That Billionaire Who Made Money During The Tariff Pump and Fake Is Charles Schwab, Founder Of The Homonymous Investment Company

Just so we are on the same page as this news circulates today, the “billionaire buddy” that Trump referred to in that Oval Office video, Charles Schwab, who Trump said made $2.5 billion during yesterday’s tariff pump and fake, is the founder and chairman of the Charles Schwab Corporation, which started in 1975 as a “discount sales of equity securities” company.

Acquiring smaller but still large trading companies like TD Ameritrade, Charles Schwab became the largest discount securities dealer in the United States, and put power into the hands of individuals to make their own trades in the stock market that did not cost a lot. Charles Schwab is also in the mortgage business.

The company Charles Schwab is publishing articles that guide its customers and readers in how to deal with this “volatile” tariff market. Clearly Mr. Schwab is just fine with it. Why this isn’t criminal for being insider trading is not clear. Martha Stewart went to jail for less.

Warren Buffet had been selling off his shares in stock in what some industry insiders say was in preparation for days like yesterday. Where the market would crash and he would be safe, and buy lower priced stocks at a bargain.

In this chaos, readers may find clarity in doing homework on this Charles R. Schwab (born 1937), and on the earlier Charles M. Schwab (1862-1839), the steel tycoon. During that time period, wealthy white men (and white women who were widowed, daughters, or not married and had money) worked for and influenced federal government, calling it public service, but really just running the government. Kind of like what is happening now, but not as obvious.

Katharine Graham was one such white woman who came from money of both her parents, was financially secure before her marriage, remained financially secure after her husband’s suicide, inherited her father’s ownership of The Washington Post with her husband, and then managed all of it after his death, and steered the newspaper through Nixon and Watergate and several other presidents.

She became close friends with investor Warren Buffet, who became an investor in The Washington Post and basically advised her as a friend and curious person of newspapers and the public.

This book is a good read right now as a way to revisit the time before Civil Rights, during 1948 when Israel was formed, during Civil Rights (but she barely talks about Black perspective, even though segregation was a top social issue for her husband before his death).

Buy the book from Binnacle Books, Stanza Books (both in Beacon), Split Rock Books in Cold Spring, or Blackbird Info Shop in Kingston.

"Did You Go Out For The Hands Off Protest The Other Day?  Curious About Your Impressions?"

A few friends have asked for my take on the April 5th Hands Off protest that happened last Sunday in Beacon. Due to the recent and increasing number of disappearances for those vocalizing support for Palestine and its liberation, I was reluctant to go. I can’t afford to disappear, as I’d like to remain the primary caregiver to my children.

However, the reporter in me couldn’t stay away. If you don’t know this part of my story, I was scheduled to fly and move to NYC with only a cat sitting job and a couch waiting for me on what became the morning of 9/11. That day, driving back from the Akron airport, not to return to NYC until the following February, I wanted nothing more than to be in NYC to experience what was happening, and report on it.

This article will explore a lot of concepts, but all in all, I am glad the people who went went. It was estimated there were 500-1,000 people. According to one resident with an ear to the ground, the online registration form closed out at 500 signups, which is why it disappeared. According to another ALBB reader who read our protest FAQs, which included exploration of why NATO was on the flyer, said that she did not see any NATO posters.

Several seniors wanted to go and did attend. Despite parking being tight to walk there. Several children were there. Generally, the mood was upbeat, where people do not want to lose their social services and want to retain free speech. Police presence was next to nil except for one car on South Avenue that I saw, and otherwise was peaceful.

While friends in my Palestinian sphere cautioned me from going, I did walk down, albeit without my keffiyeh on. I wanted to be able to move and observe freely, and without showing a target for pickup. As soon as I reached the main crowd, however, I did see other keffiyehs, so turned around to get mine, and head back down.

BEACON AS Beautifully DYSFUNCTIONALLY FUNCTIONAL

On the walk down to Polhill Park, I spoke to a new business owner in town. They were delighted at the foot traffic walking past their store, and could feel the enthusiasm of the soon-to-be protesters headed down with their signs.

They had moved their business from Poughkeepsie to Beacon and were grateful that any opinion could be expressed here in Beacon, even if everyone did not agree. In Poughkeepsie, they said, opinions are locked up tight from being displayed in public. The business owner was here for all of it, and happy to see turn-out against Trump.

A BIT Pali-MELANCHOLY

I passed another friend who was indulging in her golden Matcha Thomas drink, savoring it after Matcha’s brief shutdown when the tariff war randomly started. She was wearing her keffiyeh and while is anti-Trump, couldn’t help but feel the bitterness from seeing all these people out who were not out during Palestinian protests.

