A reader sent me this list of "20 cities in USA you should visit before they become too popular." Hudson is No. 14.
Thursday, January 23, 2025
Ear to the Ground
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| Photo: Facebook |
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Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Of Interest
The plan referred to in the title is Spear's idea for creating a "citizens' assembly" to review the current city charter and make recommendations for change, not the proposal for change that has already been brought forward. Of course, we know Mayor Kamal Johnson doesn't like that one either. He was quoted in the Register-Star describing the citizens' initiative as "making backroom decisions about city government without the citizens." Similarly, in the Times Union article, Johnson describes the citizens' assembly Spear is proposing as "taking a handful of people and making decisions for a city of 6,000 people."
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Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Happening Tomorrow
Tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the Hudson Area Library, Hudson residents will have a chance to meet the team that brought the charter change proposal forward, ask questions, and discuss the proposal with friends, neighbors, and elected officials.
The folks who have worked for three years to craft this initiative have provided this information in advance of tomorrow's meeting. I am flattered it includes a link to a Gossips post.
What is the initiative about? This is a citizens' initiative to change Hudson's form of governance from a Mayoral/Council model to a City Manager/Council model, introducing professionally trained and experienced management of the City. The City Manager/Council form of government has been successful in many cities throughout the US for over 100 years. Currently, one-fourth of the cities in New York State have this form of governance.
Why need for change? In addition to several points made in the FAQs, a compelling example of the need for change is Hudson's annual budget. The Common Council recently passed Hudson's 2025 annual budget, again raising the budget by approximately $1 million. Since 2020, Hudson's annual budget has increased $1 million yearly, from $14.9 million in 2020 to $19.7 million in 2025. That's a 32% increase in 5 years!
Compared to the 62 cities in NY state, Hudson ranks #6 in highest per capita budget cost at $3,413 per person, and #1 in total cost and per capita cost compared to the 10 NY cities with populations less than 10,000 (our per capita costs are over $1,000 higher per person with the #2!).
Click HERE for an informal benchmarking study submitted to the Common Council by a concerned citizen.
Click HERE for a Gossips article on this initiative.
Click HERE to access the Citizens' Initiative for Charter Change website, including information about the change, proposed draft changes to the existing City Charter, and FAQs.
Monday, January 20, 2025
A Holiday, an Inauguration, and an Anniversary
It seems bitterly ironic that Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year coincides with the second inauguration of Donald Trump. NPR reported on Friday that this is only the third time the holiday and the inauguration have overlapped--the first time being Bill Clinton's second inauguration in 1997; the second Barack Obama's second inauguration in 2013. The conjunction isn't expected to happen again until 2053--assuming that our democracy survives, and we still elect presidents a quarter century from now.
Something that coincides with the inauguration every four years is the anniversary of The Gossips of Rivertown. It never occurred to me when I published the very first Gossips post on January 20, 2010, one year into Barack Obama's first term as President, that I was consigning Gossips to share its anniversary with the inauguration. Eight years ago, in 2017, I used the coincidence of Donald Trump's first inauguration and the seventh anniversary of Gossips to recount an event from Hudson's history, an event that was the crucible of the free press in the United States. On the occasion of Trump's second inauguration, I invite readers to remind themselves of the story of Harry Croswell and his indictment for "seditious libel" and contriving to "scandalize, traduce and vilify" the President of the United States--Thomas Jefferson--by reporting that Jefferson had paid newspaper publisher James Callender to run articles in his paper that were hostile to Jefferson's political opponents, by revisiting that post from eight years ago: "An Inauguration and an Anniversary."
Today marks the fifteen anniversary of The Gossips of Rivertown. For fifteen years, Gossips has been sharing news, history, and occasional gossip about the trials and triumphs of our river city, earning the respect of many and the disdain of a few.
Today, as I do every year on Gossips' anniversary, I humbly acknowledge all the readers whose interest and loyalty have made Gossips an enduring success and offer my profound gratitude to the generous Gossips supporters and advertisers whose monetary contributions help pay the bills. Today, too, I invite readers to celebrate fifteen years of Gossips particular brand of hyperlocal reporting by joining those readers who have already shown their support for The Gossips of Rivertown in 2025.
