The ceremonial swearing-in of Joe Ferris as mayor of Hudson took place this afternoon at Hudson Hall, before an audience that included, among many others, two former Hudson mayors (Rick Scalera and Tiffany Martin), Assemblymember Didi Barrett and Sam Hodge (who will be challenging Barrett in a primary next year), newly sworn-in Columbia County Sheriff Jackie Salvatore, and Hudson's new Common Council president Margaret Morris.
Ferris took the oath of office, which was administered by Columbia County Court Judge Briand Herman, with his left hand raised and his right hand resting on a book held by SJ Williams, current chair of OutHudson.
In his inaugural speech, Ferris told those assembled, "I stand here not just as Hudson's new mayor but as our city's newest municipal employee." Later in his speech, he again referred to himself as the city's newest employee. Ferris spoke of his family's history of public service and stressed his commitment to being accessible to his constituents, scheduling regular town hall meetings in each of the city's five wards and, starting in February, holding open office hours at City Hall. He declared his administration would assure that "everyone feels heard." He quoted Cicero, in Latin and in English, prefacing it by explaining it was something his father had said in the New York State Assembly: "Salus populi suprema lex esto. The welfare of the people should be the supreme law."
Ferris spoke about housing and affordability and said he was eager to begin the work of updating the city's zoning code, a project for which the City recently received a $180,000 grant in the State's Regional Economic Development Council initiative. He talked about making changes to the zoning to allow the construction of "the housing we want." The only specific change he mentioned was allowing the construction of accessory dwelling units, a zoning amendment that has already been made. He spoke of the need for housing "at different price levels." He said he was ready to appoint three people to the Planning Board who shared his ideas about zoning and housing, but he did not identify who those three people were. The first Planning Board meeting of 2026 is scheduled for Tuesday, January 13, so we will find out then, if not before then, who the new people on the Planning Board will be.
He concluded his speech by talking about intersections and safety, positing, "Everyone in Hudson has at least one intersection they will do everything to avoid." He shared his goal to make walkability in Hudson easier and safer.
The new year and the new administration begins in earnest at City Hall on Monday.
COPYRIGHT 2026 CAROLE OSTERINK
Mayor Ferris has a steep hill to climb and no doubt many landmines to avoid or neuatralize.
ReplyDeleteWhile we may disagree with him on the ideal size and scope of the government / state... we can find common ground in the morality and utility of simply running a city well for all residents.
Much remains to be seen but he calls himself a 'municipal employee' on day 0, which shows that he understands that he works for all of us, equally.
He is talking openly about the flaws we all see.
Maybe honest communication can be a cure.