Don't Believe the Hype
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6/14/2010
Beacon has put a lot of effort into promoting itself as this quaint little artist's enclave on the banks of the Hudson River. Partly(and not that big a part)true.Another poster touched on some of what plagues Beacon, and actually stops it from being what it claims to be. Yes,there are drugs,crack and meth. Yes,there is some crime,though actually not that much, considering other towns roughly the same size have much more. No,it's not Newburgh,but I'll get to my thoughts on THAT hype,later. What really keeps Beacon from being who they want to be are the attitudes and the overall provincialism of the residents and the politcians they elect. Beacon suffers from a distinct lack of the ability to look forward and see the big picture. Everything that's done is done in an offhanded,half-assed way that wouldn't cut it in other places.For instance,every year they have some "festival" on Main Street that the call Beacon Day. It's supposed to commemorate the founding of the town. If you'd go to this event,you would swear that the citizens of Beacon hate their town,the festival is so poorly organized. The school district is very bad. The district superintendant is trying,but she is saddled with teachers and principals that are just marking time until they can retire and get their pensions. There is a major bullying problem in the elementary schools,which no one seems to want to deal with and the curriculum is haphazard, at best.
Most of the art galleries and cute little shops on Main Street are actually closed most of the week. They are generally open only Fri.-Sun. presumably to take advantage of the tourists from Manhattan. Contrast that with other areas like New Hope,PA or some of the Connecticut towns which cater to the "antiques and arts" crowds that are open all week and Beacon isn't making itself competitive at all.I can actually see where staying open all week during the winter months might not be such a hot idea,but even in the summer,the hours remain the same.
There are also pretty prevalent streaks of both racism and homophobia up here in "adorable little Beacon."Add to that, the idea that if you aren't revving your motor cycle at all hours,or running around looking like a feature story on "Cops"(white wife-beater and flip flops)you are looked at like you don't belong. I've attended events where normal people would dress decently and been amazed at what I've seen. If they can't wear ragged jeans,flip flops and t-shirts to something,I guess they stay home.
As for Newburgh being so awful. Again,don't believe everything you read. There is a crime problem there and a gang problem. But those are contained in the very poorest sections of the city and the cops are dealing with it. Newburgh also has a beautiful historic section and several lovely middle -class neighborhoods that of course,don't make the papers because nothing is going on there that's newsworthy.
Jamie | Beacon, NY