Monday, May 23, 2022
COVID-19 Update
If at First You Don't Succeed . . .
Sunday, May 22, 2022
Meetings of Interest in the Week Ahead
- On Tuesday, May 24, Hudson Development Corporation (HDC) holds its regular monthly meeting at noon. At the meeting, the board will continue to discuss the strategic plan for the future of HDC. The meeting takes place in person only at 1 North Front Street.
- Also on Tuesday, May 24, the Planning Board holds a special meeting at 6:00 p.m. The purpose of the special meeting is to consider the phasing plan at 708 State Street that would allow the code enforcement officer to issue a certificate of occupancy for Hudson Upper Depot so that the brewery that is to occupy the building can begin operations. The meeting will take place virtually. Click here to join the meeting.
- On Wednesday, May 25, Hudson Community Development and Planning Agency (HCDPA) holds a special meeting at 4:00 p.m. The purpose of the special meeting has not been announced, but chances are it has to do with HCDPA properties that the Hudson Housing Authority wants to include in its RFP (request for proposals) for new construction to replace Bliss Towers. The meeting will take place virtually. Click here to join the meeting.
- Also on Wednesday, May 25, the Common Council Technology Committee meets at 6:30 p.m. There is no agenda available for the meeting, which will be a hybrid--taking place in person at City Hall and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.
- On Thursday, May 26, the Board of Assessment Review--Matthew Parker, Philip Osattin, and Dorothy Heyl--will meet from 3:30 to 8:00 p.m. to hear and determine complaints in relation to assessments. Grievances will be heard on Zoom by appointment only. Contact the assessor at 518 929-3845 to schedule an appointment and presumably get the link to the Zoom meeting. A publication containing procedures for contesting an assessment can be found online at http://www.tax.ny.gov/pdf/publications/orpts/grievancebooklet.pdf.
- On Friday, May 27, according to the city calendar, the Historic Preservation Commission holds its second regular meeting of the month at 10:00 a.m. At the HPC meeting on Friday, May 20, Victoria Polidoro, legal counsel for the HPC, indicated that the next meeting would be held on June 10. It was also indicated by HPC chair Phil Forman that, at the next meeting, there would be a public hearing on new construction proposed for First Street and Cherry Alley, as an accessory building to 102 Union Street. Gossips will confirm if HPC's next meeting and the public hearing take place on May 27 or June 10, and report it here.
COPYRIGHT 2022 CAROLE OSTERINK
The HPC and the "Depot District"
Galvan Foundation is currently rehabilitating the existing structures at 61 N. 7th Street and 622 State Street, which are currently vacant and derelict. The retention of the smaller structures along State Street, and parts of N. 7th Street will screen the larger proposed buildings, creating a screen along the urban streetscape, and providing a transition between the various sized buildings along these corridors. The landscape around the Upper Hudson Depot will be revitalized for community recreational and market use (i.e. farmers market, craft fair, etc.) further incorporating the varied elements of community into the overall project. The proposed height of the buildings is consistent with the historic elements in this portion of the city, and facilitates a visual transition to the urban street scape along State and Columbia Streets.
Selig questioned identification of the structure in the 1985 inventory as an "ice house," saying there was nothing in the Sanborn maps to suggest it was an ice house and commenting that ice houses were typically underground.
Because they are struggling to meet the energy requirements with brick, they are proposing to cover the less visible facades of the building, those that face the railroad tracks, with a synthetic stucco known as Exterior Insulating and Finish System (EIFS). (The acronym seems to be pronounced "e fuss.")
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Watch Your Words . . .
I feel that everybody should be able to express themselves and have fun. Everybody in the community just you know be mindful of you know just be respectful and I'm speaking just you know in the past you know certain indecencies you know with the parade if we could just be respectful and this is our community everybody is entitled to express themselves, but just keep that in mind. --Malachi WalkerYou can hear Walker's statement for yourself here. It begins at 7:20.
