The Gossips of Rivertown: May 2025

Saturday, May 31, 2025

"Sanctuary" or "Welcoming and Inclusive"?

Yesterday, Spectrum News reported that Hudson is one of the cities that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security considers to be "sanctuary jurisdictions defying federal immigration law": "Homeland Security targets sanctuary jurisdictions across upstate New York." The article quotes DHS Secretary Kristi Noem as saying, "These sanctuary city politicians are endangering Americans and our law enforcement in order to protect violent criminal illegal aliens."

The news of Hudson's inclusion on the list was also reported today in the Register-Star: "City of Hudson on DHS sanctuary city list." Commenting on the situation, Mayor Kamal Johnson said Hudson is technically not a sanctuary city but rather a "friendly and accepting city." The actual language of the resolution passed on March 21, 2017, is "welcoming and inclusive" not "friendly and accepting." Johnson went on to say that Hudson will continue to ensure the safety of its citizens.

In an interesting parallel, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported today that Philadelphia is abandoning the term "sanctuary city" for "welcoming city": "Philadelphia says it's a 'welcoming'--not 'sanctuary'--city as the Trump administration threatens funding cuts."

Following Up: Today, Sunday, June 1, mayoral candidate Joe Ferris responded to Hudson's being included in the DHS's list of "sanctuary jurisdictions defying federal immigration law" and to Mayor Kamal Johnson's comments as reported by the Register-Star with the following statement:

This is not the time for semantics. This is a time for leadership. I am proud to live in a sanctuary city. They are coming after us because of what we believe in. They are coming after us because we are committed to standing up for our neighbors.

There is no “case-by-case basis” when families are being snatched off the streets, green card holders are being detained without access to lawyers, and American citizens are being left to rot in El Salvador’s hellish prison system.

Now more than ever, City Hall should be leading the way in protecting our neighbors from these unconstitutional and immoral attacks on their safety and humanity.

UPDATE: Today, June 2, CNN reported that the Department of Homeland Security has removed the list of "sanctuary jurisdictions" from its website: "List of 'sanctuary jurisdictions' removed from DHS website after law enforcement outcry, questions about accuracy."

Hudson in 1935

Yesterday, a friend sent me the link to the video of a parade on Warren Street in 1935. On this wet and dismal Saturday, I share it with you. Click here to view.

My favorite thing to do when watching old films of parades on Warren Street is to look beyond the bands and floats and marchers to study the buildings--to see what we've lost and to appreciate all that has been preserved. Who knew that 510 Warren Street once had a balcony?

How Much Weed Do We Need?

The Register-Star reports this morning that Hudson is getting a third cannabis dispensary: "Hudson dispensary OK'd by state board despite distance regulations." The following is quoted from the article:

Blaze NY LLC, to be located at 519 Columbia St., was awarded an adult-use retail dispensary license by the state Cannabis Control Board, against the recommendation of the state Office of Cannabis Management, during the board's May 20 meeting.

The dispensary will be owned by Bill Hughes, a former 4th Ward Supervisor and minority leader of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors, and his business partner, Remigio Arteaga. . . .

The Cannabis Control Board granted the license through a public convenience and advantage request, which allows the board to approve a license that is within 2,000 feet of another dispensary, if it's determined the dispensary will promote the advantage of the community.

Hudson already has two cannabis dispensaries: Riverbend at 531 Warren Street, just a block away, and Gotham at the corner of Warren and Third.

Friday, May 30, 2025

New Information About Mill Street Lofts

The Planning Board's review of Mill Street Lofts has gone on for a year now, and surprisingly things were revealed about the project for the first time last night.

Possibly inspired by the questionably "affordable" rents at the soon-to-be completed Hudson Depot Lofts, Mill Street resident Lakia Walker asked about the affordability of the apartments in this project, noting that "affordable" was not the same as "low-income." The answer to her question had to be disappointing for those who advocated for the project by citing homeless people and those displaced by rising housing costs.

Sean Kearney described the building as "mixed income," for households at three income levels: up to 30 percent of the AMI (area median income), up to 60 percent of the AMI, and up to 100 percent of the AMI. The majority of the apartments (54) would be for households with incomes up to 60 percent of the AMI; 9 apartments would be reserved for households in the lower income band (30 percent AMI) and 7 for households in the higher income band (100 percent AMI). The size of the apartments was also revealed for the first time: 43 one-bedroom; 21 two-bedroom, and 6 three-bedroom. When asked how many apartments of each size were designated for each income band, Kearney said he would provide that information to the Planning Board.

