Fantasies of a pristinely restored Public Square are marred for many by the reality of the folks who hang out in the park, smoking, drinking, sleeping, accosting others, and doing various things deemed unacceptable in civilized society.
Friends of the Public Square (FOPS) has decided to address the situation at an event entitled "Sharing Public Spaces: A Community Conversation." The announcement of the event provides this information:
For a public space that is welcoming for all, it requires respect for others and compliance with local laws. Join the Friends of the Public Square for a panel discussion and conversation on the role of policing, social services, and mental health providers in addressing issues of law and civility in our public spaces, and what can we do to help.
The panel for the discussion is made up of the following people:
- Dan Almasi, Director of Community Services, Columbia County Mental Health Center
- Claire Cousin, First Ward Supervisor, Columbia County Board of Supervisors
- Robert Gibson, Commissioner, Columbia County Department of Social Services
- Kamal Johnson, Mayor of Hudson
- Ed Moore, Chief, Hudson Police Department
- Cheryl Roberts, City Court Judge and Executive Director for the Greenburger Center for Social and Criminal Justice
Discussions of the Public Square and its denizens always call to mind this video, created in 1993 and discovered on YouTube by Sam Pratt ten or so years ago: "A Day in the Life in Hudson New York." The part of the video filmed in the park is from 2:44 to 6:18 and provides evidence that the Olympic torch, now situated in the little traffic island known as Rogers Park, was originally installed at the northeast corner of the Public Square, the location of the recently removed tourist kiosk.
The person that I mentioned in a recent Gossips post as a general nuisance in the 7th street park who has close to 30 outstanding violations in front of the city court (almost all of them originating while he was in or near the park) and who did not show up to his court date on December 20th in front of Judge Connor because he refused to leave his jail cell at the Columbia County jail, was due in court today. Once again today he was a no show in front of Judge Connor for "refusal to leave his jail cell." His next appearance date in court is January 24th.
ReplyDeleteWhat I expect from this forum is a lot of talk and little to nothing will change at the park. Feel good discussion. HPD has had plenty of opportunities to improve things in the park and they have failed or they simply aren't able to do anything (they write tickets to violators and it means nothing. 30 violations to the guy passed out in the picture above and he never has to show up in court?). Why should we think that a "discussion" will allow HPD or the courts to do any better, to stop this nonsense at the park? B HUSTON
ReplyDeleteFOPS is trying to get something done. In my experience here in Hudson it's always the citizens who achieve forcing change, from 'Concerned Citizens' in the late '80's, to the Vision Plan, to 'Freedonia', then Friends of Hudson in the '90's-2006, the Hudson Opera House group in the late '80's, and TSL. I agree that the people on the Panel will not be able to accomplish much but talk, talk, talk, but hopefully FOPS can push them and grow as a strong community group. I was here in my shop in 1993 when that video was taken and when it got dark I was happy to
ReplyDeletescoot out of Hudson to my home in Ghent. But I actually moved into Hudson in late 1993 and have been here since and have seen great improvements. May it continue.
That video was done in April 1993, the very month and year that I moved to Hudson.
DeleteHudson's MO: talk, talk, talk then do nothing.
ReplyDeleteIn the 25 years I've been here things have improved immensely. The drug scene is no long visible and the alleys even at night are safe. We used to have a one man crime wave named Lacy, he aged out. The public park will always attract 'street sort' which we tolerate and try to control ... most are harmless... they have rights too.
ReplyDeleteYou have obviously not been spending any time in the park. Is "tolerating" the problem really your solution?
DeleteYes ... with continuing over sight ...
DeleteFurther ...Hudson tolerates a lot of people ... especially those that are a constant annoyance to others ... that don't inhabit the park ...
ReplyDeleteYou mean like the gang of kids who assaulted someone in the street for nothing? HPD and the rest of us are supposed to "tolerate" them? Wake up, dude, you are simply talking nonsense.
DeleteI'm talking about you ... BILL ... the town nuisance ... we tolerate you ...
ReplyDelete