At the first public gathering about the Citizens' Initiative for Charter Change, Michael Chameides evoked the name of Elon Musk and DOGE in protesting the premise that Hudson would run more effectively and professionally with a City Manager/Council form of government. Last week, Caitie Hilverman, executive director at The Spark of Hudson, equated fiscal responsibility with soulless profit seeking in a post published on imby.com: "Hudson Is Not a Corporation--And It Shouldn't Be Run Like One."
Today, the response to Hilverman's post from the Hudson Citizens Initiative for Charter Change appears on imby.com: "Hudson Charter Change Initiative."
I don’t think that’s what she said though? She said city governance is not a profit seeking entity but provides services that aren’t intrinsically linked to recouping the costs of those services, which is true. It’s disappointing we can’t have actual conversation but instead just do bad faith misquotes until we all pull our collective hair out.
ReplyDeleteHenry, your point is well taken. The response to Ms. Hilverman on IMBY is not based upon her verbal presentation, but point by point on her essay posted on IMBY.
DeleteMy comment was directed towards Gossips summation that Caitie “equated fiscal responsibility with soulless profit seeking” I’m on the fence but your point that the town is sitting on its hands with back taxes owed is pertinent, whoever remedies that and the vacant dilapidated properties that go unfined despite local laws has my vote. I wish we could have this conversation without egregious and willfully mischaracterizations.
DeleteSetting aside the misunderstanding of governance structures and their inherent goals, I have yet to hear a real argument from charter change opponents about why Hudson’s status quo is working or how it is more democratic than a citizen-led referendum that puts the decision directly in voters’ hands.
ReplyDeleteThat’s because there is no real defense; the reality is, Hudson’s current system isn’t working. Instead of offering alternatives, defenders of the status quo rely on obstruction disguised as concern: “Charter reform is needed, but not this.” “I don’t like the process.” “Efficiency? Isn’t that what Elon talks about?” They inject fear, uncertainty, and doubt to derail momentum, ultimately preserving what they really want: more of the same.
The proposed reform isn’t perfect—no reform ever is. If I had written it, I’d have made different choices; if you had, it would look different too. But I support it because it’s the only thing forcing both citizens and elected officials to take action. If it fails, don’t expect the status quo defenders (or most elected officials) to propose any meaningful alternative.
And comparing this to DOGE? That’s a stretch. While both claim to prioritize efficiency, their approaches are opposite. A city manager-council system would bring long-term stability, with executive departments run by apolitical civil servants. DOGE, on the other hand, aims to dismantle the bureaucratic state, gut expertise, and consolidate power under a single elected official who can upend everything with each electoral swing. We have to start from scratch possibly every two years. Sound familiar?
☝️ "I have yet to hear a real argument from charter change opponents about why Hudson’s status quo is working or how it is more democratic than a citizen-led referendum that puts the decision directly in voters’ hands."
DeleteActually, she did. It's the coda to her 3rd paragraph. But she also did say what you wrote -- and those things are both true. And neither is affected, one way or the other, by having either a mayor or a city manager running the show.
ReplyDeleteThat was a very DOGE, response
ReplyDeleteI think any form of government could work, it depends on who is running it. If a manager works better, why not? I know if I mortgaged my house and went into debt in order to fix my neighbors sidewalk, or pay someone to promote neighborhood feel-goodery, or sell my backyard at a give away discount, my family would probably take me to the hospital for a mental health evaluation. So it could be an idea whose time has come.
ReplyDelete⚡️ As I shared with Caitie in person at the last meeting… and also directly in writing, the typical Hudson tax paying resident does not run an 8 figure corporate foundation with a big staff, located 400 feet from Hudson City Hall, with ample time to go to all these dozens of meetings... while lobbying for special treatment or advocating for certain policies.
ReplyDelete⏱️ Unlike Caitie, or for that matter Nick Zachos and other folks who drive politically active "not for profits", most residents are not full-time or part-time politicians and activist "community organizers" working to extend the surface area of an already overstretched government and overstretched tax base… they just want the local government to do the basic plumbing of local government; public safety, public works, zoning and planning, and parks / libraries.
And to do it efficiently. Whether you hate Musk or DOGE is irrelevant and stop the lazy labelling. Efficiency is better than waste. Hudson literally has more registered Democratic voters on the voter roll than residents... which is a story for another time.
