Federal Investigation of BPD Continues

City Officials Disagree on Next Steps
by Michael Daecher
Responding to a preliminary report from the Department of
Justice (DoJ), the Beacon Police Department claims it is complying with
recommendations to improve its policies and procedures, but city officials are
at odds about who is ultimately responsible for making the changes permanent. (See BPD response here
, here, and here.)
In June [...]

How the City Responded to the DoJ Report

To get a better idea how the BPD response compares to the
federal recommendations
, and why funding and staffing issues are raised, it
helps to look at the specifics. The Justice
Department’s report contains 19 specific recommendations focused on six main
areas:

Policies and Procedures
Use of Force
Vehicle Pursuits / Roadblocks
Public Complaint Investigations
Supervisory Oversight.
Officer Training

1. Policies and Procedures 
DoJ: “Policies [...]

Your City, Your Valley, Your Future

Vandalism at several Beacon Parks leaves Scenic Hudson
scratching their heads
by Jeffery Battersby
According to Scenic Hudson’s Jay Levine, it didn’t take long
for the vandalism to start at the group’s new Gateway to Mount Beacon Park. In
fact, it was within days of the park’s opening in early June. “As best as we
can tell,” says Levine, “someone, took [...]

Master Plan Update

The process of revising Beacon’s aging infrastructure plan
moves ahead
by Sara Pasti
On May 18, 2005, a “Kick-Off” Meeting for the Comprehensive
Review Committee was held, launching the process for a comprehensive master
plan update for the City of Beacon.
Committee members appointed by the Mayor and City Council
include Mayor Clara Lou Gould, Tim Dexter of the Beacon [...]

Under Pressure? Recent Mountain Lane fire raises concerns for local residents

by  Karen Maserjian Shan
While walking his dog about two months ago,
Gerry Bell smelled smoke.
Then he heard the clang of fire engines racing
to a fire. By the time he reached his home on East Main Street, he realized the
fire was at a home where East Main Street meets Mountain Lane, just four houses
away from Bell’s [...]

Highland Wanderer: Bull Hill via the Nelsonville—Washburn—Underhill Loop

Difficulty: ModerateAppx Distance/Time: 4 miles/4 hoursTrail Markers: Y, G, W, YHike Type: LoopTechnical Challenge: ModerateLow/High Points: 200’, 1350’Of Note: Views of Manhattan, Connecticut, Pennsylvania,
Catskills, Shawangunks, and the Hudson
Fall brings thousands of hikers to the Hudson Valley to
enjoy the beautiful foliage, crisp air, and views unhindered by the haze of
humidity. Many of these visitors are [...]