was in the last 15 years. That doesn’t mean we don’t have progress to do. But I’ve been taken on this battle and when I started it, I was alone on the Council, alright?

And to say that there is nothing to be done now is wrong. But to say that there has been no past of progress is also wrong. So let me just offer you that history. We have work to do. So I ran [for Mayor] in part to make change, and I hear you. Right? I look forward - (interruption)

Let me offer a couple of quotes. One, of course, (interruption…mention of the next public City Council meeting at which the Chief of Police was going to be attending, which he did) well you’d be better if you dialed in but there is some room for public, uh, in person. Everyone can dial in and there’ll be opportunity for input and we will have that dialogue and input.

Let me offer a quote from Frederick Douglass, the abolitionist orator who spoke here in Beacon at the Dutch Reform Church that we walked past. This quote was on my wall as a graduate student and an undergrad. “If there is no struggle, there is no progress. We will have to struggle. If we want progress, there will be struggle. How that struggle occurs…

(audience member yells: “if you really believed it put the paper down and speak from the heart!”)

(audience cheers)

I’m sorry, I wrote my heart on this sheet of paper, alright? I wrote my heart on this sheet of paper. Uh, how we should do it, I look to Ghandi. Ghandi said “Nonviolence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind.” And finally I have a quote from King, and King said and offered us hope. And this is President Obama’s favorite quote from King. “The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice.”

We have work to do, we have to make resolve here, and we have to make progress. Thank you.

FIRST SPEAKER

I didn’t wanna pull a Kanye west right here but I almost had to. Um, that…I don’t have any fuckin’ words. Let’s go.

NEXT SPEAKER

How y’all doin’? This guy, that this, the Mayor, our Mayor, what he just said about the Beacon police is not true. They don’t mean nothing they say, don’t mean nothing they say.

I used to go to school in Albany. When I came home, I worked for the city of Beacon. And we came down here [to Riverfront Park] one day. We had to cut the grass. I parked the truck next to a water fountain and I hit, I tapped the water fountain.

So our job is to report back to the boss, and they, they write it up, they tell the cops and they file a police report. So the cop called my boss and told me I had to come back down here. I came back down to the riverfront. The cop slammed me on the car and arrested me and told me I did a hit and run. If I work for the City of Beacon, and I hit city property, I did a hit and run on my own property? They brought me down to the station and chained me to the wall for like an hour. Fuck what the Beacon police gotta say.

NEXT SPEAKER

By show of hands, how many people here have been harassed or beaten by the Beacon police? Put your fists up. Someone, you know somebody, you’ve seen a video of it.

FORMER SPEAKER

If you’ve been harassed, let’s take everyone who’s been harassed step at the front. (Interruption)

Everyone who’s been harassed by the Beacon police, if you’re still left here, I know a lot of people left because they couldn’t even bear listen to the bullshit anymore. I’m ready to leave my damn self but we gon’ stand up.

NEXT SPEAKER

I’m…I’m so humbled to stand up with all of you today, to fight for what you actually believe in. I had no idea what it’s like. But I refuse to let my kids grow up because (words are unintelligible) scared still. So I wanna know how many people does it take to get an Accountability Bill against the police? Is there a way to get insurance so that it stops coming from their pockets and comes from the people doing the damage instead? Is there a way to make that happen now, instead of putting it off, putting it off, and putting it off and we have to keep having protests to fight for it? And I say this with all due respect because I know you are a man of authority but I need you to act as a man for all of the people.

NEXT SPEAKER
Chris

Hey what’s up everyone. My name is Chris. Let me talk about my experience. So back in 2009, probably like in the beginning of August, me and two other gentlemen got arrested over in front of Citizen’s Bank on Main Street. Now we got arrested because I guess we were hanging out in the back of the building and some, we were there kinda late, too, kinda like 10:30/11pm, and I guess there was a lady who was still in the bank and they called the cops.

The cops came, you know, chased us over by the gas station which is now known as Valero. And they arrested us, it was two Hispanic cops. So pretty much, the other guy arrested with me was Black and the other one was Hispanic, both of them close friends of mine. So pretty much, the cop came, and while we were running, he hopped in the car and said “freeze before I tase you.”

So we all stopped, he handcuffed us against the wall. They asked us what we were doing behind the bank. Pretty much I told him we were hanging out. We were 17 years old. We just didn’t happen to be 18. Another friend of mine was 17, his birthday was…he was actually gonna be 18 at 12 o’clock am, right before they arrested us.

So while he was questioning us, he told me since he didn’t like what I had to say, he told me that he was gonna take me to the back of the building and beat the shit out of me. And then he talked to my other friend who was Hispanic in Spanish, and I don’t know what he said to him but he let him go, and he kept me and the other dude and he was Black. And they waited until 12 o’clock, until he was able to turn 18 so they could put it on his record. And they arrested him. (Person in crowd yells)

Yeah. So uh, I had other experiences too, but I could say that letter was bullshit as well, you know, so.

NEXT SPEAKER

“And I shouldn’t be scared. I shouldn’t be scared to have my kids go out in public to ride around in a car, even go out and hang out with their friends and walk around. But, but, I just wanna say it traumatized me for a long time and kinda I felt bad to let it, you know, I kinda, I don’t wanna say let it go, but I put it in the back of my head and i thought, you know. ”

Yes. Imma talk loud so everybody can hear me. I was born in Poughkeepsie, but raised in Beacon. From 3 years old until I say about 21 years old. I was maced, doused in mace, in the face 7 months pregnant with my son. Not my younger son. I have two boys, a 16 year old and I have a 12 year old. (Person yells)

Because they were beating the shit out of the person I was with at the time and I refused to sit back and watch it. And as I was about to reach over and grab the officer from the back, he turned around, doused me in mace, threw me to the ground, clearly 7 months pregnant, so it wasn’t like you couldn’t tell. Thrown to the ground.

When my son was born, six months after, he had breathing problems. None of my family members wanted to watch him because they were scared. At the time, I was 19 years old. I wasn’t thinking about a lawsuit, or justice served, anything like that. So to see this right now, this is close to my heart and this is beautiful. This is beautiful to see.

So, so, I had two boys…I gotta really fear like with my kids like this lady said earlier when they get their first car they’re just getting pulled over for a routine traffic stop. And that what it was that time, it was a routine traffic stop. He happened to be driving without a license. And the cops, these two cops, that was just mentioned, I don’t know where they are, don’t, Imma say their name, Patro (?) And Paul Pillio (?) was both, and they were both around and I don’t know what happened to them, I’m scared as hell to even say the names which is, is, is sad but it is what it is.

And I shouldn’t be scared. I shouldn’t be scared to have my kids go out in public to ride around in a car, even go out and hang out with their friends and walk around. But, but, I just wanna say it traumatized me for a long time and kinda I felt bad to let it, you know, I kinda, I don’t wanna say let it go, but I put it in the back of my head and i thought, you know.

It just brought out a lot of memories with this shit happening. And it’s just, I don’t have…I do wanna say that love outweighs hate. So thank you, guys.

NO Justice, NO Peace! No Racist Police! No Racist Police! No Racist Police!

Frantz Dumel Speaks Out: "George's Mother Was Summoned; To All Mothers In The Nation. Now If You’re A Mother That Heard That Loud And Clear, Say Hell Yeah!"

Frantz Dumel speaking out at a Black Lives Matter protest in Beacon on June 6, 2020.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

This speaker is sharing during the 3rd protest march on Beacon that happened on June 6, 2020. The march started at Pohill Park, wound all the way down Wolcott, taking a right toward the river, over the bridge above the train track, and ending at the land stage at Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park.

