This afternoon in Courthouse Square. The crowd was estimated to number 1,700.
Photos courtesy Lance Wheeler
Saturday, March 28, 2026
Parody in the Hud
If you need a chuckle this morning, check out Trixie's List and its take on a mystery currently vying for the attention of the Hudson community.
Friday, March 27, 2026
Foiled Attempt at Voter Fraud
We never heard much about voter fraud before Donald Trump came on the scene, but it's nice to know that attempts at voter fraud are caught and prevented in Columbia County. The following press release was issued today by the office of District Attorney Chris Liberati-Conant. The person identified as a "Hudson man" does not live in Hudson. He may live within the 12534 zip code, but Gossips' research found he actually lives in Livingston.
A Hudson man was arraigned on a sealed indictment this week that alleges he attempted to obtain a mail-in ballot for the 2024 fall election in the name of a deceased person.
Kevin Sweet, 42, faces eight counts--four felonies and four misdemeanors--in connection with the incident brought to light when the Columbia County Board of Elections discovered the attempted illegal act and presented its findings to law enforcement.
The indictment, issued by a Columbia County Grand Jury March 24 and unsealed March 25 in front of Judge Brian Herman charges Sweet with Procuring Fraudulent Documents in Order to Vote, an unclassified felony; Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a Class E felony; Perjury in the Second Degree, a Class E felony; Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a Class E felony; Falsifying Business Records in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor; Perjury in the Third Degree, a Class A misdemeanor; Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the Second Degree, a Class A misdemeanor; and Illegal Voting, a Class A misdemeanor.
Each Class E felony carries a maximum sentence of between one-and-a-third to four years in prison while the Class A misdemeanors carry a maximum sentence of one year in jail. Sweet is set to return to court April 29, 2026.
It is alleged Sweet submitted a fraudulent mail-in ballot application in October 2024 in the name of a deceased person in an effort to have a ballot sent to an address associated with Sweet. Security measures in place by the Board of Elections kept Sweet from bring successful in his effort to obtain a ballot.
"I thank our election commissioners for their vigilance and cooperation," said District Attorney Chris Liberati-Conant. "Elections are the foundation of our democracy, and I will scrupulously protect their integrity. Defendant thought he could obtain an absentee ballot for a dead man. Instead he got caught. Do not try to commit election fraud in Columbia County. You will be caught and you will be prosecuted."
Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Rohlfing oversaw the investigation for the District Attorney's Office and represents the People of the State of New York. Joseph Granich of Albany represents the defendant.
Redefining the Role of the HPC?
Hudson's historic preservation ordinance, Chapter 169 of the city code, was adopted in 2003 and "amended in its entirety" in 2005. The purpose of the ordinance is defined in the code as follows:
It is hereby declared, as a matter of public policy, that the protection, enhancement, and perpetuation of landmarks and historic districts are necessary to promote the economic, cultural, educational, and general welfare of the public, inasmuch as the identity of a people is founded on its past, and inasmuch as the City of Hudson has many significant historic, architectural, and cultural resources which constitute its heritage, this chapter is intended to:
A. Protect and enhance the landmarks and historic districts which represent distinctive elements of Hudson's historic, architectural, and cultural heritage;
B. Foster civic pride in the accomplishments of the past;
C. Protect and enhance Hudson's attractiveness to visitors and support stimulus to the economy thereby provided;
D. Insure the harmonious, orderly, and efficient development of the City; and
E. Promote stewardship through education, advisement, and consultation.
The Historic Preservation Commission exists to carry out the law, yet at its meeting on February 27, Phil Forman, who chairs the Historic Preservation Commission, made this statement regarding the purpose of the HPC: "We're here to help people get their projects done. We're not here for preservation as an abstraction." You can hear him make this statement here at 2:01:53.
Forman's interpretation of what the Historic Preservation Commission is about was on full display at today's HPC meeting. The commission was continuing its review of the new construction proposed for 309-311 Union Street. It will be remembered that on February 27 the HPC agreed that, "contingent on the approval of the proposed design, the Commission will not oppose demolition." The approval of the design was a pretty significant thing. Not only would the approval of the design trigger approval of the demolition of a historic house, but it would also determine what would be introduced into the homogeneous fabric of a block in one of the city's historic districts. Despite the magnitude of the decision, Forman was seemed intent on pushing the project forward.
At its March 13 meeting, the HPC had suggested that the proposed new house be situated farther back on the lot, to align with the houses on either side and to replicate the dominant pattern on the block of sidewalk, planting bed, porch, and then house. At today's meeting, the applicant reported that the plan was now for the porch to be four feet back from the property line and six feet back from the sidewalk.
