At the end of last year, two proposals to purchase and redevelop the Dunn warehouse, one of the few remaining historic buildings on Hudson's waterfront, were presented to the Common Council. It was expected that the Council would take up the issue in the new year and decide which proposal would be accepted, but so far that hasn't happened.
Meanwhile, in recent months, the historic building, which was designated a local landmark in November 2025, has become a magnet for graffiti. These pictures were taken this afternoon.
It is unfortunate that this historic building cannot be better protected--from the destruction of neglect and time and from our local graffiti artists.
COPYRIGHT 2026 CAROLE OSTERINK
Grafffiti artists or vandals?
ReplyDeleteActually, after considering 4 proposals, a team consisting of the Mayor's office, Council President Tom Dipietro, first ward Councilmember and new Council President, Margaret Morris selected Hudson Brewing Company as the winner over runner-ups Ben Fain and Caitlin Baida. The Council, ironically, had both give presentations to the Council AFTER the determination had been made in an apparent attempt to show that two good proposals were considered. The link to that Common Council meeting held on December 16, 2025 can be found here:
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/F1cVISsKCTA?si=cXIamfTYsJgvF_9l
What law permitted this "team" to be created? Endowed it with the power to make such a selection? Surely not the Hudson City Charter. Nor its general statutes. The Home Rule Law? No, don't think so. The General City Law? I'm not aware of any provision there that would permit it (though it's somewhat sprawling and might provide the justification, I don't know for sure -- though I doubt it). The General Municipal Law? Same answer for the General City Law, only more so -- it's a bigger sprawling body of law.
DeleteThis is just typical of the entire Johnson era: seat of the pants action without any management. Mindless, reactionary steps taken without planning, without reflection and without the meaningful participation of the Council (which is, by the way, the only body empowered to sell or lease City property). No wonder the City is broke. Look how it was managed.
Now, I realize that the vast majority of the prior Council were (and likely still are) mindless robots without a modicum of self-direction or critical thinking skills. Within this group of paper weights I include the entire 2d Ward delegation and 50% of the remaining Wards' delegations. (Have fun figuring out who's who!). So of course, like Republican members of Congress today, they blithely permit their authority to be taken by a room half (or more) full of yahoos and morons (more fun! who's who?!).
Look, we're all better off with Johnson and DiPietro gone. There is no argument to contradict that assertion. It's basically science. But we are still saddled with a Council at least half of which is incompetent and unengaged. Our new Council President is both competent and engaged (though perhaps a bit heavy handed cutting off debate on particular issues). Our new mayor, still a cypher. Let's hope leadership will return to City Hall and actual governance will re-commence. We desperately need it.
There is graffiti everywhere in town, it's getting worse, none of it is removed, and City Hall could care less. Enjoy the view of it on the wall of the house facing the pocket park in the two hundred block of Warren! It's only been there for a year or two! So the f what!
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