For those who read Gossips on a computer, the process is easy. Just click on the "Donate" button near the top of the right column. For those who read Gossips on their phones, the process is a bit more complicated. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and touch "View web version." Then find the "Donate" button in the right column.
Your support--in any amount--will be gratefully acknowledged and will ensure the continuation of Gossips for yet another year.
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Sunday, January 19, 2025
Meeting and Events in the Week Ahead
Tomorrow is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and it is likely most people will spend the holiday digging out from several inches of snow. Because of the holiday, two meetings are taking place simultaneously, along with an event that should be of interest to Gossips readers.
- On Tuesday, January 21, the Common Council Finance Committee meets at 5:15 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Microsoft Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.
- At 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, the Common Council holds its regular monthly meeting. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Microsoft Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.
- Also at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, the Hudson Housing Authority Board of Commissioners holds its monthly meeting. As always, the meeting may be an opportunity to learn more about HHA's redevelopment plans. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person in the Community Room at Bliss Towers, 41 North Second Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.
- From 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, it is Volunteer Night at the Hudson Area Library--a chance to learn how you can support your library. The event takes place in the Community Room at the library, 51 North Fifth Street.
- On Wednesday, January 22, the Hudson Industrial Development Agency (IDA) meets at 10:30 a.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at 1 City Centre, Suite 301, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.
- At 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 22, the Common Council ad hoc Truck Route Committee meets. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Microsoft Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.
Update: The meeting of the Truck Route Committee will not take place on Wednesday, January 22, but will be rescheduled.
- Also on Wednesday, January 22, the Citizens' Initiative for Charter Change holds a public gathering at 6:30 p.m. The team of citizens proposing the charter change will present their findings and answer voters' questions. The event takes place in the Community Room at the Hudson Area Library, 51 North Fifth Street. To learn more about the charter change proposal, click here.
- On Friday, January 24, the Historic Preservation Commission meets at 10:00 a.m. The first part of the meeting will be a public hearing on the proposal to build a garage on Partition Street that is a miniature version of the original house at 123 Union Street. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Microsoft Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.
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Reminder of What's Coming
At the meeting of the Public Works Board on Thursday, after a lengthy but inconclusive discussion about how property owners can get credit for past repairs to their sidewalks, the Justin Weaver, mayor's aide and ADA coordinator, led the board through a review of the plans for the "pedestrian plaza" at the western terminus of Warren Street, at the entrance to Promenade Hill. This is the illustration that was the basis of that review. (Click on image to enlarge.)
David Marston, who is a member of the Public Works Board, commented that he liked the wildflower plantings. One has to wonder who will be charged with the design and maintenance of these beds.
The work on the connectivity plan, which is the City's major project funded by the DRI (Downtown Revitalization Initiative), is suspended for the winter, but it expected to be completed in the spring.
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Friday, January 17, 2025
Interesting Sequence
Yesterday, Undersheriff Jackie Savatore announced her intention to run for the office of Columbia County Sheriff. Today, Sheriff Don Krapf, who currently holds the position, announced his intention not to run. The following is Krapf's press release.
After much reflection and with a deep sense of gratitude, I formally announce that I will not be seeking reelection as your Sheriff in the 2025 election. It has been an incredible honor to serve this community, and I am proud of what we have accomplished together over the past four years.
Throughout my time in office, we've worked to enhance the safety, well-being, and quality of life of our community. We've implemented important programs like Columbia County's first gun buyback initiative and Wheels of Justice, upgraded technology to improve accountability, greatly improved the professionalism of this office, and launched innovative initiatives in school safety, community engagement and corrections services. These accomplishments are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire sheriff's office and our community partners throughout this great county.
Together, I believe we have achieved more in one term than would normally be accomplished in three. However, I am most proud of the relationships we have built with the community. These connections have been invaluable, reminding us that the work of government is always a collaborative effort.