🏛️ If you guys, or others, want to increase public expenditure, selective social programs, grants, UBI etc. that is your right, just go up one level to the State or Federal government and get jobs at that level or lobby at that level. Or make your own wealth and hand it out how you see fit. Hudson's tax base is just too small and cannot carry the tax burden and payrolls of your utopian dreams. NY State is arguably the most progressive state in the nation with a very expansive notion of the social contract, and we already pay for it with our state taxes and fees.
Caitie, your work at Spark is praiseworthy because you help well intentioned philanthropists make local investments that could change lives and really help Hudson, and other cities like Hudson. But it would be prudent to disclose your role and professional interests, not only your family's long and proud legacy in the City.
Allow me to explain….
🪞 Caitie and Nick, and other allies of the 150 year old Charter, when you write or speak publicly against the Charter Change… or criticize residents who want more transparency and efficiency in City Hall… by labeling them…. as TDP has done on the record (not Caitie), "Republican" or "racist" or "undemocratic"... it would be morally praise-worthy to disclose possible conflicts of interests that might influence your perspective, and whether you actually vote in Hudson and pay taxes here. You don't have to disclose… of course… but it would be helpful and high integrity. In the end the locals all know.
ReplyDeleteFor example…
Caitie, Spark works very closely with the current Mayor on various initiatives. And how many Hudson residents currently receive a monthly cash payment from you? How many local political events do you host in your building with Mayor Kamal, Michelle Tullo, and others who may not benefit from an accountability driven City Manager.
⚡️ Is the Spark / Utopia Foundation's annual expenditure, UBI, and investments not larger than Hudson's annual budget? At least during the construction phase… how many people run Spark? Who is on the board of Spark / Utopia?
It would seem there is one clear executive at Spark (you)… akin to a (city) manager… and two board members (the generous founders)?, and 5 paid and junior staff, and many vendors, who serve at the pleasure and direction of the manager (or ED); you. [This is my speculation based on your website and team observations, I have no direct knowledge of your governance and I know it is still early days]
Now of course Spark is not a government, not democratically elected, not responsible for public utilities, not beholden to labor unions yet etc. but it sets out to perform or influence some services in the public interest (public parks, for example) and like the City of Hudson, it is not profit-seeking…. I assume?
🤔 and so it is curious that you would prefer a clearly structured and highly accountable small organization - a corporation - for yourself (in Spark), but then advocate against a clearly structured, small, and accountable organization for the City and resident taxpayers (in Hudson).
🪞 How about this thought experiment…
If you thought the City of Hudson's current structure works so well… why don't you create an 11 person board for Spark, make your 5 employees and vendors un-fireable, and give every recipient of Spark's UBI or largesse / services a vote to elect the 11 person board every 2 years? And then hold one organizational meeting almost every day of the week at 6pm (with Zoom or Teams link) and give a dozen other "friends of Spark" a "committee" to run, regardless of whether they have time or experience.
Do you think you would have gotten 10% of your stellar existing achievements done with such a structure? Can you imagine all the politics, side meetings, and drama. Supernatural's revenue would sky-rocket with all the 1 on 1 coffee chats, and pre and post meeting, meetings.
❓Of course, you did not choose that for Spark.
So why would you wish that organizational structure for current Mayor Kamal? For future mayors… or for any executive?
🛠️ You chose efficiency. And you did that because you are smart, and because you want Spark to produce maximum output with minimal input.
Nick - you currently receive premium work from Spark for local construction projects. And before that you ran the Hudson Youth Center as a public servant, the budget of which has tripled over the last decade while the students have not. Recall the incident where a Hudson youth threw dog feces at the then mayor when he tried to drive transparency and accountability during a budget crunch. There is clearly a lot of history there unknown to most residents, and certainly unknown to me. Also, do you vote in Hudson or Greenport? When. you advocate for higher public expenditures it would be helpful to know if you have skin in the game.
☁️ These lawful professional associations, and one's tax related residency status, can be lauded or criticized, but they factor into your local political advocacy. Unlike, for example, Hudson residents who pay Hudson property taxes, and work remotely for Google, a finance firm in NYC, a food prep company in Greenport, or the NHL, or commutes to Albany or Ghent to work in unrelated corporate law or as a lumberjack. Or is retired and on a fixed income.
ReplyDeleteHow those residents "make" money and status is detached from their local political advocacy and vote in Hudson.
