Ear to the Ground

The race for Common Council president appears to be heating up. Gossips learned today that Claire Cousin intends to run for the position of Common Council president, joining Dominic Merante and Margaret Morris.

Cousin was appointed to the Hudson Housing Authority Board of Commissioners by Mayor Kamal Johnson in 2020, and she continues to serve in that position. In 2021 and 2023, she attained the position of First Ward supervisor, each time running unopposed. Last year, she unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Didi Barrett to be the Democratic candidate for the 106th Assembly District. In December 2024, Cousin resigned as First Ward supervisor because she was moving from the First Ward, where she lived in a house owned by Galvan, to the Fifth Ward.

The news that Cousin is planning to run for Common Council president raises the question of whether Tom DePietro intends to seek a fifth term in that position.

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UPDATE: Here's the word today (Saturday, February 1, 5:10 p.m.) from the Hudson Wail. 

Five hours ago:

Forty-five minutes ago:

What's to Become of JLE?

In October, Hudson Development Corporation (HDC) announced it would not purchase the abandoned John L. Edwards School (JLE) for the purpose of redeveloping it as a community space. The press release making the announcement explained:

The outcome of their investigations of the various systems, structure, and building conditions revealed serious and extensive environmental issues. As a result of these findings, the HDC board of directors has determined that it is not financially feasible for the organization to proceed with the purchase of the property in its challenged condition. The major concerns requiring attention are mold, asbestos, and 10,000 gallons of fuel oil in a buried tank.

A letter submitted to the Hudson City School District (HCSD) Board of Education documented the problems discovered with the building during HDC's due diligence, many of which are the result of poor stewardship.

The plumbing system is very compromised as the system was shut down but not winterized to keep residual water from freezing in pipes, causing many breaks in the lines. As a result, plumbing infrastructure will have to be evaluated throughout the whole building for viability.

Over time, the heating system was compromised as parts were taken for use in other buildings, rendering the JLE system inoperable. With critical parts missing, the existing HVAC system cannot be "turned on" for testing. Engineers have evaluated it in its current state as unusable and recommend its removal.

As the building was not heated for five years, there is significant black mold on walls on the lower floors and in the stairwells and on handrails.

Given the findings of HDC's due diligence, it would seem we have a giant white elephant in the middle of our city. (JLE was built in 1964 and has been vacant and for sale since 2018.) But there may still be hope. At the Hudson Industrial Development Agency (IDA) meeting last week, Mike Tucker reported that he had been contacted by three developers interested in the building. At the HDC meeting earlier this week, Chris Jones, president of the HDC Board, reported that she too had been contacted by people interested in the building. In her comments about the building, Jones indicated that the cost to demolish the building had been estimated at $8 million.

In another bit of news, which may or may not be relevant to this story, the mayor recently appointed a new Commissioner of Public Works. The previous commissioner, Jason Foster, resigned the position in September 2024. A new commissioner is Tyler Kritzman. According to a Gossips source, Kritzman has been the Facilities Director at HCSD for about five years. The HCSD website, however, gives his title as "Head Maintenance Worker."

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A Me & Mini Me Footnote

Earlier this month, architect Walter Chatham, representing the Galvan Foundation, submitted a plan to the Historic Preservation Commission to build a garage/apartment structure behind 123 Union Street that is a miniature replica of the house in front. The proposal will be the subject of a public hearing on Friday, February 14, at 10:00 a.m.

In justifying the plan to replicate the original house in the design of the accessory building, Chatham maintained that it was a common phenomenon in the South to have an outbuilding that was a miniature version of the main house. (The same argument was used to justify the two houses of different proportions Galvan built on Willard Place.) Chatham admitted he had yet to find any examples of this practice in the North.

By sheer coincidence, this photograph of an octagonal house in Homer, NY, popped up on Facebook today, on a page I follow called "Upstate New York in Pictures." Note that behind the octagonal house is an octagonal carriage house that more or less replicates the main house.

I wonder if this example will be presented as evidence that replica outbuildings were a "thing" throughout the country in the 19th century.

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The Hazards of Being "Gossips"

I have made no secret of my support for the current citizens' initiative for charter change. I have been advocating in one way or another for more professional governance of our city for quite a few years. As I noted in my post introducing the initiative back in November, "An Idea Whose Time May Have Come," in 2007, I undertook a small research project designed to test if there were advantages to having a city manager. I recall telling Michael O'Hara, who in 2007 was running for mayor, that I thought one of his goals, were he to become mayor, should be to advocate for a transition to a city manager/council form of government. I had similar discussions with Rick Rector when he was mayor.     

