The State of the 2027 Budget

Tomorrow's meeting of the Board of Estimate and Apportionment will begin at 2:00 p.m. instead of 2:30 p.m. to allow more time to try to bring expenditures in line with revenues. At last report, projected expenditures for 2027 exceeded anticipated revenues by significantly more than $1.5 million. At Wednesday's BEA meeting, Council president Margaret Morris expressed her desire to avoid closing the gap by raising property taxes and made this critique of the BEA process, "We try to figure out how to cover our expenses instead of asking are we spending wisely."

Morris's statements at the BEA meeting echoed what she had told the Common Council at its meeting the previous night. In her update to the Council on the status of the budget process, Morris said she would prefer not to see property taxes increasing, because tax increases contribute to displacement for both renters and home owners and also impact businesses in the city. She said, if an increase is necessary, it should not exceed last year's tax increase but asserted that, before any tax increase is considered, departments should identify any areas where reductions can be made.

At the Council meeting, Morris also outlined the Council's process of reviewing and approving the budget. The budget will be presented to the Council on Monday, November 9. The Council then has twenty days to act on the budget. It can only reduce items in the budget. A special meeting of the Council will be convened after the presentation to consider any modifications to the budget. Morris directed councilmembers to review Section C16-3 through C16-5 of the city charter, which lays out the process for the Council's consideration of the budget. She concluded by saying, "All of that process got lost last year."

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The Mysterious Fate of a Famous Graffito

This photograph, which accompanied Andrea Elliott's New York Times article, "When the Weed Wars Came to Warren Street," made the question scrawled on 330 Warren Street something of an iconic image for Hudson.

Today, Mark Allen reports on Instagram that, as part of the renovation of the building, the sign was removed but rescued by someone unknown.

According to the workers at 330 Warren Street when I asked today, Hudson's now semi-iconic "WHAT DO U HARBOR THAT ROTS?" graffiti panel was acquired last week by "a quick-thinking person" when renovations to the front of the building began (otherwise it would have ended up in the dump). They don't know who it was, but they do know it wasn't the new building or business owner, and the person wanted only that. Who was it? Where is the sign now? Where will it end up?

Site Plan Approval Is Not the Last Word

Yesterday, this post card was delivered to mailboxes throughout Hudson, announcing an event taking place next week.

On Thursday, November 5, at 5:30 p.m., Friends of Second Street and Project7Hudson are holding a Town Forum at Time & Space Limited, 434 Columbia Street. The forum will explain the proposed redevelopment of Bliss Towers and its potential consequences for the city as a whole. Two central topics of the forum will be the implications for local taxpayers and the future of Bliss Towers and Columbia Apartments if Phase 2 of the project is delayed or never proceeds, including questions about demolition funding and responsibility for the vacant buildings.

The program will include a timeline video and a history of the Hudson Housing Authority's redevelopment efforts, tracing how proposals have evolved since 2010 into the plan now being pursued. The forum will also look at Hudson's long-term population decline since 1970, providing context for a discussion about housing needs, public services, and the city's future. The proposed development's scale, construction, parking, and neighborhood impact will considered. "Bliss Gardens," the alternative concept being developed by Project7Hudson will also be introduced.

The goal of the forum is to help residents understand both the need for safe, dignified replacement housing for current Bliss residents and the broader decisions that will affect Hudson for years to come. In addition to the presentation, there will be time for community questions and discussion.

Update on Jim Dolan

The Register-Star just published an update on James Dolan, who remains in critical condition at Albany Med: "Greenport's Dolan 'fighting' for life after cardiac arrest."

On the Path to Charter Revision

At its meeting last night, the Common Council passed a resolution enacting a local law that established a Charter Revision Commission. The law describes the number and method of appointing members in this way:

The Commission shall consist of nine members and a quorum shall consist of five members. Seven community members shall be appointed by the President of the City of Hudson Common Council in consultation with the Common Council. At least one resident from each Ward shall serve on the Commission. The Common Council President and the Majority Leader shall serve, ex officio, as the eighth and ninth members. 

Today, Gossips reveals the identity of the nine members of the Charter Revision Commission, along with the wards in which they reside:

1. Steven Wilson (First Ward)
2. Bill Hughes (Second Ward)
3. John Friedman (Third Ward)
4. Kevin Turner (Third Ward)
5. Rob Perry (Third Ward)
6. Linda Fenoff (Fourth Ward)
7. Caitie Hilverman (Fifth Ward)
8. Margaret Morris (Council President--First Ward)
9. Dominic Merante (Majority Leader--Fifth Ward)

These are the people who were discussed and agreed to in the Council's executive session last night--the people who are willing to put in the time and tedious hard work involved in reviewing the city charter and recommending revisions. The revisions recommended by the commission will be subject to referendum.

