On Thursday, October 1, the Common Council Legal Committee is holding a special meeting at 6:00 p.m. to consider two resolutions: the first would divert 22 percent of the police budget to the Hudson Community Development and Planning Agency (HCDPA), the Youth Department, and three other purposes, existing or proposed; the second affirms the goals of the proposed Hudson Breathes Act. This afternoon, Gossips discovered on Facebook that there is an effort underway to organize a protest outside City Hall at that time.
COPYRIGHT 2020 CAROLE OSTERINK
I have personally picketed City Hall when I knew nobody was inside, and still I had a grand old time. Was that so stupid of me?
ReplyDeleteI'm still trying to figure out what the local Back the Blue supporters actually want. Maybe we'll find out.
ReplyDeleteI back the HPD but they have to lose the awful “blue lives” flag: there is no such thing as a “blue life” — it’s a career choice, not an immutable trait like race. It’s time for this thin blue line mentality to end. And it’s time for the Council to do its job not bend to every progressive political wind that blows. This is Hudson, not some theoretical town. And it would truly help if those of you who don’t live IN HUDSON would please keep your noses out of Hudson’s business. Then we won’t feel the desire to tell you how to live your ideal suburban life in Greenport or Stockport or freaking Chatham.
ReplyDeleteYa no. This is the business of Chatham. If the police force is cut 22 percent how does this effect the safety of my wife walking to her car at the train station. The inevitable increase in crime will effect everyone, not just city residents.
DeleteI second this: 'please keep your noses out of Hudson’s business.'
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteI third this; our City shall rule itself.
DeleteThat thin blue line flag is very much akin to flashing the Confederate flag, not cool. There is no such thing as “Blue Lives”, it’s a job that some people choose to apply for. Last time I checked it is not even high on the list of most dangerous jobs in America. It is far more dangerous to be a landscaper for example than a police officer. And blue is not a skin color, false equivalence.
DeleteSeems kind of irresponsible. Kind of like cutting your grocery budget to save money, then taking the savings and spending it all going out to party.
ReplyDeleteEvery member of the Common Council should be required to watch the recent episode of Frontline on PBS titled "Policing the Police." After watching this thought-provoking program, I was convinced that defunding the police is counterproductive. Here's a link for anyone with an open mind interested in learning more: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/podcast/dispatch/race-police-the-pandemic/
ReplyDeletethanks - good to know. Appreciate the link as we strive to make the best possible, informed decisions.
DeleteIt is a pandemic crisis and only going to get worse. Why just the police? Why not make a 22% cut in every city department, including all salaries. Then you would accomplish something.
ReplyDeleteI work full time and spend my leisure time in Hudson, even though I live in Greenport. I think that means I have the right to express my concerns.
ReplyDeleteCertainly you have a right, which isn’t news to anyone in our increasingly rights-based society. I’d counter, though, that privileging our rights above all else is not necessarily the same as being prudent.
DeleteWhen you take context into account (a more difficult assessment for someone not living here), the discussion that’s already underway in Hudson with opinions pulling in every direction has been admirably balanced and ordered. It could easily have been worse.
My question to you is, is your right to air your opinion more important than the setting and context in which you’ll express it? What if you risk injecting a critical imbalance into a delicate dialogue which precedes you? Miss Manners might ask how a guest should assess her own degrees of provocation without really knowing the host; i.e., without attending city meetings, speaking with the mayor and aldermen firsthand, writing letters, and so on.
Are the good-faith efforts of those who live in Hudson less important than an outsider's right to express opinions with which this resident may very well agree?
I don't think so, but if you really do, and you believe that’s an honest position, then go for it. Far be it from me to tread upon anyone’s all-important rights. (IMO our obsession with our rights is our ultimate sickness.)
Speaking for myself, I’ll support local policing in other ways. Among them is the posting of this comment.
It seems to me that if Mayor Johnson has chosen to attend a protest rally in Kinderhook, he has by his actions expanded community engagement beyond city limits. “An outsiders right to express opinions” - is a troubling mindset.
ReplyDeleteGood rejoinder, fair enough.
DeleteIMO, regrettable.
Everyone here has forgotten one fact, Hudson is the county seat. That should mean something for all who live outside of the city but view Hudson as the center of government. The DMV, Social Security offices to name a few. County taxes.Not to mention participating in its commerce in multiple ways. Whether getting hair done at a popular salon to groceries. I can't tell you how much has been spent on dining alone going to the all important tax base. We all walk and drive through the streets and parks. We even stay over. As someone else said, the train station! If we spend considerable time and money in our county seat, I very well believe we have a say in it. Many even work here. I've participated multiple times in the wonderful Arts Walk bringing the tourism that Hudson thrives on. Safety and well counts no matter what town you live in once you enter city limits. We expect that much from you.
ReplyDeleteNOPE
DeleteYes, just to name a few of those dozens of county buildings that don't pay a single cent to our City police, fire, DPW, schools, or youth. But lecture us about your expectations to have your voice privileged above those who pay for, and are policed by, the HPD. Not a single piece of data, just vague whistles about 'safety' when I get my hair done in Hudson, ipso facto what about my say in budgetary policy!?
DeleteArts Walk?!? Been to Hudson recently? Arts Walk ended years ago.
DeleteStill missing the point, I see. Nothing said about non residents voices are privileged. As world citizens, we certainly do have a right to our opinions though that evidently troubles some. As dso and Ruralist point out, as we go about our business, we expect to be treated universally. We expect that no matter what city, town, jurisdiction we happen to pass through in the country. Hudson is our city. It's where our major governmental and legal transactions take place. It's where we pick up family and friends at the train station. It's where we interact with county citizens and citizens at large at any given event, public hearings, parades, music and art events, parks and recreation, protest cement plants and any number of threats and injustices to name a few. We may not be paying the abhorrent property taxes some of you are privileged to afford, that's why so many live outside Hudson these days. Many certainly spend hard earned cash within it. We contribute, most importantly, to the city's vibrancy and commerce. Mocking Artswalk! Check out its major contribution to the city you take for granted now. Have a talk with Carrie Haddad or simply look at several articles where she explains the how's and why's to invigorate the city she fell in love with while residing in Clermont at the time. (Chronogram 'Local Luminary' Feb 25, 2008 & HV1 March 21, 2019 'The Eyes of Carrie Haddad' Carrie is respectful of Hudson's lengthy history and all the people who live or pass through. I hope that inspires a few key players (or, who think they are) in town to emulate admirable traits in others.
ReplyDeleteLet me know when you start paying property taxes here. Until then you’re talking to yourself — unless you want me to come where you live and start telling you how to behave. Hint: you don’t want that.
DeleteGood to meet you. Stay safe ... hopefully you follow sound covid prevention directives. The POTUS role model, meh.
Delete