The HPC also expressed concern about the windowless side walls. (Shown in the first set of drawings below.) The drawings presented today showed two more windows on those walls--one more small window near the front on the first floor and a larger window toward the back on the second floor. (See the second set of drawings below.)
When HPC member Miranda Barry observed that the side windows were "not in the style of the other windows in the house," the architect explained they were "trying to create wall space for furniture." HPC member John Schobel expressed that opinion the windows proposed would not "negate the enormity of that wall." Cara Cragan, the architect member of the HPC, told the architect, "The little windows suggest suburban context and dumb down the other things you've done." The architect argued that he didn't want the windows to dictate the interior layout.
In the end, it was decided that a two-over-two window, the same size as the windows on the front of the building, would replace the little window on each side nearest the front porch. Forman, expressing concern about holding up the process, suggested that the change in the windows be a contingency for a certificate of appropriateness. He called for a vote on whether or not the application was complete. The commissioners agreed that it was. Forman then indicated they were ready to vote on granting a certificate of appropriateness.
It was then that Henry Haddad, councilmember from the First Ward, where the site is located, called for a public hearing on the design, stressing the importance of the decision and alleging what was being proposed "is not built for quality of life; it is built for profit." Forman told him, "We're in the middle of a vote. We're not doing this."
Forman then made a motion to "waive a public hearing and instruct the city attorney [Victoria Polidoro] to prepare a certificate of appropriateness."
The roll call vote started, but got sidetracked when Schobel declared he was voting no to waiving a public hearing. Forman objected, "We gave these folks every reason to believe we would approve this project." HPC member Hugh Biber added, "People are entitled to build houses." Barry commented, "If we open this up to the public, the real issue will be the demolition."
Forman went on to say, "There has to be some limit in code or on practice where we do not put people through an unlimited gauntlet of opinion. This is new construction. There are a lot of ways to do new construction. If Cara and I had our way, we would probably be looking at stainless steel with a swoop on the top."
The vote went forward, with five members (Forman, Biber, Cragan, Barry, and Paul Barret) voting in favor of granting the certificate of appropriateness, and only one (Schobel) opposed. The seventh member of the commission, Jeremy Stynes, was absent from the meeting. Schobel declared the decision, "Great risk to a beautiful block and great risk to our patrimony."
After the vote was taken, Ronald Kopnicki, attending remotely, asked to be recognized, but Forman refused to let him speak. The meeting was over in less than an hour.
In defending the project and urging that the project move forward, Forman asserted, "We agreed with the engineering report." That report can be found here. What the HPC seemed also to take into consideration in making their decision was the applicant's claim that repairing the foundation of the house would cost $500,000.
At the February 13 meeting of the HPC, Barrett suggested that the applicant seeking to demolish the house at 309-311 Union Street speak with the owner of 34 South Front Street. At that same meeting, Schobel referenced 116 Union Street was an example of a building that had been brought back from near ruin. The applicant contacted the owner of 34 South Front Street, who said that the building's foundation had been in good shape when he embarked on the restoration. The applicant did not contact the owner of 116 Union Street, who is Henry Haddad and who would undoubtedly have told them exactly what he told Gossips after he reviewed the photographs of the foundation provided as evidence of the need for demolition: "Those pictures are every pre-reno basement in Hudson. I just did 116 Union. It's more than twice that size and was in far worse state. I did it for $165K with local, never left Columbia County carpenters."
Haddad might have provided this same information to the HPC this morning had Forman given him a chance.
Haddad has real experience with these things. He also rescued and restored the house at 66 North Third Street, bringing it from what's shown in the first picture below to what's shown in the second.
Harry Howard Update
This just in from City Hall:
The City, along with outside engineers, has identified the cause of the large crack in the road on Harry Howard Avenue near Underhill, and the issue has been remedied. Excavation will begin next week once utility location is complete, after which DPW will do subterranean work and lay the road's subbase. Final paving will commence at the end of April. Weather permitting, we anticipate reopening the road by early May. In the meantime, we ask that everyone heed the road closure signs. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Thursday, March 26, 2026
South Side, North Side
Tomorrow morning, the Historic Preservation Commission will continue its review of the proposal to demolish the structures--a house and two outbuildings--at 309-311 Union Street and use the site for new construction.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, at 309-311 State Street, something worthy of note is happening. The same person who brought about this remarkable restoration of 307 State Street . . .
is building two houses at 309-311 State Street, a lot that was vacant because the building that stood there was destroyed by fire more than twenty-five years ago. The intent was to re-create the streetscape as it once was. The project was proposed two years ago and is now nearing completion. The outcome is admirable and worthy of celebration. This photograph was taken earlier today.
