When the Hudson Charter Change group went public with its plan to reform city government, Mayor Kamal Johnson and Council president Tom DePietro contemned it as an effort to circumvent the will of the people. Speaking to the Register-Star, Johnson said what was proposed "kills the democratic process" and characterized the citizens' initiative as "making backroom decisions about city government without the citizens." Ironically, tonight, at the special meeting of the Common Council, we witnessed the will of the citizens of the First Ward ignored by the majority of the Common Council.
The principal purpose of tonight's special meeting was to appoint someone to finish out Claire Cousin's term as supervisor for the First Ward. Two people expressed interest in the position: Alexandria Madero and Randall Martin.
In the run-up to the special Common Council meeting, supporters of Madero initiated a petition which in four days (two of which were holidays--New Year's Eve Day and New Year's Day) garnered 61 signatures from people confirmed to be First Ward residents and voters. The petition actually had 68 signatures, but some of the signatories could not be confirmed as First Ward residents. It is of no small significance that when Martin ran unsuccessfully for First Ward alderman in 2023, he received only 66 votes.
Learning of the petition for Madero, Martin launched his own petition. It would seem it didn't do too well, since there was no mention of it at tonight's meeting. Instead, Martin seems to have sought support not from his would-be constituents but from the political establishment in Hudson. Councilmember Vicky Daskaloudi (Fifth Ward) mentioned that three Hudson supervisors had submitted letters of support for Martin. One of them was Rick Scalera (Fifth Ward), another was Michael Chameides (Third Ward), and the third was former Fourth Ward supervisor Bill Hughes. Gossips has also learned that Martin got Sam Hodge, chair of the Columbia County Democratic Committee, to write a letter of support for him.
So tonight, instead of respecting the will of the First Ward, as Councils in the past have done, the Common Council appointed Randall Martin to be supervisor to represent the First Ward. Only three members of the Council voted against appointing Martin: Jennifer Belton (Fourth Ward), Margaret Morris (First Ward), and Rich Volo (Fourth Ward). Remarkably, although early on in the meeting, Gary Purnhagen (First Ward) declared his support for Madero, when it came time to vote, he abstained, without explaining his reasons for doing so.
DePietro was quoted in the Times Union as saying. "Charter revision should enhance democracy in Hudson not diminish it." That doesn't seem to apply to other things. For First Ward residents, it feels like democracy was diminished for them by the Common Council's action tonight.
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I had a keen sense that the whole process was flawed from the get-go. When I heard of Claire stepping down I thought that there was gonna be a special election to find a replacement.
ReplyDeleteBut then when I heard that the council would vote on it instead, it dawned on me that a special election would in fact be entirely infeasible and hardly worth the effort for "just" a supervisor.
As far as Gary Purnhagen is concerned, I've given up on trying to understand his cognitive processes. To me it felt like he thought that there was gonna be a second vote (the one on the Alexandria Madero resolution) when it was extremely unlikely that that would ever happen. His actions are all just bizarre and erratic and rarely make any sense.
The outcome meanwhile on the whole is bad for Hudson. As unfair as it would seem, Randall being the one outstanding member on the Planning Board would have been reason enough for me to vote for Alex (a very good candidate in her own rights). I predict Planning Board hiccups in the foreseeable future.
My guess is the outcome was strategized before Cousin announced her resignation. It didn’t matter who else expressed interest or how much support they had from the constituents and their ward representatives. Tom “Mr. Democracy” Depietro. And just like the county government, Hudson also has is own good ‘ol boys network.
ReplyDeleteMs. Madero, run in the normal election. If you could inspire this much support from actual first ward voters within the holiday week then you’ll have no problem getting elected.
There were two resolutions and I thought both would be brought to vote. I abstained from voting for Martin and was going to follow my words with my vote on the resolution to vote for Madero.
ReplyDeleteIt’s bad enough that our “leadership” is feckless, ceaselessly self-serving and frankly so full of shit. It’s even worse when aldermen abstain without articulating the conflict necessitating the abstention. And make no mistake: a conflict is the only permitted rationale for abdicating your legal duties as an elected official. If you haven’t the spine for the work you shouldn’t stand for the office. Do your job or get lost.
ReplyDeleteTom said this just after council members weighed in on the candidates: "With that I guess we'll vote. So, uh, I guess we should vote and then do a resolution?" looking toward the city clerk for clarification because Tom was apparently unsure how to proceed. Tracy tried her best to explain how the process works: "Typically we have two resolutions..." then Tom, in his typical imperious fashion, interrupted Tracy well before she was finished speaking. (Note to Tom: Interrupting people is always rude and disrespectful, especially as often as you do it -- usually to women, by the way -- and especially to those who you have asked to speak. It's also very atypical of someone who is supposedly presiding over a public meeting to interrupt speakers regularly, as you do. Unless of course you want everyone to be as rude and disrespectful as you are.) Tom spoke over Tracy as she was finishing her thoughts that Tom asked her for: "Got it. (sounds a lot like "SHUT UP"!) Okay, the first resolution is appointing Randall as first ward supervisor... roll call vote please."
ReplyDeleteWhy were there supposed to be two resolutions to vote one person into office if the winner will be clear after the first resolution THAT IS ESSENTIALLY A VOTE? Why wasn't Alexandra's resolution vote done first and who chose Randall's resolution/vote to be the "first"? Of course there wasn't a second resolution for the other candidate -- that resolution was obviated, as it had to be! This makes no sense.
So, if Alexandria had gotten enough ayes on/in the "first" resolution/vote to beat Randall, would there have been a second resolution to vote her in so that the resolution could be signed and official? Sure, that sounds logical! Just vote once sign one resolution fer christsake.
Guess who won the vote? Surprise surprise, the candidate whose name was announced by the council chairman, the only name Tom announced in the introduction to the "first resolution." My goodness, what a shitshow.
Tom's thoughts?: Let's leave Alexandria out of this, no use in mentioning her name if I can help it. Council members might get the wrong impression that I am supporting her.
Isn't that how dictators operate?
City Hall, especially Tom and Kamal, is becoming more Trumpian by the week. It seems that's the only way those two know how to operate. Democracy is indeed dying all around us, even here in Hudson.
I also thought the process was suspicious, but the order of resolutions on the agenda was quite intentional.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore I’m disappointed by the trend in the council to abstain from votes for the reasons of avoiding offending people or escaping criticism.