When asked if preference would be given to current Hudson residents or former Hudson residents displaced by rising housing costs, Kearney explained that they cannot legally give preference to any group and talked about a lottery to decide who would get the apartments.

Another issue that hadn't been discussed before was a drainage ditch or trench that is part of the plan to move water off the site. Planning Board member Veronica Concra, who voted against granting site plan approval, called the trench an attractive nuisance and said it was creating something of danger--a trench 24 feet wide and 6 feet deep filled with moving water. She called for visuals to show the trench, guardrails, and the sidewalk to which it is adjacent. There were also requests for some modeling to show the height of the buildings in the context of the terrain. Despite these requests and concerns, the vote on approving the project went forward.

As reported previously, the project was approved, by a vote of 4 to 2. Theresa Joyner, Randall Martin, Gene Shetsky, and Bettina Young all voted to approve the project. The two newest members of the Planning Board--Veronica Concra and Gabrielle Hoffmann--voted against it.

Can It Be?

Is Gabrielle Hoffmann, the newest member of the Planning Board, former child actor Gaby Hoffmann?

Gabrielle Hoffmann at last night's Planning Board meeting

Gaby Hoffmann as Jessica in Sleepless in Seattle

Mill Street and the Mayoral Challengers

Yesterday, mayoral candidate Peter Spear opined about the proposed Mill Street Lofts on Instagram, calling it a "bad plan" and "disruptive because the Mayor's Office is putting developers ahead of our neighbors."

Today, mayoral candidate Lloyd Koedding released this statement about Mill Street Lofts.

So far, there has been no statement from Joe Ferris about the Planning Board's decision last night to grant site plan approval to Mill Street Lofts, but in a statement made earlier, Ferris called on the Planning Board to deny approval: "There is no such thing as a good project in a floodplain. Let's build a future that's safe, equitable, and forward-thinking. Approve the Bliss Towers redevelopment and reject the Mill Street Lofts as it stands." Of course, that didn't happen.

Thursday, May 29, 2025

First News from the Planning Board Meeting

Tonight, after the meeting had gone on for three hours, the Planning Board granted conditional site plan approval to Mill Street Lofts.

The resolution to grant approval passed with four affirmative votes--the minimum needed for approval--cast by Theresa Joyner, Randall Martin, Gene Shetsky, and Bettina Young. The two newest members of the Planning Board--Veronica Concra and Gabrielle Hoffmann, who was attending her very first meeting--voted no. Kali Michael was absent from the meeting.

More information to follow about what transpired at the meeting.

What Is QUIMBY?

Earlier this week, Peter Spear, candidate for mayor, sent me the link to this article: "Can Quality Solve L.A.'s Housing Crisis?" The article introduces the acronym QUIMBY--Quality in My Backyard--as an alternative to NIMBY--Not in My Backyard--and YIMBY--Yes in My Backyard--the term for people who want new housing everywhere. The article elaborates on QUIMBYs in this way:

QUIMBYs champion the creation of new housing, but they call for smarter planning, better design, long-term affordability, and a serious commitment to sustainability. It's a vision that blends pragmatism with aspiration, recognizing that cities must grow, but also that when they grow in ways that people actually want to live in--and live next to--it's possible to win over the most hardened NIMBYs.

This illustration is also from the article:

The article is recommended reading.

The concept of QUIMBY is particularly relevant to the proposal for Mill Street Lofts. Those opposing the project because of its hodgepodge design, incompatible size, and inappropriate siting on parkland prone to flooding and located on a dead-end street are accused by proponents of the project of being NIMBYs or worse selfish people who don't want others to have what they have or elitists who don't want people of low or moderate incomes to live in Hudson. In truth, the opponents of Mill Street Lofts would be better described as QUIMBYSs.

As Spear reminded people again on Instagram today, Mill Street Lofts is not what Mayor Kamal Johnson and Housing Justice Director Michelle Tullo promised back in September 2022 when they announced that Kearney Realty & Development had been selected to develop new housing on parcels that belonged to the City of Hudson. The following is quoted from that press release:

We heard from the community that people prefer smaller buildings scattered across different sites, which allows for more gentle density that fits the surrounding neighborhood and allows households seeking affordably priced housing more choice in the neighborhoods they live in.

