The Movie :: Retail Therapy Guide and Things To Do In Beacon 5/17/2024
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Meet Danielle Pitts: Author of Hair, Hair Everywhere
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Scenes From "There She Goes" Filmed In Beacon On Main Street From Inside Notions N Potions
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It was a rainy Thursday afternoon for the filming of the movie “There She Goes,” starring Rachael Leigh Cook (“She’s All That”) and Utkarsh Ambudkar (“Pitch Perfect” and "Ghosts"). At 11am-ish, part of Main Street closed down from Luxe Optique to Bank Square. People could walk down the sidewalk, but it was clear there was a movie filming on one side of the sidewalk. It wasn’t clear if people could shop or not, so many just stopped and stared.
The door was open at Notions N Potions, and owner Sheryl Glickman was standing outside, also watching. A Little Beacon Blog hopped over to say hello. There were two background actors (extras) placed in her doorway, and rumblings on set were that they were getting close to filming. Everyone was getting into their places. So, Sheryl and this blogger sat in Shery’s tarot card reading chairs in her front window to watch the scene unfold.
In the first video, the “walk and talk” rolled by with Rachael and Utkarsh walking and talking to each other, in a build up of a heated moment. Next thing we knew, the actors were headed back down the sidewalk, this time, throwing ice at each other from their drinks! Much to our surprise, the actors actually ducked into Notions N Potions in an unscripted moment. Watch that in the third video. All videos are below.
“There She Goes” Filming In Beacon From Choice Films - Producers of “Poker Face”
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UPDATE: Watch scenes being filmed here.
Filming for “There She Goes,” starring Rachael Leigh Cook (“She’s All That”) and Utkarsh Ambudkar (“Pitch Perfect”) from Choice Films happens on Main Street in Beacon, NY between Utensil (143 Main Street) and Digger Phelps Court (M&T Bank) today, Thursday, May 16th, 2024, for today. For interior scenes, the film is using the stages at Umbra in Newburgh. The City of Beacon posted a notice that this round will be for today only, and does involve parking closures and some street blockage. The area between South Avenue and Cliff Street will have intermittent closures to vehicle traffic between 12pm-6pm, according to the City’s announcement.
Choice Films is a regular in Beacon, with filming of “Pokerface” in town (yesss, “in town,” we know Beacon is a city, get over it) and “I Know This Much Is True” (Mark Ruffalo), which filmed at All Sport over the summer of 2019.
Rachel Leigh Cook, in a preview for “A Tourists Guide To Love”
According to IMDB, the plot is “under wraps.” According to the street, this movie will be a romantic comedy. Already, local businesses have been frequented, with purchases of ice at Key Food and film rental equipment from CineHub.
While the trucks are parked in Beacon’s free municipal lot, right next to Beacon Bread, who knows who else will feel an economic lift from the filming. Film crew should visit A Little Beacon Blog’s Restaurant, Shopping, and Beauty Guides for the list of all of the places to go for their needs.
The City of Beacon usually gets a film permit fee, and there may be police overtime charged to the production company. From time to time, City Administrator Chris White will reveal how these fees are spent back onto the City of Beacon. He should feel free to comment at any time on where this film permit will be going. However, since he has a “No Comment” policy for A Little Beacon Blog for himself and every single department head employed by the City of Beacon, we will just have to wait for him to drop a crumb at a City Council Meeting.
Click to listen to Utkarsh Ambudkar on PBS News Hour “Utkarsh Ambudkar's Brief But Spectacular Take On Avoiding Ethnic Stereotypes” .
Fans of “Pitch Perfect” will be delighted to watch the rapper/actor Utkarsh Ambudkar on screen. It is unknown at this time where the scene will take place, or which actors will be in Beacon. For now, fans can watch Utkarsh on PBS News Hour “Utkarsh Ambudkar's Brief But Spectacular Take On Avoiding Ethnic Stereotypes” talk about how he avoids ethnic stereotyping in roles he accepts, and lines he agrees or disagrees to say in auditions.
From the video interview, Utkarsh said:
“So I have been in auditions where they wrote a line in their show about an Indian teacher with a strong accent saying that he would sell 10 goats to get a woman like that in his classroom.”
“So this is offensive. And I told my manager, no, there's no way I'm going to do this.”
“My manager said, OK, go in. You can put your own spin on it. They're fine.”
“So I go and I do my no accent and my improv.”
