Hello, my name is Peter Spear, and I am not running for mayor.
I decided to run for mayor last year, somewhat reluctantly. This is not something that I have ever wanted to do. I've intentionally stayed in what I call the "civic space." But we had not had a contested election in five or six years, and it was clear to me that Mayor Johnson is not the type of leader who is capable of taking us forward, that the status quo was not going to work, and I wanted to offer up an alternative vision to the status quo so that we would have a choice.
A lot has changed since that time. The primary shook things up, and over the past couple days I’ve become a distraction, and I think just the kind of distraction that our Facebook mayor really quite likes and is very good at, which takes us away from conversations about things that I think matter, such as how are we going to create the housing that we need, how are we going to develop the jobs that we need, what are we going to do about the budget, what are we going to do about city charter, and it also distracts from his failure to actually deliver any housing, and the fact that the housing that he has delivered is mired in the controversy of a very serious conflict of interest with an out-of-state billionaire developer that has gifted him his housing that he’s refused to disclose.
So these are serious issues that I don’t want to distract from, and I think that this was never really about me. This was about the City of Hudson, and I think that we have a clearer choice with me out of the picture and a clearer future.
So, for that reason, I now officially step back and express my gratitude to all of you who have shown me support and all of my neighbors, no matter who you are. Please if you see me around, say hello.
Thank you for transcribing Gossips, you do the town such a service by translating, transcribing and cataloguing it all.
ReplyDeleteWhat Kamal isn't realizing is that there are things far more reminiscing of Adams than the color of his skin. Kamal and Adams are both conflict of interests on two legs. That's where the similarities are.
ReplyDeleteAs for Peter, he deserves all the credit for shaking things up in Hudson. He was instrumental in opening the floodgates and him head-on attacking Kamal over all his failures and lies inspired others to do the same. It was him, and the charter petitioners, that removed this weird nebulous but palpable fear of going against an ineffectual mayor who seemed unassailable.
Peter stepping down now makes it impossible for Kamal to win. Vote-splitting was the only thing his hopes could have been resting on.
Thanks, Peter, for the numerous comforting alley chats you gave us and for presenting a vision for Hudson that is upbeat and forward-looking. I still want to see it implemented so get ready to make yourself a thorn in the next mayor's side and keep reminding him to do what is necessary.
Kamal’s response says everything there is to say about his non-administration of the City. Peter did the right thing by bowing to a party nominee. But he also did the right thing by asking questions, calling “bullshit” when confronted by the same, and by acting like an adult throughout.
ReplyDelete3 Kamal For Mayor lawn signs are already up at the end of Oakwood Blvd. It's a code violation to have election signs out this early, even on private property. But that is what our mayor represents, a violation in so many ways.
ReplyDeleteThat section of the code is unconstitutional under relevant Supreme Court caselaw.
DeleteFor once John Friedman is correct. This matter was settled more than 20 years ago, when Ricky, Cappy et al. tried to use that unconstitutional law to bully people into taking down signs. The NYCLU wrote a stinging letter to the City stating that the law was patently illegal and unconstitutional. The courts have made it very clear that a municipality can't make separate rules for commercial vs political signs. If it is still on the books, shame on Hudson.
DeleteHere is an idea to bridge what I see as a severe chasm between the mayor's office and the common council (suffice is to say that Kamal rarely attends council meetings, and when he does, he seems to be talking AT the council, not with them). Allow the council to take a symbolic YAE or NAY CONFIDENCE VOTE in the mayor. The vote will only happen if two members make a motion for it. This way, the public knows where things stand with City Hall, how well things are functioning, if City Hall is acting as a cohesive unit or is divisive. This way, a terrible mayor might be put on notice from the people who are making a majority of the important decisions whether or not they are satisfied with him or her. It's one thing for the public to like or dislike an acting mayor, one who is possibly up for reelection. But it's an entirely different thing if a majority or the entire council are not happy with the mayor, because then residents know things are really bad at City Hall. And shouldn't a mayor know whether he has the backing of the council? A mature mayor in such a situation would get the idea and not run for reelection. An immature one, like Kamal, would ignore a NO CONFIDENCE vote even though the council's lack of confidence in him/her will sway some voters to not vote for him/her.
ReplyDeleteWe can't afford to have another 6 (or 2, or 4, or 8...) year mayor as bad as Kamal and not allow the council to weigh in on the subject. Plus, if we ever get a city manager, the council will be doing just the same thing: letting him or her know how well they feel the city is being managed. And if they aren't happy with the job the manager is doing, that person is gone, as they should be.
Second idea: the Mayor of the City of Hudson is required to GIVE AN ANNUAL STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS in a public space. It must last more than ten minutes, and questions must be answered afterward. CODIFY THIS! We should expect this of a city manager, too!