The important words here are these: "more gentle density that fits the surrounding neighborhood." What's proposed for Mill Street in no way meets that standard.

The review of the project continues at tonight's Planning Board meeting. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. It will not be hybrid, but it is likely it will be livestreamed on YouTube. To find the link, click here.

Boring Again at Bliss

Yesterday, a crew was at work boring holes into the ground around Bliss Towers. The purpose of the task is to determine the nature and stability of the soil.

Photo courtesy Hudson Common Sense, Second Ward Correspondent

The last time this was done, back in 2019, it was determined the soil was not stable enough to support the construction being proposed, and the plan to build two new buildings on State Street, on what is Site B in the current plan, was abandoned.

This time around, the folks from Mountco are maintaining it is possible to build anything anywhere. It is only a matter of cost. For the past few months, the development team has been doing value engineering to bring down the cost of the project which a year ago was estimated would cost $220 million.

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Breaking News from "Rural Intelligence"

An article by Jamie Larson that appeared today in Rural Intelligence reveals something that we residents of Hudson didn't know: "Hudson Mayor Joins Call for Limits on Industrial Use of City Waterfront."

The following is quoted from the article:

The mayor says the planning board's ongoing use permit approval process needs to be halted for a few months so a multi-party working group can be convened to draft conditions and broker a compromise that addresses resident concerns while allowing the company to continue operating. "My goal is to get representatives from all the groups, and from [Colarusso], in a room to see where we agree--and really get this done," Johnson said. "It's been going on for so many years. I'd rather see this behind us and focus on investment in that area of our city."

You have to wonder what took the mayor so long to speak out about the issue and why he chose to do so in an exclusive interview with Rural Intelligence.

Galloway in Savannah

For a couple of years now, Gossips has been reporting about the Galvan Foundation's acquisitions and activities in Savannah, where reportedly T. Eric Galloway has taken up residence. Over the weekend, the following article was brought to my attention: "Historic Savannah Foundation CEO & President Sue Adler to Step Down After Six Years of Strong Leadership." The article, which appeared in the Savannah Business Journal on March 14, 2025, recounts Adler's career and accomplishments, but ten paragraphs in, you come to this:

Adler has accepted a new position as Executive Director at Savannah Historic Initiatives, a nonprofit affiliated with the Civis Foundation. Civis Foundation supports activities that promote awareness and collaborates with public and private partners to invest in community building, advocacy and cultural expression that align with the organization's commitment to the betterment of humankind. Adler will report to the Head of the Foundation T. Eric Galloway and will oversee the day-to-day operations, including grants, W.W. Law House programming, Cuyler-Brownville initiatives and the Kiah House Experience.

Interestingly, the Civis logo, found on its website, looks surprising like that Galvan logo, found on its website.

Galvan acquired the home of Savannah civil rights icon Westley Wallace Law in October 2023. Galvan's work in restoring and developing the Cuyler-Brownville neighborhood in Savannah began in January 2023. Galvan acquired the Kiah House in September 2023 with the intention of establishing there the first museum in Savannah founded by an African American.

Tuesday, May 27, 2025

The Mayor Responds

On Saturday, Gossips reported that Joe Ferris, candidate for mayor, has challenged the incumbent Kamal Johnson to five debates--one in each ward--to take place before June 14, when early voting begins for the Democratic primary: "Will He or Won't He?"

Today, Johnson responded on Instagram, agreeing to only one debate and suggesting the other two candidates for mayor--Peter Spear and Lloyd Koedding, neither of whom will actually be on the ballot until November--be included in the debate.

Update on the Ferry Street Bridge

On May 1, Justin Weaver, mayor's aide, told his colleagues on the Public Works Board that the Ferry Street Bridge was expected to be complete by Memorial Day weekend. Alas, that didn't happen. This was the state of things on the Front Street side of the bridge yesterday.

Gossips contacted DPW superintendent Rob Perry to find out why Weaver's prediction had not come true. According to Perry, it all has to do with National Grid. It seems National Grid needs to install a new gas main, and until that happens, the work on the bridge cannot be completed. Although the new main could have been installed months ago, trenching for the new main did not begin until a couple of weeks ago. When the new main is in place, the guardrails, sidewalks, curbing, and lighting--everything needed to complete the bridge--can be installed.

Meetings and Events in the Week Ahead

In what is left of the last week in May, here is what's happening.