“He said, ‘Can you just do it the way that I wrote it’"
"‘You want me to do it the way you wrote it, like, even this line about the goats?’"
“The sauce on what I said was so thick that there was only one interpretation to take from it. And that's not how you do business and it's not how we should communicate with each other.”
“In any case, that's my responsibility, but his responsibility is to not write a piece of (EXPLETIVE DELETED) that's offensive, right?”
“Now, when I walk into a room -- and it just happened on ‘Mulan.’ I just went and did this Disney movie, and there were some challenges with sort of the way that our ethnicities were being portrayed.”
“And I was able to go into the room with Disney. I mean, it's a giant conglomerate. And the script was changed and moved around and built and enhanced to sort of speak to some of the concerns that we had.”
A March, Storytelling and Poetry Commemoration For Nakba 1948 Happening May 15th From Train Station to Pohill Park
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The Beacon Ceasefire Coalition has organized a march to commemorate the 1948 Nakba of Palestine. According to Wikipedia: “The Nakba (Arabic: النَّكْبَة an-Nakba, lit. 'the catastrophe') was the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Mandatory Palestine during the 1948 Palestine war through their violent displacement and dispossession of land, property, and belongings, along with the destruction of their society, culture, identity, political rights, and national aspirations. The term is also used to describe the ongoing persecution and displacement of Palestinians by Israel. As a whole, it covers the fracturing of Palestinian society and the long-running rejection of the right of return for Palestinian refugees and their descendants.” Israel celebrates this time as “Israeli Independence Day,” which began their sanctioned occupation of Palestine.
Locally, the Palestinian restaurant, Ziatun, is historically closed on this day.
Says the Beacon Ceasefire Coalition press release: “We will have storytellers, poetry, and community to remember the catastrophe that expelled over 760,000 Palestinians, wiped out 531 villages, and killed 15,000 Palestinians. The Nakba resulted in over 7 million present-day refugees and a global Palestinian diaspora. We welcome the Hudson Valley community to honor this day with us, and to march before sharing tea, stories and healing in the park followed by a candlelight vigil.”
*Marchers will meet at 4:45 PM on the river side of the Beacon Train Station (near the Sloop Club - 2 Red Flynn Drive, Beacon) before marching together to Polhill Park (access details below)
*Those who prefer to not march may meet us directly at Polhill Park at 5PM (Main St & South Ave, Beacon)
*Event is fully outdoors & rain or shine so please bring rain gear and other comforts as needed
*Flyer by Parisa Karami
MAY 15TH NAKBA COMMEMORATION @ BEACON ACCESSIBILITY
MASKS & DISTANCING: Event is fully outdoors. Masking is encouraged, but will not be required. Masks will be available at both meetup spots (outside train station & at Polhill Park). Polhill Park is small so distancing might be challenging, depending on attendance.
PARKING & TRANSIT:
MARCH: Marchers will meet at 4:45 PM on the river side of the Beacon Train Station (Grassy area, with paved sidewalk close by, near the Sloop Club - 2 Red Flynn Drive, Beacon). There is very limited free parking there, with more nearby at Pete & Toshi Seeger River Park (paved 0.2 mile away). Parking within the train station is paid using the meters near the platform entrance.
POLHILL PARK: Non-marchers can meet at 5PM at Polhill Park (Main St & South Ave, Beacon). Parking available on nearby side streets and on Main St - just be mindful of signs indicating where not to park!
RETURNING TO YOUR CAR FROM POLHILL PARK: Organizers will be available to walk with marchers in groups back to our cars at the Beacon Train Station from Polhill Park, as it will be dark when the event ends ~8PM. Rides are also available back to the Beacon Train Station; please tap an organizer during the event or respond to this email if you’d like a ride back.
PUBLIC TRANSIT: The Beacon Train Station can be reached via MetroNorth, and the Beacon Free Loop bus services both the train station and Polhill Park.
MARCH: We will march up the paved sidewalk from the Beacon Train Station up Beekman Ave to Polhill Park. The walk is largely uphill and 0.6 miles long, with no stairs. Those who do not wish to march can meet us directly at Polhill Park at 5PM.
OTHER DETAILS: Event is rain or shine, so be sure to look at the forecast and bring rain gear if needed! Some folding/camp chairs & picnic table seating will be available at Polhill Park, and you can also bring your own chair. A single-seat, all-gender (but not accessible - 1 step up and narrow doorframe) bathroom is available across the street at Bank Square Coffeehouse until it closes at 7PM. We’ll have a family-friendly kite-making station.
