Friday, November 2, 2018

Incivility Comes to Hudson

Back in the days of the cement plant battle, public meetings could get fairly intense, with people passionately declaring their opposition to a plan that would drastically alter Hudson and thwart its future, but never did the discourse descend to throwing feces at an elected official. But that's what happened last night, during the Board of Estimate and Apportionment's workshop on the 2019 city budget--specifically, on the budget for the Youth Department. Someone in the audience threw a bag of feces, presumed to be dog feces, hitting Mayor Rick Rector on the arm as he was responding to the accusation that he was "undermining the Youth Center."

Rector reacting to being struck on the arm with a bag of feces
Every year at this time, the Board of Estimate and Apportionment (BEA), made up of the mayor, the treasurer, and the Common Council president, conducts a series of budget workshops, at which the departments present their budgets for the coming year, which often exceed what the BEA determines the City can afford, and the BEA must undertake the difficult task of hammering out a budget that ensures that the City can meet its commitments and provide essential services but doesn't bankrupt the City or put an intolerable tax burden on property owners. Not an easy process or a pleasant one. In the past, these workshops took place out of the public eye, with maybe a few aldermen present representing their constituents' interests. It's unclear whose idea it was to make the BEA workshops open to the public, but given the events of last night, it may have been taking transparency too far.

The people who showed up at last night's BEA workshop were angry, incited to attend by emails announcing that popular youth director Nick Zachos had been fired. People at the meeting, as well as BEA member Tom DePietro, suggested that the action was somehow connected with the budget, and many present argued that Zachos was essential to the success of the Youth Department. Rector's attempts to explain that Zachos had not been fired, he was still employed at the Youth Department, but his job had been redefined to focus his strengths and talents to best advantage, and that the salary for a director was still in the budget, fell on unreceptive ears. Rector was accused of lying, trying to undermine the Youth Center, firing a man who was "a bridge to those kids," and denying the Youth Center the funding they deserve.

The Youth Department has a history of money problems, ever since the City took over the Boys and Girls Club nearly twenty years ago. In 2016, the Youth Department ended the summer $4,000 over budget, with four months to go in the year. A budget amendment was required then to keep the doors of the Youth Center open. The budget for 2018 saw an increase of 41.2 percent in the Youth Department budget, and it's been reported that the budget now being considered for the Youth Department involves another 50 percent increase.

Last night, Peter Frank, a staunch advocate for the Youth Department and one of the organizers of Friends of Hudson Youth, posted a comment about the budget workshop on Facebook in which he stated:
The BEA claims every department in the city has been cut "to the bone." Well, they went though the Youth Dept. budget tonight with a fine tooth comb (I'd wager more aggressively than any other department) and took out everything that wasn't critical so now that also been cut "to the bone." Is it higher than last year's by a greater percentage than other departments? Of course it is. It's been chronically underfunded while other departments increased every year.
Since it seems nobody from the public attended any of the BEA workshops on the budgets for other departments it may be unfair to suggest that the Youth Department budget was scrutinized more aggressively than any other. It is also unfair to suggest that the Youth Department budget has not regularly increased over the years. Is it still underfunded? Probably. But it is disturbing to see the kind of misleading provocations we see on the national stage, with half-truths disseminated by social media to frighten and incite people, playing out in our little city--especially by adults who define themselves as advocates for our youth.

The major takeaway from last night's budget workshop for many in Hudson is that property taxes will be going up, by either 5 percent or 7½ percent.

Dan Udell was there to document the workshop, which went on for more than two hours. That video can be seen here
COPYRIGHT 2018 CAROLE OSTERINK

29 comments:

  1. The BEA's job is to ensure there's not "an intolerable tax burden on property owners"?! We passed that point years ago!

    In addition to our astronomical school taxes (upwards of $27,000 per student), it's not unreasonable for taxpayers to consider the Youth Department budget in the same equation (ca. $6,000 a head).

    Is it really "probable" that the Youth Department is underfunded? Of course it is if you're spending other people's money!

    Why not give Mr. Frank's organization a role, unless we mustn't because that's how things worked before our enlightened poo-throwing indignation took over.

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  2. Total disrespect was given to the mayor and the other members of the BEA, especially when they opened the budget workshop for the taxpayers to view the process. It was not the appropriate time for public comment, or the unnecessary disrupted yelling and action taken by some members of a previously incited audience. The elected officials deserve more respect. This country needs more civility!

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  3. Carole, the Mayor didn't deserve a bag of feces thrown at him, but he certainly brought this trouble on himself. Displaying either naivete or arrogance, he should not have fired (demoted, transferred, whatever you want to call it) the head of the youth department while trying to present a youth department budget; especially a department he knows nothing about. The Mayor and his treasurer approached the budget discussion last night as if talking about widgets a very popular Youth Director, the best we've had since the City took over, sat silent in the audience. It was a shameeful display -- and not by the audience.