The continued silence on the Palestinian genocide is cruel. As we have entered a new phase of punishment for defending humanity, student protesters are getting disappeared and locked up, and now American attorneys representing them getting detained at airports. Demanding their safe return wasn’t a main theme in the protest posters.

This gathering was one of the first times the Beacon Ceasefire crowd merged with the Anti-Ceasefire crowd. Admittingly, it was refreshing to be on the same side again with neighbors who were and still are opposing an end to the genocide, or still saying things like “both sides” or “it’s complicated” or “hostages.” It’s cruel how neighbors aren’t vocalizing for Palestine. If not for protection of fellow Palestinian liberation voices, and for the protection of anti-Zionist Jews, but for the protection of the bedrock of free speech. Which has been shattered with the disappearances of the Pro-Palestine students. In addition to the kidnappings of Brown people who are in America legally.

Don’t you see…? That all of your posts against Trump and Teslas and calling Elon a Nazi, could maybe now get you disappeared too? Don’t you see that Palestine is connected to everything? It’s just a low thud to my heart as we continue to not hear so many of you. Or to hear others of your microaggressions. In the 3/24/2025 issue of The New Yorker, Benjamin Wallace-Wells said this about Mahmoud Khalil, the first student stolen: “No specific actions were even alleged; Khalil was evidently being deported simply because the Administration did not like what he had to say.”

Kamel Jamal, Palestinian owner of several restaurants in town and a vocalist during Beacon’s Ceasefire Resolution movement, said: “But only a handful of brave humans that dare stand up to a genoc*de.”

The local attorney David Jensen agreed with him, saying: “A good point; the ability to stand up for right and wrong often has a lot to do with how many other people are already standing up.”

“My Black Friends”

Most of my Black friends weren’t there. Certainly none of my Brown friends were there. Wait, that’s not true. Some of my Brown friends were there, but I don’t know their citizenship status and if they were born here.

It was a very white crowd. That’s because this is a very white problem. Black people are resting. And Brown people might be hiding.

It’s white on white on white. The first two whites are Trumper vs Any Other White Person, and the second white on white is White American vs Zionist. All sets of the whites have entitlement disorders.

“It Was A Good Turn Out!”

Yes. It was a nice time to come out, despite the rain, and see one’s neighbors. It was a good networking event. I did see one Black friend actually, who is exactly who I needed to see for an article I’m working on. We got to talking and I got the…white chocolate mocha. She poured the tea.

Demonstrators lined up on both sides of Wolcott Avenue on both sides of the street. A couple of fire fighters watched from the roof of their new firehouse. Several children were there who had made their own signs. For some, this was their first protest. For others, they had been out on the sidewalk and marching years prior during Black Lives Matter marches in Beacon.

Trumpers

Unlike at the Pro-Palestine demonstrations, where white men routinely called us “Terrorist!!” swore and gave the middle finger, there did not seem to be as many vocal push-backers. Someone did yell out “Kamala lost,” in what may have been a tired voice because they just don’t care. Maybe more of a yawn.

Others said: “At least they didn’t burn things down,” which was another eye roll, and testament to why Black people continue to opt not to come out, as they get blamed for escalating. I saw one Beacon police car parked up the hill on South Avenue. When there was a fight between two Black people at Loopers Plaza last summer on a Saturday afternoon, there were over a dozen police vehicles from three police agencies who rushed to the scene. One observer there at the time couldn’t imagine how the police could service other parts of the region, because they were all at Loopers in Beacon.

What they do care about, however, is the City of Beacon’s eviction of the retired volunteer firefighters from Beacon Engine One, which is a story I’ve been working on and have an audio interview for, that I was slated to work on that Sunday. But…I went to the protest instead because it was such a large event. We needed to know what was going on. Back to the eviction of the retired fire fighters from their community center, and I need to get you more of the interview I had with the corrections officer about the “lawlessness” he calls the corrections industry in New York State.

What I’ve noticed about Trumpers and MAGAs is that they too felt very dictated to by the Biden administration and past Democratic administrations. COVID especially traumatized many who were forced to close their businesses permanently because of the shutdown, or who went into deep debt with no sales, or with the Economic Relief Loan the federal government made available but made everyone pay back. So many business owners are still owing tens of thousands of dollars back because of that loan, even if they have since closed their businesses.

People forced to take vaccinations that they were not comfortable taking yet - from regular people to corrections officers to first responders. Some of those people got very sick. Remember how first responders were fired for not taking the vaccination? And some corrections officers too? These are real issues that do not get mutually respected, usually by the Democratic side, and has deepened the divide. To where Trumpers now are simply enjoying watching Democrats suffer under what they feel they are dictator moves.

Where we had mandated masking, we now have the same Democrats banning masking. The first in the name of health, the second to identify people protesting for Palestine. Don’t you see how it all contradicts?

