Dear Community Members,
Thank you for your RSVP to the upcoming Hudson-Bard roundtable. We're grateful for the strong interest in this conversation and the care our community is bringing to this opportunity.
I want to take a moment to share an important clarification about the scope of our upcoming roundtable, it is specifically intended for Hudson's business owners and members of the Hudson business community. The purpose of this event is to open a dialogue between Bard College and the local business community, specifically focusing on the impact of Galvan's real-estate gift to commercial property and our Hudson businesses.
We understand that some attendees who RSVP'd may not be part of the Hudson business community and we kindly ask that you release your spot so we can ensure space for those the event was designed to serve. We truly appreciate your understanding.
A forum for discussing residential impacts and properties included in the gift will be addressed in an upcoming public event in early 2026 at an appropriate venue. This will provide Hudson residents and the broader community with an opportunity to understand the full scope and potential impact of the gift as it is finalized. Please look to Bard's Communications Office for updates on that public event.
We look forward to creating a productive, informed conversation with Bard's leadership, one that supports transparency, collaboration, and a strong future for Hudson's business community.
Thank you again for your interest and engagement. Hudson's strength has always come from people who care deeply about this place, and we appreciate your commitment to staying informed during this important transition.
Best,
William S. Blowers
President & Membership Director
Hudson Business Coalition (HBCi)
Billy B should have restricted it to members only to start if it was to be their event and not for the public. I get it, tickets sold out and your membership got mad. And when they say “business owners,” do they mean brick and mortar only—merchants, restauranteurs, hoteliers? There are tons of entrepreneurs in Hudson that would be considered business owners. And how many of these members show up to council or planning board meetings? I get that running a business takes long hours, but if we want the city to stop being hostile to its small businesses, they need to start showing up. The “nonprofits” in town figured that out a long time ago.
ReplyDeleteI have this hypothesis that Bard may not actually know what to do with the Bard gift. Feeling the pulse of business owners is not the worst thing they could do.
ReplyDeleteWhy would anyone think that Bard would know what to do with a "gift" of several junk and decent properties of all sizes, commercial and residential? When did they become real estate developers? They're already stumbling even before the "gifts" have arrived.
DeleteIf I'm on Bard's Board of Directors, here is the question I would have already asked: "Can someone please explain why we are considering this enormous so-called gift from Galvan and what it might have to do with educating future Bard students?"
Easy, give the Alms House, Library and Little League field to the city as a good will gift. Also give the lot at 5th & Warren to the city to be a midtown park/dog run. Keep the Foundry for Bard’s performing arts programs.
DeleteThe rest you liquidate asap and manage it in the rest of their endowment.
Why would they not want it? It’s a valuable gift, just a pain to manage compared to the preferred gift of cold hard cash. If they don’t want any of the properties, I’ll take them.
Sure, the city has plenty of dough and DPW has plenty of interest and ability to maintain the ballfield. There's no free lunch, especially in a gifted property. How much does it cost to heat and cool the Armory?
DeleteGood on Billy and the HBCi team for getting more engaged and hosting an event that sells out.
ReplyDeleteWhy not restrict it to dues paying members... you guys are not the Hudson Youth Center.
Also - Mark Allen (the interviewer for this event?) can you just start a podcast already with recurring guests.
- Municipal Mayhem with Mark.
- Sidewalks, Sewers, and Shenanigans
- Mark My Parcels
45 min show (the average commute to Albany/Berkshires, or a drive from New Lebanon to Germantown)
The HBC principally counts retailers as its members. There’s much more to Hudson’s business community than just retailers. Limiting anything to just HBC members is highly reductive relative to the actual business carried on in the city.
Delete