To bring this story out of the video and into words for more to access, A Little Beacon Blog has transcribed this story as best we can, as close to the spoken word as possible. To give you context, we indicate where different actions took place, like applause or movement. We highly encourage you to watch this spoken in the video, so that you can feel the moment and the words and remember it forever as it helps you make future decisions. You can listen and watch this story in our Instagram here.

BEGIN
Frantz Dumel
Uncle of one of the organizers, Stefon Seward.

Clap it up for the people who went before me. Clap it up for the gentlemen who just left the stage. Clap it up for the sister who talked before me, very powerful sister. Now my name is Franz Dumel (crowd source name spelling needed), I’m from neighboring Rockland County and I am so proud of my neighbors in Middletown, my neighbors in Beacon, my neighbors in Duchess County as a whole - you guys have made me proud. Clap it up for yourselves, please.

Now cameramen, cameramen, help me out here, because you guys prove them wrong. They said, “Frantz don’t waste your time going further north. The further north you go, the less they care about justice for all.”

Now if they were completely wrong, and if that isn’t true, say HELL NO (Crowd yells “Hell no!”).

If that wasn’t true say, Hell No! (Hell no!).)

“As George was facing death, and death was approaching he called out for his mother. I read a post over the week that said, his mother was summoned, to all mothers in the nation. Now if you’re a mother that heard that loud and clear, say hell yeah! (Hell yea!). Repeat after me. I (I) heard you! (Heard you) Justice (Justice) is coming! (Is coming!).”

— Frantz Dumel

Alright, so we’re gonna prove them wrong. Cameramen here, help me out. Everybody in here, we gonna, we gonna expose the true energy of Beacon to the world. Every sign out here up in the air for me, please. Stefon, one of the organizers. Can we crack it up for the organizers, you guys? Stefon, lead us in the chant so the world can see what Beacon is about.

(Crowd chants: “No Justice! No Peace! No Racist Police! Say His Name: George Floyd!”)

Beautiful, thank you guys. Now Beacon shouldn’t be no different from any other town or city in the world that won’t stand for a man being handcuffed, basically hog tied, suffocated, tortured. So his body was lifeless. If Beacon never stands for that say HELL NO (Hell no!).

As George was facing death, and death was approaching he called out for his mother. I read a post over the week that said, his mother was summoned, to all mothers in the nation. Now if you’re a mother that heard that loud and clear, say Hell Yeah! (Hell Yeah!).

Repeat after me.

I (I)

Heard you! (Heard you)

Justice (Justice)

Is coming! (Is coming!).

“Now George Floyd’s mom was a single mother, which means she probably played the role of both father and mother and the community probably played the rest of the role as far as guidance is concerned. So together, as a community, mothers, fathers, repeat after me! I (I) Heard you! (Heard you!) Justice (justice) Is coming (is coming).”

— Frantz Drumel

Now George Floyd’s mom was a single mother, which means she probably played the role of both father and mother and the community probably played the rest of the role as far as guidance is concerned. So together, as a community, mothers, fathers, repeat after me! I (I) Heard you! (Heard you!) Justice (Justice) Is coming (is Coming).

Now, if you watch the news, social media, they will make you think this is white vs, black. They’ll make you think this is police vs. the people. If that’s not the case, say Hell No! (Hell No!)

Now, if that notion is starting to seep into your conscious, don’t let it, my people. Do not let hate metastasize like cancer and spread before it’s too late. If you won’t let that happen, say Hell No! (Hell no!) This is not about the people vs. police, or white vs. black. This is good vs. evil, and I for one think the good people outnumber evil by far. Now, he called out and it seems like the whole world heard his call.

“Do not let hate metastasize like cancer and spread before it’s too late. If you won’t let that happen, say Hell No! (Hell no!) This is not about the people vs. police, or white vs. black. This is good vs. evil, and I for one think the good people outnumber evil by far. Now, he called out and it seems like the whole world heard his call.”

— Frantz Drumel

Now this is a story that keeps playing over and over again. But for some reason, there’s something different this time. Do you guys feel it? (Yes)

There’s something different about this time. Almost as if George Floyd’s life was a sacrifice for real change. George Floyd’s life was a sacrifice to galvanize the people good, white, and Black combined. To fight for justice. If that’s what you’re here for say Hell Yeah! (Hell Yeah!)

My people change is coming. And this is not about the people vs. police, because as much as they want you to believe that’s what it’s about, it’s not. And if nobody has said it lately, to our good officers, we love you. If nobody has said it recently to our good officers, we love you. Because they protect and serve us every day. But in the same token, we call on you to push evilness out of your precinct. To push evilness out of your stations. To push wickedness out of your circles. we call on you to expose the intentions of the wicked and push them to the people to face judgement.

“if nobody has said it lately, to our good officers, we love you. If nobody has said it recently to our good officers, we love you. Because they protect and serve us every day. But in the same token, we call on you to push evilness out of your precinct.”

— Frantz Drumel

I call on the community at large to also shape this, after this incident here, in moving forward, to shape America into a place where all inhabitants encourage each other to do better, and not seek to judge. Seek to understand, ‘cuz only then will you have the vision to see what’s goin’ on and what’s broken and how we can fix it. Only then will you have the vision to stand side by side, no matter the color, and stand up for justice.

No justice! (No Peace!).

Here’s a new one. More Justice, More Peace! More Justice (More Peace!). More Justice (More Peace!)

My people of Beacon, you guys have proved me wrong.

I also thought that, “I don’t know what I’m walking into but I’m going anyway.” And I’ve walked into the energy of love. I had an epiphany the other day where I came to realize the real power of God is in numbers. The Bible says where more than one are praying, the presence of God is there. I think the presence of God is definitely here. Clap it up for yourselves Beacon.

Now I’m also calling on my young protestors to protest peacefully. Because one of the things that’s being used, is that Martin Luther King said “Riots are the voice of the unheard.” Which is true, so we understand. We understand the anger. But after the anger subsides, it has to be organized. And Dr. Martin Luther King also said, let me read it for you guys, that, “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only Love can do that.” Power to the people! Power to love and harmony! And one more time, let’s talk to George directly, repeat after me:

I (I)

Heard You (Heard You!).

Justice (Justice)

Is Coming (Is Coming!)

Justice (Justice)

Is coming (Is Coming!)

Justice (Justice)

Is Here (is Here!)

Thank you, my people.

Reuben Simmons Speaks Out On Racial Identification In Elementary School; Mixed Race; Seeing Racial Inequality From Within Beacon

This speaker is sharing during the 3rd protest march on Beacon that happened on June 6, 2020. The march started at Pohill Park, wound all the way down Wolcott, taking a right toward the river, over the bridge above the train track, and ending at the land stage at Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park.

To bring this story out of the video and into words for more to access, A Little Beacon Blog has transcribed this story as best we can, as close to the spoken word as possible. To give you context, we indicate where different actions took place, like applause or movement. We highly encourage you to watch this spoken in the video, so that you can feel the moment and the words and remember it forever as it helps you make future decisions. You can listen and watch this story in our Instagram here.

BEGIN

Good afternoon, everybody.

Malcolm X said: “My accomplishments will outweigh all my personal and human weaknesses.” Please keep that in mind as I speak to you.

I feel obligated to share my story. My name is Reuben Simmons, known by most people in this community as Yogi. Coach Yogi. I coach Beacon Pop Warner. I coach Beacon Hoops. I see some of my players out here. I went to South Avenue, Rombout, and graduated from the OLD High School. I got my Associates degree from Dutchess Community College in Criminal Justice. I got my Bachelors Degree in Sociology from the Catholic University of America located in Washington DC.