Despite being quite honest and upfront about my position on the issue of charter change and my support for the current initiative, I received the following email this morning from someone identifying him/herself only as "The Hauntsman" and "A Neighbor."

Good morning Ms. Osterink.

I have been diligently reading the many articles you have written and links you've shared regarding the attempt at changing Hudson's charter. I understand that you have encouraged your readers to sign the petition, and vote for the change should it make the ballot. That is, of course, fully within your rights. However, there are other viewpoints being expressed--in writing--by our friends and neighbors that you have not (yet) shared. I don't know if this is simply because you are unaware of them, so here are links to two op-ed pieces; one published in the Register-Star last week, the other posted to IMBY (written by Peter Frank) just yesterday.

https://www.dailygazette.com/hv360/opinion/hudson-government-editorial/article_18c4ed88-da9f-11ef-bc59-d360d5859bf2.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawIIUaZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHUTjArGivQFkadQSne7V67cNmXRJKCI0FWyRbdQtJQWR_NhVTcmLrPig8A_aem_PFQUoULbLLLFG5GAmMN9_Q

https://imby.com/post/159442?fbclid=IwY2xjawIIUbBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfHfoJD2UPSQ4jldNATReo_GFKKLNheyOG4PqJIt0cRJWINV7IqUlWBJzQ_aem_-s-hhsa1Ejf8Bd6TGHJq4w

Now that you are aware of them, I wonder if they will be posted on your blog. I am increasingly confused as to whether you yourself consider Gossips to be "journalism" in the more formal sense; many of your readers seem to, or at least they do when it suits them. I have not noticed you dissuading anyone from the notion, which of course is not your responsibility, but your writing style (the third person "Gossips," suggesting that it is more or other than just you) muddies those waters. One thing that proper news sources do is provide information that they themselves may not necessarily agree with about stories they're covering, as the mandate is to inform the public. Perhaps you feel this urge, perhaps you do not. We shall see.

In the meantime, I will be letting our neighbors know that you have received these links directly. If these articles do not appear on Gossips, we will know that it was not an oversight, but a pointed decision.

Best,

A Neighbor

For everyone's information, I read the editorial in the Register-Star when it was published and saw no reason to link to it. Peter Frank sent me his opinion piece yesterday evening, and I had not yet decided what I intended to do with it when I received the anonymous email early this morning. For those who want to criticize me for not highlighting the links in the reproduced email in color as other links on Gossips are highlighted, I tried to put them in color but for some reason the platform would not allow it. I have, however, confirmed that they do work. For those unclear about the relationship of Gossips to "'journalism' in the more formal sense," I recommend you listen to my interview with Mat Zucker on Cidiot. It's Cidiot Episode 107.

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The Acquisition Continues

In November, Gossips reported on the situation with Crosswinds, which at that point was coming to the end of its 15-year period of compliance for the tax credits used to finance the construction of the development: "The Hydra in Our Midst." 

Today, Gossips learned that the legal battle surrounding the sale of the apartment complex has been settled, and ownership will be transferred to Galvan Housing Resources. Tenants received this memo informing them of the change of ownership. 

The memo assures tenants that "the Low-Income Housing [Tax] Credit Regulatory Agreement governing the property and its rent restrictions will remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the change of ownership." Gossips has learned from a reliable source that the rents for all tenants at Crosswinds was recently increased. An internet search revealed that, under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program, rents can increase annually by 5 percent or two times the percentage change in the national median income, whichever is higher.

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Of Interest

Roger Hannigan Gilson reports in today's Times Union that Marc Molinaro, our former congressman, is expected to be appointed by Donald Trump to a position in the federal government: "Marc Molinaro in line to lead Federal Transit Administration."

About the Other Depot District Building

The building at 76 North Seventh Street is nearing completion and is expected to be ready for occupancy in July 2025. The 64 units in the building are being marketed on the Hudson Depot Lofts website as "an exceptional portrait of living" and "a unique fusion of style and sophistication." 

In the world of affordable housing speak, this building offers "workforce housing" for households with incomes of 80 to 130 percent of the area median income (AMI).

Last week, the plans for the second Depot District building, 75 North Seventh Street, came before the Industrial Development Agency (IDA) seeking a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) and other tax benefits. It will be remembered that this was to be the low-income building in this Galvan development which was originally to be "mixed income." The opportunity to finance the building with state money was lost when Galvan demolished the three houses on the site before funding had been secured for new construction. Now what is being proposed is a 75-unit building: 15 units will be reserved for households with incomes less than 80 percent of the AMI; 5 units for households with incomes less than 130 percent of the AMI; the rest of the units will be market rate.

