County Leaders Pull Together in Bipartisan Way to Save Beacon Ferry

ejreporter
14 hours ago
3 min read

Editorial

Local leaders in our area, from town and village, assembly, senate and congressional level are not usually as contentious as in some areas. Still, this gathering was "next level" coordination & cooperation. It was incredulously refreshing to see top leaders of both parties making the case, right at the Hudson River Waterfront, to a large crowd of supporters, that the MTA is making a big mistake by trying to discontinue the Beacon Ferry (which brings both commuters from the Newburgh area and a significant tourism contingent across the Hudson River to Beacon. These leaders (including County Executive, Steve Neuhaus, Congressman Pat Ryan, Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson, Senator and former Mayor of Poughkeepsie Rob Rolison, and Newburgh Mayor Torrence Harvey, asserted passionately that they will make whatever effort they can to "Save the Ferry!" Ryan and Neuhaus emphasized how unacceptable it was that the MTA did not even give officials acceptable notioce or any opportunity to try to work out the difficulties, adding that the area is "underserved" to begin with. Ryan added that it was "reckless and a betrayal of public trust".

What the MTA apparently missed is that the Ferry not only serves a commuter transportation issue to NYC, it serves an important identity link between the people of the Newburgh area with the Arts & Tourism image of Beacon. Strides made in recent years to build the City's cultural image have called on every ounce of courage and hard work of the Newburgh cultural communioty, and now, linked to its efforts to revive the once thriving Hudsonb River cruise and vacation riverboat activities, it felt to the people like a significant "Newburgh Rising". No, Newburgh and Beacon may not be the new Woodstock, but it is the closest thing to it that the people in this area have, and it was showing promise. Neuhaus called the dock they are planning to build in Newburgh "Transformational". Now, for the MTA to toss a significant chunk of their dream into a trash can for the sake of a few pennies, is simply not acceptable. Meanwhile the residents of Orange County have already been furious at the amount of taxes they pay for the MTA WITHOUT getting a fair deal of service in return.

Today the MTA announced they are thinking of adding some more tracks (instead?) to the Port Jervis circuit. But that, at best, would add more time for commuters to sit on a noisy (and sometimes dangerous) train ride INSTEAD OF AN EXHILILRATING HISTORIC FERRY RIDE ACROSS THE HUDSON RIVER. Really?? There is no comparison.

Congressman Pat Ryan began the official response last week by not mincing words. "This is total Bullsh#t", he repeated several times. Steve Neuhaus placed the misdeed squarely at the feet of Governor Hochul, saying "She appoints them She could call them back. One phone call and she could change this."

Meanwhile, in Beacon, the light shines on a new day with Beacon and Clearwater officials , bolstered by the rally, declaring they will begin fixing the dock that caused the initial lapse in service. It will be a sad part of this 2025 Summer Season since the historic Sloop Clearwater trips will not be able to land at the Beacon Floating Dock which was damaged last Winter by ice. The Clearwater Organization (started in 1960 by Folk singer Pete Seeger and his wife Toshi, to educate people about the importance of the Hudson River to the area's environment ...and visa versa), Clearwater said they are committed to helping Beacon rebuild the dock. And the only question remaining is how quickly it can get done.

Like I said, how incredibly refreshing and inspiring it is to see regional communities come together for a common cause. E PLURIBUS UNUM