Thank you to Celebrate 845 for their Accessibility Checklist!
Howland Public Library Presents: Special Screening of "The Peekskill Riots" Episode One: The Mighty Oak in the Forest”
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Special Screening of "The Peekskill Riots" Episode One: The Mighty Oak in the Forest” and Q&A with local Filmmaker Jon Scott Bennett**
The Howland Public Library is pleased to announce a special screening on Thursday, May 23rd at 6 PM of Episode One of the docu-series "The Peekskill Riots," followed by a Q&A session with Hudson Valley filmmaker Jon Scott Bennett.
The docu-series will shed light on the historic events of August and September 1949, when violence erupted at benefit concerts for the Civil Right Congress outside Peekskill, NY, featuring actor, singer, and activist Paul Robeson. Citizens of Peekskill, galvanized by racist and anti-Semitic sentiments and disdain for Robeson’s left-wing views and campaign for civil rights, started two riots that resulted in hundreds of injuries, made national news, and unofficially marked the beginning of the McCarthy era, which would nearly erase Robeson from the public consciousness.
Through compelling storytelling and archival footage, Episode One serves as an introduction to Robeson's life and activism and the events leading up to the Peekskill concerts. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with Bennett in a thought-provoking Q&A session following the screening.
Join for an evening of education, reflection, and dialogue.
Film Screening, The Peekskill Riots, Episode One: The Mighty Oak in the Forest
Day: Thursday, May 23, 2024
Time: 6pm
Location: Howland Public Library, 313 Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508
RSVP here >
Tuesday's 5-14-24 Planning Board Agenda - What's On Deck
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The Planning Board will meet in the Municipal Center Courtroom at 7:00 p.m. A work session will take place at 7:00 p.m. for a training workshop, discussion of agenda items and/or topics of interest to the Planning Board. The regular meeting will begin immediately thereafter, but no later than 7:30 p.m.
Peek at the details below…
Public hearing and continue review of application for Site Plan Approval and Special Use Permit, car dealership, 410 Fishkill Avenue, submitted by Carvana, LLC c/o Jenn Roldan.
Continue review of application for Amended Site Plan Approval, 11 Mirbeau Lane, submitted by Mirbeau of Beacon, LLC (Edward Kellogg).
Continue review of application for Amended Site Plan Approval, 248 Tioronda Avenue, submitted by Beacon 248 Holdings LLC (Bernard Kohn).
Continue review of application for Subdivision Approval, residential, 39 Howland Avenue, submitted by John Vergara.
Continued review of application for Site Plan and Subdivision Approval, Mixed-Use Commercial and Residential, 45 Beekman Street, High Street, and High Street, submitted by Beekman Arts Center LLC and Bay Ridge Studios LLC.
Review of application for Site Plan Approval, 19 Henry Street, townhomes, submitted by Lori Joseph Builders, Inc.
Architectural Review
Certificate of Appropriateness – 1201 North Avenue; Façade
New Single-Family House – 144 Spring Valley Street
Certificate of Appropriateness – 265 Main Street; Sign
Certificate of Appropriateness – 512 Main Street; Sign
New Single-Family House – 290 South Avenue
Certificate of Appropriateness – 246 Main Street; Façade
Miscellaneous Business
Consider request for a six (6) month extension of Special Use Permit, 16 West Main Street, submitted by JMC Planning Engineering Landscape Architecture & Land Surveying, PLLC.
Monday’s 5-13-24 City Council Workshop Meeting Agenda - What’s On Deck
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Peek at the agenda below...
Discussion of Mayor's Appointment of Thomas Figlia to the Position of Police Chief
Discussion of Mayor's Appointment of Jamie Mickle to the Position of Motor Equipment Operator
Renewal of a Community Facilities Grant for the Howland Cultural Center
Proposed Resolution Amending the Schedule of Fees Concerning Fire Hydrants
Proposed Local Law Concerning Termination of Illegal Sewer Connections
Proposed Resolution Amending the Schedule of Fees Concerning Sewer Connection or Discharge Waiver
Authorization of the Naming of a Private Street Called Arno Drive
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Hello Late Night Friday!
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Police Attack Pro-Palestine Gaza Solidarity Encampment At SUNY New Paltz
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by Arvind Dilawar
Encampment was entirely peaceful before violent eviction by police
On the evening of May 2, more than 150 police officers from the New York State Police, State University Police, Ulster County Sheriff’s Office and New Paltz Police Department arrested 132 students and community members on the campus of the State University of New York at New Paltz, as reported by Times Union.