This chart from Galvan's application to the IDA shows the proposed rents for the units in this building--those for households with incomes up to 80 percent of the AMI and market rate. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

Galvan is seeking a twenty-year PILOT for this building. In presenting the proposal, Dan Kent of Galvan spoke of "urgently needed housing" and argued that the risk to investors was greater because Hudson was not a major metropolitan area and "in order to get investors to take the risk, they need to see an appropriate return." BJH Advisors, the consultants hired to do a financial review of the application, determined that the project could support a shorter PILOT and are recommending the length of the PILOT be fifteen years not twenty. (The building across the street, 76 North Seventh Street, has a twenty-year PILOT.) Charles Millar, who is the community member of the IDA, asked, "Is the project viable without the assistance of the IDA?" Kent answered simply, "No."  

Margaret Morris, who as Common Council majority leader serves ex officio on the IDA, spoke of a matrix for assessing the actual cost to the city of new development, considering the costs associated with increased population. She also noted that the building is to be more than 70 percent market rate, commenting, "It's not so clear why there needs to be public investment."

The next meeting of the IDA takes place on Wednesday, February 5, at 9:30 a.m., at One City Centre, Suite 301, and on Zoom.

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Meetings and Events in the Week Ahead

Surprising as it may seem, we are coming to the end of January. There is not much happening in terms of meetings this week, but here's what there is.

• On Monday, January 27, the Common Council ad hoc Truck Route Committee meets at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Microsoft Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

• Also on Monday, January 27, the Town of Stuyvesant Planning Board meets at 7:00 p.m. It is expected that the Planning Board will tonight make a determination on the controversial "agritourism" project proposed for Sharptown Ridge. What the proposed project currently involves is a family residence with an attached guest residence, a horse arena, a greenhouse, garden beds, a distillery, ten accessory dwelling rental units, and 134 parking spaces. The meeting takes place in person only at Stuyvesant Town Hall, 5 Sunset Drive, in Stuyvesant.
• On Tuesday, January 28, the Common Council ad hoc Parking Study Committee 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 Sunday, February 2, at 2:00 p.m., the African American Archives of Columbia County and the Hudson Area Library host a presentation about the Jan Van Hoesen house by Fergus Bordewich and Ed Klingler: "If This Old House Could Talk."

It is now thought that the early 18th-century house, one of the most significant historic sites in Columbia County, located on Route 66 beside the Dutch Village Mobile Home Park, was once the home of Quaker abolitionist Charles Marriott and was a station on the Underground Railroad. The Van Hoesen house is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. In the nomination for the listing, respected local historian Ruth Piwonka wrote: "The Jan Van Hoesen house is one of approximately seven brick dwellings that survive from the first half of the 18th century and that represent a colonial architectural style unique to the Dutch community of old Albany County during that period.” Sunday's event examines specifically the house's ties to the Underground Railroad movement.

The event takes place in person only in the Community Room at the Hudson Area Library, 51 North Fifth Street. For more information, click here. To register for the event, click here.

Update: This event has been rescheduled for Sunday, March 9. 

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Hecate Is Back

Last year, in February, the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) denied the Hecate Energy's application for the Shepherd's Run Solar Project. In December, Hecate reapplied to the ORES, this time proposing a slightly smaller facility at the same location. The current situation is described at length here.

Photo: Deb Hall, Copake

The site of the proposed solar project is in the Taghkanic Creek Watershed, the source of Hudson's water supply. In October, the Common Council passed a resolution asking that the Hecate application be deemed incomplete "unless and until Hecate can provide evidence that the construction of Shepherd's Run, and once constructed, the presence of Shepherd's Run, will not negatively impact the Taghkanic Creek Watershed, or the water quality in the City of Hudson."

The public comment period on Hecate's current application is now underway. Public comments can be submitted here. Click on "Submit Comments" in the blue box at the upper right. Type your comment. Check both the "I'm not a robot" and "I understand the purpose of public comments . . ." boxes. Then click on "Post Comment" at the bottom of the page.

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Ear to the Ground

Gossips has gotten word of another candidate considering a run for Common Council President: Margaret Morris, who has represented the First Ward on the Common Council since 2022 and is currently Common Council Majority Leader. 

Morris is one of the hardest working and most effective councilmembers. She chairs the ad hoc Truck Route Committee, and it was her tenacity that brought to light the fact that the second truck route through Hudson, the one that enters the city on Route 9G and Third Street, is not a legal necessity. Morris has protested the County's purchase of 11 Warren Street for office space, questioned the Planning Board's seemingly preferential review of Mill Street Lofts, and is currently involved in the effort to get the powerlines for EV chargers to be installed in the parking lot at the Columbia County courthouse routed in a manner that does not deface a neighborhood that includes many of Hudson's finest historic houses.