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    1. While all that may be true (I wouldn't know), someone planned ahead when they brought that bag with them.

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    2. Poop may have been a good headline, but it was hardly the point.

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    3. A projectile, whether it's premeditated or spontaneous, has a way of becoming the point.

      It takes first place, discrediting the complaints it had hoped to highlight by painting all associates with the same irresponsible brush.

      By casting the projectile as being of lesser importance, you're normalizing the other protesters' automatic and undisciplined association with it. No one should tolerate that behavior, but I've caught several people winking.

      Even if you're not among the winkers, by elevating "the point" to be something other than the poop you're like Jefferson tolerating the occasional, cute act of violence. Recall that, in the end, Jefferson conceded that argument to John Adams' better sense.

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    4. "...has a way of becoming the point"? How so?

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  4. I have to start by saying that I wasn't at the meeting because I was at home alone with my son. I watched it online. But I imagine that's how Gossips reported too? In any case, there are a few points here worthy of comment: 1) Speaking of local events mirroring national ones: reporting Rick's line that Nick was not fired (and that it fell on deaf ears) uncritically seems questionable. Nick had a salaried, full-time job with health insurance and civil service protections. He was relieved of all of it and offered a part-time job with no health insurance at close to minimum wage. I am flummoxed that Gossips would not employ greater critical acuity here. 2) When and where did Rick say that Nick was being removed and replaced elsewhere to focus his strengths and talents to his best advantage? I watched the video, and I didn't hear that. Maybe that's me, which I would certainly believe. But if that was a comment sought by Gossips from the mayor, where's Nick's comment? 3) I wonder if the dog poop is really the point of the story. I so often love the focus of Gossips pieces, and this seems to clash. So many people showed up to a budget meeting; a beloved youth department director was fired; there were accusations of fishiness...all seems meaty material for gossiping. But instead there was...poop?

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    1. If thrown dog poop is not the focus of this story, then it should be.

      Unless this behavior is somehow tolerable for you, then nothing else about the issue can possibly take precedence.

      Civility entails inherent hierarchies of value. Those who ignore this, or act out against it, do so at the peril of the very issues which concern them.

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    2. Thanks, Tamar. Well said -- and true.

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    3. UH, Write your dog poop story -- oops, I guess are writing it. (Thank you, Carole, for providing the forum.) We don't have to read it and I'm hoping that most Hudsonites won't be blinded by such rhetoric into giving up their beliefs about the Mayor's bad actions vis a vis the Youth Department.

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    4. Tamar Adler: I have confirmed that Nick's new position is NOT a part-time job with no health insurance or civil services protections. It is a full-time job with all the same benefits he had before.

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    5. Carole: if that's so, I apologize for getting it wrong. Whence the source from which you got it right, so I know whom to consult? See you tomorrow at the polls...

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    6. I'm glad that's verified, which means that incivility was the real story all along.

      It will be interesting when we learn the culprit's name and affiliations. Who among his peers misjudged the potential for misbehavior, and also failed to identify him afterwards? To some degree they're culpable too; we are each other's brothers and sisters.

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    7. Forty years a journalist, I consider Carole's comment, with all due respect, hardly "verified." Where's the "proof"? The documents? Verified by whom? What did Nick Zachos say? Wouldn't he be a good source on whether he got fired or not? Sorry to say this, but this is Gossips on steroids; lots of gossip, no facts.

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  5. I’m really impressed with the way Nick Zachos elevated the Youth Department and served our community. Several families have spoken to me about how they feel that their kids are better engaged and supported. Many professionals at other organizations have told me that Nick has significantly increased collaboration among organizations and how impactful Nick and the entire Youth Department is. Watching the recent BEA meeting, it was clear that Nick had created a compelling budget based on a detailed and empathetic understanding of the city’s needs and opportunities. It’s amazing that so many people attended a budget meeting and that the Youth Department budget was largely supported by the BEA.

    Nick has shown young people that we care, that they have a present, and a future. He has been successful by collaborating with youth and adults, professionals and volunteers. It’s a community effort and I hope that others city leaders can learn from his example. I hope Nick continues to lead - from the Youth Department or from another role. Thank you Nick for your service.

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  6. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. It was a good comment, Barb.

      This sort of psycho-political-pathology is on the rise in Hudson, and we need to call it out. This also means exposing the lip service of those who feel they bear no responsibility for the misbehavior of their fellows, though it reflects on them too.

      Notice how few here and elsewhere have disavowed the action unequivocally. (Of course doing so now will only risk the appearance of disingenuousness.)