I am proud to say that, as Sheriff, I worked for the people of Columbia County. The countless meetings and interactions with community members provided me with great insight into the needs of Columbia County residents. These needs were a driving force behind creating true positive change, and I believe, in part, they greatly strengthened the relationship between the Sheriff's Office and the community.
As I prepare for the next chapter, I am excited to announce that I am endorsing my Undersheriff, Jacqueline Salvatore, to succeed me as the the next Sheriff of Columbia County. The Undersheriff has worked alongside me diligently and has proven herself to be a leader with exceptional skill, vision, and dedication to public safety.
Undersheriff Salvatore's commitment to the community makes her the ideal candidate to continue the important work we've started. She has been an invaluable partner in leading the Office of the Sheriff, enhancing public safety, improving community relations, and supporting the men and women of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. I am confident that she will uphold our high standards and continue to build a safe, just, and thriving Columbia County for all residents.
Thank you for your unwavering support and for the privilege of allowing me to serve you as your Sheriff.
It has been the honor of a lifetime to lead the many men and women of this office who work tirelessly to make this county a safe place to live, work, and raise a family. It has truly been an incredible journey, and I look forward to continuing our work together to build a safer and stronger Columbia County.
A great leader does not make choices based on what is best for themselves but considers what is best for all. In parting, please remember: You are the voice of change, and your elected leaders are most effective when they heed the insight and support of those who elect them to serve.
Stay the course, and God bless.
Thursday, January 16, 2025
Mill Street Lofts: What It Will Look Like
The proposal to build seventy units of affordable housing on the cul-de-sac that is Mill Street, on the site of a former deed-restricted recreation area, has been before the Planning Board since July. At Tuesday's meeting of the Planning Board, the folks from Kearney Realty & Development Group finally presented renderings of what is being proposed: two four-story buildings bordering a parking lot on two sides--the parking lot being in the front, looking barren and huge, although it has fewer spaces than the buildings have units.
The renderings confirm what most people believed all along: the project is woefully out of character with the neighborhood for which it is being proposed. But then it's hard to imagine a location in Hudson where it wouldn't be out of character.
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Injury and Destruction Averted
The best news of the year so far is that National Grid will not be installing new powerlines and brutally pruning and removing trees in the 300 block of Allen Street after all. Gossips received this statement from Assemblymember Didi Barrett today.
"I am pleased to share the news that National Grid will not be installing utility lines and removing trees on Allen Street in the City of Hudson as part of their plan to provide new EV charging infrastructure at the Courthouse," said Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
"My office recently heard from constituents and small business owners who had been told that National Grid intended to do just that, a plan which would destroy the character and beauty of Allen Street. We quickly reached out to National Grid to relay these concerns, explain the impact this proposal would have on the neighborhood, and connected them with our constituents and local leaders to discuss the proposed plans directly. I thank National Grid for hearing our concerns and First Ward Council Member Margaret Morris for her advocacy. This is what local and state governments working together is all about."
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| This early 20th-century post card image of the 300 block of Allen Street is from the History Room Collection at the Hudson Area Library |
More News of a Political Nature
Sheriff Don Krapf will not be seeking reelection as Columbia County Sheriff. In his stead, Undersheriff Jackie Salvatore intends to run for the office. This news was announced this morning in the following press release.
Undersheriff Jackie Salvatore, a Hudson native with over 30 distinguished years of law enforcement leadership, announces her candidacy for Columbia County Sheriff. With a proven record of innovation, community engagement, and a commitment to public safety, Undersheriff Salvatore is ready on day one to keep Columbia County safe.
Statement from Undersheriff Salvatore:
"My number one priority is public safety. As your Sheriff, I will work tirelessly to keep our communities safe, support and advocate for victims of crime, use every tool available to combat the opioid epidemic, expand our training program for deputies to ensure they are well-trained to handle diverse situations, and foster a culture within the office that ensures our criminal justice system is fair.
"I've lived in Columbia County my entire life. I know our community, its needs, and its potential. I've spent my life in public service, and as your Sheriff, I'll put our community's needs above all else."