Caitie, your undisclosed interest aside, you did make good points about how the Charter Change could have been more participatory… points many agree with…. and you could also have conceded some points that were asked and sincerely answered in person by Bob and Krystal, for example, that the City Manager would not have the right to veto legislation. Thank you for clarifying that in good faith, and in person at the meeting!
And broadly, as I have shared with you in person, you are such an incredible role model. Hudson would be so much better if more residents excelled, achieved out in the real world beyond 12534, and then returned with their talents, networks, and experience to make a local difference. More Caities! More PhDs! And more families in Hudson please!
I just wish you would be upfront about your role at Spark - the corporation - and Spark's undisclosed (accidental?) local political influence (that may, or may not, be the wishes of its founders?) and economic power, when you weigh in on a grassroots citizen initiative with more than 200 supporters (and growing) and write;
"A city shouldn’t be controlled by a small group of insiders. Decisions should be made by the people who live here, not just a handful of people in power."
Is the "small group of insiders" you refer to not the current two dozen revolving door local politicos with time on their hands to drive 80% of City Hall's dysfunction, and the "people in power" not our three major (non-resident) philanthropists whose local agents wield undisclosed political power?
In fact, now that I think about it Caitie... I agree with you in one respect...
Hudson should not be a company town… that is… St. Lawrence Cement Town, Galvan Town, or Spark Town, it should be an apolitical and efficient civil service, governed by 5 democratically elected and term limited council members, who jointly appoint a competent and experienced professional to manage the city's inputs and outputs.
Let's leave the politics to DC and Albany and make Hudson apolitical and efficient so that we can all spend our own hard earned money and time on our families and community, our liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, however we see fit.
FIN - I have two questions.
DeleteWhat is the appeal of apolitical when it comes to city government?
And second, isn't there a contradiction in government structure if the apolitical appointee is appointed by a lower case "d" democratic council?
Hi FIN -
DeleteI'm wondering what the appeal/improvement of making city government "apolitical" is?
Isn't that framework not possible if the people appointing this apolitical city manager have been lower case "d" democratically elected? At their core, elections are political in nature.
I can't speak for Hugo, but I can for the concept. The appeal of apolitical administration of City policy is that there would be no incentive to appoint inexperienced and patently political operatives in positions of authority such as the planning board, or the City's seat on the County planning board (vacant now for over 3 years) merely because they're politically reliable. To draw an analogy, our current PB chair is the Pete Hegseth of Hudson: no experience, no credentials, nothing but political reliability to do what she's told when she's told. And the outcomes under such "leadership" have been, remain, and will continue to be, disastrous for the city and its residents.
DeleteNot to speak for FNI, but I don’t think the idea is that all city government is apolitical. The intent of having the city’s chief executive be a civil servant, like the current department heads, would add long term planning, stability, and accountability of all city staff in a direct line of command, ultimately answering to the council and people.
DeleteSure, the council who would hire them is an elected body, as such in all democratic systems, the ultimate authority stems from the people. But in practice, their contract would be longer than a 2-year term and buffered from the drama of the various competing factions in Hudson. The hope would be they can focus on providing the best city services possible.
Politicians often focus on short-term goals to win elections, while civil servants work on long-term projects and policies that benefit the city beyond any one election cycle. Things that come to mind is sidewalks, parking systems upgrades, truck route, recouping the $2.5M in unpaid property taxes, and doing a city wide assessment update. Many cans have been kicked down the road because they are either too difficult to do in the short term or are thankless from an electoral standpoint.
Agree with John and Union Jack's thoughtful points.
DeleteAnd Joe -
Great questions.
I appreciate you asking because 'apolitical' has a slightly different connotation and use in the US vs. Commonwealth and OECD countries, and certainly in Hudson, NY. The politicos in Hudson sometime disagree on its use and meaning and it leads to confusion.
By "apolitical" I mean; "having no interest or involvement in political affairs" and "having an aversion to politics or political affairs". [Merriam Webster]
Americans often use "bipartisan" when the two major parties collaborate and agree on an initiative or law, but sometimes they mean "apolitical" or simply politically neutral.
A traditional City Clerk is a great example of an ideal apolitical role. Apolitical, because the role is executive and administrative, not legislative. No favors, no undisclosed loyalties. Granted… this type of role is rarer and rarer in America where even local judges run on party lines (weird for internationals to see) and where traditionally apolitical appointments, for example the head of NASA, has now been politicized.
