POUGHKEEPSIE – Second Ward Councilman Evan Menist, a Democrat involved in a three-way primary this month, is blaming the mayor and the business community for the failed Main Street beautification plan, including the new benches, the plan that Menist drew up with a former city employee.
Menist, on the common council since 2020, had spent his allocation of ARPA funds on benches installed on Main Street that immediately attracted the homeless community to begin camping on them and increased panhandling along the Main Street corridor. The benches were removed by an executive order issued by fellow Democrat, Mayor Marc Nelson.
Almost a week after the benches were removed, Menist pushed the blame to Nelson, saying the mayor has admitted “he can’t control public intoxication and aggressive panhandling on Main Street in the downtown core.” The police department has blamed Menist and his policies for the rise in crime.
Menist has been at odds with the police department since taking office and aligning himself with former Council Chairperson Sarah Salem, who resigned in disgrace after a DWI conviction. In 2020 the city’s PBA blamed Menist and Salem for some of the city’s biggest problems. Former PBA Vice-president, Detective Chris Libolt, now-retired, said at the time, “Violent crime is on the rise in Poughkeepsie but Salem and Councilmember Evan Menist have priorities that focus on defunding the police, passing the Right to Know Act and the formation of a Civilian Review Board” rather than address the rise in crime, adding that the actions are taken “without any dialog with the PBA or the Police Department command staff.”
The controversial benches were not welcomed by the area businesses or members of the police department with officers telling Mid-Hudson News that the benches invite panhandlers and others to become “comfortable” and more likely to become a nuisance. One of the primary tenets of community policing, a proven and effective policing policy, says, in order to prevent undesirable behavior in a community, it is recommended that seating areas are removed to prevent vagrants from congregating for long periods and engaging in possible illegal behavior. Councilman Menist, according to police and Mayor Nelson, did not consult with the officers that patrol the area on a daily basis.
Ironically, Menist, in his second term, is running on a coalition with the slogan “Poughkeepsie deserves better” while taking credit for organizing parties at city expense. “I often feel like I am the only voice in city government standing up for our Main Street,” said Menist, the council’s majority leader. “I have championed the popular Summer Sundays block parties,” while also touting his failed Main Street bench project, he said in a prepared statement.
The Menist defense statement also claims that the mayor is beholden to the business community, saying Mayor Nelson’s economic policies include “waiving the white flag and signaling surrender to our business owners.” There was no mention of a “surrender” in the executive order issued by Nelson. The order stated clearly, “With the benches becoming a gathering place for individuals, several city codes were violated, including loitering, aggressive panhandling, open containers of alcohol, and malicious mischief, Mayor Nelson says the quality of life in the community, particularly the Main Street business community and their customers, has been negatively impacted,” which resulted in the removal.
Business owners along Main Street have told Mid-Hudson News that Menist never asked for their input before arbitrarily placing the troubled benches near their stores. Many businesses experienced aggressive behavior from panhandlers after the benches arrived, and the City of Poughkeepsie Community Policing Division received several comments and complaints about the issues. The police, at the direction of the mayor and Police Chief Tom Pape, have been increasing their contact with business owners to gain input regarding the problem. Many businesses and offices, including Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson’s office, have posted signs in their windows, provided by the police, indicating that loitering, trespassing, and soliciting are unwelcome activities.
Menist has been at odds with the police department since taking office in 2020 and aligning himself with former Council Chairperson Sarah Salem, who resigned in disgrace after a DWI conviction. The city’s PBA, in Menist’s first year, blamed him and Salem for some of the city’s biggest problems. Former PBA Vice-president, Detective Chris Libolt, now-retired, said at the time “Violent crime is on the rise in Poughkeepsie but Salem and Councilmember Evan Menist have priorities that focus on defunding the police, passing the Right to Know Act and the formation of a Civilian Review Board” rather than address the alarming rise in crime, adding that the actions are taken “Without any dialog with the PBA or the Police Department command staff.” The PBA added, “Oversight of the police is more valuable to them (Salem and Menist) than preserving the lives and well-being of those being victimized in the streets.”