Like students, faculty, staff and community members across the United States, the encampment at SUNY New Paltz sought university divestment from Israel due to its ongoing genocide in Gaza and occupation of Palestine more broadly. And like encampments across the United States, the one at SUNY New Paltz was met with overwhelming police violence.
In a message to the SUNY New Paltz community, University President Darrell P. Wheeler acknowledged calling police onto campus to attack the encampment of students and community members, who had gathered at Parker Quad, a lawn between university buildings. Participants had established the encampment the previous day to express their solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, at least 34,904 of whom — including 14,500 children — have been killed in the ongoing Israeli genocide, according to Al Jazeera at the time of this writing. In response to the genocide and Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, which is internationally recognized as Palestinian territory, the encampment demanded that the university cut ties with companies that do business with the Israeli government, such as Siemens, which provides Israeli infrastructure in the West Bank and has a number of partnerships with SUNY.
Nowhere in Wheeler’s aforementioned note did he accuse the encampment of being violent — which, according to both participating students and community members, it was not.
“The encampment was one of the most serene and peaceful communities I’ve ever had the pleasure of being a part of,” says Theo Ertz, a student at SUNY New Paltz. “From the beginning, the solidarity encampment in Parker Quad centered education and community bonding. We ate meals together, sang together, read books, attended multiple teach-ins and made art daily.”
“The encampment prior to police escalation was more akin to a party than anything,” echoes Kyle Krimsky, who joined the encampment after students invited community members to do so. “Students and other demonstrators chanted, danced around, even exchanged books at a makeshift library. Professors and community members mingled throughout the day. It was peaceful, upbeat and uplifting.”
Despite the encampment’s peacefulness, riot-gear-clad police met it with extraordinary violence, including chokeholds and batons, while being backed up by K-9 units, drones and even a police helicopter. As part of a medical team ferrying the injured to an EMT, Ertz saw firsthand how police responded to the encampment.
“Students and community members who were protesting were sitting down with locked arms and legs in an attempt to protect each other and the encampment,” they recall. “I watched helplessly as my friends were torn apart, dragged, beaten and absolutely brutalized by police one-by-one. During the second phase of the raid sweep, my hands were already in the air, but I was still dragged and thrown to the ground, with legs and hands held tightly behind my back while a knee held me down.”
“Some of my friends were kicked, beaten with batons and concussed as a result of the excessive force,” they continue. “A bystander was even bitten by a K-9. An 82-year-old woman was dragged across the ground and later had to be hospitalized after losing consciousness. While we were waiting in line for processing, I saw multiple police officers sexually assault students.”
After being struck in the head by a police officer, Krimsky was also arrested and eventually charged with trespassing — as were most of the arrestees, according to Times Union. Worse than the trespassing charge, which is a violation most frequently punishable with a fine, was the loss of personal property.
“My cell phone and wallet were dislodged from my pocket during my arrest,” says Krimsky. “I had a duffel bag with a change of clothes and power bank, along with a tent. Everything I lost, along with all of the rest of the lost belongings of the demonstrators — bags, IDs, cell phones, keys and medications — were all thrown out by SUNY New Paltz staff.”
“I lost my medical bag with perfectly good supplies,” says Ertz as well. “But others lost phones, laptops, medicine and more.”
Despite the losses and the violence, both Ertz and Krimsky are adamant that their solidarity with Palestinians facing Israeli genocide and occupation has not wavered one bit.
“My support for Palestinian liberation is as ardent as it was before my arrest,” says Krimsky. “The violence the state subjected us to that night isn't a drop in the ocean of suffering that are the lives of Palestinians under Israeli occupation. None of us are going to stop until our leaders step up to protect human rights.”
“I think these harsh tactics were used purposefully to scare us into submission, but it has done quite the opposite for me,” says Ertz. “Despite the immense emotional and physical traumas, I am reminded constantly that we experienced a small drop of what the Palestinian people have been going through for seven months. My solidarity with Palestine has not faltered for a second. It has become so much stronger.”
Letter To The Editor From A Beacon Jew Re Antisemitism Law Expansion: "What A Disservice To Jews"
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Editor’s Note: Tina Bernstein is a citizen of Beacon and is Jewish. She was one of the first Beacon Jews to openly speak about Israel’s response to the attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023. She did so on a podcast episode with A Little Beacon Blog. Since then, many more Jewish people in Beacon have come out in opposition to Israel’s response and the ongoing genocide. Many have signed an Open Letter, and spoke at the podium during the push for a Ceasefire Resolution in Beacon, which did get passed.