Of course, before the comment section go wild, in a "normative political theory" sense, all actions are imbued with politics and values, but this is not the academy.
1️⃣ To your question, the hope, the design, the intent, is to have the City Manager be "apolitical" in that she does not run on a political party line… she does not inherently aspire to higher political (elected) office, and therefore does not spend time and money politicking and managing for external constituents or optics.
🤡 Contrast this with current Mayor Kamal, who wants to use the City of Hudson as a platform to run for NYS Assembly… he also needs to win November's mayoral election to keep his salary to provide for his family…. he is likely constantly thinking how his day to day executive decisions in Hudson will look to the Hudson Common Council and his buddy/boss TdP, County Dems, the State Dems, the NGOs that helped him get elected (Kite's Nest, FOHY, Neighborhood Promise etc.) today, vs. 5 years from now… what Galvan / Scalera might say… if Caitie / Spark will be happy, if his direct report cum romantic partner, Housing Justice Director Michelle Tullo, agrees or disagrees… lots of "constituents" and loyalties that may not be aligned with the public good.
An apolitical professional can focus on achieving clearly defined goals, set by the democratically elected Council, and she knows that her job is secure, and she could be in line for a raise, and maybe in 5-10 years run an even bigger city, if she does her clearly defined job well as judged by Key Performance Indicators. For example; is the budget balanced? Are all residents answered within 2 working days (Citizen Satisfaction Index), Financial Health metrics, Public Safety metrics etc.
2️⃣ That is a longer conversation and my comments are too long for this format… but most corporations from the VOC in the Dutch Gilded Age to British East India Company, and Apple today, and the thousands of effective small corporations and cooperatives all over the world, like the Spark of Hudson, have a lead executive that reports to a board.
And that btw, was Bob Rasner's simple point about high functioning corporations.
3️⃣ Finally, to the spirit of your question…look… there will always be politics where there are humans. We are a tribal species, for better or worse.
But Hudson can at least take steps to disincentivize local politics, and definitely stop incentivizing it with our tax dollars.
Is there any one in Hudson that wants more "politics" and infighting at the local level?
Thanks to John, Union Jack, and FNI for your thoughtful responses.
DeleteI’m right there with you when it comes to frustration with inexperienced appointees, critical issues like sidewalks, parking systems, the $2.5 in unpaid property taxes, and housing among others being kicked down the road which only makes matters worse.
My struggle is getting from a) city government in its current form isn’t working to b) we should do a city manager because a lot of other cities do it. Maybe the issue is with how the city is run and not how our municipal government is structured?
No favors, no undisclosed loyalties is a bold claim. Google Commerce City, Edgar Cisneros, DOJ from December 2024. The same people who will be hiring the city manager - three votes needed - will also be the ones who can remove them from office - four votes needed. What if the city manager adds a cut for two council members so they are protected? Or better yet, with the five council members who are tasked with oversight making a total of $31k per year, how much time will they be able to spend on ensuring everything is on the up and up with the city manager?
My personal political perspective is that government budgets are moral documents. They are inherently political. They are a series of choices, using the people’s money, to improve their lives and our community. I don’t think it is ever possible to a-politicize a city budget.
I know I kicked all this off this morning by asking about the meaning of “apolitical,” so maybe it is fitting that I’m asking the same question but after a different phrase. I’m interested in what “disincentivizing local politics” means? Much like this comments section, politics is about people with differing views on the issues facing Hudson and the path forward for the city’s future going back and forth on competing visions. I think that’s the kind of stuff that should be incentivized.
All good points and worth discussing and debating at length... for now... and for this comment section... let's just start with the humble goal of elected and appointed officials:
DeleteA) not renting their personal homes at an undisclosed and undeclared price from the City's biggest recipient of tax breaks
B) not having personal tax liens when they raise taxes on others
C) not dating, undisclosed, their direct reports, who then happen to get ~20-25% salary bumps magically in one year
D) doing their current job well before spending all their time running for the next higher political office that pays better.
Once we cover these basics, and institute an actual conflicts of interest and ethics policy and follow it... then we can go to the next level and debate the nuances of "apolitical" vs "political" roles, and how the executive and legislative interacts with the electorate, academically and practically.
When it comes to conflicts of interest and an ethics policy to sign on, I'm all for it. You might not be a registered voter, but you are a resident of Hudson. Ask candidates to sign a pledge.