I wanna thank the organizers for the protest on Monday and this protest today. Two peaceful protests that I’m proud to have in my city. I didn’t see pictures of looting or any broken windows or anything that caused any destruction.

I also wanna give a thanks to all the police officers. I see the City of Beacon, I see possibly state troopers, and I see also the Town of Fishkill. They helped block the roads for us to have that peaceful march and I know that we’re having this battle with the officers. It’s not all officers so I would like to thank them also.

I wanna share a story with you. Which means I’m gonna have to get real with you. Everything I announced, that all sounds good. I got kicked out of Beacon Hoops. I had a bad attitude. I went to Albany for a semester. Just like my brother Ali talked about. Albany wasn’t a place for people who came from Beacon. Beacon was a great place.

Beacon was so unique and I always say that. Albany taught me something that I was taught at South Avenue that I just didn’t know. I am mixed race. My mom is Italian-Irish and my dad is Black. South Avenue, they wanted to send me to a school called Beta, and I wanted to go. I fought every day. They said that’s what you can do at Beta. It was Mr. Vorbach (crowd sourced spell check needed), my principal. A white man. An older white man, who said: “He’s not goin’. And I was upset. I thank him.

In 1st grade, we had the school staff come in each classroom and count every kid by their race. Miss Kim Faison, she saunters in my classroom. Everybody feared Kim Faison…Great lady. She asked all the white kids to stand up. I go to stand up. But I’m halfway standing up. She looks at me and says “Not you.” She asked all the black kids to stand up, then she looks at me and said, “Now you.”

I didn’t pay attention to these two lessons in elementary school but it caught up to me when I went to Albany. I was walking with one of my best friends, a white guy. He was drinking a beer. I wasn’t into beer then, not drinking. Cops pull over. Tell us to stop. I ain’t doin’ nothin’. I keep walking. He’s talking to me and my friend. My friend tells the officer, “Oh officer, I apologize.” He said, “I’m not taking to you.” Grabs me by the back, puts a baton to me.

Now I knew I had something illegal in my pocket, so I knew I shoulda ran, but I wasn’t doing anything. Whatever, I’ll take the consequences. I get to the station. They asked me “What’s your name?” Reuben Simmons. “Where you from?” I’m from Beacon. “What’s your race?” I studied criminal justice. I knew white people get lesser charges. And I am white. I’m just as white as I am black. I’m white. That officer tells me, HE tells ME, “You’re either Black or Hispanic.” I said, ‘What does that mean?’ He said, “Don’t tell me you’re white.”

I grew up in a single parent household. My mother. How you gonna tell me I ain’t white, besides the fact that I’m labeled that way in society? In a community that I wasn’t even accepted in the black community. I wasn’t accepted in a white community. By the time I got to high school, I had to find my own lane. And it just so happens DMX dropped that same year, so, self explanatory. So I’m a let anyone who’s mixed race in here, in the eyes of the law, in the eyes of society, you ain’t white. You black. And that is wrong. That’s why I’m proud to be here today and see this mixture of races here today. Because I know different races go through it, and different religions go through it.

I started an organization called I AM BEACON. Today it’s a 501-c3 non-profit organization established in the state of New York. One of my biggest supporters is the Key Food grocery store. And they get the same thing because they’re Muslim. It hurts my heart to speak to you at this time because of the circumstances that brought us all together. People who did not have to die. But this will be an opportunity that I think that we should not fold or let stop. That’s why I keep thanking the organizers of this protest because they’re young. I was young. Relatively still am.

I was labeled a leader in the community and in a union. I was blackballed Colin Kaepernick’d out of my union because I’m young and I got my own mind and my own vision. Because older people wanna tell you what to do, when to do it and how to do it and that’s not gonna happen, not in the generation of the new millennium. So the only thing I wanna offer to the young is to share my experience, to share my story, and just together put everything in a collaborative effort.

“My parents, they were raised in the racial riots in this city. The 50s, 60s, and the race riots in 1970. If you were born and raised up in the mountains, you didn’t mess with the Blacks down in the city. As this city had started to grow, I started to see where the problem was. it wasn’t old Beacon and new Beacon. it was certain people in Beacon who were upset that they weren’t getting the way that they had for the last 10, 20, 30, 40 damn years. ”

— Reuben Simmons

I’m gonna wrap it up. I was born in Beacon before the hospital closed. I was raised in Beacon in the 80s and the 90s when nobody wanted to be IN Beacon. I worked for this city, so I see the racial inequality from within. I already told you I was a union leader. I served 18 months as a Superintendent in the Highway [Department]. Union management. And for the last 3 years, I’ve been taking on a personal battle that I’m not gonna give up on. Because it’s affecting me. I see it affecting other people. I wanted to stand up for other people but one thing you can’t do, you can’t fight for other people that don’t want to fight for themselves.

I’ve seen white workers bring guns into the workplace, knowing that we have racial tension and nothin’ get done. I seen white workers get upset about supervisor referring to the black workers as “the nigger” and they get transferred and put in another department to where they feel comfortable. I’ve been in meetings with the city, with 100% of the black workers there telling them their issues, and nothing getting done but more harassment, more retaliation, and more disciplines in their goddamn file.

I ain’t putting up with it no more. And as I look out in this crowd, if the support is there for what’s going on in this city, I’ll stand with you and I’ll stand with any organizers who’s willing to fight that battle.

Another thing I’m gonna take this opportunity to clear up: when I started I AM BEACON, there was all this hoopla on “Well I’m from Beacon because I’ve lived here.” “You’re not from Beacon, you’re from Brooklyn, you just moved here.” Understand my philosophy for I AM BEACON. The Why and the I is self accountability and self responsibility. I don’t care who you are, where you’re from, what you do, if you’re in this city, if you’re in this community, if you wanna volunteer, if you wanna get involved, I AM BEACON’s doors is open to you.

“There’s “Coffee With Cops,” there’s workshops. We wanna talk with cops. We wanna build a community relations. I’m glad that conversation is coming up because I was there 4 years ago. I AM BEACON had a separate committee called BEACON SPEAKS OUT when Trayvon Martin and the Ferguson rallies were going on. We did it. We sent the recommendations in to the police.

The #1: Community Policing. Get the out the goddamn car and start walking these streets. It barely happened. So no, I’m not interested in sitting down again. I’m a man of action. So if we’re gonna do it again, let’s just make sure our voices are really heard but that we hold them accountable. ”

— Reuben Simmons

Last 3 years, the fights that I’ve been having internally, it ain’t from people who just got to Beacon. Let me give you a little bit of history. I was born in the 80s and 90s. Hip hop culture. Sex money and drugs. My parents, they were raised in the racial riots in this city. The 50s, 60s, and the race riots in 1970. If you were born and raised up in the mountains, you didn’t mess with the Blacks down in the city.

As this city had started to grow, I started to see where the problem was. it wasn’t old Beacon and new Beacon. it was certain people in Beacon who were upset that they weren’t getting the way that they had for the last 10, 20, 30, 40 damn years. And I don’t see a different Beacon. I see a built up Beacon, but I don’t see a different Beacon. Maybe I changed with the times. There is no old Beacon, new Beacon. There’s only one Beacon. For the action steps. Mayor Lee Kyriacou is here today. Somewhere…there he is. Monday night, he’s gonna have a council workshop talking about police policies. Tune in. Give them recommendations.