From Tina Bernstein-Camins:
We live in a country that is more intent on attacking its own students than standing for humanity.
Students who are standing for an end to genocide and divestment from perpetrators of the mass murder of 34,000.
This, while mass graves are discovered, and while people are intentionally being starved and bombed in Raffah.
To top it off, our House of Representatives and 133 spineless Democrats have fallen in line with right wing conservatives by making it illegal to condemn the fascist government of Israel by conflating that criticism with antisemitism.
How shameful! What a disservice to Jews all over who are upholding the principles of "Never Again To Anyone." And what total disregard for the lives of Palestinians.
Related Links:
“Gaza’s seventh mass grave discovered at al-Shifa Hospital” - Al Jazeera
“Mass graves found at Gaza hospitals raided by Israel prompt demands for independent investigation” - NBC News
“Reports mount of mass graves at Gaza hospitals, some bodies found ‘without heads’” - The Hill
NYCLU Says Beacon's City Administrator Chris White Violated The Open Meetings Law For Blocking Ceasefire Sign and Calling For Arrest Of Citizens
/Beacon’s City Administrator placing his hands on a pro-Palestinian, anti-genocide protester at Beacon’s City Council and Mayoral Swearing In Ceremony while Congressman Pat Ryan spoke.
Senior Staff Attorney for the NYCLU (New York Civil Liberties Union), Beth Haroules, sent notice to The City of Beacon’s Administrator Chris White, Mayor Lee Kyriacou and the City Council that City Administrator Chris’ behavior violated the Open Meetings Law during Beacon’s Swearing-In Ceremony for City Council and Mayor on January 6, 2024 when Chris prevented the protesters from silently holding their Pro-Palestinian and anti-genocide banner that read “Ceasefire” while Congressman Pat Ryan gave remarks.
The letter described the scene, which has been published in full below, and includes description of public video footage of both the ceremony from the front of the room where the Mayor was, and the disruption in the back of the room by the City Administrator. That video footage has been published at the bottom of this article.
“We urge the City to avoid treating silent protestors who may attend City meetings and events this way.”
The Letter, Republished In Full
Dear Mayor Kyriacou and City Administrator White:
On behalf of the New York Civil Liberties Union, we write to express our concerns about the events surrounding a peaceful and silent protest conducted at the Beacon Mayoral and City Council swearing-in ceremony on January 6, 2024 by residents of Beacon who were attending this public event. We urge the City to avoid treating silent protestors who may attend City meetings and events this way, and to respect the First Amendment rights of protesters going forward.
“The silent protesters did not shout or interrupt Representative Ryan – they simply told the people holding down the banner that they would not let it go.”
The Events of January 6, 2024
The Memorial Building, where the Swearing In Ceremony took place in Beacon on January 6, 2024.
The swearing-in event was held at the Veterans Memorial Building, owned by the City of Beacon and currently occupied and used by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (“VFW”). It was a governmental event that was very much open to the public. During the swearing-in event, Mayor Kyriacou introduced U.S. Representative Pat Ryan to address the gathering.
Representative Ryan has been greeted at his public speaking events by various of his constituents requesting that he support a ceasefire in Gaza. As Representative Ryan began to speak, four people (three of whom are residents of Beacon, all of whom are Representative Ryan’s constituents) who were sitting in the last row of seats stood up and unfurled a small black cloth banner that read “Ceasefire” in white letters.
“Nevertheless, the City Administrator directed the police officers in attendance to arrest these peaceful protesters. The officers indicated that they would not arrest anyone unless a VFW representative asked them to do so..”
Christopher White, the City Administrator, and several people in attendance immediately moved to the side of and behind these four silent protesters and tried to hold down the banner. The silent protesters did not shout or interrupt Representative Ryan – they simply told the people holding down the banner that they would not let it go. The videotape of the swearing-in event, with a camera angle on Representative Ryan and the Mayor and other members of the City Council, shows that no one at the front of the hall appeared to be disturbed. No one even turned in their seats or appeared to be looking at the back of the VFW Hall. Representative Ryan continued his remarks, undisturbed and without pause. The videotape of the swearing-in event revealed no other noises in the hall other than the Representative’s remarks to the audience.