DeleteI do worry that a city manager could play fast and loose if their only oversight is five council members making $5k each per year. Plus one getting an extra $1k for being chair.
Also, I can't help but be amused by A, B,C, and D being unnamed individuals that are not surprises but are teased out as shockers.
It's almost like Ancient Aliens gish gallop meets Hudson politics.
Hi Joe!
Deletere: Conflicts of interests and ethics policies
Many, including myself, have asked for this in writing, also copied the City attorney. No action. No follow-up.
re: Rate of pay of Council member increasing or decreasing the quality of oversight. Margaret Morris, Rich Volo (Trixie), Vicky, and Dom will do a good job whether they are paid $5k, $15k, or $50k or nothing. They have integrity and a consistent track record.
Enron's auditors were paid very handsomely… my point is that rate of pay does not necessarily guarantee ethics or oversight, especially in the public sector. Even if it did, Hudson only has so many tax payers to pay for audits and oversight. Would be cheaper to just get the right leader and maintain resident transparency.
re: "A, B, C, and D" was not intended to be a "tease…" it is obviously Kamal, as you know.
re: "Gish Gallop" … or the John Oliver Roll… was not my intention… there are just so many unethical and unwise actions.
❓Would it be easier for you if we only mention one issue at a time?
Why don't you run for mayor or council? I think you'd be great.
Hi Joe -
DeleteSorry, correction, on "C"...
[And posting this here mainly for posterity since everyone has hopefully moved on from this thread]
🏚️ It looks to be a 43% one time raise… likely covered from the General Fund… but will have to confirm with the Treasurer's Office. Housing Trust Fund public documents are saved as "Word" documents and not consistently dated, hence hard to tell the drafts from the final. This was sent to me by a close follower of City Hall, not Gossips, and I have not had the time to personally review the primary documents beyond a skim.
See: https://gossipsofrivertown.blogspot.com/2022/10/of-housing-trust-fund-and-2023-budget.html?m=1
💰 43%
So that seems odd... I am not sure how I would feel if I worked hard, for many years, in one of the City's Departments... subject to Labor Union rules and various laws, maybe had to move out of Hudson due to the high taxes and live 30 min away, and then one day someone is hired with "outside grant money"... but then that person immediately gets a massive pay hike above me, around the time that she started, allegedly, dating the Chief Executive / Mayor, of the City, and then eventually the City ends up paying for the increase, or will soon be asked to carry on paying the entire salary if the grant runs out... something that was likely not envisioned when the role of Housing Justice Director was sold to the Council, and the money was supposed to come from a private grant.
❓ Is it possible that it was a part-time roll and just became full-time? That might explain it.
And this overall comment is independent from whether Michelle is the world's best "Housing Justice Director", merely average, or subpar. I don't know. If anything, the lack of transparency and double standard is likely very unfair to Michelle's work, career, and impact.
📐 In any event, just one comparison… the Code Office brings in revenue, manages safety, works with hundreds of residents, architects, and investors, mostly on improving and increasing housing… and is now also very proactively helping (politely) remind residents to shovel and salt dangerous sidewalks… these folks have fire safety, construction, and legal backgrounds… they have "knowledge management" work stress (emails, Zooms, and deadlines) and real world work stress and danger (climbing onto roofs during icy storms to make sure you don't die in a fire)...
Are the Code Office folks earning this much?
Michelle & Kamal - if I (and the older Gossips story and its comments) have any of these numbers wrong, of if you did publicly disclose your relationship in some proper ethics/conflicts disclosure process, or if you were never in said alleged relationship… please correct the record. The number of residents who raise this issue as frustrating and disappointing is eye opening, at least for some.
@ Caitie - so to your original public letter outlining why Hudson is "Not a Corporation".
You are correct.
No corporation (whether S, C, LLC, Municipal Corp, or even B Corp) would allow such rapid inconsistent pay changes, and if it happened, the corporation's leaders would proactively communicate and motivate why/how/when and the value to the team / employees / members / residents / community / stakeholders / customers / taxpayers / subscribers.
🧮 Between the Housing Justice Director's salary and the ~$200k that Kamal spent on the now unusable SurveyMonkey Community Survey put on by the expensive Manhattan/LA consulting firm… we could have had the salary for a City Manager before even changing the Charter democratically.