I have led OutHudson, the organization that puts on the OutHudson Pride Weekend, for seven years now. During that time, we have created a magnificent event that brings many thousancs of visitors a year and promotes Hudson as a welcoming bastion of diversity and tolerance.
We appreciate your "YES" vote on the resolution codifying June as Pride Month, but had some concern about your comments made at the May 17th Common Council Meeting that "there have been certain indecencies in the parade."
I have attended the entirety of every Hudson Pride Parade and witnessed every float and group. Indecency isn't anyone's opinion of what they think is proper; it has a legal definition in New York State. You are a public official and should be aware that there is none in our parade. Queer parades have a long history of creativity and freedom of expression dating back half a century. Hudson's is no different. We embrace it.
Hudson is a diverse and beautiful town and exemplifies so much that is good in our society. The OutHudson Pride Weekend is a huge source of pride for me and my fellow organizers, and I hope for our residents--whether here for five minutes or fifty years. Labeling the event or even an individual participating in that tradition of freedom of expression as "indecent" harkens back to earlier eras where our lives were invalidated. A time that the Hudson of today clearly stands against and exemplifies--through every type of inclusion and a definitive embrace of Queerness in every way--the best our society can be. . . .
Meant no disrepect at all, just in the past parade there were some attire that exposed some body parts that some residents didn't feel was suitable for the occasion.
You can see that I was very hesitant, fumbling my words at times to even address it because I try not to offend anyone and would never intentionally do so, ever. I love my city with a passion and everyone in it. Indecent attire were words that were given to me by a parent who was concerned about certain revealing body parts while they attended the last parade. I was asked to address it, I brought it up in the meeting not to bully, humilitate [sic], or criticize but to share a concern from a few residents who resides in Hudson, with all due respect.
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Photo: OutHudson | Instagram |
New District Maps Finalized
A state judge finalized New York's congressional and state Senate district maps early Saturday, putting them in place for the next decade barring any further lawsuits.
In his final maps, Cervas made several changes urged by politicians and members of the public, including reuniting the Bed-Stuy neighborhood in Brooklyn in the new 8th District, instead of splitting it between two. . . . Cervas also made changes on Long Island, creating a district largely based on the South Shore in Nassau County.
Friday, May 20, 2022
COVID-19 Update
COVID and the County
As of Thursday, per the CDC, Columbia County’s rate of new COVID-19 cases remains in the high risk category.
Also as of Thursday, the CDC-reported current average of new daily cases per 100,000 of population stood at 45.9.
The positive test rate is 16.2 percent.
The number of positive cases in Columbia County rose once again this week, hitting a seven-day total that exceeds the positives for the entire month of March, Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb reported today. The week ending today saw 230 positive cases, with March totaling just 208. May’s total cases through 20 days is 690, exceeding the county’s second highest month, February, in which there were 533 cases.
“There’s no doubt that Covid is rumbling through our community but our nurses are also hearing from people they call who are positive that they tested, in part, because of the rising numbers of positives here and across the country,” said Director Mabb. “So people who may have thought the sniffles or sore throat they had were allergies for a couple of months are quicker to test for Covid. This ‘heightened awareness’ is having an upward effect on our numbers.”
The good news, said Director Mabb, is that while hospitalizations remain relatively high at 18 individuals, there is but one individual in the ICU today.
Director Mabb also reports that interest in the fourth booster remains high, with 62 people getting boosted at the department’s POD at Columbia-Greene Community College on Thursday.
Although New York State has lifted the mandate for mask wearing while inside a business, local health care officials continue to encourage the wearing of masks while indoors, particularly for those with health problems.