Nevertheless, the City Administrator directed the police officers in attendance to arrest these peaceful protesters. The officers indicated that they would not arrest anyone unless a VFW representative asked them to do so; they immediately apparently got that request and moved to arrest these silent protestors. Threatened with arrest, the peaceful protesters, one of whom was carrying an infant in a chest carrier, left the swearing-in event, escorted by police officers.
Preventing the Protesters from Silently Holding Their Banner Violated the Open Meetings Law
New York’s Open Meetings Law 3 (“Open Meetings Law”) provides members of the public with the right to observe and listen to a variety of meetings of public bodies. Several Open Meetings Law Advisory Opinions expressly address signage. In Open Meetings Advisory Opinion 52964, the Committee on Open Government of the State Department of the State of New York (“Committee”) provided guidance on the ability of government bodies to regulate signs at meetings open to the public. In doing so, the Committee listed as primary considerations: whether signs would be disruptive or obtrusive, whether the signs or sign holders would block a person from observing the proceedings or block an exit or create a fire code violation or would be obscene. [In the absence of these factors, the Committee indicated that signs should not be barred from an open meeting?] None of these circumstances existed at the swearing-in event. The peaceful protesters stood holding their banner in the last row of seats at the back of the hall and were silent throughout except to the extent that they told those seeking to push down the banner that they simply would not let it go. None of this exchange is even reflected in the video recording of the swearing-in event.
The Removal of the Protesters Upon Threat of Arrest Clearly Violated the First Amendment.
It is also well-settled that anyone may attend meetings of local public bodies in New York. This right of access is guaranteed by New York’s Open Meetings Law, 5 the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and Article I, section 8 of the New York State Constitution. The only restrictions on this right of public access relate to keeping order in the meeting. Though the Council is authorized to adopt rules for its operations,6 its authority is not unlimited. Indeed, to the extent that the City Council Meeting Rules in effect at that time applied to that gathering, they did not address signage and cannot be interpreted to have prevented the attendees from silently holding the banner at the swearing-in event.7
Events like the swearing-in event are a “limited public forum” and, as such, any limitation on speech must be reasonable in light of the purpose of the forum.8 Further, any restrictions imposed must be viewpoint-neutral.9 Accordingly, a governmental body may not use an improper reason, such as a dislike for a particular speaker’s viewpoint, as a basis to silence a person or exclude them from a public meeting, which is what apparently happened here.10
The protection of public access to open meetings serves fundamental constitutional values. The purpose of an open, public government meeting is to allow the public to understand, inform, petition and influence its government. In light of this purpose, it was patently unreasonable to prevent these Beacon residents from petitioning their elected official, Representative Ryan, to threaten to have the silent banner holders removed from the event space, and to threaten their arrest Conclusion
Permitting citizens to engage with their government is a critical role of public officials in a democracy. We request that you review the events that took place at the swearing-in event, acknowledge that the city of Beacon should have let the protesters hold their banner and not be threatened with arrest, and ensure that such events going forward are handled consistently with the First Amendment and applicable New York State law.
We are of course available to discuss these matters with you at a mutually agreeable time. Please let us know if you would like to do so.
Footnotes:
1 See City of Beacon, All Events: Swearing-In Ceremony for Mayor and Councilmembers, January 6 @ 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM, available at https://beaconny.gov/index.php/events/swearing-in-ceremony-for-mayor-and-councilmembers/.
2 See City of Beacon Swearing In 01-06-24, Beacon YouTube channel, available at
3 NY Public Officers Law, Article 7.
4 Advisory Opinion 5296 may be found at: https://docsopengovernment.dos.ny.gov/coog/otext/o5296.doc. See also Advisory Opinion 3845, which may be found at https://doccs.dos.ny/coog/otext/o3845.htm.
5 Id.
6 The Beacon City Council does not appear to have any published rules relating to its operations at public meetings.
7 City Council Rule of Procedure 8(d)(8)(i) reads: The audience shall be respectful of all speakers and shall refrain from comments and gestures, private discussions, cell phone use, or other conduct that interferes with the orderly progression of the meeting or in any way discourages free speech.