"FNI (HV), your comments are consistently frustrating. Every time you comment I get neuralgia. You seem to think you're being witty and insightful, but they often come across as nonsensical and disruptive. One thing this community can agree on is that you are just annoying.
ReplyDeleteHi Sick & Tired -
DeleteYou should get that medical condition checked out by a doctor.
If you want to read consistently unchallenging materials order NYT copies from the 1990s or read The Brothers Grim.
You can also simply skip my comments and not read them. It is a free country and I do not write for the easily confused, intimidated, or ideological.
And the "community" is signing up at a very steep rate for our not yet published Substack... and sending our editors gift certificates at local restaurants to thank us for commentary.
Have a terrific weekend and enjoy the freedom and liberties that our tax dollars provide for you.
😘
Another anonymous troll. Or are you a pernicious chatbot? In any event, I really wish this cowardly and anonymous posting bullshit was disallowed so the smooth-brained wouldn't feel free to insist that all poetry rhyme. Especially when they have a community in their head.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteDear Dude -
ReplyDeleteI have no affiliation with the Charter Change Initiative or the current City Hall... but from living in other well run cities with City Managers... this is roughly how it normally goes:
The job is posted online, city employees could also run dedicated searches, there are online communities for City Managers where these coveted jobs are posted etc... residents advertise, the city could retain a search firm etc.
Then all applicants are fairly reviewed based on pre-set objective criteria... years of experience, qualifications, criminal record etc. then... probably the Council, since the City of Hudson does not have an HR function, or a delegated team like the City Clerk / Treasurer / elected officials, would select the top 10 or 5 candidates and invite those candidates for in-person interviews. The finalist candidates usually meets with Department Heads, smaller groups of citizens etc. and then with all those data points, background checks, and reference checks, the 5 person democratically elected Council selects the best candidate. In some small towns they ask the finalist candidates to write and deliver public remarks and a plan of action at a public meeting.
Bob / Krystal, please let me know if there is a different process envisioned, but high-level, that is usually how it goes.
Compare that publicly run process to select someone based on MERIT to how current Mayor Kamal hired the Mayor's Aide, or how Michelle Tullo was hired as "Housing Justice Director", or how HHA's Dodson was hired. Has anyone seen the full applicant pool? So far Kamal has been unresponsive to lawful FOIL's on this specific question... cc Columbia County DA.
2️⃣ On your second point... that is a very good question and concern.
So far, Kamal and Tom have not answered the call to write the case FOR the current system. They have also not attended the public meetings even though those meetings were the best attended public meetings since the NRA flare up and the last Tax Assessment flare up when Tom De Pietro assaulted a resident.
The Registrar Star has an odd paywall issue and its own bias... but it would be great if more public letters could be published and organized somewhere centrally.
The more speech, the more opinions (ideally data driven), the more voters, the better.
The International City/County Management Association has a lot of useful information. Here's a link to an example of job listings for city manager positions: https://icma.org/job-posts/144641
ReplyDeleteAmong other things, the job listing for the position here in Hudson should state that we are looking specifically for an experienced city manager with a proven track record collecting unpaid property taxes. It's time to tackle this problem once and for all.
ReplyDeleteTotally - I don't fully understand why properties are allowed to be in arrears / delinquent for so long. It seems like a low hanging and easy pick up of revenue for the City. Should also lead to more housing coming online.
DeleteWe are the founders of The Spark of Hudson and several other initiatives such as the HudsonUP basic income pilot. We have no relationship with Mayor Johnson other than that the mayor has endorsed several of our projects. As a policy we do not censor what anyone associated with our efforts can say in their role as a private citizen. As for the current debate on charter reform we believe that Hudson could be run better than it has been. How exactly that is to happen should be the result of a broad based democratic process among the citizens of Hudson. We believe that the civil exchange of opinions between citizens, such as the letter and the committee’s response, contributes to that, whereas rants full of innuendo and personal attacks do not.
ReplyDeleteAlbert Wenger & Gigi Danziger
Hi Albert and Gigi -
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear more from you guys _directly_ in this public forum. Please also let us all know if you will be blogging more on the Spark blog or elsewhere. I know many residents want to know more about Spark's long-term plans and hear directly from you.
1️⃣ It is good to know that you guys (of course) agree that Hudson "could be run better".
2️⃣ Thank you for clarifying that you have "no relationship" with the current mayor. One of his main talking points is taking credit for Spark's UBI work and other Spark projects…. projects I suspect you and Caitie would have pursued regardless of who happened to be mayor at the time or even if Hudson had a City Manager system.
