The schedule of meetings will be sparse this year, now that Council president Tom DePietro has eliminated all standing committees, but here's what's happening this week.
- On Tuesday, January 19, the Hudson Industrial Development Agency (IDA) meets 1:00 p.m. Click here to join the Zoom meeting.
- Also on Tuesday, January 19, the Common Council holds its regular monthly meeting at 7:00 p.m. Click here to review the documents on the agenda. Click here to join the Zoom meeting.
- On Wednesday, January 20, the Zoning Board of Appeals meets at 6:00 p.m. Click here to join the Zoom meeting.
- On Friday, January 22, the Historic Preservation Commission has its second meeting of the month at 10:00 a.m. The meeting can be viewed on the Hudson City Zoom Meetings channel on YouTube.
- Also on Friday, January 22, at 6:00 p.m., Mayor Kamal Johnson and the Police Advisory and Reconciliation Commission will hold a Police Reform Town Hall. Click here for information to join the meeting.
In a public service career fueled by vanity, directed at every turn by poor planning, and studded with moments of egregious pettiness, this transgression does seem to fit into the top tier of bad decisions.
ReplyDeleteCommittee meetings are a way to flesh out the issues that affect Hudson and its residents as legislators attempt to craft solutions to those problems, a medium by which the public and Council members engage with department heads to be better informed of happenings at the municipal level (and, conversely, for department heads and Council members to hear from their constituents.) Cramming that entire process into a single, marathon-style session once a month disenfranchises those citizens with limited time from participation, denies Common Council members the opportunity to learn and become proficient in specific policy areas, and will result in legislation that is either hastily drafted and deeply flawed or cumbersome in its development-probably both. I would also add that as resolutions need to now approach the Council through Tom's desk, it amounts to a power grab.
While there has been some toxic theatricality at meetings, it's hardly a 'free-for-all' as Tom describes. It's reasonable to say that this is more about Tom trying to control the narrative in an election year and quell dissenting voices to his own favor (this is part of the DePietro handbook) than any actual efficiency.
As it is my understanding that there was limited discussion of this rule change before rollout, I would encourage Common Council members to ponder the responses at their disposal, including adjourning the Common Council meetings until such time as Tom reverses course or presents a reasonable alternative.
John Kane, I hope that you run for public office in Hudson, I would love to vote for you.
DeleteI appreciate the compliment. I certainly do think every person has a responsibility, as much as they are able, to be engaged and look for ways to serve their community, be it through volunteering, political action, public service, or just helping your neighbors out whenever you can.
DeleteWhen I ponder the idea of public office, I have to ask myself the same three questions I'd ask anyone else- 1-Do I have the time to commit to doing this job well? 2-Will this improve the lives of people I aim to represent? and 3-Do I feel I'm the best-qualified of the available candidates?
When the answer to both of those questions is yes, you'll hear from me.
In the meantime, I do encourage Hudson residents who are pondering a run to reach out to learn more about the process of running for public office. If you think you can make a difference in the community, you owe it to yourself and to your neighbors to think about using your expertise and life experience to make Hudson a better place to live.
I, too, am disturbed by the amount of power Mr. Depietro has. And I do not think he should have had a vote or say in who became majority or minority leader.
ReplyDeleteTHE 6 (P) IN POLITICS ARE..POOR PLANNING PROVIDES PISS POOR PERFORMANCE.
ReplyDeletetrump left DC and landed in Hudson
ReplyDelete