This was announced a few times earlier this week on Facebook, but now the notification is being shared by email. The Youth Center is closed, and all programming offered by the Youth Department, including that which takes place at the Hudson Area Library, is canceled until further notice, because of "unresolved mechanical issues with the heating system" at the Youth Center.
The new Common Council "Services Committee," which deals with the Youth Department and the Senior Center, has its first meeting on Thursday, February 5, at 5:30 p.m. More information about the nature of the problem and efforts made to resolve it, as well as the rationale for canceling all programming, even that which does not take place at the Youth Center, will likely be provided at that meeting.
Why not:
ReplyDelete- sell the Youth Center building
- use the proceeds to buy the Armory/Library building from Bard
- and drive savings with lower overhead, more efficient buildings
- WHILE adding a large new tax parcel to the city's revenue base?
Cut recurring costs and raise recurring revenue at the same time.
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If our objective is the flourishing of the next generation rather than the maintenance of drafty architecture or the subsidization of jobs that were not necessary just a few years ago, we must acknowledge that the current model has failed.
The data is clear. The Youth Center serves fewer than 10 percent of Hudson Youth.
In fact, on any given day, we reach approximately 1 in 20 of the city's youth (and that is generous) between the ages of 5 and 18.
Hudson property owners contribute to a $6 million dollar city tax levy, of which more than 10% goes to the Youth Department... $800k plus? Which is hamstrung by its own real estate.
We are paying a building tax disguised as a youth tax. This is on top of what resident pay in taxes for HCSD, state taxes that support expanding programs like Kite’s Nest, and private donations to numerous local nonprofits.
What is the price of this Youth Center repair?
What is the actual cost of providing indoor basketball for 1 or 2 dozen Hudson and Greenport residents?
Common sense suggests a more rational path, especially since "affordability" and housing cost is one of the biggest issues for residents.
By consolidating services in a modern, efficient space, we can trade high fixed costs for active programming.
p.s. Why is the City of Hudson Youth Center running its own email and data servers?
It makes sense that HPD runs on their owner servers because they have to comply with the FBI's CJIS mandates... but is Youth Center email more sensitive than the City of Hudson Treasurer?
Is IT the Youth Center's core competency?