The Register-Star reports that Joe Ferris took the oath of office this morning in a private ceremony at City Hall, witnessed by "a group of close friends": "Joseph M. Ferris sworn in as Hudson's new mayor." The only statement from Ferris quoted in the article is this:
It still hasn't quite sunk in. . . . It's the first day. It'll become more real as I'll start answering emails and phone calls and talking with constituents. It's exciting."
As Gossips pointed out earlier this week, we know very little about our new mayor's plans, aside from his intention to make his first priority improving the safety of ten intersections in the city. Earlier this week, we were also reminded that when Kamal Johnson started his first term in 2020, he had already announced his appointments to commissionerships, various regulatory boards, and the five-member "legal team" he had assembled. That team included a name that had not previously been heard in Hudson government and has not been heard since. The following is quoted from a Gossips post published on December 31, 2019:
Daniel Arshack, who is a recognized criminal defense attorney, will serve as "Special Waterfront Counsel" and "lead attorney on updating the Hudson waterfront plan." Presumably that means the LWRP (Local Waterfront Revitalization Program).
This appointment raised the hope--however briefly--that there might be an effort finally to get Hudson's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program reviewed and approved by the Department of State. Hudson's history with its LWRP has been long and problematic. There are ninety-five communities in New York that have LWRPs, but Hudson is not one of them, despite more than twenty years of on-and-off trying.
Hudson submitted its first LWRP to the Department of State for approval in 2004. Approval was not forthcoming. In 2005, a year after the document was submitted, Charlie Butterworth, then Superintendent of Public Works, who had led that first LWRP effort, received a twenty-two-page letter from the Department of State outlining the proposed LWRP's shortcomings and giving counsel on how to proceed.
In 2006, work on a new LWRP commenced, with a committee led by Linda Mussmann and Cheryl Roberts, aided by the consulting firm BFJ Planning. That effort resulted, after five long years, during much of which work took place out of the public eye, in the LWRP we have today, a document that was adopted by the Common Council in November 2011 but was never approved by the Department of State. It should be pointed out it was never not approved either. Apparently, it was never actually submitted to the DOS. It is not entirely clear what happened, but this explanation seems most likely. A condition for approving the LWRP, imposed by the DOS, was that ownership of a nine-acre waterfront parcel just south of the dock--then owned by Holcim (formerly St. Lawrence Cement), now owned by Colarusso--be transferred to the City of Hudson. After the LWRP was adopted by the Common Council, Roberts, who was then city attorney, was negotiating with Holcim's attorneys in Switzerland to make the transfer happen. In February 2013, the Common Council passed a resolution authorizing the transfer, but two months later, in April 2013, the Common Council passed a resolution rescinding the earlier resolution because Holcim "has not agreed to enter into all necessary contracts in a timely manner." It turns out Holcim was, at the same time, negotiating with Colarusso for the sale of the property, and Colarusso wanted those nine acres for a staging area. Colarusso took ownership of the property in 2014. It seems likely the City postponed submitting the LWRP to the Department of State until the condition of the land transfer was met, and because the condition was never met, the LWRP was never submitted, and because the LWRP was never submitted, it was never approved.
Given the announced appointment of a "special waterfront counsel" at the beginning of Johnson's tenure as mayor, it seemed the LWRP might be a focus of attention for the Johnson administration, but that has hardly been the case. Not only was there no initiative to revisit the document and update it for Department of State review, but also, during the Planning Board review of Colarruso's application for a conditional use permit for its dock operations, Johnson appointee Victoria Polidoro, legal counsel to the Planning Board, adamantly maintained that the LWRP was not legally binding, and the Planning Board granted a conditional use permit that ignores both the spirit and the goals of the LWRP.
During the Johnson administration as well, a new comprehensive plan was created which gives very little attention to the waterfront. Any mention of the waterfront is relegated to sixth place in the plan's "Big Ideas": "Improve public, open, and "third spaces." Point 6.3 (there are only three) under this "Big Idea" is: "Continue making the Hudson waterfront a location for recreation, the arts, and connection between Hudson residents." In the section of the comprehensive plan labeled "Actions," this is found (on page 110):
The waterfront is central to the city's identity and should be used for connection, leisure, recreation, and supporting the arts. The City of Hudson and other community organizations should continue community-oriented programming that promotes residents' sense of belonging. The City should also encourage the creation of a civic space along the waterfront that can serve the community year-round.
Land use regulations should ensure that any future waterfront development aligns with these community priorities. For instance, industrial activities and high-density housing may not be suitable in this area. . . .
Ironically, the Common Council adopted the new comprehensive plan in October 2025, and a month later, in November 2025, the Planning Board granted Colarusso a conditional use of permit that allows intensified industrial activity at the waterfront.
Two years is not a very long time, but it is enough time for Ferris to assemble a committee, one small enough and committed enough to be effective, for the purpose of updating the 2011 LWRP so it can be submitted to the Department of State for review. After more than twenty years, it is high time Hudson had a proper and properly ratified LWRP.
COPYRIGHT 2026 CAROLE OSTERINK
Earlier this year at 6th & State, from across the street, I heard Joe Ferris mildly verbally assail the driver of a car who had nearly hit him while he was crossing State. A few months ago while crossing State at 6th, also in the daylight, I was as close to being run over by a car as I've ever been. It was frightening. Like Joe, I had the right of way, though not that it mattered to the drivers. Two weeks ago, also in the daylight, a driver on 6th ran the stop sign and slammed into a car headed west on State that had stopped at the stop sign. That driver's car needed to be towed and was probably totaled as a result of a bent front axle. The driver was livid. The driver who ran the sign eventually drove their car away. No one swept up all the bits of plastic left over from the collision.
