Roger Hannigan Gilson, who was once a reporter for the Register-Star, then started his own news blog called The Other Hudson Valley, and is now writing about Hudson and the rest of the Hudson Valley for the Albany Times Union, Zoomed in on yesterday's meeting of the Hudson IDA. His article about the decision to grant PILOTs and other financial benefits to the Galvan Foundation for the two apartment buildings proposed for North Seventh Street appeared today in the Times Union: "Hudson city treasurer votes against tax breaks for housing complex." It is recommended reading.
Yes Heather said it ALL: "Shifting the tax burden to the rest of Hudson's residents won't impact the gentrifiers," she continued, "it's going to disproportionately impact lower- and middle-class property owners, many of them whom are already struggling."
ReplyDeleteSo the gap between rich and poor continues to widen and inequities are magnified by this stupid plan benefitting one billionaire and removing diversity from the City of Hudson.
Heather is a voice of wisdom.
ReplyDeleteIt’s such a manipulative strategy that works in a place like Hudson, where a majority lean to the left politically. Most people here are empathetic to the needs of the poor and housing security, and rightly so. So when people question on how the city can afford this, Galvan’s supporters can use the foil that the skeptics are uncaring about the less fortunate.
ReplyDeleteThe poor are used as a shield. The middle class continues to get squeezed. The rich just continue to play the game, whether it be for their personal profit, or for some, to play social engineer as a way to deal with their guilt - albeit unaffected by the consequences
Now might be a good time to invest in whoever makes real estate and for sale signage.
ReplyDeleteWhy do all of Galvan's projects get a green light? Ever wonder about that? Why can Heather and a lot of other people see the consequences, but the people making the decisions can't? Well, they can see, all right. Palms have been greased...
ReplyDeleteI hope they got paid plenty, so at least they can say they're high priced whores.
ReplyDeleteLuckily the Galvan Foundation seems to have very thick skin. They choose not to respond to the hate so many people on this blog throw at them.
ReplyDeleteWould any foundation not attempt to get the best deal possible on projects they commit to? The more efficient the deal the more good they can do.
The Galvan Foundation does a lot for this community. They have contributed to many, many local students through their support of CGCC.
They have contributed greatly to some of the communities most needy through their exceptional support of the Salvation Army.
They do own a substantial amount of real estate in the community, approximately 89 residential properties. This is a small percentage of the overall residential property in the city. The speed at which they rehab their stock is affected by many variables but it is their prerogative. I am amazed that the Foundation remains committed to the city with all the hate that is directed at them. If they were to pull out I can't imagine what that liquidity vacuum would look like in the local real estate market.
Socrates said " if you can't argue both sides then you don't understand the argument". I would ask the haters to take a breath and consider that there is a greater good provided by the Galvan Foundation than they are given credit for on this forum.
Committed to the community? Stand at the corner of 7th and State and appreciate the demolition debris, large fences and concrete barriers still there on the north west corner 2 and a half years after Galvan thankfully knocked that eyesore of a building over. How is leaving all that ugliness there any help to the community? Would you be okay seeing that crap every time you walked out your front door or took a stroll in the neighborhood? Wake up, man.
DeleteThe hate you speak of comes with reasons.
DeleteInvestigate that whilst blindly praising Galvans parasitic behavior.
I will also add, being acquainted with several of their residents, both in section 8 / affordable housing and regular rate work force housing that Galvan is not a great landlord, non responsive to tenants needs for things like adequate heating in the winter, and yet subjects tenants to unannounced or short notice inspections, during which folks need to remain at how all day (if the don't want people in their home without them), and often they don't show up, wasting and disrespecting the tenant's time. They've had a change of direct management this year, but I've also heard that the previous manager treated tenants, especially section 8, with an air of disdain, suspicion and condescension. It might be useful for counsel to entertain testimony fro those already living in Galvan properties before green lighting new projects.
DeleteDo you write commissioned apologia for regular folks, too, or just billionaire poverty “entrepreneurs?”
ReplyDeleteI can assure you I don't write "commissioned apologia" for anyone. I do however try to "call it like I see it".
DeleteHaving grown up in Hudson (HHS Class of 79) I have a little bit of knowledge to base my opinions on. I work to be a "healthy sceptic" but hope to never be a cynical hater like those that populate this blog.
I lived on N. 5th Street and saw the Galvan Foundation rehabilitate dilapidated buildings that childhood friends had grown up in but had fallen into disrepair. I saw the worksites shut down because the HPC did not like the windows or some other nonsense. The foundation persevered and developed buildings that to this day are a great addition to the city. This was before the foundation restored the Armory and made it into a very nice facility for the community.
Its funny, all the people that tear down what the foundation does and never recognize the good that they do. What is your agenda? Where are your recommended solutions? What have you contributed to the community?
So you’re a freelance apologist. Interesting job description. In any event my agenda — clearly articulated over the past ten or so years I’ve been civically active in Hudson — has been actual economic development that creates an environment where employers can create jobs. Unlike Galvan, my projects have never relied on my neighbors to finance them at a cost of tens of millions to create 1.5 jobs so I can avoid paying my share of property and other taxes. I authored the lodging tax and community preservation laws. You?
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