During her remarkable 28-year tenure with the New York State Police, Undersheriff Salvatore held various roles, including Trooper, Investigator, Senior Investigator, and Regional Coordinator. Her tenure culminated as the Director of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). As Director, she led a team of investigators and peer support members, providing confidential outreach and intervention for over 5,000 employees and their families statewide. Her efforts focused on addressing mental health challenges, substance abuse, and workplace crises, ensuring the safety and well-being of the State Police colleagues.
Since becoming the Undersheriff in 2022, Salvatore has worked to modernize the Columbia County Sheriff's Office (CCSO), implemented a multi-county Employee Assistance Program to address officer wellness, assisted in creating the Wheels of Justice program to refurbish bicycles for previously incarcerated individuals, and launched Columbia County's first Gun Buy Back Program. She also created a new Community Liaison position to serve as a bridge between law enforcement and the Columbia County community. Undersheriff Salvatore will continue her work to make the Sheriff's Office a model for the state.
A proud graduate of Hudson High School, Salvatore attended Columbia-Greene Community College and later earned an Associate's Degree in Biblical Studies from Vision Christian Bible College & Seminary.
Jackie Salvatore's candidacy for Columbia County Sheriff represents a commitment to leadership, community service, and innovative programs that enhance public safety and community well-being. She looks forward to continuing her service to Columbia County with integrity, dedication, and a vision for a safer and more inclusive future.
"Undersheriff Salvatore will bring a wealth of experience to the job and a deep commitment to our county and its safety. She will be an incredible Sheriff. I'm excited about her vision for the CCSO's future," said Sam Hodge, Chair of the Columbia County Democrats.
Sheriff Don Krapf informed Hodge earlier this year he was seeking other opportunities to serve our community.
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Remembrance of Times Past
Celebrated graphic designer Woody Pirtle died this week at the age of 81: "In Memory of Woody Pirtle, 1944-2025." His passing has meaning for us here in Hudson because, in 2002, Pirtle donated his immense talent to design this poster for the Hudson Valley Preservation Coalition.
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When No Change Is Good
There was some concern approaching the new year that there would be an attempt to replace Margaret Morris (First Ward) and Dominic Merante (Fifth Ward) as Common Council majority leader and minority leader. The uncertainty about who would hold those positions in the new year was cited as the reason this morning's Industrial Development Agency (IDA) meeting had to be rescheduled. The majority and minority leaders serve ex officio on the IDA. They also serve ex officio on the Hudson Community Development and Planning Agency (HCDPA).
The good news is that Morris and Merante will continue is those roles in 2025.
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Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Where Did That Money Go?
At the December meeting of the Common Council Finance Committee, city treasurer Heather Campbell undertook to answer the question of why the city budget increased by close to $5 million in five years' time. Her presentation included a lot of pie charts, which members of the committee had in hand, but members of the public attending both in person and virtually could not see.
The visuals that accompanied Campbell's presentation can now be found online here. The video recording of the meeting can be found here. If you are interested in understanding the city budget and why it has increased by more than 30 percent in the past five years, you are encouraged to listen to the video recording of the meeting while studying the pie charts.
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News of the Public Square
Last night, at the informal Common Council meeting, Rob Perry, superintendent of Public Works, reported that the RFP (request for proposal) for Seventh Street Park "should be going out soon." This morning, Gossips received the following press release from Friends of the Public Square (FOPS).
Construction to renovate the 7th Street Park will begin in the spring of 2025. Friends of the Public Square, which has a memorandum of understanding with the City, has announced that a contract for the renovation is now ready to go out to bid. Groundbreaking will occur after a contractor has been selected in a competitive bidding process. Soon the construction fences will go up, and groundbreaking will be announced.
The detailed bid documents were produced by landscape architects Starr Whitehouse and a team from FOPS, along with various experts, Mayor Kamal Johnson, and the City of Hudson Department of Public Works. The bidding process lasts 30 days.
FOPS has raised over $1 million to support the first phase of work, which includes new pathways and benches, and the repositioning of the Veterans Memorial to Warren Street in a new Veterans Plaza, as well as landscaping and the infrastructure necessary to build a new fountain.