On Tuesday, May 27, 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 Thursday, May 29, Thomas Shannon, Germantown historian, presents a talk about the local aftermath of the 1709 Palatine Migration to New York. The event takes place at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Room at the Hudson Area Library, 51 North Fifth Street. For more information about the event, click here.

On Thursday, May 29, the Planning Board holds a special meeting. The meeting takes place at 6:30 p.m, at City Hall. The agenda for the meeting includes the apartment building proposed for Fairview Avenue between Parkwood and Oakwood boulevards, Mill Street Lofts, and a public hearing on a conditional use permit to keep five hens at the rectory of Christ Church Episcopal. The city calendar indicates that the meeting is in person only, but it may be livestreamed at the link found here.

Monday, May 26, 2025

A Reminder

If you are planning to submit a written comment to the Planning Board regarding Colarusso's application for a conditional use permit for its dock operations, the deadline is this Friday, May 30. Comments should be submitted to the Planning Board clerk, Linda Fenoff: lfenoff@cityofhudson.org.

You may also want to sign the petition initiated by Our Hudson Waterfront. It asks the Planning Board either to impose strict, enforceable conditions in the dock operations to protect the public enjoyment of the waterfront or to deny the conditional use permit altogether. The petition can be reviewed and signed here.

Contemplating the "Depot District"

It's hard to ignore how out of place the new building at 76 North Seventh Street is. Its lack of compatibility with the neighborhood seems particularly stunning when approached from the north, after leaving the parking lot at the Central Fire Station, but it seems wrong from any angle.

The question of compatibility with its surroundings came up three years ago, when the Historic Preservation Commission was reviewing the designs for this building and the one proposed for 75 North Seventh Street across the street. At that time, HPC member Miranda Barry observed, "You're creating an entirely different neighborhood that never existed before." Walter Chatham, who was the architect for the two buildings then being proposed, argued that such a neighborhood did exist before, citing other 19th-century buildings of similar mass in the area that survive (the Pocketbook Factory) or have been lost (the Gifford-Wood building).

During the discussion, Chatham shared this rendering of what was being imagined for the "Depot District."

At a later meeting of the HPC, Chatham likened the new buildings then being proposed to the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center when they were first built in the early 1970s. In the beginning, they stood out by themselves, but in time they were contextualized as other buildings were constructed around them. Given that there is now just one "Depot District" building, he might better have cited the Dakota on the Upper West Side, which which was out of character with its surroundings when it was built in the late 1880s.

Photo from Andrew Alpern, The Dakota: A History of the World's Best-Known Apartment Building (Princeton Architectural Press, 2015)

There's no telling how long 76 North Seventh Street will stand there alone, uncontextualized. Earlier this month, Galvan announced it was "pausing" development of 75 North Seventh, the building across the street. According to Dan Kent, the suspension of was "due to macroeconomic uncertainties." There are some who are of the opinion development was paused because it seemed unlikely their application for a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) and other financial benefits was going to be approved by the Hudson Industrial Development Agency (IDA). Whatever the reason, 76 North Seventh Street could be waiting a while for the neighborhood with which it will be compatible to become a reality.

Sunday, May 25, 2025

Observing Memorial Day

Tomorrow promises to be the best day of this dank and sunless holiday weekend, and, yes, there will be a Memorial Day parade. As always, the event begins at 10:00 a.m. in Seventh Street Park. The parade goes down Warren Street to Fourth Street and then on to the Columbia County courthouse, where the speeches and ceremony take place.

Saturday, May 24, 2025

Will He or Won't He?

The Democratic Primary is exactly a month off, on June 24. Early voting for the primary starts in just three weeks. Today, Joe Ferris, who is challenging incumbent Kamal Johnson to be the Democratic candidate for mayor, announced in an email something he had already made known on Instagram and YouTube. In the short time remaining before the primary, he is calling for five debates with Johnson--one in each ward.

Although Ferris ends his email by saying, "I am confident the mayor will accept my invitation," there is no word about whether or not he has.

Friday, May 23, 2025

Big Onion Tours Returns

In 2019, when Big Onion Tours did its first Historic Hudson Walking Tour, Gossips wrote about it: "Hudson: The Sixth Borough."

It was recently announced that Big Onion is doing its Historic Hudson Walking Tour again this summer, beginning this Sunday, May 25. The tour will also be offered on Sunday, June 28, and Sunday, July 12. For more information and to buy tickets, which must be purchased in advance, click here.

