The Citizens' Initiative for Charter Change will hold a second community gathering on Wednesday, February 12, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will take place at Saint Florian, 342 Warren Street.
Those who missed the previous meeting and those who have more questions or comments are encouraged to attend. The petition will be available for signing that evening. Anyone who wishes to sign the petition but cannot make the meeting on February 12 can request "home delivery" at hudsoncharterchange.com, and a volunteer will contact you.
It's great to see such support for meaningful charter reform in Hudson, and heartening to see so much public outreach from the organizers.
ReplyDeleteMisleading comments from anonymous trolls and meandering, sour-grape flavored IMBY pieces aside, this reform effort is a much-needed course correction that will put Hudson's government on a surer path going forward.
The IMBY piece highlighted significant issues with the reform proposal. If it seemed to be sour-grape flavored, perhaps that is because this proposal is a huge missed opportunity. That article's author supports charter reform, just not *this* proposal, and their reasoning is sound. Even if one were to ignore the proposal's complete lack of public input or information sharing during its drafting, its structural deficiencies are more than enough to weaken its viability.
DeleteLet’s be serious people. Peter’s op-ed was well written and made great points. And I’m all in for charter reform.
DeleteUnion Jack - did you go to a British boarding school or something.
DeleteThis matter of fact reasoning and brevity. The Janusian Thinking...
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Meandering? I thought Peter's criticisms were fairly concrete: https://imby.com/phttps://imby.com/post/159442?fbclid=IwY2xjawIIUbBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfHfoJD2UPSQ4jldNATReo_GFKKLNheyOG4PqJIt0cRJWINV7IqUlWBJzQ_aem_-s-hhsa1Ejf8Bd6TGHJq4wost/159442?fbclid=IwY2xjawIIUbBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfHfoJD2UPSQ4jldNATReo_GFKKLNheyOG4PqJIt0cRJWINV7IqUlWBJzQ_aem_-s-hhsa1Ejf8Bd6TGHJq4w
ReplyDeleteAs for sour grapes, we all dwell in the vineyard of sour grapes that is the gossips comment section.
Agreed. Nothing is perfect, but the status quo won't do.
ReplyDeleteProgress over perfection.
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Also, wild idea…
If residents work full for a possibly impacted government department or business, or work for a philanthropist or group seeking to lobby government or local policy, it would be great if they would consider disclosing their economic or political interest at these meetings.
🤡 Or as Robin Williams (RIP) was apparently quoted as saying; "Politicians should wear sponsor jackets like NASCAR drivers, then we know who owns them".
A bit extreme but he had a point...
🥁 For example:
📰 - Peter Frank's IMBY post was helpful and sincere, but it would have been great if he disclosed that his primary work in town, and his almost ~$1m not-for-profit foundation that he runs, is advancing the Youth Center.
The experience no doubt gives him a valuable perspective and informs his opinion, but it is worth knowing when he supports former Youth Center staff like current Mayor Kamal.
👏 Also, shout out to Peter Frank; thank you for taking the time to write out your thinking and putting it out there. We may respectfully disagree on policy but I applaud you for writing publicly and caring for so long, for so many.
💸- Ditto Nick Zachos… obviously Nick knows the town and history well… but as a former Director of the Youth Center, and current recipient of Spark of Hudson funding/subsidy with Build Hudson, it would be helpful if Nick disclosed that fact when advocating for policies or leaders (for or against Charter Reform) that may benefit the Spark of Hudson and their initiatives. The Spark is, I believe, supporting the Mill Street Pickle Ball Park expansion and other initiatives championed or supported by the current Mayor and CC President.
🏛️ - Former Mayor Rick Scalera, I believe you ought to disclose financial ties to Galvan? As I mentioned to you in person and in correspondence. Or if they no longer exist, can you publicly share since when.
When you were quoted in the "press" expressing skepticism of the Charter there should have been an asterisk pointing out that Galvan has received tens of millions of dollars in tax breaks via PILOTs, and that you have a vested financial interest in a Mayor/City that keeps a certain tax situation going for Galvan.
🚶- Peter Spear showed how it is done when he lead with "I am running for mayor for X platform" something something Future Hudson Citizen Assembly!…
Thank you for leading with sincere and personal commentary (and please don't get hit by a truck on the truck route when you make those IG videos in the alleys). The Hudson Wail has enough content.
🔦 - Of course no resident, who is not elected or receiving public funds, is legally obligated to disclose private matters… or even their identity at these public meetings.... see NY Open Meetings Laws as a good guide… but it would be morally praise-worthy to disclose possible conflicts of interests.
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We all believe all impacted residents should join the conversation. But it is odd that we "call out" some Greenport residents and not others for being non-resident.
Max and Nick Zachos, can you please guys team up with the Tesla Cybertruck guy and create a "Greenport Residents for Hudson" special interest group? 😜
It was odd when Tom conjured up a scary "non resident" Illuminati force…
“The idea has been concocted by a group of dissolute people, many who couldn’t be elected dog catcher, and also includes people who don’t even live in Hudson. So, I think the plot of this cabal has little chance with the city.”
when he referred to you, Max, not an organizing or founding member of the Charter Reform team, in the press... but Tom never mentions that his old colleague Nick now lives in Greenport.
Is that because people who live in Greenport but work in Hudson can now vote in Hudson?
🙋♂️ Asking for a friend / Warren Street Proprietors / and all those "displaced" by the property taxes in Hudson