Shifting the Ward Boundaries
Thursday, May 19, 2022
COVID-19 Update
Considering What Will Be Lost
Hoctor, Patrick, of Hudson, was born in Ireland, March 16, 1848, and came to the United States with his parents. His father, Timothy Hoctor, settled in East Dorset, Vt., where he was engaged in the marble trade. Patrick Hoctor was educated in private school, and, after completing his studies, learned marble-cutting with his father. In 1869 he came to Hudson and entered the employ of James M. Townsend, with whom he remained until 1873, when he went to Glens Falls, N.Y., and established business on his own account. Here he remained only three years and returned to Hudson, where he has since carried on marble-cutting and cemetery work, devoting his attention to the production of high-grade designs. He is an ex-member of the cemetery commission, and at present a member of the board of public works, wherein his experience and good judgment make him a useful member. Mr. Hoctor is an industrious, conscientious man, and an example of good citizenship, respected and esteemed throughout the city. In 1871 he was married to Jennie Barrett. They are the parents to two sons: Frank C. and Clarence E., and four daughters: Hattie J., Frances C., Gertrude and Isabelle H.
In addition to considering the demolition of what was the home of Patrick Hoctor and his family and of a rare surviving ice house, at its special meeting tomorrow, the HPC will be hearing from the Galvan people about the materials being proposed for the building they wish to construct on the east side of North Seventh Street, now being identified as 76 North Seventh Street.
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
A Tale of Two Cities Revisited
The plans include 92 apartments with a total of 110 bedrooms; 19,890 square feet of commercial/retail space on the ground floor; two underground decks with 115 parking spaces; and a public plaza with seating, landscaping and views of the Hudson River.
Four distinct facades would represent the changing architectural styles of Troy's streetscape from the early 1800s to today.
Circling Back to the Dunn
That fact, and hearing a member of the design team explain they were anticipating the building being put to some public use, made me wonder what was happening with the Dunn warehouse.
COVID-19 Update
On the Proposed New Congressional Districts
On Monday, May 16, Special Master Jonathan Cervas released his proposed congressional map. Cervas, an out-of-stater, with little to no connection to New York State, proposed a congressional map that would have disastrous consequences for Columbia County. If allowed to stand, Columbia County would be separated from both the Capital District and the Mid-Hudson Valley regions, as well as its county neighbors to the north and south. The proposed map groups Columbia County with Southern Tier and Finger Lakes counties, with which it has no commonality or relationship, in the newly constituted CD19. This is unprecedented and would result in a poor outcome for Columbia County when it comes to identity, representation, and allocation of resources.
“The redistricting process is taking place behind closed doors by a Republican judge and someone with little connection to our state,” said Sam Hodge, Chair of the Columbia County Democratic Committee (CCDC). “It’s an unconstitutional sham that will have long lasting consequences for our county and state. New Yorkers did not vote for an unelected guy from Pennsylvania to dictate our future. Columbia County appears to be an afterthought that was tacked on to a district that needed a few more people. We deserve better.”
Columbia County is located along the Hudson River in the Mid-Hudson Valley, and the Department of Economic Development has placed Columbia County in the Capital District. Under the proposed map, Columbia County would be isolated from both regions and be the only county in CD19 on the east side of the Hudson River. Columbia County should be part of a contiguous district of adjoining Mid-Hudson Valley counties. Based on current 2020 Census data, the combined populations of Columbia, Dutchess, Rensselaer, Ulster, and Greene Counties would be 748,393 people, which is within the range of +/-10 percent of the average congressional district.
To make matters worse, Columbia County has been excised from its peers and placed in the congressional district that shares little in common administratively. Our judicial, assembly, and senate districts have little, if any, overlap with other counties included in the proposed CD19. Effective government requires coordination and collaboration. The proposed map diminishes Columbia County's political power.
Columbia, Dutchess, Rensselaer, Ulster, and Greene Counties have a common history, developing major agricultural and industrial centers because of their proximity to the Hudson River. There is no such common history with counties located in the middle and western portions of New York State.
The five County Seat Cities of Hudson, Poughkeepsie, Troy, Kingston, and Catskill had a similar rise as major industrial cities that suffered steep economic declines in the first half of the 20th century but are now experiencing a great resurgence. These small to medium sized cities have diverse racial, ethnic, religious, cultural, socio-economic, and gender/sexual orientation populations. These cities have higher poverty levels than the surrounding countryside and have similar challenges to meet the need for infrastructure, broadband, workforce housing, and healthcare throughout the counties. Columbia County should be in a congressional district with its neighbors who face the same challenges and concerns.
