Since the 200 block of Warren Street was honorarily named for Jake and Barbara Walthour in 2024, there have been a couple more proposals for honorary street naming: a stretch of South Front Street for longtime DPW superintendent Charlie Butterworth, and the 500 block of Warren Street for former father-and-son mayors Fred Wheeler and Sam Wheeler. Typically, the Common Council passes the resolutions without objection or much discussion. Not so the latest proposal.
At the informal Council meeting on Monday, a resolution was introduced for the honorary naming of City Hall Place "Lou Brenner Way" for the oldest living retired member of the Hudson Police Department. Brenner, who served as a police officer in Hudson from 1952 to 1972, celebrated his 100th birthday on March 21.
City Hall Place was presumably chosen because, for ten of the twenty years Brenner served as a police officer, the police department was headquartered in City Hall, the building we now know as Hudson Hall. (City Hall moved to 520 Warren Street in 1962.)
When the resolution came before the Council on Monday, Councilmember Dominic Merante (Fifth Ward) expressed the opinion that a proclamation, declaring a "Lou Brenner Day," giving him the key to the City, and making him a part of the Common Council contingent in the Flag Day parade would be a more appropriate way to honor Brenner. Merante alluded to the criteria for honorary street naming set forth in Chapter 267 of the city code:
(1) The honoree must have made a demonstrable and significant positive impact on the community or contributed to the cultural, economic, educational, intellectual, political or scientific vitality of the community or have made an extraordinary contribution in service of humanity.
(2) The honoree must be a natural person, and no living individual shall be the subject of a proposed dedication, except by unanimous consent of the Common Council.
Merante questioned if longevity should qualify someone for the honor of having a street named for them.
Council president Margaret Morris maintained that the proposal was in conformance with the law as it was passed, and it was not the Council's job to decide what would be more appropriate. She noted that the Council was under no obligation to pass the resolution and advised if there were objections members should not vote in favor of it. The Council will votes on the resolution on Tuesday, April 28.
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Should a city with financial troubles be considering unnecessary street signs, regardless of how much they cost? The SAFETY committee is supposedly looking into additional traffic signage for one way streets to keep us safe.. Will they be competing for funds that are also needed for the silly historical street signs that mostly add to clutter and are mostly ignored? City Hall seems to be acting like nothing is wrong, much like the White House. Clueless.
ReplyDeleteSave that sign money for the next surprise bunch of unpaid utility bills.
Just so you know, the street signs cost the city nothing as they’re paid for by the person/people proposing the street naming. It is not silly to name a street after someone who dedicated their heart and soul to Hudson for over 35 years. How long have you lived here in Hudson?
DeleteWho installs them?
DeleteThe time has come to rename City Hall Place (which is sevral blocks away from the current City Hall). Renaming it for Ellen Thurston is completely appropriate. Ellen was a civic superstar in Hudson. She was a tireless champion for the Hudson Opera House. There is no more appopriate person than Ellen to correct this now mislabeled street. Thurston Place NOW!
ReplyDeleteI understand and don’t disagree, however it’s been 16 years and now that someone else wants to have that street named after a lifelong resident who is 100 years old, this comes back around? Why wasn’t it completed in 2010? And if it was, it said temporarily. I think there was ample time to have had it done and if it was, temporarily is over.
DeleteAccording to the code, street naming can not be done for a living person. Ellen just passed away. As someone who helped temporarily name City Hall Place, Thurston Place, I have long thought that this is the perfect location to honor Ellen.
Deletethere does exist issues that are more important. How about resolving the sidewalk issue or making the pocket parks more attractive? Thousand of people pass by these evesores every week. Plant some flowers instead of making stupid signage. And of course something should finally be done about the pathetic condition of the 7th St. park. Plant flowers - the city could buy a lot of them for the cost of the signs.
ReplyDeleteThe Mayor needs to place a hold on all non-essential spending until the HCSD budget deficit is addressed.
ReplyDeleteOh knew when they passed the law to allow these honorary street names it would open up Pandora’s Box. It puts the Council in the awkward position of deciding who’s worthy. What proposals can we expect in the far future? “Lloyds’s Lane?” (Prison Alley by the municipal lots). “The Hudson Wail Way???” Absolute chaos! Malarkey, I say!
ReplyDelete