Happening This Weekend
On Saturday, March 28, it is No Kings Protest in Hudson. The rally begins at 2:00 p.m. in Seventh Street Park, followed by a march down Warren Street to the Columbia County courthouse. Speeches at the courthouse begin at 2:45 p.m.
On Sunday, March 29, the Columbia County Historical Society hosts a lecture by Thomas Shannon, Germantown Historian, on William Smith, Jr., publicly prominent Loyalist. Shannon will cover highlights of Smith's diary, from October 1776 through July 1778, when Smith passed the early stages of the war under self-exile and later house arrest at the Hermitage, formerly located on Wire Road in Livingston. The lecture takes place at 2:00 p.m. in the Community Room at the Hudson Area Library.
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Of Interest
A post by "Dizzy Rascal" on the Hudson Area Community Board Facebook page tipped me off to this. According to Zillow, the building at 7-9 South Seventh Street is now for sale.
This building was purchased by The Spark of Hudson in 2022 from the legendary slum lord Phil Gellert. It was one of six buildings purchased from Gellert by The Spark of Hudson, and one of twelve buildings that were part of the HudsonDots program. Why that plan for the building was abandoned and the building is now for sale is not known.
COPYRIGHT 2026 CAROLE OSTERINK
Money for Events in Hudson
This year, as in years past, the City has allocated $30,000 to support "events, event series, or other tourism-related initiatives." To be eligible, events must be ADA compliant.
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| Hudson Jazz Festival 2025, Sounds Around Town--Photo: David McIntyre |
The deadline for submitting applications is 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 16. At 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, the Common Council Finance Committee will review the applications. To submit an application, click here.
To see what events were funded last year, click here.
A Reminder
This month's Mayor's Open Office Hours are tomorrow from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. All are welcome to visit City Hall to meet with the mayor and discuss all things Hudson.
The State of Things Financial
Last year around this time, Mayoral Kamal Johnson suggested that Councilmember Rich Volo should resign for raising the specter of the City's imminent insolvency.
As it turns out, although the term bankruptcy may have been a bit extreme, Volo was not wrong in warning about the City's increasingly precarious financial situation.
At last night's Finance Committee meeting, Heather Campbell, city treasurer, reported that the unrestricted funds in the City's fund balance now total $2.27 million. The shortfall between anticipated revenue and actual revenue in 2025 is expected to reduce that amount to $1.88 million. It is recommended that a municipality's unrestricted fund balance be equal to two months (or 16.7 percent) of expenditures. For Hudson, two months' expenditures amount to $2.66 million.
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Tuesday, March 24, 2026
News of Higher Education
At a ceremony that took place earlier today, Havidán Rodriquez, president of the University at Albany, and Victoria Walsh, president of Columbia-Greene Community College, signed a dual admission agreement allowing Columbia-Greene students to continue their education at UAlbany.
A Bit of Good News
For anyone who has resented having to pay for a full hour of parking on Warren Street when your reason for being there takes just five minutes, here is some good news from City Hall.
The Mayor's Office and HPD are pleased to announce that on-street parking can now be paid in 30-minute increments rather than the previously programmed 60-minute increments. Feel free to reach out to either department with any questions.
In Memoriam: Dan Udell
The news was shared on Facebook that Dan Udell died earlier this month in a memory care facility in Orlando, Florida. He was 91.
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| Dan and Mary Udell, with Ellen Thurston, for whom the award was named |
Hudson's legislative body, the Common Council was the subject of many of Dan's videos. Before the pandemic and the introduction of hybrid meetings, Dan videotaped every Common Council meeting and posted them on YouTube. He stopped doing this briefly in 2014, in protest over a decision made by the Council. Dan and Mary were great dog lovers, and when, in March 2014, the Council voted to continue the ban on dogs in Henry Hudson Riverfront Park, Mary declared the decision "insane" and left the room. Dan said he was disgusted by the majority opinion of the Council and would no longer volunteer his time to document their proceedings. (Gossips' account of that meeting can be found here.) In time, however, Dan's sense of civic duty overcame his personal outrage, and he returned to documenting Council meetings, which he continued until the pandemic brought a halt to public meetings.
Dan Udell's obituary can be found here. Amusingly, it refers to Columbia County as "Hudson County" and calls the City of Hudson "Hudson Town."
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Monday, March 23, 2026
More of the Semiquincentennial Exhibition
Patriots of Hudson in the Revolutionary War, the exhibition commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of our country, continues at the Hudson Area Library. To pique your interest and persuade you to visit the library to view the entire exhibit, Gossips shares two panels that tell of Alexander Coffin, one of the founders of Hudson, who was born in Nantucket in 1740. (Click on the images to enlarge. The main text of each panel is transcribed below the image.)