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A Legal Decision in the Weed Wars

The Register-Star reports today that Riverbend Dispensary's lawsuit has been dismissed: "Judge dismisses Riverbend suit against planned Hudson dispensary." 

Riverbend had sued the Cannabis Control Board for granting a waiver to Blaze NY, Bill Hughes' dispensary proposed for 519 Columbia Street. State regulations require that cannabis shops be at least 2,000 feet apart in municipalities with fewer then 20,000 residents. The location of Blaze NY is just a block away from Riverbend, which is located at 531 Warren Street. 

The Register-Star article reports:

Riverbend had to prove the board's decision to greenlight the [Blaze NY] dispensary actually harmed its business, and economic harm resulting from foreseen market saturation or economic competition is not a high enough threshold, Albany Supreme Court Justice William Little said in his ruling.

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Difference of Opinion

At its September 29 meeting, the Common Council passed a resolution expressing the opinion that the Mill Street parcel, the proposed site of Mill Street Lofts, was municipal parkland and conveyance of the land may constitute alienation of parkland requiring authorization by the New York State Legislature. Two days later, Mayor Joseph Ferris vetoed that resoluition.

Ferris's veto statement was on the agenda for last night's Common Council meeting as a communication. In introducing the veto statement, Council president Margaret Morris cited Section C6-2 of the City Charter before making this statement:

As you know, this resolution was not legislative. It did not authorize the City to take any action. As such, the veto I consider to be irrelevant. There will not be a vote to override the veto. We have expressed our opinion, and there's nothing further to say on the matter, as far as I'm concerned.

When the Council voted on the resolution in September, nine of the eleven members voted in support of the resolution, and two--Mohammed Rony (Second Ward) and Claire Cousin (Fifth Ward)--abstained.

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An Unexpected Development

At its meeting tonight, the Common Council unanimously passed a resolution enacting a local law establishing a charter revision commission.

The same resolution and local law were tabled in August. As Gossips reported at the time, the greatest objection to what was proposed came from C0uncilmember Claire Cousin (Fifth Ward), who took issue with the process for appointing members of the commission described in the law:

Seven community members shall be appointed by the President of the City of Hudson Common Council in consultation with the Common Council. At least one resident from each Ward shall serve on the Commission.  

In August, Cousin argued that the law as written placed too much appointment power in the hands of the Council president Margaret Morris. At tonight's meeting, Cousin thanked Morris for her hard work on this initiative and acknowledged she had reached out to people in her ward but found none who wanted to put in the time required to serve on the charter revision commission.

At the end of tonight's meeting, the Council went into executive session to discuss the people Morris is proposing to serve on the commission, all of whom volunteered to step up and do the hard work of revising the charter.

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An Announcement from Hudson Hall

This is a hugely significant milestone in a journey that's been going on for more than three decades.   

Hudson Hall at the historic Hudson Opera House today announced the successful completion of its Rise Up! campaign and the full retirement of the debt on its home at 327 Warren Street. Launched in 2021 and sparked by a $500,000 matching grant from the Reinhart Foundation, Rise Up! reduced the loan from $3 million in 2017 to under $1 million. An extraordinary gift from the Reinhart Foundation in early 2026 retired the remaining debt in full.

Built in 1855 as Hudson's City Hall, the building fell into disrepair after city offices were relocated in 1962. In 1992, a group of local citizens banded together to save it and establish the arts nonprofit, Hudson Opera House. Their efforts culminated in a comprehensive $9.5 million restoration, completed in 2017, that made the building fully ADA accessible for the first time in its history and returned New York State's oldest surviving theater to the public. Hudson Hall took out a $3 million loan to complete the project.

Ending principal and interest payments on this loan--more than $60,000 a year in interest alone--lets Hudson Hall redirect those resources to sustaining community programming and to building an operating reserve. The milestone comes as Hudson Hall approaches the tenth anniversary of its 2017 restoration and reopening.

"Hudson Hall exists today because people in this community believed this building was worth saving," said Paul Barrett, President of Hudson Hall's Board of Directors. "That commitment has carried us through more than three decades of restoration, reopening, and rebuilding. The Rise Up! campaign is another example of what people can accomplish together, and we're enormously grateful to everyone who contributed, especially the Reinhart Foundation, for helping us reach this milestone."