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Report on the Public Gathering

Tiffany Greenwaldt-Simon's report about Wednesday's public gathering to learn about and discuss the proposed charter change has now been published: "Citizens' group hosts meeting to present Hudson city government changes." 

Photo: HudsonCharterChange.com

Food News

The Albany Business Review reports today that Brenton Young, the owner of The Meat Hook at 322 Warren Street, has purchased the diner on Warren Street which was most recently Grazin': "Hudson diner building sold to local business owner who plans new restaurant." 

No information is provided about when the new restaurant will open or what it will be called. Young is quoted in the article as saying, "It's going to be an American restaurant, and that's the long and short of it. Hopefully we are able to make it exactly what the town wants and needs."

If comments on this blog are any indication, what Hudson needs now is a vegetarian or vegan restaurant, but given the future new restaurant's connection with a butcher shop, that's unlikely.

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Charter Change Public Gathering

Last night, I did not attend the public gathering to discuss the charter change being proposed, even though I encouraged my readers to do so. I wasn't there because my dog Freddy is suffering from old dog vestibular disease, and I needed to stay home with him. The meeting was well attended, as evidenced by the pictures below, provided to Gossips by HudsonCharterChange.com.

Tiffany Greenwaldt-Simon was there, and her report on the meeting will eventually appear in the Register-Star. When it does, I will link to it. A video was made of the meeting, and when that becomes available, I will provide the link to that as well.

The County's Plan B

On January 16, Gossips reported that the powerlines to service the EV chargers planned for the parking lot at the Columbia County courthouse would not run on poles installed on the 300 block of Allen Street--a plan that entailed the extensive pruning of the silver maple at 342 Allen Street and the removal of two trees at 357 Allen Street: "Injury and Destruction Averted."  

What wasn't known at the time the post was published was that the night before, on January 15, the alternate route for the powerlines had been announced at the Board of Supervisors Public Works Committee meeting. The new plan is to route the powerlines from Third Street along Partition Street, across West Court Street, and on to the parking lot. One wonders where they plan to install the poles and how much pruning will be involved in running the powerlines.

The new route shows as little respect for Hudson and its premier architecture as the original one. Why can't the powerlines be brought up from Power Avenue along East Court Street, where they could reach the courthouse parking lot without passing in front of any houses?

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We've Still Got It

A reader sent me this list of "20 cities in USA you should visit before they become too popular." Hudson is No. 14.

The post appeared on Instragram. "TravelMorewithSimon" is written by a Dane named Simon Blok.

Ear to the Ground

Gossips has learned that Dominic Merante, who has represented the Fifth Ward on the Common Council since 2018, is considering a run for Common Council President. Merante is currently the Minority Leader of the Council and in that capacity serves on the boards of the Hudson Community Development & Planning Agency (HCDPA) and the Industrial Development Agency (IDA). Those observing the Council in the past seven years know that Merante's priorities are public safety and accessibility. He has spearheaded initiatives to ensure ADA compliance and to improve traffic safety with speed radar signs, crosswalk beacons, and speed reduction measures. He also frequently expresses concerns about Council meetings being conducted with respect and decorum.

Photo: Facebook

It is not known if Tom DePietro, who has held the position of Common Council President since 2018, will be seeking a fifth term in that office. Word is that he and his wife, Dorothy Heyl, have purchased a house in Missouri, near where their only child and her young family live. Could it be DePietro and Heyl are contemplating relocating to Missouri?

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Of Interest

Tonight, the team of citizens proposing a charter change that would transition Hudson's form of government from a Mayor/Council model to a City Manager/Council model holds a public gathering to present their findings and answer voters' questions about the proposal. By design or coincidence, the Times Union published an article today by Roger Hannigan Gilson about a different proposal for charter change put forward by Peter Spear, founder of Future Hudson, who announced his intention to run for mayor earlier this month: "Hudson mayor pans plan to potentially remake city government." 

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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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.

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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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.

Update: This meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission has been canceled. The public hearing on the proposal for 123 Union Street will take place at the next meeting of the HPC, which is scheduled for Friday, February 14, at 10:00 a.m. 

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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.)

The "plaza" will be raised four inches from the road surface on Front Street and Warren Street. The image above can be found on page 15 of the Hudson Connects Connectivity Plan. 

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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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.

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." 

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.