🇺🇸 🤓I thought it was your and Andrew Yang's original idea and project? Would be cool to one day get the behind the scenes "napkin sketch" moment blog post and update on results.
3️⃣ Of course no one (to my knowledge) is suggesting you censor anyone. To the contrary…
One of my points above is merely that full disclosure of affiliations or possible conflicts of interest is helpful, not legally mandatory, but praise worthy. For example;
- when elected officials live in Galvan housing and could potentially influence Galvan PILOT tax cuts, it should be noted when they make public comments.
- when Caitie or Dan Kent, who both oversee a big chunk of philanthropy, hiring, and housing, on behalf of Spark/Galvan, their roles and source of employment/income should be noted in their public commentary since it may inform their opinion, not to mention that City policy, or the City Charter, could impact their work directly.
City Hall insiders and those working full-time or part-time to lead Spark/Kite's Nest/Friends of Hudson Youth / Hudson Neighborhood Promise / Galvan etc. know many of the politically active figures in town. But a typical apolitical resident, busy with life and family, and occasionally checking into a meeting or reading a letter online, could not be expected to connect all the dots.
4️⃣ Hudson's public space is imperfect for several reasons (and I know Peter Spear is working on and thinking about this a lot), and one of them is that it would take a new resident a dozen hours a month just to attend the meetings and learn the history and motivation behind certain public comments, ongoing issues, or actions.
ReplyDeleteFor example, and to be specific as requested, when the RestoreNY grant fiasco happened last year… a new resident may not have been able to make sense of it… and just think it was a botched meeting or two… but a close follower of City Hall may see a pattern and could note the various rushed resolutions, and odd vote changes behind the scenes, that lead ultimately to two failed and contentious town hall meetings (one that required cops, another that saw the open call for the allocation of public funds based on race by an elected official) and then no grant being awarded to any project in Hudson from the State.
Lil Debs, I believe, voluntarily withdrawing their application (were they asked or did they voluntarily withdraw, if so, why?) and missing out on demolition funding that it was eligible for… but the HHA Board then nevertheless not submitting their City endorsed application to the State in the end? And so Hudson did not put a project forward for funding…
but the City Council endorsement of the limited and narrow construction grant was then dishonestly heralded as a blanket overall project endorsement and leveraged for funding… alongside MountCo, the profit-seeking developer of public housing.
https://gossipsofrivertown.blogspot.com/2024/06/an-interesting-revelation.html
I still don't understand what exactly happened there. It was a mess. If I am not mistaken Spark/Utopia/or some other philanthropic entity may have stepped in to help Lil Debs in the end? Not sure. If you guys (Spark) did step in behind the scenes, thank you for helping a Hudson cultural institution.
👉 My point... I believe a more transparent and professional City Hall and City Manager, timely public letters for public meetings, with DISCLOSED affiliations and conflicts, would have achieved a different and better outcome upfront for all residents.
What if Hudson did not have Galvan or Spark to step in every time the Mayor or Common Council President fails to plan or plans to surprise… recall Winter Walk last year. Thanks Daniel Osofsky for saving the day.
5️⃣ I note your point on civil exchange / personal attacks…. and that residents may disagree on tone and what constitutes a fair question of public interest and transparency.
But consider for a second that when you call or email anyone in town… especially the Mayor or the Common Council President, even as non-residents, they probably pick up the phone and they answer the email and they come to your events for several hours at a time (recall the Mill Street park weekend event, for example) you endowed Spark after all… you are also polite and caring, but even if you were not polite and caring, I suspect you would have no problem reaching Hudson's elected officials.
This is not the case for many current residents, tax payers, who are not answered, who are actively ignored and sidelined, and who are labelled racists or "undemocratic" by their own paid elected officials, simply for making the case for accountability and transparency.
And that is why, I believe, the City Charter movement started the way it did long before I arrived here and without my active involvement or urging.
Finally - hear hear, on "civil exchange of opinions….broad based democratic process among the citizens", or as I said earlier in this thread "the more speech, the more opinions (ideally data driven), the more voters, the better."
As immigrants, and presumably as residents of the County but not the City of Hudson like you, we, along with many others working to improve Hudson, cannot vote... yet we must bear the costs of Hudson’s politically correct political failures.
H