"For the first time since our theater reopened in 2017, we can plan for the future without the burden of this debt," said Adam Weinert, Executive Director of Hudson Hall. "That means more of our resources can go toward the work we're here to do: bringing artists and audiences together, supporting young people, and making Hudson Hall a place where the whole community feels welcome. It's an exciting moment to be thinking about what's next."

The Next Chapter: Securing Hudson Hall's Future

With this debt behind us, more of Hudson Hall's resources can go directly toward the artists, performances, educational programs, and community gatherings that bring the building to life. Last week, the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) announced awarding Hudson Hall $45,000 to seed its first-ever Reserve Fund--an important first step toward financial resiliency. The fund will help the organization navigate unexpected challenges and safeguard its programs and its historic building. The award is made possible by NYSCA with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

Since reopening in 2017, Hudson Hall has grown into a year-round destination for the performing arts and a vital community gathering place, serving approximately 40,000 people annually through more than 800 programs. Its acclaimed Hudson Jazz Festival and the Handel on the Hudson opera series bring internationally recognized artists to the region, alongside free arts education, community partnerships, and accessible programming for people of all ages.

Shocking News from Greenport

Tassilo von Parvesal reports on The Greenport Perimeter that Jimmy Dolan, who will be remembered by Hudsonians who have been here for a while, suffered an apparent heart attack last night: "Councilman Dolan collapses during Greenport special town board meeting."

Update: The Register-Star just reported on Dolan's current condition: "Greenport's Dolan in critical condition after mid-meeting collapse."

News of the Bridge

Gossips has been following the efforts to save and protect the historic Stuyvesant Falls Bridge. The bridge continues to be closed, awaiting repair. Today, we share this update from Historic Stuyvesant.

BRIDGE CLOSURE STATUS UPDATE

The county continues to drag its heels on bridge repairs.

When the county's Department of Public Works voted to move forward with repairing the Stuyvesant Falls Bridge to a 12-ton load rating, Ron Knott, Stuyvesant Supervisor and Chair of the Department of Public Works (DPW), said in March 2026 "We are working on a proposal to get this work done with hopes that it can happen this summer and get reopened before winter." It is now the end of October 2026 and, according to Ray Jurkowski, Commissioner of DPW, the work has not gone out to bid. At this week's DPW meeting, Jurkowski confirmed there is no clear timeline for construction.

The current closure is the result of years of neglect by the county. Not only is the bridge beautiful, it is vital to the daily lives of Columbia County residents and businesses. If the Stuyvesant Falls Bridge remains closed, it will be closed at the same time that the nearby Rossman Bridge is out of service. Detours would force vehicles to drive upwards of 6 extra miles. With the high costs of fuel, every mile matters and public safety, commerce and public access will be negatively affected by the closure of both bridges.

SECTION 106 HISTORIC REVIEW UPDATES

As part of the federal Section 106 process, the County's consultants, EDR, determined that the bridge is eligible for individual listing in the National Register of Historic Places; a significant upgrade from its current status as a "contributing factor" to the Stuyvesant Falls Mill District.

EDR stated that the bridge represents the "work of a master" and is demonstrative of the features of a rare bridge type. You can read the full report here.

As we continue through the Section 106 and 4a(f) processes, the county must prove that there are no prudent and feasible alternatives to their plan for demolition. Historic Stuyvesant is here to affirm what we have said from the beginning: rehabilitation of the existing bridge is the fastest, least expensive path toward an open bridge that meets the needs of the community and restores emergency vehicle access. The county's own consultants have reinforced our argument, and we will continue to advocate for bridge preservation.

To learn more about the effort to save the Stuyvesant Falls Bridge and to support the cause, visit the Historic Stuyvesant website.

Safe Homes Needed

If you have ever contemplated sharing your home with a cat (or two), this press release from the Columbia-Greene Humane Society is for you.

The Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA (CGHS/SPCA) is facing an unprecedented animal welfare challenge following the rescue of 96 cats and one dog from a Catskill residence, bringing the number of cats received from two separate cruelty cases to a staggering 158 in approximately one week.…

While these cats have suffered from neglect, their outlook is positive. Some were underweight, and many were infested with fleas and affected by internal parasites. Fortunately, these conditions have been treated, and most of the cats are expected to make a full and relatively quick recovery with proper nutrition, veterinary treatment, and the compassionate attention of shelter staff. The cats are expected to become available for adoption soon, once they have received the necessary medical care and clearance.…

To help accommodate the enormous influx, CGHS/SPCA transferred 40 of the rescued cats to AnimalKind, a nonprofit cat rescue organization based in Hudson. The collaboration will help ensure that the animals receive individualized attention and appropriate care while preparing for their new lives.…

The latest rescue comes on the heels of another cruelty case that brought 62 cats into CGHS/SPCA's care just last week. Together, the two cases represent a record influx of cats in such a short span of time, requiring veterinary attention, housing, food, and daily care, placing extraordinary demands on shelter personnel and resources.