8 See Devine v. Village of Port Jefferson, 849 F. Supp. 185, 189-90 (E.D.N.Y. 1994) (analyzing village board meeting as a limited public forum); see also City of Madison Joint School Dist. No. 8 v. Wisconsin Employment Relations Comm’n, 429 U.S. 167, 174-76 (1976) (suggesting that any portion of a meeting of a public body that the body opens for public comment is a limited public forum); Norse v. City of Santa Cruz, 629 F.3d 966, 976 (9th Cir. 2010) (holding that First Amendment protections of a limited public forum applied not only during the public comment period of the meeting, but also throughout the entire meeting), cert. denied, 132 S. Ct. 112 (2011).
9 See Rosenberger v. Rector & Visitors of Univ. of Va., 515 U.S. 819, 829 (1995) (stating that “[t]he State may not exclude speech where its distinction is not ‘reasonable in light of the purpose served by the forum,’ nor may it discriminate against speech on the basis of its viewpoint.” (quoting Cornelius v. NAACP Legal Defense & Ed. Fund,
Inc., 473 U.S. 788, 806 (1985)).
10 See White v. City of Norwalk, 900 F.2d 1421,1425 (9th Cir. 1990).
11 See We the People, Inc., of the U.S. v. Nuclear Regulatory Comm'n, 746 F. Supp. 213, 216-18 (D.D.C. 1990)
(signs that do not block the public’s view are permissible).
Caterpillars/Spongy Moths Descend From Silk Threads Across Fields To Irritate Skin
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During the first Rombout Middle School track meet of the season, people were walking into spider webs just like in the Gwen Stefani No Doubt song. Even while on snack pickups at the grocery store, spider webs were flying. Countless webs were glimmering as they floated across Hammond Track in the setting sun, with bugs flying in between them. Soon, the curiosity turned to annoyance as little black caterpillars were walking across shirts, arms and legs everywhere. They could not be brushed off quickly enough.
The next day, Beacon City School Superintendent Matthew Landahl sent an email update to district families, saying that these flying caterpillars were spongy moths, which have been causing rashes if come into contact. He provided reassurance on what the school was doing to deal with them: “We value our students having time outside and our facilities team will clear our playground equipment before recess daily so our students can access our playground equipment. Our building principals will monitor playgrounds and they may decide to implement indoor recess if there are too many present on our equipment.” He did not not anticipate an impact to extracurricular activities.
And so begins the season of the gypsy moth, according to Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). The allergic reaction comes from the hairs of the caterpillar, according to Cornell: “The tiny hairs (setae) of spongy moth caterpillars carry histamines that can cause an itchy, red rash in some individuals.”
The caterpillars begin in an egg mass laid by gypsie moths in July/August. The mass is stuck on a tree, and if it survives the winter, 100-600 eggs will hatch as larvae. They grow into caterpillars, and leave the mass, often on a single silk thread that is carried by the wind until it lands on a surface that the caterpillar likes and can feed from. According to Cornell: “Early instar larvae are small, dark brown-to-black, and very fuzzy. Later instars lighten in color and have a showy display of two rows of colored spots: five pairs of blue and six pairs of red.”
Then in June/July, “larvae pupate in hiding spots under bark or similar protection,” explains Cornell. They are about 2” and dangle. “Once they complete pupation, adult male spongy moths emerge and fly erratically during the daytime in search of mates. Heavy-bodied adult females have wings but don’t fly. They rest on trees and wait as males follow female pheromone trails to find them.”
White footed mice and fungus are the killers of the caterpillars, according to this report by the Highlands Current. And a stress-induced virus. “Eventually, the caterpillar population will get so big that it will get stressed trying to find enough food, weakening their immune system and making them more susceptible to a virus that is always present in the population, but sub-lethal when stress levels are low.”
New To The Restaurant Guide! Bagelish & Nilufers Home Kitchen Plus The New Ice Cream Spot Located Inside The HV Food Hall
/ALBB’s Restaurant Guide has been updated! This list changes daily. As restaurants open and close, try new menus, & new methods. We monitor their social media, but if you know of something different than what is on this list, please let us know!
Bagelish & Nilufer Home Kitchen have recently opened right here on Main St in Beacon and added to the Restaurant Guide.
Bagelish
“Experience the Extra-Ordinary”… bagels are produced with a unique process using specially milled flour with no bleaching agents or bromides. When possible, they source locally produced flour, butter, bacon, salmon, and coffee. For their ethnically diverse offerings, they source ingredients from around the globe, including Lebanese extra virgin olive oil, Lebanese za’atar, Irish cheddar, Korean and Portuguese sea salts.
Located at 226 Main St.
Nilufer Home Kitchen
Executive Chef, Numerologist, Life Coach, EFT Therapist… a Turkish table offering breakfast and lighter fare prevail.