Columbia County's proximity to New York City has created a rich, year-round arts community, with many artists, painters, dancers, musicians, actors, galleries, and antique stores that all create a destination for tourism. There is a significant and growing population of New York City dual homeowners. Newer residents are starting local small businesses, adding to the economic diversity in Columbia County. Columbia County is also home to many exurban communities of Albany, not Ithaca or Binghamton. Columbia County is tethered economically, culturally, and socially to its neighbors to the north and south. The proposed map ignores these connections, and in doing so, denies Columbia County of effective representation.
Columbia County shares similar agricultural, historic, artistic, and economic challenges and opportunities with Dutchess, Ulster, Rensselaer, and Greene Counties as part of the Mid-Hudson Valley region. Dividing Columbia County, or separating it from the Mid-Hudson Valley region, would seriously impact the residents who want to build for the future and be fairly represented in Congress.
“It would be a gross miscarriage of justice that will have long-term adverse consequences for our residents and our region if these district lines are allowed to stand,” said Hodge. “The new map is a disaster for our county and must be changed.”
Final Results from the HCSD Vote
Willette Jones 413
Lakia Walker 409
Kjirsten Gustavson 384
Mark DePace 404
Calvin Lewis 251
Ọṣun Zotique 148
The three candidates with the most votes--Willette Jones, Lakia Walker, Mark DePace--will serve a three-year term beginning July 1. The candidates with the fourth and fifth most votes--Kjirsten Gustavson and Calvin Lewis--will serve the remainder term beginning May 18, 2022, through June 30, 2023.
The budget for 2022-2023 was approved. The vote was 432 to 267.
Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Hudson Results in the School Vote
Board of Education
Willette Jones 160
Lakia Walker 152
Kjirsten Gustavson 146
Mark DePace 144
Calvin Lewis 136
Ọṣun Zotique 112
Budget
Yes 128
No 87
These are the results only from Hudson, where it appears only 215 people voted, and not the other two voting districts.
COVID-19 Update
Today Is the Day
Don't forget to vote in today's school election. There are six candidates running for five open seats on the Board of Education: four on the ballot (Willette Jones, Lakia Walker, Kjirsten Gustavson, and Mark DePace) and two as write-ins (Ọṣun Zotique and Calvin Lewis). You are also asked to approve the proposed $54,125,024 budget for 2022-2023.
- District 1 (City of Hudson) Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street
- District 2 (Greenport, Stottville/Stockport, Ghent) Greenpoint Community Center, 500 Town Hall Drive
- District 3 (Claverack, Livingston, Taghkanic) A. B. Shaw Firehouse, 67 Route 23, Claverack
Monday, May 16, 2022
Gossips Celebrated Too Soon
Among the changes proposed for the building are replacing the original slate on the mansard roof with asphalt shingles; replacing the vinyl siding with something whose description sounded like Hardiplank; replacing the double hung windows with black casement windows; transforming the corner commercial entrance, discovered under the vinyl siding in 2018, into something described as a "Juliet balcony". . . .
Planning Board member Larry Bowne told the applicant, who was an engineer representing the owners, "Everything you are describing removes what is important." He went on to advise, "Tell your client they are doing a bad thing. . . . Following the parameters of historic preservation is the right thing to do." He identified what's proposed for the windows and the mansard roof as "most egregious." The applicant responded, "The owner wants something modern."
The good news for the William Ball Place, a major house located outside any local historic district, is that, at the last meeting of the Planning Board, the current owner of the building was present to correct and clarify what was planned for the building. The original slate on the mansard roof is to be repaired not replaced with asphalt shingles. The vinyl siding will be replaced with a composite product that is similar to Handiplank but is wood-based rather than cement-based. There was never a plan to replace the double hung windows with casement windows. The Planning Board had been told that in error. . . .
The owner of the building told the Planning Board, "My vision is to make the building look very similar to The Maker. Anything that we can maintain we will."