The HPC Finds Its Mojo

Two weeks ago, the Historic Preservation Commission came one vote short of granting a certificate of appropriateness for an internally illuminated sign to be affixed to the side of 251 Allen Street, a house now being operated as a hotel called The Hudson Navigator. Only five of the seven members of the HPC were present for the meeting on May 9, and the votes split three yes and two no for approving the sign. The yes votes were cast by Phil Forman, Hugh Biber, and Kim Wood. Those voting no were Miranda Barry and Paul Barrett.

Granting a certificate of appropriateness requires an affirmative vote from four members of the seven-member commission, so it was decided that the HPC would vote on the proposal again when the full board could be present. That second vote happened today, with six of the seven members of the HPC present.

Before the vote took place, Forman, who chairs the HPC, stated the problem: the applicant considers the sign to be appropriate because it is on a commercial thoroughfare (Third Street), but, in fact, the sign is on the side of a house on a residential block in a historic district. Forman concluded that although the sign may be appropriate for a commercial thoroughfare, it is not appropriate for a residential historic district.

Wood, who had voted to approve the sign on May 9, walked back her support, saying she had focused too much on the quality and brightness of the light and lost sight of the larger issue. John Schobel, who had not been present on May 9, said the design of the sign was charming but expressed concern about the scale and placement.

Forman reiterated, "It comes down to a issue of appropriateness."

When the HPC voted to grant a certificate of appropriateness, all six members present--Schobel, Jeremy Stynes, Forman, Miranda Barry, Paul Barrett, and Wood--voted no. When a second vote was taken to deny a certificate of appropriateness, all six voted yes. (Hugh Biber, who on May 9 had supported granting a certificate of appropriateness, was absent from today's meeting.)

On May 9, before calling for a vote, Forman said, "I don't want to go another round in this." It appears he may have to. Before the meeting was adjourned, Ronald Kopnicki, Allen Street resident and steadfast observer of the HPC, asked that there be another public hearing if the applicant comes back with a new proposal.

Thursday, May 22, 2025

Of Interest

Roger Hannigan Gilson reports today in the Times Union about a housing project being proposed for Greenport: "Developers propose 8-building housing complex outside Hudson."

The location is off Healy Boulevard, with an entrance just beyond Midas Auto Service. The complex is expected to have 154 units of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments and is being described as "workforce housing." The developer is a company owned by Amanda and Eric Baxter of Baxter Construction, the group that is building 76 North Seventh Street. The proposal is a long way from becoming a reality, since the proposal has yet to be presented to the Greenport Planning Board.

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

The Process Has Begun

Last night, the Common Council passed two resolutions aimed at trying to collect the more than $2.5 million due to the City in delinquent property taxes. The first resolution authorizes the mayor to enter into a contract with the law firm of Devine & Bruno to assist the City in the collection of property taxes. The second resolution authorizes the city treasurer to file the list of delinquent taxes with the Columbia County clerk and "start the proceedings necessary for the in rem foreclosure of the properties contained on the list."

Attached to the second resolution is the list of delinquent properties. There are 121 properties on the list. The amounts due on a few of them--eleven, to be exact--are so small one wonders why they are on the list at all. But there are seven properties for which more than $100,000 is owed, and of those, three properties have more than $250,000 due in unpaid property taxes and penalties. The total amount owed to the City is $2,625,855.82.

A Petition to Sign

Our Hudson Waterfront has started a petition asking the Planning Board either to reject the dock permit application or to impose strict, enforceable conditions on any conditional use permit they may grant to A. Colarusso and Sons for its dock operations. The petition can be reviewed and signed here.

The First Step Was a Doozy

Last week, three members of the Common Council--Rich Volo (Fourth Ward), Jennifer Belton (Fourth Ward), and Margaret Morris (First Ward)--tried to get a resolution on the agenda opposing the Mill Street Lofts project. Despite what is stated in the Common Council Rules of Order (see Rule #4), Council president Tom DePietro refused to add it to the agenda. One of the reasons he gave was that the Common Council should not opine on matters before the Planning Board.

At the informal meeting of the Council last Monday, Jack Hornickel, who lives on Mill Street and has been a spokesperson for his neighbors at Planning Board meetings, brought up the one aspect of the project that was an appropriate issue for the Common Council: alienation of parkland. Hornickel argued that the playing field on which Mill Street Lofts is to be built is dedicated parkland and hence cannot legally be sold for any other purpose without an act of the state legislature. What Hornickel told the Common Council can be heard here, beginning at 2:15:31.