If there’s one thing that is a must, it’s a must, especially if you think you’re gonna get down with I AM BEACON. It’s action. Don’t tell somebody else what they need to be doin’. Stand right there next to them and do it with them. Second, register to vote. There’s people here that are gonna help you with that. And I stress it because that night in Albany, I lost my right to vote. So I never thought I could vote. It wasn’t till I got involved with the union. It wasn’t until I educated myself. My first time voting wasn’t until 2009 because I came through a generation of ‘my vote don’t matter.’ Oh, now that I’ve got a criminal record, I can’t vote. So now that’s my scapegoat.

You can vote, as long as you ain’t on papers. I don’t care what your past is because I got the same past as some of you. So I’m the example. I can vote now, and I do. and don’t get me wrong, sometimes I put in a blank ballot but I’m showing up.

Three: I heard at the last protest and I’m sure I’m gonna hear it today. There’s “Coffee With Cops,” there’s workshops. We wanna talk with cops. We wanna build a community relations. I’m glad that conversation is coming up because I was there 4 years ago. I AM BEACON had a separate committee called BEACON SPEAKS OUT when Trayvon Martin and the Ferguson rallies were going on. We did it. We sent the recommendations in to the police.

“I’m a believer it starts on the local level. Once you have your foundation, you can build from there. Are you guys ready to build? (Crowd cheers) Are you guys ready to build? (Crowd cheers) I’ll stand for anybody who’s willing to put in the footwork. ”

— Reuben Simmons

The #1: Community Policing. Get the out the goddamn car and start walking these streets. It barely happened. So no, I’m not interested in sitting down again. I’m a man of action. So if we’re gonna do it again, let’s just make sure our voices are really heard but that we hold them accountable.

I’ve seen a lot. I’ve learned a lot. I went through the process. I’m willing to be a resource. As I look at the council, there are new faces that I’ve never seen before, that I’ve never talked to before. This will be that opportunity. ‘Cuz too many times people just pass judgement on what the hell they read on Facebook and that is bullshit. I know we come to a generation of social media and social gangsters and ‘say whatever you want and you don’t get touched.’ That wasn’t my era. That’s why people didn’t talk the way they talk in the 80s and 90s.

But I understand. We gotta grow from that. This is a different style, it’s a different fight. When I came into the union, my street mentality was like ‘yeah, I need the numbers. I slap you, you come out your face.’ You can’t do that in politics, are you crazy, kid? But the philosophy the same, ‘where’s your numbers at?’ Your right to vote - that’s your handgun. Goin’ to the polls is what’s pulling the trigger. But nobody wants to go to the polls because they wanna stay online for new iPhones and Jordans, c’mon man, ya gotta say with me on this.

(interruption)

I wanted to meet with the organizers in private. But I couldn’t let you guys leave without letting you know what’s going on. I’m a big believer we can make change. I’m a believer it starts on the local level. Once you have your foundation, you can build from there. Are you guys ready to build? (Crowd cheers) Are you guys ready to build? (Crowd cheers) I’ll stand for anybody who’s willing to put in the footwork. Thank you. Once again, my name is Reuben Simmons, they call me Yogi.

Speaker Speaking Out At Protest: "I Need Us To Tear Down These Walls Of Separation That Have Been Built In This Country For Almost 500 Years"

This speaker is sharing during the 3rd protest march on Beacon that happened on June 6, 2020. The march started at Pohill Park, wound all the way down Wolcott, taking a right toward the river, over the bridge above the train track, and ending at the land stage at Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park.

To bring this story out of the video and into words for more to access, A Little Beacon Blog has transcribed this story as best we can, as close to the spoken word as possible. To give you context, we indicate where different actions took place, like applause or movement. We highly encourage you to watch this spoken in the video, so that you can feel the moment and the words and remember it forever as it helps you make future decisions. You can listen and watch this story in our Instagram here.

We do not know this person’s name. If this is you and you want to be identified, please let us know and we will add your name.

BEGIN

Hello Beacon! Hey Beacon!

First of all, I want to give honor to my ancestors, for walking with us today. Yes.

“My white brothers and sisters, and yes, I’m using the words “brothers and sisters.” The reason why is because I need us to tear down these walls of separation that have been built in this country for almost 500 years that causes you to look at me as “less than.” That causes me to look at you and be afraid. ”

Secondly, I want to thank you for all for coming out and standing for this cause. This is something that is near and dear to my heart. Not just because I’m a Black woman in America, not just because I’m a Black mother in America, but for four of my five children you see standing right here today.

And thank you to my sister who just spoke, thank you for sharing some - you said it so eloquently, so beautifully. But I want to say something else, too. My white brothers and sisters, and yes, I’m using the words “brothers and sisters.” The reason why is because I need us to tear down these walls of separation that have been built in this country for almost 500 years that causes you to look at me as “less than.” That causes me to look at you and be afraid.

Because believe it or not, as a black woman in this country, when I walk down the street, I see a group of white people, sorry, but I feel scared. You know why I’m scared? Because I know that SOME, not ALL, SOME white people don’t see me as the human being, as the beautiful person I am. It doesn’t matter how many degrees I have, it doesn’t matter how many businesses I’ve started, it doesn’t matter how many people I have helped, it doesn’t matter the character and the depth of my heart and my soul. Some people literally cannot get past this skin suit that I am wearing. And their head is filed with biases that have been passed down, taught and caught. Right? Because we have biases that are caught by people.

“Posting up black squares on Instagram and Facebook? Okay, that’s cute. That’s good, that’s cute. That’s cute. But have you addressed your family members that make racist jokes? You might have the uncomfortable laughter but do you address them? Do you tell them “Not on my watch?””

Your parents may not tell you, “Oh, she’s Black, she’s less than.” “He’s Black. Be scared of him.” But their actions show it, and we catch it. And Imma challenge you today, my brothers and my sisters, to let go of any of those biases that you may have caught. And don’t be afraid to admit it! It’s absolutely okay, because you grew up in this country, to hold up a mirror, and I mean that hypothetically speaking, to hold up a mirror, and to get uncomfortable, and to inconvenience yourself and say “You know what? I have privilege.”

And you know why it’s okay to say that? Because once you address and uncover and acknowledge what is really there? That’s the only time you can change it. And your having privilege doesn’t make you less than of a human being, right? Your privilege doesn’t make you less than. What is the issue, is when you have that privilege and you’re so comfortable in it, that you’re fine with superficial signs of support rather than taking the action.

Posting up black squares on Instagram and Facebook? Okay, that’s cute. That’s good, that’s cute. That’s cute. But have you addressed your family members that make racist jokes? You might have the uncomfortable laughter but do you address them? Do you tell them “Not on my watch?” Do you tell them it’s not funny? Do you educate them on the true history of this country?

And if you have not done that, this is the time to start, now. And it’s not just about you holding a sign “it stops with the cops.” Right? That’s only concerning police brutality. But it also stops in your homes. It stops in the schools. Because a racist is a racist no matter what uniform they’re wearing.

So I wanna leave you with this, because yes, Black lives matter. And I had some conversations this week. They don’t like to hear “Black Lives Matter.” They wanna say all lives matter. But if all lives matter, then it shouldn’t be a problem with you saying what?

(Crowd: BLACK LIVES MATTER!)

“I don’t wanna be scared when my children are 16, 17, 18. And I don’t have the joy that you might share in buying my children their first car because I’m scared they’re not gonna come home. Not from car accidents. I’m scared they’re not gonna come home cause someone won’t see them as a human being driving a vehicle.”