Although monetary donations toward the care of these animals are welcomed and deeply appreciated, CGHS/SPCA emphasizes that its greatest need is not financial assistance, but adopters. Every cat placed in a loving home creates space and resources for another animal in need, making adoption the most immediate and meaningful way the public can help.

Fortunately, the timing presents a special opportunity for prospective adopters. Through the generous support of Subaru and its nationwide Subaru Loves Pets® initiative, CGHS/SPCA is currently offering free adoptions for cats, dogs, and small animals through October 31, 2026. All cat adoption fees at AnimalKind are also being sponsored, giving the public two opportunities to welcome a new feline companion into their homes at no adoption cost.

Prospective adopters are strongly encouraged to submit adoption applications in advance, as same-day approvals are not guaranteed. Cats rescued in the recent investigation will be available for adoption as soon as they are medically cleared, while many other wonderful cats are already waiting for homes at both organizations.

For these animals, the worst is behind them. Their recovery is expected to be swift, their futures are promising, and the opportunity to give them a new beginning is within reach. What happens next depends on the generosity and compassion of the community.

You can submit an adoption application for Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA here. Information about adopting from AnimalKind can be found here.

Meetings and Events in the Week Ahead

It's the last week of October and the last week of daylight saving time. Before the darkness of November descends upon us, here is what's happening.

• On Monday, October 26, the Board of Estimate and Apportionment (BEA) meets at 2:30 p.m. to continue its deliberation about the 2027 budget. At this workshop, the BEA will continue its review of projected revenue. The workshop is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Teams. Click here to join the meeting remotely.
• At 5:30 p.m. on Monday, October 26, the Public Works Board holds its monthly meeting. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Teams. Click here to join the meeting remotely. 

• On Tuesday, October 27, the Common Council holds its regular monthly meeting. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m., but Gossips has been advised that the first thing on the agenda is an executive session, so the meeting will not actually begin for the public until 6:30 p.m. Among the items on the agenda are resolutions having to do with financing and grant administration for the redesign of the playground at Oakdale Lake, a project that is expected to cost $1.265,000. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.

• On Wednesday, October 28, the Board of Estimate and Apportionment (BEA) meets at 2:30 p.m. At this meeting, the BEA will begin its overall review of the 2027 budget--projected revenues and expenditures. At last word, there was a $1.5 million gap between them. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Teams. Click here to join the meeting remotely. 
• At 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, Hudson Community Development and Planning Agency (HCDPA) holds a special meeting to approve its 2027 budget, which must be submitted to the NYS Authorities Budget Office by October 31. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.
• On Friday, October 30, at 2:30 p.m., the Board of Estimate and Apportionment (BEA) continues its overall review of the 2027 budget--projected revenues and expenditures. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Teams. Click here to join the meeting remotely. 

Update: The meeting of the BEA will begin at 2:00 p.m. instead of 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 31, is Halloween. This year, there are two ways to celebrate.

• From 12:00 to 3:30 p.m., Howl-O-Ween: Dog Costume Contest takes place at Upper Depot Brewing Company, 708 State Street. 

• Beginning at 2:00 p.m., Hudson Halloween happens on Warren Street. Here is the schedule of events:
• 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.--Trick or Treating on Warren Street
• 4:00 p.m.--Gather at Seventh Street Park for the parade
• 4:05 p.m.--The parade down Warren Street kicks off
• 4:30 p.m.--The parade ends at Hudson Hall with a Costume Contest

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Early Voting Starts Today

The polling place in Hudson is the new office of the Board of Elections at 11 Warren Street. The schedule for early voting is as follows.

• Saturday, October 24--9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, October 25--9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Monday, October 26--9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 27--Noon to 8:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, October 28--Noon to 8:00 p.m.
• Thursday, October 29--9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Friday, October 30--9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Saturday, October 31--9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Sunday, November 1--9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Photo: Lance Wheeler | Facebook

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, on which day the polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. In Hudson, Wards 1, 2, and 3 vote at the Board of Elections, 11 Warren Street; Wards 4 and 5 vote at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street.

Acknowledgment and Gratitude

An enthusiastic "Thank you" to Jonathan of Jonathan's Computer Repair & Sales, who got the Gossips laptop up and running again--soundlessly--this afternoon.