Gossips raised the issue of alienating parkland back in January 2023, when the Council was about to vote on a resolution to sell the Mill Street parcel--originally part of the playing fields of Charles Williams School--to Kearney for developing housing. The post specifically cited a resolution passed by the Common Council in May 2006, dedicating eleven acres, including the three acres now proposed as the site of Mill Street Lofts, to "total park use." That gesture constituted the City's match for an Environmental Protection Fund grant for Charles Williams Park.

When this was brought to the attention of DePietro, he dismissed it, with this statement:

First of all, the resolution calls for a filing of an easement or covenant, but no such easement or covenant has been filed anywhere based on a search of the county and city database, and the deed itself. According to the HANDBOOK OF ALIENATION AND CONVERSION OF MUNICIPAL PARKLAND (2017), "land acquired or improved with State Parks grant funding" is subject to restrictions. However, no money at all was spent on the lot on the southern side of Mill Street. Based on these two facts, our attorney, Andrew Howard, sees no problem with proceeding with the sale.

Hornickel's evidence argues that these perceived sins of omission on the part of the City Hall in 2006 should not matter. The parcel was already parkland. Hornickel followed his presentation to the Common Council with a letter and forty-two pages of supporting documentation. In the letter, Hornickel recounts the history of the parcel

The “Mill Street Lofts” parcel is about 3+/- acres and has the tax number 109.36-1-10. It was originally the playground facility for the Charles Williams School, which was built in 1924 and operated until 1970. During the 1970s, the parcel hosted the Hudson Men’s Softball League, a program operated by the City of Hudson Youth Department, and in 1983, the Hudson City School District transferred the parcel to ownership by the City of Hudson. That deed, which continues to be the document of ownership, states that the parcel “shall be used for park and recreational purposes” only. The Hudson Men’s Softball League continued into the 1980s.

In the 40 years since this transfer, the City of Hudson has continued to maintain this parcel as an open field, mowing it and making it available for recreational use by residents of Hudson. We all have friends or neighbors who have played softball, soccer, or cricket at this field. There are also numerous written documents that show the common understanding of this parcel as parkland.

Attached for your convenience is a list of reports and their excerpts published by City of Hudson and collaborating organizations. These documents consistently refer to the parcel as open space, recreational, play area, and parkland. Some documents refer to it as the “old ballfield;” others include it in mapping of Charles Williams Park. In their application, even the developer of the “Mill Street Lofts” project acknowledges the “open field on site is used for recreation.”

Perhaps most convincing is the 2006 grant application from the City of Hudson for funds to develop the north side of Mill Street as the “Charles Williams Park.” The application makes it clear that the 12+/- acre parcel on the north side of the street would be an expansion of the existing 3+/- acre parcel on the south side of the street, identified as Charles Williams Park. While this might sound confusing, since the sign for “Charles Williams Park” now appears on the north side of the street, it is consistent with the history of the playground on the south side of the street, dating back to 1924. This understanding is also supported by the 2011 Concept Plan for the North Bay Recreational Area, by Columbia Land Conservancy, which refers to the north side as the “expansion site” of Charles Williams Park from the south side “old ball field.”

Hornickel submitted his letter and the documentation to the members of the Common Council on May 14, but DePietro has declined to post the information as a communication on the City of Hudson website so the public can review it. Readers who would like to see the evidence assembled by Hornickel should contact their councilmembers and ask that they send you a copy. Hornickel's letter to the Council concludes:

I prepared this research because I believe that good government, that which is transparent, honest, careful, and hardworking, is the promise of democracy. It requires those qualities from the elected officials and the residents that elect them. I felt it was important for me to bring light to this issue before the “Mill Street Lofts” parcel was sold, and I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the history of our shared city.

The public trust doctrine is not a well-known area of law, but it is nevertheless an important public right. Parkland is protected because it is essential to human health and happiness. The protection keeps any given city government from making an irreversible decision regarding important public resources. Without the public trust doctrine, we could lose Promenade Hill to an expensive restaurant by a 6 to 5 vote at the Common Council. 40 years of public recreation on the “Mill Street Lofts” parcel deserve the same careful consideration before being developed.