Exactly. So I just wanna challenge everyone here, again, if you don’t look like me, thank you for your love, thank you for your support. But I wanna let you know, how you can support us is by getting uncomfortable, inconveniencing yourself, taking the lid off the white washed Eurocentric history that’s taught in this country and get to the truth. Because the truth, indeed, will not only set you free. The truth, indeed, I’m sorry, it makes me angry, but with that anger comes action, with action, comes change. (applause)

I don’t wanna be scared when my children are 16, 17, 18. And I don’t have the joy that you might share in buying my children their first car because I’m scared they’re not gonna come home. Not from car accidents. I’m scared they’re not gonna come home cause someone won’t see them as a human being driving a vehicle. So that’s the change that I’m looking for. It starts in our schools. It starts in our homes. It starts with your neighbors. It starts with your family. So stand up, stand tall, get uncomfortable, get inconvenienced, but again, anger from the truth brings action, and action brings? (Crowd CHANGE!).

Action brings? (Crowd CHANGE!)

Action brings? (Crowd CHANGE!)

Don’t let it stop here, y’all.

Beacon Police Chief, Lieutenant, and Captain Participate In City Council Meeting To Answer Questions About Policy - But Avoids Racism

After receiving inquiries from the public about police policy, the City of Beacon’s City Council hosted the Beacon Police Department during their weekly Monday night City Council Meeting this week. The meeting happened to be a Workshop, which means that by rule, members of the public cannot speak or submit comments, as they can during the other type of City Council Meeting, which is when members of the public can speak within one of two Public Comment sessions.

Attending and participating were Chief Kevin Junjulas, Lieutenant Figlia and Captain Fredericks. The video of the meeting has been published here in this article. Scroll down and press Play.

Brief Recap Of The Presentation

Mayor Kyriacou started the meeting by reminding the council and video viewers about the Department of Justice’s investigation into the Beacon Police Department that started at least in 2010, and concluded in the summer of 2016. The City’s attorney recalled that the Beacon Police Department went through an audit of the department, and a review of policy. It was not stated if there were personnel changes after the audit, or what was learned from the audit.

The Chief read a statement about training the police department receives, and acknowledged that he was open to “perhaps identify some things that we can seek to improve in the future, to offer the best level of service possible.”

Speaking To #8Can’tWait - Which Does Not Address Systemic Racism

Mayor Kyriacou asked the officers to go speak to their methods as they compare to “8 Can’t Wait,” which is a campaign from Campaign Zero to reduce police violence. However, that campaign does not address systemic racism, and focuses on physical actions of law enforcement. Additionally, Campaign Zero issued a statement and apology, which they published on their “8 Can’t Wait” website: “And while we are proud of the impact we were able to make, we at Campaign Zero acknowledge that, even with the best of intentions, the #8CANTWAIT campaign unintentionally detracted from efforts of fellow organizers invested in paradigmatic shifts that are newly possible in this moment. For this we apologize wholeheartedly, and without reservation.”

Racism was not discussed in this meeting. Some nitty-gritty types of violence were, like that a choke hold is not “banned” because it may be needed if nothing else is available, or that pointing a weapon is considered a “use of force.”

Complaints Against An Officer

The Council wanted to know about how complaints come in. The Chief answered that for 2019, of the 13,000 calls made for service, 5 personnel complaints came in. In 2020, so far 4,000 calls for service have come in, and 3 personnel complaints have been generated.

When asked about how to complain, the Chief answered that during the federal investigation, the Department of Justice required that the Beacon Police make a complaint system available. The Chief said: “People can do it through a number of ways….I don’t have them right in front of me, but they are on the website I believe.”

One complaint link is on the City’s website in the Police Department section, which is here. The form to file a complaint is here. However, there are no directions on the form or the website as to how to file the form. There also does not seem to be a list of police officer’s names on the website. During the meeting, it was stated the complaint makes its way to the Captain who conducts an investigation. The Captain conducts an interview with the officer and the person who made the complaint. The Captain then makes a decision as to if the complaint is Unfounded or not.

Requirement Of 60 College Credits

One item that the Captain wanted changed was to open up the qualifications to be a police officer in Dutchess County, which currently requires 60 college credits. This is not the same for every county. The Captain did not feel that attending college “in an un-related police subject” was useful to hiring a police officer. He also doesn’t think it fair to kids who can’t afford to go to college. On another hand, sometimes employers pay for an employee’s continuing education while they are working, like in the Army or in the corporate world.

Diversity In The Police Department

When asked about how many white officers were in the Beacon Police Department, the Captain did not know how many “off the top of my head, I’d have to go out there and count.” The Chief responded that out of 36 officers, he thinks that 5 officers are Hispanic, 2 Black and 2 Female White officers. The female officers, he said, are white, so they would “need to subtract from that.”

In Conclusion: Community

The meeting concluded with Councilperson Amber Grant suggesting that more issues be raised and that the conversation continue about the community relationship with the Police Department. Councilperson Terry Nelson suggested conducing community forums. Councilperson Jodi Grant recalled the “Coffee and a Cop” concept, and liked that.

Dan Aymar-Blair noted that he heard “powerful and painful” stories at the protest last Saturday, and had 50 and 60 emails about policing in Beacon, with very few having to do with #8CantWait. He mentioned that “training wasn’t the problem with George Floyd’s or Eric Garner’s murders.” He wished to garner the conversation from the 3rd protest in Beacon last Saturday.

A discussion continued about how a community forum could be put together. The Mayor suggested that Beacon’s Human Relations Commission “be leveraged’ to do this, and serve as an anonymous destination to talk. Dan disagreed, saying that there were 1,000 people at the protest, and that he wanted the City Council to take the lead on it. Jodi recalled her time serving on the Human Relations Commission, and said that the commission had been unprepared to handle the scope of what was required when it was handed something the first time. From the meeting, it was unclear which instance in time she was referring to. A Little Beacon Blog can follow up.

A community forum did get put together towards the end of the Department of Justice investigation of Beacon’s Police Department in 2015/2016, which you can read about in depth here.

The 2015 Community Response To Federally Investigated Beacon Police Was "Beacon Speaks Out" (Now Dormant) - City of Beacon Silent About Reopening It - Seeks New Initiative

In 2015, when Beacon’s police department was under an investigation by the Justice Department that started in or before 2010, and ended in 2016, Beacon community members got together to form a community-based line of communications with Beacon’s Police Department called “Beacon Speaks Out.”

To describe the police investigation, a press release was issued on December 21, 2010 by the United States Department of Justice: “The Justice Department announced today an agreement with the Beacon, N.Y., Police Department (BPD) to resolve the department’s investigation of the BPD, in accordance with the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. That law authorizes the attorney general to file suit to reform police departments that may be engaging in a pattern or practice of violating citizens’ federal rights.”

Who Was Behind “Beacon Speaks Out?”

The group “Beacon Speaks Out” met more than once and conducted a process that was co-facilitated by Rabbi Brent Spodek of Better Together: The Beacon Interfaith Clergy Association, and Brooke Simmons of I Am Beacon, and citizens of Beacon, including my former building landlord, Deborah Bigelow, who first made me aware of the group. A Little Beacon Blog later wrote about an upcoming meeting they were having back in 2016.

For context, Brooke Simmons is the sister of Reuben Simmons, the Founder and President of I Am Beacon, and a one-time Highway Superintendent for the City of Beacon. After holding that position for a year in a half, Reuben was changed to Working Supervisor for just over a year and a half, and is currently a Maintenance Worker for the City of Beacon. If that job title timeline looks backwards to you, it is. This professional descension was confusing when I went to quote Reuben for an article about the event he created to raise awareness for mental health: Rock Out For Mental Health. I served on the Planning Committee with him and other agency heads for this awareness effort.

Reuben was also the Union President of the City of Beacon’s Unit of CSEA Local 1000, where he dealt with contract negations, representing employees in grievances and disciplinary matters, campaign planning, among other responsibilities.

The original agenda of Beacon Speaks Out is below. But first, a question:

“Beacon Speaks Out” Sounds Like A Good Idea. Should It Be Reignited?