The park design reflects the input received from numerous community meetings and surveys to have a park that allows for gathering, entertainment, and perhaps most importantly a functioning fountain. FOPS also worked with the American Legion Post 184 and VFW Post 1314 on the repositioning of the memorial to its new Warren Street location.
Fundraising continues for the fountain and its surrounding plaza.
Katherine Kanaga, co-chair of the FOPS board stated, “We remain confident that generous donors and other grants will meet the remaining shortfall, and the fountain will take its rightful place at the center of Hudson’s Public Square.”
The challenges of updating a historic park for contemporary uses, while maintaining its original design intent and character, have been a fundamental component of the design process. Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects worked with FOPS and the City of Hudson to set forth a phased plan to bring back the Public Square Park to the forefront of the public imagination, while accommodating programming and activities which speak to the patrons of today and tomorrow.
Friends of the Public Square Hudson Inc is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit formed to renovate the 7th Street Park (the Public Square) in partnership with the City of Hudson. Further information is available on their website–fopshudson.com.
Monday, January 13, 2025
In Case You Missed It
Last week, an article by Jamie Larson about the new Frederic Church Center for Art and Landscape at the Olana State Historic Site appeared in Rural Intelligence: "Olana's New Award-winning Multi-million Dollar Building Is Almost Invisible."
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| Photo: Peter Aaron |
Sunday, January 12, 2025
Meetings and Events in the Week Ahead
The holidays are now well over, and the new year is in full swing meetingwise. The week ahead includes meetings of the Common Council, the Planning Board, and the Zoning Board of Appeals.
- On Monday, January 13, the Common Council holds its organizational meeting at 6:00 p.m., followed by the informal meeting. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Microsoft Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.
- On Tuesday, January 14, the Planning Board meets at 6:30 p.m. The agenda includes many things that have been before the Planning Board for a while, as well as something that has been expected for a while: the conditional use permit for Colarusso's dock operations. It is worth noting that Colarusso has been carrying on its dock operations since January 24, 2017, without a conditional use permit. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely
- On Wednesday, January 15, the Hudson Industrial Development Agency (IDA) meets at 10:30 a.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at 1 City Centre, Suite 301, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.
- Also on Wednesday, January 15, the Zoning Board of Appeals meets at 6:00 p.m. On the agenda for the meeting is an application for the area variances needed to demolish a single-story structure at 9 Partition Street and construct in its place a three-story single family dwelling. The meeting takes place in person only at City Hall.
- On Thursday, January 16, Hudson Community Development and Planning Agency (HCDPA) meets at 4:30 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Microsoft Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.
- Also on Thursday, January 16, the Public Works Board, a.k.a. the Sidewalk Board, meets at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Microsoft Teams. Click here for the link to join the meeting remotely.
- On Saturday, January 18, the People's March in opposition to the Project 2025 agenda takes place on Warren Street. Marchers are asked to assemble at noon in Seventh Street Park. The march will proceed down Warren Street, ending at Promenade Hill. Click here for more information.
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Me & Mini Me Redux
In the early aughts, Eric Galloway acquired 317 Allen Street, the Jacobean and Dutch inspired mansion designed by Marcus Reynolds for Morgan A. Jones, a young man who had inherited a fortune from his father's manufactured soap company. In the brief time he owned the property, Galloway divided it into three parts: the main house, the carriage house, and southernmost part of the parcel where a tennis court and an overlook were once located.
Now it seems Galvan is proposing another architectural Me & Mini Me for Hudson. At Friday's meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission, Walter Chatham presented plans for 123 Union Street, a building that has been owned by Galvan since 2010, first by Galvan Partners LLC, then by Galvan Initiatives Foundation.
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| This photograph, which appeared in 1910 in the architectural magazine Brickbuilder, shows the carriage house, the formal garden, and the path leading to the tennis court and the overlook. |
On the southernmost part of what had once been the grounds of an elegant urban mansion, Galloway built two faux Greek Revival houses, one smaller than the other. Disgruntled residents of Willard Place, unhappy about the intrusion of these houses of anachronistic design into their pristine late 19th-century neighborhood, dubbed them "Me & Mini Me."
