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 |
Great news! Now that we’ve helped what is arguably the richest block in Hudson, let’s clean up the rest of the town and get National Grid to remove all the double poles they’ve left littered around town. Come on Margaret and Didi, let’s keep it going. Here’s some laws done in other towns that you can copy:
ReplyDeletehttps://ecode360.com/31125532
https://ecode360.com/32289017
Please get the legal committee started on this. It’s an easy win and hard to see anyone would be against it, besides those bozos at National Grid.
DeleteUnion Jack:
I would be happy to work on this. You can reach me at Margaret.morris@cityofhudson.org
A big thank you to Didi and her staff for always being accessible and responsive.
Margaret Morris
I guess this is a victory, but the wonderful folks at Columbia County govt never should have forced this on us in the first place. Forced? Sneaked? Dropped?
DeleteWe need more proactive, offensive wins, not a continual string of defensive, reactive wins. Then the back slapping can proceed. Someone being paid a salary at City Hall should have quashed this idea long ago.
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DeleteFantastic news! Thank you, Margaret!
ReplyDeleteSo what happens next?
ReplyDeleteI seem to recall from that CAC meeting where this was discussed that these EV chargers at the courthouse are a legal mandate (possibly from the state).
Assuming that's the case, how are these chargers now gonna get powered? Did National Grind find a route for the cables that doesn't require interfering with trees on Allen St or are they going to put them underground?
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ReplyDeleteCan't help but notice how a small protest by the wealthy homeowners of Allen Street resulted in quick protection of their trees. Meanwhile, large and continuing protests against the total devastation of their neighborhood by the poor folks down on Mill Street is ignored.
ReplyDeleteWhile your observation is accurate, SlowArt, the two situations are quite different. In the case of the trees on Allen Street, it was National Grid, NYSERDA, and the NYS Public Service Commission that had to be persuaded to reroute the powerlines. In the case of Mill Street, we have a mayor's initiative before a Planning Board made up of folks appointed by that same mayor. Who is listening to the opposition? Will the mayor admit this was a bad idea? Will the Planning Board deny site plan approval? Will Kearney give up the project?
DeleteTrue, but what is also different is in the Allen Street case an Alderperson immediately stepped in to advocate for the residents. Who in government is advocating for the residents on Mill Street? Maybe someone is but I have not heard anything. Did second ward Aldermen go to the planning board meetings to advocate on behalf of Mill Street residents, or are they advocating for the developers?
DeleteMill Street is actually in the Fourth Ward, and both Rich Volo (alderman) and Linda Mussmann (supervisor) are advocating on behalf of the residents.
DeletePrimary take away here is that you don't need _more_ leaders, you just need competent ones.
ReplyDeleteThank you Didi and Margaret!