Ultimate Frisbee on "Mill Street Lofts" parcel, June 8, 2024 Photo courtesy Jack Hornickel

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Results of the School District Election

At shortly after 11:00 p.m., the results of today's school district election were made known.

The $58.5 million budget passed--566 to 371
The $8.35 million capital project passed--623 to 300
The $10 million energy performance plan passed--730 to 204

Diana Howard, Maureen Sheridan, and Mark DePace won the three available seats on the Board of Education. The following list indicates the total number of votes received by each of the six candidates.

Diana Howard--577
Maureen Sheridan--515
Mark DePace--471
Mike Zibella--399
Christine Sweet--274
Jim Jacoby--166

The chart below shows the number of votes cast at each of the three polling locations. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

There are 10,523 voters in the Hudson City School District; 937 voted on the budget, 923 voted on the capital project, and 934 voted on the energy performance plan.

Monday, May 19, 2025

Of Interest

The Planning Board has so far received ninety-five letters about Colarusso and the conditional use permit for its dock operations. They all can be found here. Everyone should spend some time browsing the letters to get a sense of what the people of Hudson have to say about industrial activity at the waterfront.

The information provided by Ken Dow is particularly important, and one hopes the current Planning Board pays attention to what he has to say. The first paragraph of Dow's letter to the Planning Board explains why his words should be heeded.

I was the City Attorney for the City of Hudson at the time when Colarusso carried out the dock bulkhead work that led to Colarusso’s application for a Conditional Use Permit for its dock and the Planning Board’s review. I was closely involved with the enforcement that led to such application and the commencement of the Planning Board’s review, and I litigated on behalf of the Planning Board to successfully defend the Planning Board against Colarusso’s first Article 78 proceeding in 2017. I am deeply familiar with the origin of this matter, the applicable law, and the scope of the review that the Planning Board undertook and must continue to undertake.

The rest of the letter and the evidence and documentation Dow provides can be found here.

Another letter of interest is from Betsy Gramkow. Gramkow was appointed to the Planning Board in January 2018. In February 2020, she became the chair of the Planning Board, and served as chair until she resigned in June 2021. The following is quoted from her letter to the Planning Board. The boldface is found in the original.

I understand firsthand the complexity of balancing economic development with the community’s vision, legal responsibilities, and environmental stewardship. Today, I urge you to exercise the full extent of your authority in placing strong, enforceable conditions on all activity at the waterfront property owned by A. Colarusso & Son, particularly their use of the gravel dock.

The waterfront is one of Hudson’s most sensitive and valuable assets. For decades, the community has worked toward realizing a future for this area that prioritizes public access, ecological resilience, and a mix of appropriate uses that reflect Hudson’s unique character. The continuation or expansion of industrial operations at the Colarusso dock—absent meaningful conditions—would risk undermining those long-held goals.

Your review is not merely a procedural formality. It is your duty to assess impacts on traffic, noise, public safety, climate, infrastructure, and long-term land use compatibility. It is within your authority, and in fact it is your obligation, to condition any approval with mitigation measures that meaningfully protect the public interest. . . .

Approving any industrial activity without rigorous conditions is not neutral; it is a decision with long-lasting consequences for the city’s waterfront, economy, and quality of life.

Hudson has spent decades charting a more inclusive and sustainable future for its waterfront.

I ask that you defend that vision with vigilance, independence, and courage.

Gramkow's entire letter can be found here.

The Planning Board is accepting written comments on the Colarusso's conditional use permit until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 30. Comments should be submitted to lfenoff@cityofhudson.org.

The Search Has Begun

At the beginning of May, it became known that Liz Yorck, who has been director of the Youth Department since May 2021, had resigned and would be leaving the position at the end of June. Today, it appears City Hall has begun the search for her replacement. According to the announcement found on the City of Hudson website, the beginning salary is $64,804 and the start date is July 14, 2025. The job description can be found here. Interested candidates should send their resume and a letter of interest to Mayor Kamal Johnson at mayor@cityofhudson.org.

The State of the Water at Oakdale

Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 20, Great Ecology, with the support of the Columbia Land Conservancy, NYS Department of Conservation, and Friends of Oakdale Lake, which is now part of Friends of Hudson Youth, will present the findings of its second two-year water quality analysis at Oakdale Lake.

The event takes place at 5:30 p.m. at the Spark of Hudson, 502 Union Street. It is an opportunity to learn about the state of the lake, about algae, about water quality, and about plans and funding.