Now it seems Galvan is proposing another architectural Me & Mini Me for Hudson. At Friday's meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission, Walter Chatham presented plans for 123 Union Street, a building that has been owned by Galvan since 2010, first by Galvan Partners LLC, then by Galvan Initiatives Foundation.
Chatham described the house as a "lovely former mansion" which for many years had been "broken up into apartments." The plan is to turn the house once again into a single family residence. An alteration being proposed for the exterior of the house is adding four windows on the west side of the building that replicate, in size and design, the windows at the front.
The plans also involve removing the tumbledown garage at the back of the property, facing Partition Street, and replacing it with a building that is a miniature of the original house, replicating all the finishes and details of the larger house. The building would house a two-car garage and a second-floor apartment. Chatham referred to the two buildings as "Me & Mini Me."
Chatham explained, as Gail Walker, wife of Kevin Walker, who designed the original Me & Mini Me on Willard Place, did years ago, that it was a common phenomenon in the South to have an outbuilding that was a miniature version of the main house. Chatham admitted he had yet to find any examples of this practice in the North.
Chatham acknowledged that the construction of the new Mini Me would entail the removal of two large maple trees, which he said were "kind of at the end of their life," but he assured the HPC that their loss would be compensated for by new landscaping.
Reacting to the proposed new building, HPC member John Schobel said it looked unconventional, "because it's a garage that looks like a house." Miranda Barry asked if the proposed new building would be an exact copy of the original house. When Chatham confirmed that it would, Barry commented, "It's like a dollhouse in the back." She went on to say, "It's unlikely the original owner would have built a replica of the house." Phil Forman, who chairs the HPC, opined, "There is something startling about the replica concept."
Chatham responded to the HPC's less than enthusiastic reception of Mini Me by saying he would try to figure out how the design could have "a little humor and a little style" while meeting the HPC's standards for appropriateness and compatibility.
A public hearing on the project has been scheduled for Friday, January 24.
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Saturday, January 11, 2025
Hudson in the New York Times
On Wednesday, the "What You Get" feature in the Real Estate section of the New York Times was this: "$2.3 Million Homes in Florida, New York and Maryland." The $2.3 million home in New York is "an 1890 townhouse in Hudson," specifically 522 Warren Street.
Friday, January 10, 2025
Support Your Local Farmers' Market
Having the Hudson Farmers' Market in January is an experiment this year. To keep the year-round structure, shoppers are urged not to miss a weekend. To encourage that, the HFM is introducing an incentive program.
Then, every week for the fifteen weeks until the market returns to its warm weather location, return to the Info Table to have your card punched. If between now and April your card is punched ten times, you will receive a beautifully designed, well-constructed, long-lasting HFM tote bag.
When you go to the market tomorrow, stop by the Info Table and pick up this punch card.
So head on over to the Hudson Farmers' Market tomorrow morning. You will find it in its winter location at the Hudson Elks Lodge, 201 Harry Howard Avenue. The market is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Commercial Corridor or Historic District?
In November, after a public hearing, the Historic Preservation Commission denied a certificate of appropriateness for an internally illuminated sign to be affixed to the east side of 251 Allen Street, a house that has been operated as a B&B, by different owners, since 2002. The opinion of the HPC was that a sign of the size proposed was inappropriate in a historic district.
Today, the proposed sign was back before the HPC, but the changes to the design for the sign were minimal. Instead of the diameter of the sign being 7 feet, it would be 82 inches--a difference of 2 inches. Instead of being all plastic, it would be a combination of aluminum and plastic.
Nevertheless, the HPC once again denied a certificate of appropriateness, maintaining that, despite the fact that the sign was visible from a "commercial corridor," it was located in a historic district and was hence not appropriate.
It is expected Rinzler will make a third attempt to get his sign approved, but one has to wonder why he thinks putting a sign on the side of this building is so important. Does he think guests of the Hudson Navigator won't be able to find their destination without an illuminated sign to guide them? Overnight stays in Hudson aren't exactly like 1950s road trips. It's not as if people driving into town are going to see the sign and say, "That place looks nice. Let's stay there tonight."