ReplyDeleteCarole, thank you for putting this unresolved issue back into the public eye. If the new guard isn't willing to make an effort to create an LWRP that sticks, I will assume that Hudson isn't serious about its waterfront. It's true that the city wasn't serious under Kamal's leadership.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the Colarusso dock is concerned, that was a more substantial transaction even. The dock itself was basically free but it also included the quarry on Newman Rd/Route 9 which ACS acquired from Holcim in October 2014. That was a near $9M transaction at the time.
Joe Ferris please create a generic social media presence for Hudson's mayor. @hudsonnymayor on IG and FB or something like that.
ReplyDeleteDoes the Hudson Motorboat Club own the land the club sits on or is it renterd? How about the lot that is north and surround by an ugly locked cyclone fence?
ReplyDeleteThe Hudson Power Boat Association owns the land. The group, which was organized soon after the end of World War II, purchased the property formerly owned by Hudson Day Line in 1950. What had been the waiting room and ticket office for the day liners is now HPBA's clubhouse. The land at the base of Promenade Hill once belonged to the railroad, but in 1984 it was acquired by Hudson Development Corporation, which then sold it to HPBA for $1.
DeleteCarole, can you tell us if they own the bulk head along the state boat launch parking lot which they attach they're most valued docks to? Or the small fenced in parcel at the end of ferry Street adjacent to their building? Or their southern docks that extend south below their property line?
ReplyDeleteNick, can you tell us how much public funding the Sloop Club has received from the City of Hudson over the years, and how much taxpayers pay for you to take people (residents or otherwise) on each excursion?
DeleteIf other residents, who weren’t former City of Hudson employees like you, wanted to take people on classic Land Rover Defender or Willys MB 1940s Jeep off-road excursions... how could they get the City of Hudson to sponsor that?
Asking for a friend...
Nick you know the answers to those questions. You were a boat club member for a few years. Do you remember? You had your wedding there and put up a huge tent in the park and used the club house, kitchen and bathrooms for your reception. Remember how the membership made a special concession for you because you talked a big game of unity and stewardship the boat club does?
DeleteBut you were actively working against the boat clubs charter during your membership, which is why you were asked to remove yourself. I know because I was there. It was a wonderful day, I still have the recording of you lying through your teeth.
Nick do you remember when your boat sank twice while tied up at the HPBA and we did you a huge favor by not contacting the DEC as to not embarrass the sloop club? Two times your boat sank, the one you say you take community members out on. Remember when you didn’t pay Chuck Ganson for floating your sunken boat?
Not only are you a deadbeat you are a lier as well.
This is fun would you like me keep going?
It’s also worth noting that among all the not for profit property owners located in the city of Hudson, only one to my knowledge voluntarily pays property taxes they are legally permitted to avoid — and that would be the HPBA which clearly is a steward of the shore and river in may ways.
DeleteSo my question to you, Nick, is does the Sloop Club pay any taxes for the common good or does it just take money from the tax payers of Hudson?
Hugo, the Sloop Club has indeed been awarded public funds since covid to help run Waterfront Wednesdays, a free weekly waterfront event in the summer with food, live music, performances, FREE public boating and fishing opportunities. My impression has been that the community seems to like the event and that they appreciate the city supporting public programming at our waterfront. All the funds were passed through the Tourism Committee and the common council so there's clear public records of everything. If it happens again this year, please come down with your family so you can check it out for yourself. Sorry I won't be able to keep going back and forth with you on this, I've already gone way over my allotted Gossips time.
DeleteGood times Henry! We did have some fun together at the HPBA back in the day, didn't we? I don't remember any of those things quite the same way you do, but it's okay, that's just how it works with fond memories, isn't it? Let's get together at some point and have a good laugh and talk about public access to the Waterfront and have a beer. Just let me know when you're available and bring John and Hugo along, it'll be a blast.
DeleteNick -
DeleteSince you are "out of time," let’s be clear about what you just admitted:
Taxpayers are footing the bill for unaudited expenses that are consumed by a very small number of people, some of whom may be residents.
What you call "free" is actually paid for by retired taxpayers on fixed incomes and working-class families.
It is essentially the Youth Center, but on water.
Your answer, lacking in numbers and relying on self-reported sentiment, says it all.
You also conveniently dodged the core question: Why does a former senior City employee get tax dollars to run boat excursions when any other resident wanting to run Jeep (insert any other discretionary club activity, cricket?) tours wouldn't get a dime?
We don't need an invitation to come "check it out," we already paid for it. And frankly, if Henry’s comments above are accurate, why would we trust the safety of the vessel anyway?
We wanted you to explain why you get a sweetheart deal that nobody else in Hudson gets. But instead, you are running out the clock and refusing to take responsibility.
Political individuals leading with "the community seems to like it" is how decisions have been made in Hudson for far too long.
Until we get quantitative and transparent, and move away from the last half-decade of backroom deals and cronyism, Hudson will continue to underperform.
P.S. Thank you for mentioning the Tourism Committee, it is a great reminder to look into the quarter of a million "tourist" dollars that were allocated to affiliates of the previous mayor for local "community" projects.
I can't think of anything more classic Hudson than finalizing the LWRP well AFTER we've already handed out permits to a noxious gravel operation that provides no upside to residents here. You can't make this stuff up. ~ PJ
ReplyDelete