Groups and committees are formed all of the time in Beacon. Many of them do work that you didn’t know was happening around you, but feel the effects of. This was one such group. Not many people knew about it. Eventually, it stopped meeting. The Chief of Police, Doug Solomon, who participated in the group, abruptly left Beacon’s force to take the Chief job in Newburgh (which he also just resigned from after a riot incident in March, 2020). He was succeeded in Beacon by current Chief Kevin Junjulas, who was promoted from his position of Captain.

When the protests against police brutality and institutional, systemic racism started in Minneapolis after George Floyd’s murder, and the protests spread to New York, A Little Beacon Blog reached out to Beacon’s new Mayor Lee Kyriacou, for comment as to whether he thought the band of “Beacon Speaks Out” should be brought back together, to start communications between the community and the police. Mayor Kyriacou is a new mayor to Beacon, but has served on the City Council for 9 terms beginning in the 1990s.

Mayor Kyriacou has not answered A Little Beacon Blog’s question about if Beacon Speaks Out should be called upon again. We have asked him twice, and received no response.

Since that time, Beacon’s Police Department and City Council have received numerous questions about the policies of the Beacon Police. The City Council invited the Chief of Police to attend last week’s public Workshop meeting to give an overview of what their textbook says. During this meeting, it was suggested that a forum with a moderator be created to hear from the public, and the council agreed. They were going to think about who the moderator would be, and the setting for the forum in this social distanced time. Watch the hour-long sit-down with the police and get a recap here.

The Mayor suggested that the Human Relations committee take responsibility for this. Currently there are 5 members of the Human Relations Committee. The City’s web page says that there can be 15 members, but the city Committee Vacancy page lists that 1 position is vacant. Current Councilmembers including Dan Aymar-Blair and Amber Grant disagreed with that delegation, stating that the committee was over-worked and inexperienced to deal with this issue.

The Original Community-Based Agenda Of “Beacon Speaks Out”

A Little Beacon Blog reached out to Brooke Simmons, original member of “Beacon Speaks Out,” to revisit the history on how the group started and what it wanted. This is what she provided:

“The city was involved and in fact, the “Beacon Speaks Out” initiative was born out of a meeting called on and facilitated by Mayor Randy Casale. [Then] Mayor Casale, City Administrator Anthony Ruggerio, and former Police Chief Soloman attended numerous meetings providing insight, dialogue and updates to the committee. “Beacon Speaks Out” presented the outlined initiatives to City Council (see below).

Broad Ambitions for Police/Community Relations in Beacon, NY

Through the beginning of 2015, residents of Beacon, NY had been meeting to discuss their hopes and ambitions for police/community relations in their city. What emerged was a clear desire for closer ties between the police and the community they serve and protect.

As the result of Beacon Speaks Out a process co-facilitated by Rabbi Brent Spodek of Better Together: The Beacon Interfaith Clergy Association and Brooke Simmons of I Am Beacon, the citizens of Beacon can articulate the following 8 broad ambitions for policing in our community. Following each ambition is a composite quote based on approximately 150 community conversations.

Strengthen Connections to the Broader Community

1. We’d like the police/community relationship to move from a place of intimidation, suspicion, and superiority to a place of kindness, calm and respect.
Conversation Example: The police don’t seem to practice restraint in heightened situations.... we’d love for them to have training on how to de-escalate incidents rather than intensifying them.

2. We’d like for the police to develop positive relations with the youth of Beacon.
Conversation Example: I would like to see some sort of program that allows the cops to interact with or even mentor the at-risk youth in Beacon so officers can be seen by young people as helpers, not adversaries.

3. We’d like for the police to have more face-to-face contact with the community.
Conversation Example: I want to know my police force... I miss our Main St. bike cop! When they are always in cars, they don’t get to know community members. I want the officers to KNOW and care about the community they serve.

Adopt best practices to improve community safety

4. We’d like for the police to be better equipped to deal with Beacon’s diverse populations.
Conversation Example: The police need to be able to deal with people who have mental health issues, who are not the same race or gender or sexuality as the cops, they need to be able to deal with senior and elderly issues.

5. We’d like a more diverse police force.
Conversation Example: We need a force that looks like Beacon to serve Beacon. We need more women, more people of color.

6. We’d like for the police to work together with the community to develop a progressive strategy for dealing with Beacon’s drug problem, especially heroin.
Conversation Example: I found needles and drug paraphernalia by my home. I took it to Police Station but got no response or follow up. Something needs to be done about the Heroin epidemic.

More and better community communication

7. We’d like data on crimes reported, arrests, and convictions to be publicized, as well as police policies and procedures.
Conversation Example: We need more information and more transparency about what the police are doing.

8. We’d like for the Human Relations Committee to be publicized and strengthened.
Conversation Example: I didn’t even know there was a civilian complaint hotline. It should be plastered everywhere. Do they have the power to do anything?

Details on what this new community forum will look like, who will attend, and who will moderate will come as the City Council decides what it wants to do.

Governor Cuomo Reverses Course On Summer School - Encouraged By County Executive Molinaro

After Governor Cuomo announced that school would be closed for the rest of the year, County Executive Marcus Molinaro responded on May 1, 2020 with a letter to the governor, agreeing with the decision, but urging the Governor to reconsider for children with special needs for the upcoming summer. County Executive Marcus Molinaro has a child with Autism, and responded by sending a letter to the Governor, Chancellor Rosa, and Interim Commissioner Tahoe, by stressing an urgency to keep summer school programs open to in-person learning interactions for children with special needs.

An excerpt of his letter, which was distributed to the media via press release, is below:

Throughout this process, so many of our schools and teachers have gone above and beyond to provide quality education during these difficult times. Many students with special needs have adapted well to the new paradigm of remote learning and are finding success utilizing Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and other platforms. Other students are struggling with the hands-on attention of teachers and specialists. For many special education students, the most daunting challenge is overcoming the stress of change and inconsistency. That is why a careful and student-centric approach is paramount as we move forward.

Since schools were closed, parents have played an even greater role in their education. This was a challenge for all parents, however, for parents of special needs students, the task could be even more daunting. The technology we all relied on to make remote learning possible, needed modifications and innovative adaptions to make them more accessible. Not all platforms are compatible with critical assistive technologies, nor are they always conductive to educating students with very specific needs. Parents and teachers have been asked to do a lot of heavy lifting to ensure their children and students are receiving a high-quality education.

Special education students must have access to services throughout the summer. These services will help support students and their families bridge the gap until schools are once again able to provide a more conventional education. Not all special education students will want to take advantage of services throughout the summer, however, for those who do, they must be available.

Stepping out just a minute here…

Stepping out of my role as a reporter for this article for a moment, and into that of a parent who is doing Distance Learning for two children ages 8 and 10 (this doesn’t count the 3yo toddler who is constantly disrupting and needing to go potty), I can tell you that Distance Learning is extremely difficult. Extremely. A large part of a child’s life is social interaction, and the interaction they get with their teacher (assuming they have a good relationship). Not having that has been sorely missed by my children. Completing “simple” assignments, like 7 math problems on two pages, takes 1 hour. One painful hour of bodies collapsing onto the floor, throwing pencils, hating parents. I have resisted writing about it, so as to not offend our teachers and administration who are trying so hard and are equally traumatized, some of whom are teaching and preparing curriculum with their own children at home, doing their own Distance Learnings.

Ok, back into reporter mode.

On May 21, 2020, while the new children’s risk of COVID-19 (Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS) similar to Kawasaki Disease) was being discussed, Governor Cuomo decided to close in-person teaching opportunities for summer school, stating: “Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced summer school will be conducted through distance learning this year to help reduce the risk of spread.”

