Editorial: A Christmas Wishlist for the Beacon City Council

Forgive us for being a bit giddy this time of year, but something about the season has got us dreaming about the future. And, like a couple of bright-eyed cherubs sitting up on Santa's lap, we've got a little wishlist for the Beacon City Council. A couple of items that we think will make the New Year bright:

Better Business Policies: New and vibrant businesses are a necessity if the City wants to make Beacon's downtown a destination for visitors to DIA:Beacon and the Hudson Valley. The City can't beg businesses to come to Beacon, but they can make it easier for businesses to get started here by reducing bureaucratic hurdles. One example? Parking. If someone wants to start a restaurant in the City of Beacon they shouldn't have to prove to the City that their patrons will be able to find parking. It's up to the City to make sure that there is parking available for the restaurantís patrons. Parking is an infrastructure issue. Hello Master Plan.

Water Meter Amnesty: Thanks for the new water meters. Glad you can read them with one man in one week rather than 2 men over two months. Now, put the money you save in man-hours toward the money you lost when the existing meters failed. Back-charging homeowners for the failure of city-owned equipment is just plain cheesy.

Beds For Heads: There are plenty of people coming to Beacon to take in the scenery, hiking, and the arts. Thereís almost no place for them to spend the night. The zoning board and city council have done well by allowing variances for B&Bs in the City, but there needs to be a more proactive stance taken on overnight accommodations. Make it safe, but make it easy to open restaurants and B&Bs in the City. Let's not just get people here for the day, letís keep them for the weekend.

Do Something About Damaged Buildings: Over the last several years there have been buildings around the city that, due to fire or some other catastrophic event, are neither livable nor reparable. They're unsafe and they're an eyesore. Change the zoning laws so that unsafe and fire-damaged buildings have to either be rebuilt or knocked down.

Fix The Sidewalks: Ask any mother with a stroller and youíll discover that a sub-Saharan road race is easier to navigate than are Beacon's sidewalks. Let's get ëem fixed!

Oh Yeah, Streets Too: Not too many smooth rides on these City streets. Let's get those fixed too.

Clamp Down On ATV Access To Mount Beacon: Being the only town surrounding Mount Beacon and the Fishkill Range thatís chosen not to enforce existing motor vehicle laws is no badge of honor. Sign on to Scenic Hudson's ATV abatement plan, put up signage, and enforce, enforce, enforce. We're willing to bet that there's more money to be made ticketing illegal riders for trespassing than there is for back-charging homeowners for water usage.

Not much, right? And like any kid at Christmas, even one or two items scratched off our list is guaranteed to make us happy. Plus, we think it will make Beacon better too.

Comments

[sat1]

You forgot to include another wish of yours, “Do all of the above and continue to raise the Taxes so all of us NYC transplants can finally force the native beacon hicks to move out”. Also, there are very few ATV riders so don’t expect the tickets to pay for much. They again how would you know that since you really spend very little time in the mountains.

[Frank N Stein]

I think most people feel too ashamed and ripped off after visiting the DIA to want to go shopping or eating on Main Street.
"I paid money to see a broken pile of glass and a couple fluorescent lights!? Let's get out of here!"

[Lars]

You guys are embarrassing yourselves. Please just stop.

[Serapheem]

Once you get the people to go to Dia.. I just don't see anything there that would entice them to actually go to Main St or anywhere els ein Beacon.