      Anyway, I'm sorry you pulled your comment.

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    2. Let's not sacrifice democracy -- which is what I witnessed at that meeting the other night -- on the altar of psycho-political-pathology such as the kind of conspiracy babble that wants to throw everyone in that meeting in jail because they refuse a loyalty test. Wow.

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    3. Straw man argument. Beneath you.

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  7. Does anyone besides me want to say; IT IS ALWAYS WRONG, INAPPROPRIATE AND BARBARIC TO THROW ANYTHING AT A PUBLIC FORUM, ESPECIALLY FECES!!!! There is no reason good enough or behavior awful enough for that to happen.
    I also grew up in this town, born and raised. I remember the tale of the women hung at the city square. And I am wondering if that is next? Or maybe a stoning. I am greatly saddened that there are people who don’t know when wrong is wrong!!!

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  8. Barb, did anyone say it was a good thing? Did anyone say it shouldn't be prosecuted? Please, just one quote, from one person. That would at least be a start.

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  9. Incivility just came to Hudson?! Did you ever watch the Common Council meetings in prior administrations, which were so disorderly that one of the campaign promises of my husband Tom DePietro, was to make the meetings more civil and respectful? As Council President, Tom has also carried out a campaign promise to make city government more open, to enable a truly participatory democracy. This "transparency" should be a boon to citizens and serious journalists alike.


    At a recent council meeting Tom reported that city attorney Andy Howard had opined that the budget process and BEA meetings are subject to the Open Meetings law. In the past the Mayor, President and Treasurer, Heather Campbell, conducted budget "workshops" in Heather's office. Alderpersons were allowed to visit Heather in her office and review the preliminary budget.They did not receive a copy until the Mayor presented them with a proposed budget. At that point, as mandated by the city charter and code, the council's power was limited to CUTTING budget items or amounts. ALderpersons will not be able to add anything once Rick proposes the budget. After this step in the budget process, the council can exercise one of its primary functions and either adopt or reject the proposed budget. Presumably the council will be pleased that Rick has carried out the platform he stated at his inauguration, which was to support and encourage the City's youth. (By the way, it is misleading to report that this item was increased by 46%. The amount approved by the BEA is only $60,000 higher than the $480,000 in the 2018 adjusted budget; a best practice of budgeting is using the prior year's expenditures (not the original budgeted amount) to arrive at the expected/desired amount for the following year.)


    I too watched the video of Thursday night's BEA meeting, contemporaneously, when Kaya Weidman live streamed it on Facebook, and on Friday night in Dan Udell's tape. Like others, I witnessed the raw emotion voiced by Annette Perry and others expressing shock over the removal of Nick Zachos from his position as Youth Director that afternoon. Like others, I was shocked that someone wearing a mask committed a criminal assault on our mayor. It was clear to me, and probably every other witness, that these occurrences were a reaction to the personnel decision by the mayor and the Youth Commissioner. You may recall from the video that the crowd did not become unruly while the budget was being discussed. It was only after Tom announced that he did not know who the Youth Director was at that point that people erupted. So yes, assaulting the mayor is criminal, and speaking out of turn is not expected in a BEA meeting, but transparency in government is a good thing, and has not gone "too far."

    I am submitting this comment on my own behalf, not as my husband's mouthpiece. He did not notice your observation on too much transparency until I pointed it out to him.

    Dorothy Heyl

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    1. Speaking as an active participant and an extremely vocal critic of many former Council meetings, it gives me the greatest pleasure to acknowledge the sea change brought about by President DePietro and the current crop of Aldermen.

      All of a sudden, like a snap of the fingers, it's a different municipality. It is now the norm for the Council Chamber to be civil, respectful, and open. Compared to the past, I'd never have predicted anything like it in such a brief passage of time.

      What a boon for everyone - for public participation and for effective self-governance. I'd be remiss not to share my gratitude, and even my amazement.

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  10. My point is simple, it is my belief, that there can’t be any reason for this type of attack. Yes, disapprovals can be filled with extreme emotion, but when we physically act out on these emotions with any form of violence, we are sending a horrible message that can be interrupted: the ends justify the means. Did history not teach us anything? Or are we destined to repeat it.

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    1. Barb, I understand your point, but please do not punish the children of Hudson because one person acted out. I asked you earlier to quote all the people who say the poop-thrower was a good person. You say "We are sending a horrible message...." But who is we? What did WE do? What did WE say? Please, tell us.

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  11. It does not seem likely that, given the way Hudson is, that the identity of the perpetrator (poopetrator?) will stay secret for long... unless this person has a lot of allies willing to cover for their actions.

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  12. I believe that the police have rounded up The Usual Suspects.. Of course no name shall be mentioned but it isn't hard to figure out who did it

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