On may 22, 2020, Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro wrote a second letter in response to the announcement of summer school closure:

Dear Governor Cuomo: (crossed out to hand-written in blue marker to address “Andrew”),

As plans to reopen and re-imagine New York State's schools and summer distance-learning services are contemplated and developed, it is of utmost importance that the needs of special education students and their families are thoughtfully and carefully considered. Efforts underway by your office, as well as those of the Board of Regents, New York State Education Department, and our 700 public school districts, must incorporate input from special education teachers and parents of students with special needs. Although you recently announced that in-person summer school will not go on, it remains critical to offer needed services to special education students throughout the summer.

I expressed my concerns related to this issue in a letter sent on the first of this month to Chancellor Rosa, Interim Commissioner Tahoe, and your office. Since then, many others have voiced similar concerns and have yet to be addressed.

The letter continued to repeat the first letter. On June 8th, the Dutchess Business Notification Network reported that Governor Cuomo signed an Executive Order to allow summer school to continue in person: “Notwithstanding any prior Executive Order to the contrary, special education services and instruction required under Federal, state or local laws, rules, or regulations, may be provided in person for the summer term in school districts. Any district providing such services in person must follow State and Federal guidance.

County Executive Molinaro’s response sent via press release was: “Access to in-person special education services throughout the summer is critical to so many with disabilities and their families, this year more than ever. The school year has been wrought with stress, anxiety and disruption caused by Coronavirus and special education students have felt the impact most profoundly. Access to in-person services will provide the needed support to overcome those challenges, smoothing the transition to a new school year in the fall. I’m grateful Governor Cuomo has taken this important step and I am happy to have worked with Jim Malatras and his staff to make this a reality. This is indeed good news for so many families across Dutchess County and New York State. There is little question we can make a real difference in the lives of these young people, when we work together and ThinkDIFFERENTLY!”

Places of Worship Can Reopen In Phase 2 at 25% Capacity

As reported by Dutchess Business Notification Network today, A new Executive Order has been signed that allows places of worship to reopen in Phase 2, which starts today (Tuesday, June 9th) at a 25% capacity basis, with social distancing precautions in place.

Guidance on how to clean and disinfect houses of worship can be found HERE. The Executive Order can be found HERE. If you’re not yet a subscriber to Dutchess Business Notification Network, you are missing out! It’s a must-read during a pandemic. When local legislation changes every single day.

County Executive Marcus Molinaro had petitioned for this legislative change, stating in a press release: “Our churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of faith need to be available for neighbors, leaders and community to come together. The personal interaction that occurs in faith communities can prove invaluable. We fought for this. It is an important step and powerful message at the right moment in New York. It’s an important time to humble ourselves, pray for peace and work for healing.”

In an email sent to Governor Cuomo asking for the change, County Executive Molinaro signed it with this:

“Open the doors to our houses of faith - if only with limited capacity - to help us heal.”

Stay safe. Be well.
We are all in this together.

Marc Molinaro, Dutchess
Steve Neuhaus, Orange
Pat Ryan, Ulster
Ed Day, Rockland
Mary Ellen O’Dell, Putnam

Rob Rolison, Poughkeepsie
Steve Noble, Kingston
Lee Kyriacou, Beacon
Torrance Harvey, Newburgh
Kelly Decker, Port Jervis

School Budget And Library Vote Extended 6/16 - But Aquiring A Ballot Is Not - Last Day Tuesday 6/9 - Beacon Experienced Ballot Production Delay

According to Beacon’s Superintendent Matthew Landauhl, Governor Cuomo issued a press release on June 7th, saying he was extending the school budget vote until Tuesday, June 16 at 5pm, which means ballots by mail will be accepted until June 16. Ballot drop boxes are still allowed until Tuesday, June 9 at 5pm.

There was a vendor-based delay in Beacon, where the company that provides the ballots experienced a shortage in supplies. Many Beaconites got their ballots on Friday in the mail, but several did not.

The person to contact about a missing ballot is the board clerk Kelly Pologe at pologe.k@beaconk12.org. Tuesday June 9th is the last day to get a ballot.

TONIGHT (Monday): Beacon's Chief Of Police, Kevin Junjulas, Joins City Council Meeting To Discuss Training

On Monday night, June 8th, the City of Beacon Police Chief Kevin Junjulas will join the City Council for a conversation on best practices and training for the Beacon Police Department. As a reminder, all City Council meetings are being held virtually on Zoom right now.

If you wish to listen in on conversation, the invitation to the virtual meeting below.

Also please see this link to a video from June 1st  of City Council members commenting on the protests https://vimeo.com/425223009

How To Watch On YouTube:

Click this link. Be sure to subscribe for easy access next time.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvPpigGwZDeR7WYmw-SuDxg

How To Watch Or Call In On Zoom:

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82201559958?pwd=eHdHNjlNTXM1S0xueWRZYWRESmJyQT09

Password: 027050

 Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +19292056099,,82201559958#,,1#,027050# 

or +13017158592,,82201559958#,,1#,027050#

Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):

US: +1 929 205 6099  or +1 301 715 8592  or +1 312 626 6799  or +1 253 215 8782  or +1 346 248 7799  or +1 669 900 6833

Webinar ID: 822 0155 9958
Password: 027050

Does Beacon Have Blue Line Flag Decals On Vehicles? What Is City's Position?

After learning about the blue line flag decal on police vehicles in Cold Spring, A Little Beacon Blog reached out to Chief Junjulas, Mayor Kyriacou, and City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero, to find out if Beacon had dealt with this symbolic issue.

Questions asked, and who answered them:

ALBB: "Do Beacon police vehicles have this decal on it?
Chief Junjulas: “We do not.”

ALBB: If not, was it ever discussed?
City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero: “No, it was never discussed.”

ALBB: Chief, Mayor, Anthony: What are each of your opinions on this sticker?
There has been no response on this question yet.

Cold Spring Residents Resist Blue Line Flag Decal On Police Cars - Citing White Supremacy Association

In an article published at the Highlands Current, a Cold Spring resident spoke out against the decal that was placed on police vehicles last year. The decal (sticker) is a black flag with a thin blue line running through it. The symbol is a display of support for fallen and living police officers, and has been created by the Blue Live Matters movement, which has become known as an anti Black Lives Matter movement. According to the article, the resident is concerned that the symbol has racist overtones.

The article brings up the violent, Unite the Right march in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, where “the flag was raised by white supremacists alongside the Confederate flag.” The Confederate flag has 13 stars for the original colonies. The current United States flag has 13 stripes, and 50 stars for all of the states. One blue line is a stripe in the Blue Lives Matter flag. The Blue Lives Matter sells hoodies and sweatshirts for their movement.

The Highlands Current article pointed out: “Last year, the police department in Germantown, Maryland, removed a donated thin-blue-line flag after a public outcry. In December, flags appeared outside two police stations in New York City, prompting similar protests. And on May 31, in Hamilton County, Ohio, the sheriff’s department flew the flag following days of unrest in Cincinnati, prompting a rebuke from the county commissioner, who said, ‘I know I am not alone in my view that flying the flag was provocative and inappropriate, especially in the context of this weekend’s events.’”

The board members in Cold Spring debated the topic while on a Zoom meeting (which is how most public town meetings are happening now, including Beacon’s), with most of them wanting the decals removed. One board member, Trustee Lynn Miller, pointed out that altering the flag is against flag code. One board member disagreed with removing them, in favor of showing support for police.