Obviously, this version of the dictatorship is much more extreme, and more openly lawless, with mass firings of federal workers, cutting of federal investments, threats of cutting off federal aid, lawless deportations, assumptions of guilt with no evidence presented, etc.

At this point, Trumpers who are not upset by what is going on may just be shorting the stock market and profiting off of the cratering Dow, just like the Trump administration and other politicians on either side may be doing. This happened during the COVID shutdown, where people profited off the lock-down. Same thing is being recreated in this forced COVID-like scenario.

In Conclusion

It is clear that no one is coming to save us. Someone is profiting very much. People are being stolen out of their lives. And extreme selfishness is rooted in what we are experiencing.

After the April 5th protest, while it was nice to see everyone, I don’t anticipate much else happening. Politicians have to do something. Anything. And CEOs need to figure out how to buck back. Judges need to keep judging to keep innocent people from being deported. And more attorneys need to resign from law firms who are doing pro-bono work for Trump out of fear of losing federal contracts (oh! here’s a new one).

I always said that if Trump was elected, there would be an Insurrection 2.0. I’m just not sure what that will look like. Maybe some of the January 6ers will change their minds, lead a charge, and return back for a storm on Washington. I’ve heard some of them have become advocates for prison reform after having spent time in there.

Palestine broke me. Where “I see both sides” now, only it’s both sides with these political parties. Neither are in it for us. They use us, and maybe it’s been a dictatorship all along.

I continue to watch journalists be targeted and killed in Palestine. And be burned alive. Israel or the United States are not held accountable.Nor are United States elected politicians held accountable for letting Trump use this entire government to manipulate the stock market.

Back here in Beacon, I’m directing that helpless energy into local causes I can impact, like advocating for the build of the new Dunkin’ Donuts (one was already there but died in COVID, this would be a new one), the extreme push-back of which I view as another form of redlining. Only the colors are the branded ones orange and pink.

Just let the people have their avedcado toast and eggwhites. With a cheat of a glazed donut. From the safety of their car. Especially for those who cannot walk long distances, as is the dream of this anti-Dunkin’ Donuts effort. People just can’t walk as much as you’d like them to. And, people of all colors work in and eat in and buy from Dunkin’ Donuts. So what are you doing.

Meanwhile, I will continue to mess you up here at A Little Beacon Blog about Palestine until you put FREE PALESTINE and any of the abducted students onto your posters.

But. I don’t hold back my advocacy for issues that are under attack. This is not a tit for tat trade.

Cheers.

Beacon Grants Wishes Of More Traffic Enforcement: Traffic Stops and Tickets Increasing

Some Beacon residents have consistently demanded more traffic and parking enforcement. About 14 years ago, one could not park on the yellow lines outside of a boutique or coffee shop to run inside to get a birthday present or cup of coffee without getting a parking ticket. These days, however, this parking infraction can happen, and does happen regularly on the yellow lines outside of Bank Square Coffee, for instance. Between the hours of 2-3pm, Carman the Crossing Guard is the main enforcer of shooing cars along who do attempt to pull over into the yellow lines.

This lax parking will not last for long, implied Chief Figlia during his presentation of the Police Department Annual Report to the City Council during the 3/31/2025 Workshop Meeting, where he presented multiple data sets to illustrate what the department has been working on and achieving.

Parking Tickets

Thanks to a new contract with a new parking ticket vendor, the City of Beacon Police are using a new ticketing system for parking violations. The vendor they had been using was satisfactory, Chief Figlia said, until the company got absorbed by another company, and provided new equipment. “The new equipment they provided was poorly designed and rarely worked. This led to a sharp decline in our parking enforcement as officers struggled with increasingly frequent equipment failures.”

“The new vendor also provides much-improved handheld, electronic ticket-writer units, which have proven much more dependable,” he explained. This has resulted in a spike in parking tickets. Where there were 20 parking tickets issued in December 2023, there were 187 parking tickets issued in December 2024, according to the report.

Traffic Violations

One resident saw an officer issuing a ticket to a Tesla. Other residents have noticed the Beacon Police on Wilkes Avenue during school drop off rush-hour, consistently nabbing people. The police have been in other areas of town as well.

Traffic Stops made by Beacon Police from 2022-2024.
Photo Credit: City of Beacon Police

According to the monthly and yearly data Chief Figlia presented, traffic stops were at their highest during 2023 (of the 2022-2024 period), and remained the low in 2024. The Beacon Police Department has been understaffed for quite some time, resulting in their trying new initiatives to recruit.

In October 2024, when traffic stops hit their second lowest moment in the three year period, traffic stops started to spike, and continued to increase into 2025. “In January of 2024, 62 stops were performed, whereas in January of 2025, there were 97 stops. Similarly, in February 2024, there were 75 stops made and in February 2025 there were 94 made,” Chief Figlia stated.