Our City Hall (including the council) is so poorly run and structured. Six years and the mayor hasn't given one State of the City address? This is unconscionable. We can't have a mayor who isn't interested in giving, or isn't required to give, an annual address to the residents and taxpayers of the city.
No one is steering the ship, no one is accountable, and no one, including and especially our current mayor, is communicating (think kiosks!)! We can't expect the council to steer the ship -- they're all rank amateurs and, essentially, volunteers. They come and go too quickly and frequently. You get what you pay for.
I’m no Kamal fan, but our city is not a parliamentary system. Separation of powers. Neither the executive nor legislative branches answer to each other, they answer to the voters. I think as a precedent, the mayor shouldn’t attend council meetings without an invitation. But a State of the City address should be one of those occasions. We’ll sort this out in November.
DeleteJack, this is something I rigorously disagree with.
DeleteI was born and grew up in a country where an important and sensible political principle exists, by the name of "Richtlinienkompetenz" which can only be approximated with "authority to set the guidelines".
The German chancellor has it and it means that while they're not making laws, they are expected to set the overall direction and try to steer the legislator in that direction.
Given that the executive is charged with executing the laws the legislator passes, I would think it's perfectly okay and in fact necessary for a mayor to attend meetings of the Common Council.
A mayor, and that includes Kamal as well as his predecessor and successors, has an agenda whose implementation is the thing by which voters will ultimately measure them.
If I was mayor, I'd constantly be up the council's ass and remind them tirelessly of what I'd want them and need them to do. They are free to ignore it but at least that way I would have plausible deniability.
Peter did the right thing here. Third party candidacies mostly wind up as spoilers. Hudson needs smart and dedicated leadership right now. A four way race could have ended in a disaster. It's bad enough that Kamal refused to drop out, after losing the Democratic primary. At least Tom DePietro did the right thing. Kamal's petty statements and social media antics are a complete embarrassment for the city but even more so for Kamal. They are unbecoming of the Mayor of Hudson. Such wasted promise.
ReplyDeleteThank you to Peter Spear for being one of the adults in the city. I hope that Peter runs again or finds some other way to contribute to the well-being of Hudson. We would be well-served.
I will proudly be voting for Joe Ferris for Mayor and Margaret Morris for Council President I hope other will do the same.
Hear, hear! Peter’s campaign was inspiring. If you look back at my previous comments you’ll see I was quite skeptical and thought he was too Pollyanna to have what it takes. But he went full steam ahead on discussing the issues and had the courage to call out Mayor Johnson on where he failed Hudson. He brought the conversation to where it is today and I thank him for that. At some point consolidation was needed to unite the vote for change. He put ego aside to put Hudson’s interests first. I look forward to hearing more from Joe about his plan to serve our fair city. And if you’ve watched the latest council meetings you’ll know that Margaret is already fighting the good fight. Get out there and vote!
DeleteThank you Peter. You did the right thing by dropping out . Please continue with your political observations and postings.
ReplyDeleteAs wonderful as "Gossips" is , Carole can't keep up with all the disfunction in Hudson by herself.
Thank you, Peter for throwing your hat in the ring, for running an issues-based campaign, for listening to Hudson voters, for calling bullshit when necessary, and for recognizing an exit when the time was right. We’re all looking forward to your next chapter.
ReplyDeleteThank you Peter for running an amazing campaign in such an inclusive, efficient, and honest way. You were out on the beat and in the streets and doing it the way it should be done! You are an inspiration to everyone in town who is hopeful, and who wants the best for anyone and everyone. As others have said here, we’re all looking forward to what’s next from you.
ReplyDeleteHolding elected office is not a requirement of civic engagement, and Peter has shown you can energize voters by educating them.
ReplyDeleteThe important thing now is for Hudson voters to rally behind Mr Ferris to best position him come November. Shady politics can only get you so far, as we saw with Tom, and it can't overcome strong turnout at the polls.
Since everyone has said wonderful things about and to Peter -- which he damn deserves -- I will bring up one of the silent third rail issues in Hudson: education and race. I put them together because they are inextricably tied and universally ignored. One participant at Peter's Nicol Vidor session was brave enough (or ignorant enough) (minute 1:35) at https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi5PJeyU2TkqGOXhyGV5jZHWsyfqyM-61Ll-A_FnIzmArs-nhCkOY4N04DrB0yNG2GaSwCszCPtztcjJ9JK5C_schbgxPI1WXT39dhpu2Mud3L2YaQ2OEP7caS4DwoY7NUgsyhU1jubCgZYADeC3kjx4c_ogkS6Zg8KOGW3g5nJaeHmnro-84MKCKz7AtYV
ReplyDeleteto say it: (I paraphrase) Hudson needs to get involved in education. --peter meyer