Katherine Moore, director of operations for Hudson River Exchange, argued persistently that it was unfair to eliminate their event from consideration on the basis that Hudson River Exchange is an LLC and not a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation. Alderman John Friedman (Third Ward), who sits on the committee, steadfastly maintained that with only $20,000 to award and grant requests totally $40,500, it was appropriate to eliminate applications from for-profit entities.
Friedman suggested, however, that the committee reconsider its decision to eliminate Historic Hudson and its request for support to exhibit The Warren Street Project for the month of October. "The Warren Street Project is very important," said Friedman. "Historic Hudson played an important part in saving Hudson architecture. It's a one-off, and it will bring people to the city." Committee chair Rick Rector (First Ward), while acknowledging that "Historic Hudson has done valuable things for the City of Hudson," maintained his position that the City could not support "sending people into one location where there are other things to buy" and expressed his fear that "other people will put art in their stores and want money from the City to advertise." The Warren Street Project, comprising photographs of every building on Warren Street taken in 1994 and 1995 by international photographer Lynn Davis, will be exhibited during the month of October, to celebrate Historic Hudson's 20th anniversary, at Vincent Mulford Antiques, 419 Warren Street.
Perfect Ten was eliminated from consideration because the event being planned was described as being only for women and girls, and it was thought to be inappropriate for the City to provide financial support to an event that was gender exclusive.
After much discussion and several alternative proposals for divvying up the $20,000, the following awards were agreed upon:
- ArtsWalk--$1,000
- Bangladeshi Festival--$2,000
- Black Arts Festival--$3,000
- Promise Neighborhood Community Block Party--$1,000
- Flag Day Parade--$3,000
- Halloween Parade--$500
- Bindlestiff Summer Cirkus--$500
- Winter Walk (Hudson Opera House)--$4,000
- Hudson Bed Races--$1,000
- OutHudson LGBTQ Parade--$2,000
- Hudson Sloop Club Fish Fry--$750
- Summer Fest--$1,250
COPYRIGHT 2016 CAROLE OSTERINK
How is the grant to Winter Walk justified in light of Rector's criterion? A whole lot more gets sold there than what Mukfird would sell during the Lynn Davis show.
ReplyDeleteOur rationale is that Winter Walk is about being outside, not inside: all the attractions (public ones anyway) are outside on Warren Street. If the merchants want to participate they can -- but they don't get City funds to do so. Some do participate; some don't. The Warren Street Project, on the other hand, would use City funds to bring folks off the street, into a single retail space, to see the City-funded exhibit in the same room where private wares are for sale.
ReplyDeleteOh. I was under the impression that HOH arranges for musicians perform in shops and that HOH publishes and distributes a map showing where the performances are. It must be that the associated costs are somehow carved out of the budget that the city helps underwrite.
ReplyDeleteThe Lynn Davis portfolio is a stunning documentary of Warren Street in the early 1990's. The scale of this work hasn't been seen in total in many many years. When Historic Hudson asked if my space may be available I was honored. The presentation is 200' long and would consume a third of my shop, for a month, rent free. A bit daunting but in the name of "community" I agreed.
ReplyDeleteI have had an antiques shop in Hudson for 26 years so yes thats what i do do. Selling.
I find it fascinating that three locals, agreeing to give generously of their time and talent to share and enrich the Hudson community on our heritage, are a perceived threat when needing a little financial help from whom we pay our taxes.
The little town that could is the little town that won't .
I bow to your wisdom.
Mukfird