After his presentation, Chief Figlia asked the Council if they liked the monthly data set, or if they wanted it yearly only. Mayor Kyriacou said he preferred it lumped into yearly. Reducing the months into an annual snapshot reduces the amount of detail the public can see, in order to notice any seasonal, regional or global trends.

ALBB votes for the monthly data presentation.

The Roaming Turkey In Fishkill Is Fine, According To The Internet. Enjoys People Watching.

The roaming turkey that keeps being spotted in Fishkill is fine, according to many locals in the Inside Scoop Fishkill, NY Facebook Group. General consensus is that the turkey is female, is named Tammy, and while some are concerned for her that she may be frightened, she seems to be just very comfortable in Fishkill watching the comings and goings of traffic. There is bird-watching for humans, and there seems to be human-watching for turkeys.

Maria Lammens made a Facebook post for the turkey, starting off with: “Poor thing…wish I could relocate it to the land by my home where the wild turkeys roam. Fishkill Turkey still hanging out on Rt 9 and Rapalje by Burger King.”

After receiving feedback, Maria expanded: “I have worked with wildlife rehabilitation over the years and understand the complex issues with capturing and relocating a wild animals. I have no intention to attempt a capture and release of this bird. My post was meant to indicate a level of sympathy for the bird that is living his life in an unnatural habitat.”

Most have cautioned not to try to trap it or disturb it. Some have suggested that Tammy is a traffic concern.

However, the behavior of the people hoking at Tammy or stopping and staring may be what is herding Tammy into unsafe directions. Brian Voght observed: “It’s not stuck. It can fly if it wants to. It keeps coming back. Been around fishkill for months; just comfortable there. But I agree, it’ll get hit eventually.”

Residents have apparently tried to universally organize for the turkey. Diane Burkart said: “They won’t do anything about her unless she is injured. The people who live in the Roundhill development where she came from looked into it. We have called wildlife people and they won’t help.”

Nicole Altuchoff, a vet tech, instructed: “Please leave Tammy alone. She flies and is very smart. She does not need saving or capture. Capturing a turkey incorrectly can cause them to die and go into shock. She is fed and healthy. There are flocks all over Dutchess County and in the area she will find her way. She is checked on daily. I am a vet tech and have been in contact with many rescues and wild life rehabilitation places that work with injured turkeys specifically. It is more dangerous to try and trap her/relocate her. Many things can go wrong.

Said: Maryann Tamilio-Coviello “He’s famous - walking the streets for days. K104 was just talking about his adventures.”

Melissa Baumann insisted: “I’m going to say it again. There is nothing wrong with this turkey. They walk, they fly, they move around a lot. It is just about mating season for turkeys. They are more active. He is not lonely, lost, or scared. He is hanging around hens and getting food. Just happens to be by a busy street. It doesn't need rescue, there is absolutely nothing wrong. It is doing what turkeys do. Leave it alone and do some research on animals. They best thing you can do for wild animals is leave them alone.”

Mike Mazzuca contributed with his thoughts on the turkey’s gender: “This is a Tammy not a Tommy. 5% to 10% of the females have beards, its a rarity. The give away that she is a female is the feathers on her head. Males don’t have them. It wasn't easy at first, until I used my professional camera to get up close and detailed shots. You can check out the post I did that shows her head. As for not trapping her. Even though I personally rather see her in a more ideal environment for her, wildlife and humans are mixing more and more due to expansion and the lessening of wildlife habitat. Plus it is safer for her concerning predators. She can fly like all turkeys, and if needed, be will roost in a tree at night. So lets all slowdown when we see her. Maybe some "Turkey at Play"signs around Fishkill. Lol.”

Patricia Marmo whispered: “Be patient.”

For more turkey photos, see the Inside Scoop Fishkill, NY group.

Cigar On Main Is Moving From East End To Middle Main Street In Former Dentist Office

The former Prospect Dental office on Main Street, that has been vacant for some time, is getting a new tenant: Cigar On Main. The cigar store opened early last year on the east end of town, with a double-room layout to accompany their walk-in, temperature-controlled cigar cave. Cigar On Main are moving to 288 Main Street where they will now occupy two floors. This is right next door to Hudson Valley Food Hall.

In their new location, which is being completely renovated and built out, they are dedicating a the second floor “to all the cigar smokers in our community to come and interact with each other,” the owner told A Little Beacon Blog.

The ground floor will showcase the products Cigar On Main is known for (see a sampling here on their website). The new location will be open in a few months. During the renovation, Cigar on Main remains open at their current location of 520 Main Street, near the Hudson Valley Marshmallow Co.

Below are photos of what Cigar on Main looks like inside right now, before they head west for the former Prospect Dental spot.