Alexander Coffin
"Hot as a Pepperpot," Captain, Privateer,
Hudson Proprietor and Mayor
Prior to the war, Captain Coffin sailed from Nantucket to London in 1774, met Benjamin Franklin, and was "early initiated in the views, feelings and anticipations of those true friends of American Colonies, he at once came out a firm supporter of the American cause, an unwavering patriot." --The Rural Repository, January 19, 1839
The Continental Congress authorized private ships to seize British vessels. During the Revolutionary War, Coffin was commissioned by the Continental Army to command the privateer ship Hero. Coffin was twice captured by the British during the war.
He also carried dispatches from Franklin to the newly formed American government regarding French support for the War of Independence. These dispatches have a special importance because France's early support of the American cause was crucial.
After the war, Coffin was a Hudson Proprietor, early mayor, postmaster for over two decades and president of the Columbia Turnpike Corporation.
In 1838, at the age of 98, he chaired a meeting of the Anti-Slavery Society at the Baptist Church in Hudson. In the years leading up to the Civil War, abolitionist meetings were held in Hudson. . . .
"Coffin was one of nature's noblemen, frank, generous, warm-hearted and brave as Caesar . . . hot as a pepperpot, fierce as a northeaster . . . but neither rude, aggressive or implacable. He was the noblest Roman of them all." --Random Recollections of Albany: 1800 to 1808, Gorham A. Worth
Couriers for the Revolution
In October 1775, Seth Jenkins, Alexander Coffin, and fellow Nantuckers arrived in London and purchased the brig Richmond to return home. Some unnamed "friends of America" gave them letters to Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and others explaining British designs against the colonies. The Richmond also had £20,000 on board and was under false registry as sailing to the West Indies and then bound for Halifax, when it was in fact bound for Nantucket.
The brig was captured by an American privateer, John Craig, sent to Philadelphia, and her owners were sent to the Bahamas. When Jenkins, Coffin and the others eventually found their way home, they sued for the brig's return in the Philadelphia admiralty court and also appealed to Congress for redress. They won their case but failed to recover their property.
In a letter quoted in Alexander Starbuck's History of Nantucket: County Island and Town including Genealogies of the First Settlers, Coffin writes about a harrowing return from London. Coffin recollects:
". . . the letters we were Chargd with to members of the Hon Congress & were of such importance & Nature as Required us to act with the Utmost Care & Caution, had they been discovered we Hazarded our necks & the necks of the best and sincerest of Friends of America."
Panels from the exhibition previously published on Gossips can be found here and here.
Meetings and Events in the Week Ahead
It's not April yet, but we seem to be getting the proverbial April showers as March is preparing to make its exit like a lamb. Meanwhile, in the first full week of spring, here is what's happening.
- On Monday, March 23, the Public Works Board meets at 5:30 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Teams. Click here to join the meeting remotely.
- On Tuesday, March 24, the Common Council Finance Committee meets at 5:15 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Teams. Click here to join the meeting remotely.
- Also on Tuesday, March 24, the Common Council holds its regular monthly meeting at 6:00 p.m. The controversial proposal to amend the short-term rental law to extend the number of days a homeowner can let their residence as a short-term rental from 60 days to 120 days has been abandoned. There is, however, an amendment to the short-term rental law on the agenda, one that would require a local contact be designated for any property offered as short-term rental and the information be provided to the Hudson Police Department and the Code Enforcement Office. 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 Thursday, March 26, Hudson Development and Planning Agency (HCDPA) meets at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Teams. The meeting may yield some information about the sale of property owned by HCDPA to the Hudson Housing Authority for its redevelopment plan. 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, March 27, the Historic Preservation Commission meets at 10:00 a.m. The agenda for the meeting is not yet available, but it is likely to include the continuation of the review of the new construction proposed for 309-311 Union Street. 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.
Friday, March 20, 2026
Remembrance of What Didn't Happen
Hudson's largest DRI (Downtown Revitalization Initiative) project, first called "Hudson Connects" and later known as "Hudson Streetscapes," included a lot of features that never happened, because the money allocated for the project ($4 million) was insufficient to pay for what had been proposed. All the things that were eliminated are documented in this Gossips post, published last June: "Hudson Connects--The Vision and the Reality."
The "Hudson Connects" plan focused on the part of the city below Second Street, and the centerpiece of the plan was a raised "pedestrian plaza" at the western end of Warren Street, leading into the lavishly redesigned entrance to Promenade Hill.
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Word on the Bridge
The Register-Star today reports on the outcome of Wedenesday's Board of Supervisors Public Works Committee meeting: "Columbia County committee OKs $320K proposal to fix Stuyvesant Falls Bridge." The proposal will go before the full Board at its meeting on Wednesday, April 8.
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| Photo: Trixie's List |
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