Justice McCray was elected to represent Ward 2 in Beacon, which is the southwest district of the City of Beacon. Justice sprang onto the scene in 2020 during the reawakening for the Civil Rights of People for Color in the United States. They co-formed the group Beacon4BlackLives, a social justice organization dedicated to building social and racial equity and justice within the Hudson Valley. Justice was one of the primary organizers of marches in the name of Black lives mattering more, including a protest at night outside of Mayor Lee Kyriacou’s house.

The demands of Beacon4BlackLives remained in Justice’s election platform., which included:

• Defund the police.

• Implement more police oversight policies.

• Invest back in community by way of social and educational institutions, child care, housing, mental health services, and others.

• Invest in municipal broadband.

Justice was on Council for the passage of Beacon’s Good Cause Eviction Law, which is now being challenged in court via eviction hearings of various Beaconites. They also consistently voted no or abstained from votes to increase the police budget.

Justice did not seek re-election, and the question could be asked if it was because they felt more impactful as a community organizer out in the field, not bound by municipal charters silencing them, or conforming them to a way of doing things. Justice was succeeded by Jeffrey Domanski, who is not a stranger to working with City Councils as he was part of an effort to unite municipalities to sign into an energy savings plan using clean energy for a low fixed rate, which was eventually nullified by the provider of that energy.

Longtime Councilmember George Mansfield also did not seek re-election, after serving for 14 years. Councilmember George delivered his farewell speech, followed by Justice’s. The full speech from Justice has been republished below:

“I thought I would have a lot to say in my final report as a City Councilperson - and then George spoke (laughter) - but I’ve got a lot more to say and it just won’t be said from this seat.

“When I decided to step up and run for office, I had been actively participating in Council Meetings for a long time as a social justice activist and housing justice advocate.

“I thought I understood how our local government runs, and I came in charged and ready to take on the work that the previous Council left us, and I was ready to be bold and ambitious and frankly, confrontational.

“Stepping into this seat, I learned quickly how much I didn’t know, and for better or worse, I slowed down.

“I didn’t know much I needed to know on the county level or state level, and I didn’t realize how often I would feel powerless in this position. I also didn’t realize how influential my voice had become in addressing issues locally and on a larger level.

“I’ve sat in the living rooms and dining rooms of dozens of my community members’ homes to address issues from potholes, to accessing legal assistance. I’ve been a City Councilmember that neighbors in every ward have talked to about very real discrimination they’ve faced.

“I'm so honored that I've had the opportunity to be a part of a council that fought for tenants rights, that passed trailblazing climate legislation, that’s invested heavily in recreation and community input and making sure that community voices are heard.

“I’m proud of the ways I’ve leveraged the power of this seat to push back against the contamination of the Hudson River, to advocate for tenant protections statewide, to fight Central Hudson’s proposed rate increases and so much more.

“I'm so grateful for everything that I've learned and for everyone who has supported me. I've felt so much support through this position and I wouldn't have made it without my community. I have a lot of hope for the future, and while I'm going to be finding better ways to play to my strengths, I look forward to doing everything I can to make sure that Beacon can be the best that it can be.

“Special shoutout to my neighbors on South Chestnut and Rombout. I love you very much and you've really made the neighborhood special. I have so many people to thank and I don't think I can name them all here, but for those who make this community special, for those who initiate, for those who show up in whatever ways they know how, thank you and keep showing up.”