Trustee Steve Voloto acknowledged that police departments fly the flag “to show support for the men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect us. That’s why our guys have them on their cars.” But he also added: “Did they not know the history? Did they have it before and the [white supremacists] used it as their symbol? It doesn’t belong on our cars with what’s going on in the world. If the stupid bumper sticker pisses people off, take it off the cars. Why are we even talking about it? Pick a sticker that has more positive meaning.”

To recall Beacon and Cold Spring’s recent documented run-ins with white supremacy, in October 2018, white supremacist flyers were posted to churches and public poles in Beacon along Main Street. From that article:

“In October 2018, a swastika was sprayed onto the home that is owned by a Jewish man in Nelsonville. So far, three teenagers have been arrested for that crime. One teenager is a male who is 18, and is a graduate of Haldane High School in Cold Spring. He was arrested in February 2019, and just appeared in court last week. The other two were arrested in December 2018, one from Philipstown and the other from an unspecified location. They are 18 and 17 years old.”'

It should be noted: LinkedIn has made the editorial decision to not display the blue line flag on its platform when an article is being shared.

Does Beacon have a position on this? We asked to find out…

Dutchess County Makes It Easier For Restaurants To Use Public Spaces Outside On June 9

According to a press release by Dutchess County, the County Executive Marcus Molinaro cut red tape to make it easier for restaurants to go around regulations to serve outside by signing this Executive Order today. Recently, that has been confusing for business owners and patrons, as public space was available to anyone to use (such as a picnic table in a park), but private property was not (such as a patio behind or adjacent to a restaurant). According to a business briefing last Tuesday by Beacon’s retained law firm, Keane & Beane, restaurants could use public spaces such as sidewalks, but not private property yet.

The press release:

“To help facilitate outdoor dining, which can begin tomorrow, Tuesday, June 9th in Dutchess County as part of Phase II, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro today signed a local Emergency Order waiving local regulations and requirements that could cause a potential burden or delay for local establishments to expand outdoor dining space. The executive order will also aid in the local efforts to provide access to municipal-owned land, including sidewalks, streets, etc. contiguous to a licensed establishment in coordination with the local municipality.

”County Executive Molinaro said, “By partnering with our twenty towns, eight villages and two cities we are working to remove every obstacle possible to support our small businesses and Open Main Street. As you can, with what you can, please support our neighborhood businesses as we reignite our economy and restart Dutchess.”

Catching Up: Newburgh's Police Chief Doug Solomon (formerly Beacon's Chief) Resigned After Riot Incident (Pre-Protest Era)

Back on March 27, 2020, a fatal shooting of a black man happened in Newburgh. According to reporting, the man had a gun, and the police had walked up to him to ask about a shooting that allegedly happened the day before. They got into an altercation, he was shot, and later died at the hospital. An officer was also shot and wounded. The shooting is under investigation by the District Attorney, and will be completed in 4-6 months. At this point, the man’s name for identification has not appeared in news stories.

After that shooting, a riot broke out on First Street and Carpenter Avenue. Back in Beacon, it was a regular Friday afternoon, and those who work in Newburgh came home after work to tell the story as they knew it.

After the work day ended, trash burned in the street long into the night. According to News12, the city brought in mutual aid from the state and county police. Many pictures of the night from photojournalist Allyse Pulliam were published for the Record Online.

The next day, Saturday, The Mayor of Newburgh, Mayor Torrance Harvey, called a press conference to ask for peace, saying: “I’m asking for peace in the streets and calm in our community. I know there is a lot of grief and anger,” as reported in the Record Online. Neighbors who were cleaning up the debris the next day did not want to talk, according to the Record Online.

One week later, Newburgh’s Police Chief, Doug Solomon, was suspended “after allegedly failing to report for duty during last week's riots,” according to News12.

One month later, on April 30, 2020, Chief Solomon resigned. According to the Poughkeepsie Journal, Mayor Harvey “could not share details of the resignation because it is a personnel issue.” Lt. Kevin Lahar remains the “officer in charge” of the department.

Fast forward to last weekend in Beacon during the 3rd anti-police brutality protest in Beacon, the Newburgh shooting was alluded to by protest participants, with protestors bitterly mentioning that they knew of an “incident” about the shooting, but so far, no details have emerged.

Meanwhile in Newburgh, Lt. Kevin Lahar participated in the police brutality protest, and kneeled with protesters. You can read more about that, and see photos here at Record Online.

Chief Doug Solomon’s History With Beacon

Chief Solomon was the Chief of Police for Beacon, before leaving to take the position in Newburgh. At the time, then Mayor Randy Casale had no prior news of the departure, and learned about it on the radio, he said during a public City Council meeting. At the time of accepting the job in Newburgh, Chief Solomon had also been the Mayor of the Village of Monticello. He later resigned from the position of Mayor, citing time conflicts and being over-committed. He had previously served as the Police Chief for Monticello, according to the Record Online.

Then Captain Kevin Junjulas for Beacon was promoted by Mayor Casale to be Chief of Police for Beacon. The transition was dramatic, and you can read about the announcement of that appointment here in the Highlands Current. According to the article, Chief Junjulas was a then 23-year veteran of the police department, and resides in Cold Spring.

Chief Solomon was on the original committee for Beacon Speaks Out a community-based group that “was born out of a meeting called on and facilitated by Mayor Casale,” recalls Brooke Simmons, co-founder of the non-profit Beacon Speaks Out. According to Brooke, through the beginning of 2015, residents of Beacon, NY had been “meeting to discuss their hopes and ambitions for police/community relations in their city. What emerged is a clear desire for closer ties between the police and the community they serve and protect.”

Beacon's School and Library Absentee Ballots Arrive Friday - Ballot Collection Box Locations - Tuesday Deadline

The Vote By Mail initiative for Beacon’s 2020-2021 School Budget has arrived today in the mail. Beacon’s Superintendent, Dr. Matthew Landahl emailed district parents and posted to the district website that ballots should be arriving in the mail this (Friday) afternoon. Details about a delay the district was experiencing in getting the ballots out to the public is described below the schedule published here.

Read the Beacon City School District’s Budget Presentation here. Quick Links to the budget are on the district’s website.

You are encouraged to drop your ballot off in a Ballot Drop Box. The schedule is below.

All ballots must be received by mail or dropbox by 5:00pm Tuesday, June 9th.

Ballot Drop Box Locations and Hours

Friday, June 5
Beacon High School 11-5
Glenham Elementary 11-5
District Administration Building 11-5

Saturday, June 6
District Administration Building 12-4

Sunday, June 7
District Administration Building 12-4

Monday, June 8
Beacon High School 8-5
Glenham Elementary 8-5
District Administration Building 8-5

Tuesday, June 9
Beacon High School 6am-5
Glenham Elementary 6am-5
District Administration Building 6am-5

Ballots are due Tuesday, June 9 by 5:00pm.

The Delay In Absentee Ballots

On May 31, 2020, Dr. Landahl emailed the district about an expected delay in the ballots. The Howland Public Library also emailed their subscribe list with the news. Dr. Landahl explained:

“We contracted with a company named NTS Data to print and mail our absentee ballots to all of our registered voters. NTS Data is a company we have worked with on our elections for several years and many districts in New York State and the area have as well.

”On Friday, May 29, 2020, NTS Data informed us that they were having trouble with our ballot mailing due to an envelope shortage and supply chain issue. This is an issue that about 50 districts in New York are also having with NTS Data.”

This (Friday) morning, Dr. Landahl emailed again to let the public know that we should be receiving a ballot by this afternoon. For this writer, the ballots came. For some of our readers, they are reporting that they have not received it yet, but did receive the promotional postcard about voting. Keep looking in your junk mail. And cross your fingers.