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Mark Your Calendars
The Citizens' Initiative for Charter Change announced today that there will be a public gathering on Wednesday, January 22, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will take place in the Community Room at the Hudson Area Library, 51 North Fifth Street. At the meeting, the team of citizens proposing the charter change will present their findings and answer voters' questions about the proposal.
The following is quoted from the press release issued today.
The decision we face is not complex: Do we cling to our outdated mayor-council system, which has become increasingly inefficient and costly while our population has halved, or do we embrace a manager-council system--a proven model that professionalizes city management and prioritizes fiscal responsibility and long-term planning?
Meet the team that has brought the proposal forward. Ask questions. Learn the process to achieve success for the proposal.
Light refreshments will be served at the meeting. Information about the initiative can be found at www.hudsoncharterchange.com.
Thursday, January 9, 2025
More Grant Money for Home Improvements
City Hall issued the following press release yesterday.
The City of Hudson has been awarded two housing rehabilitation grants from New York State’s Office of Homes and Community Renewal. Hudson received a $520,000 HOME grant to fund critical health and safety repairs for single-family owner-occupied housing and a $120,000 Access to Home Grant to make residential units accessible for low- and moderate-income persons with disabilities. . . .
The HOME grant will fund critical repairs of owner-occupied single-family houses in the City of Hudson for households at or under 80% of the Area Median Income (approximately $57,800 for a household of one and $66,000 for a household of two). Examples of eligible repairs include, but are not limited to: roof repairs, structural repairs, plumbing, or electrical repairs. The main goal of the program is to help keep housing safe and healthy for homeowners and to prevent displacement due to prohibitive costs of repairs.
The second grant, ACCESS TO HOME, provides funding to make residential units accessible for low- and moderate- income persons with disabilities. Both tenants and homeowners in the City of Hudson are eligible for this funding if they have a documented disability and meet the income eligibility guidelines. Examples of modification may include wheelchair ramps and lifts, handrails, doorway widening, and roll-in showers.
Local organizations such as the Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley, the Columbia County Office for the Aging, and the Columbia County Veterans Service Agency helped support the grant application for the Access to Home grants, and the City will continue working with these groups to identify and support program applicants.
The City is currently accepting pre-applications from interested households. Residents of Hudson interested in either grant can read more on the City’s website. Interested households can submit a pre-application here or by calling 518-828-7217 no later than February 10, 2025. Pre-applications will be screened for eligibility. Funding is limited and projects will be selected based off household eligibility, severity of need, and project feasibility.
Inquiries related to either grant may be directed to Housing Justice Director Michelle Tullo at housing@cityofhudson.org.
The County and the City, Round 2
Last year, any hope for redeveloping 11 Warren Street to create something more appropriate for the westernmost block of our main street than the out-of-character failed 1970s strip mall currently there was dashed when the Columbia County Board of Supervisors purchased the building to use as office space. Now the County's plans are once again threatening the well-being of Hudson.
The situation was briefly discussed at the meeting of the Conservation Advisory Council on Tuesday. Michael O'Hara, who serves on the CAC and represents Hudson on the Columbia County Environmental Management Council (EMC), said the new powerlines could be rerouted to avoid Allen Street, but it would be more costly. O'Hara indicated that it was the county's decision and said of the rerouting, "Randall Martin, the new First Ward supervisor, needs to make this happen."
The County intends to install EV (electric vehicle) chargers in the courthouse parking lot. The installation is part of a NYSERDA initiative and is being carried out with NYSERDA grant funding. The EV chargers require that new 60-foot utility poles be installed to bring power to the chargers, and where it is proposed these poles will be installed is on the 300 block of Allen Street, Hudson's "stately homes block," the block that contains the city's finest collection of grand 19th-century houses, including a rare example of Egyptian Revival style architecture. Beyond the simple unsightliness of these additional poles, bringing power to the EV chargers would involve the brutal pruning of a century-old silver maple at 342 Allen Street and the removal of two mature trees at 357 Allen Street.
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| 342 Allen Street |
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| 357 Allen Street |
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