Five Pennies Creamery
And incase you missed it on our Instagram… Five Pennies Creamery has opened up in the Hudson Valley Food Hall!
Beacon’s newest family-owned business. We’ve all been waiting. Overheard at the new countertop: “We heard you were coming to Beacon! We have been waiting ever since!”
Owner Dan the Ice-cream Man makes the icecream in the Food Hall. That’s right - 100 flavors made right here on Main Street. What are the flavors? Well, there are many didferent variations of chocolate ice-cream, for instance. Several variations of coconut icecream. Not all at once, but in rotation. There’s a chance there will be different flavors each time you come. Flavors like Toasted Coconut, Cookie Dough, pralines & Cream, Smurfs, Cookies & Cream, Banana Pudding, Chocolate, Vanilla, and others are ready to be scooped. Waffle cones are available. Chunky ice-cream is the norm. Swirls of flavor are prominent.
Hudson Valley Food Hall is a sponsor of ALBB’s Restaurant Guide! Making features like this possible. With sprinkles on top.
What Is This New Antisemitism Bill? It's Not New, And It's Based On These Limitations
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Screenshot of a list of limitations to speech by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) .
On Wednesday, May 1st, 2024, The House of Representatives passed a Bill called “The Antisemitism Awareness Act,” which some in Beacon have called misleading and a disservice to Jews. Said Tina Bernstein, a resident of Beacon and longtime advocate for justice including during the anti-Vietnam war movement, told A Little Beacon Blog in a Letter To The Editor: “Our House of Representatives and 133 spineless Democrats have fallen in line with right wing conservatives by making it illegal to condemn the fascist government of Israel by conflating that criticism with antisemitism. How shameful! What a disservice to Jews all over who are upholding the principles of ‘Never Again To Anyone.’ And what total disregard for the lives of Palestinians.”
The Bill was pushed through as students across the United States and now the world are holding pro-Palestinian protests demanding that their universities divest financially from Israel, stop exchange programs with Israel, gain amnesty from suspensions for protesting, and other protections. These students are being violently attacked by riot police called in by some universities, as what happened at Columbia, UCLA, SUNY New Paltz, and others. As stated in the proposed bill: “Since 2018, the Department of Education has used the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism when investigating violations of that Title VI.”
According to the Associated Press, the proposal, “would codify the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a federal anti-discrimination law that bars discrimination based on shared ancestry, ethnic characteristics or national origin.”
The IHRA defines that discrimination as: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
The IHRA provides examples to illustrate when this discrimination might occur, according to their disgression. Some of those examples include:
Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.
Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.
Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.
Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.
Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis.
Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.
The limitation of criticism of this kind could make it discriminatory, for example, to say that Israel was committing genocide of Palestinians.
“If passed by the Senate and signed into law, the bill would broaden the legal definition of antisemitism to include the ‘targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity.’ Critics say the move would have a chilling effect on free speech throughout college campuses,” according to the Associated Press.
Says Arvind Dilawar in his piece for Truthout: “As the definition explicitly references criticism of Israel, pro-Palestinian activists fear it may open them up to prosecution, and even hate crimes charges, simply for organizing against the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza or occupation of Palestine in general.”
Arvind has also been tracking how many states in America, including New York State, are creating state laws to back this broad definition, which does not exist for other nations, including African nations for the brutality American inflicted upon African Americans when stolen from their homes for free labor in America.
Other sectors of American political representatives have had unexpected reactions. Some who normally support bans on Muslims took a turn on this legislation that so protected Israel. NBC News captured these quotes:
"Did the House of Representatives just make parts of the Bible illegal?" Charlie Kirk, conservative commentator, posted to X, formerly Twitter.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene posted, "Antisemitism is wrong, but I will not be voting for the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023 (H.R. 6090) today that could convict Christians of antisemitism for believing the Gospel that says Jesus was handed over to Herod to be crucified by the Jews."
NBC News reported this post: "Congress votes to make the Bible illegal hate speech. I guess I'll see you all in jail!" wrote Lauren Witzke, a former Republican Senate candidate in Delaware.
Monday’s 5-6-24 City Council Meeting Agenda - What’s On Deck
/A Little Beacon Blog
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The City of Beacon entered into a contract with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to provide increased access to Beacon tenants facing eviction. They may also be able to help with sources of rent arrears assistance. Call the paralegal, Steven Mihalik at 845-253-6953 to inquire.
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