Newly elected or re-elected officials were sworn in this past week in Poughkeepsie, Philipstown and Beacon, including:
(1) Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi, who succeeds William Grady, who held the position for 40 years (Photo provided) …
(2) Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino, formerly a state senator whose district included the Highlands (Photo provided) …
(3) Town Supervisor John Van Tassel, sworn in by Town Justice Camille Linson for a second, 2-year term, being congratulated by his son, Ryan (Photo by Annette Flaherty); and …
(4) Beacon Mayor Lee Kyriacou, sworn in at the Memorial Building by Rep. Pat Ryan for a second, 4-year term. Ryan, while making remarks before the ceremony, was interrupted by protestors demanding that he support a ceasefire in Gaza. Below right, City Administrator Chris White (center) and local veterans (right) grip a protest banner so that it cannot be unfurled. (Photos by Una Hoppe)
We will continue to put a damper on all of Rep. Pat Ryan’s public appearances until he calls for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza. There is hope that Beacon’s new City Council will lead by example and adopt its own resolution, although it’s not promising when the city administrator forcefully prevents constituents from silently protesting. [via Instagram]
It doesn’t seem very democratic to prevent peaceful protest at a public meeting. [via Instagram]
The comments offered by two residents at the Jan. 22 Beacon City Council meeting regarding the actions by demonstrators at the swearing-in ceremony of the mayor and City Council members are misplaced. The free speech provisions contained in the First Amendment are not without limits. The text of Section 240.20 (4) of state penal law prohibits the intentional disturbance of a lawful assembly (disorderly conduct).
Had this group peacefully assembled outside City Hall, its actions would have been fully protected and respected by the Constitution. Instead, it adopted the trendy, and headline-grabbing, plan of disrupting public gatherings to further its cause. This conduct is rude and those who prevented their attempt to disrupt the ceremony should be applauded, not criticized.