On Wednesday, April 29, Operation Unite NY held its annual Hudson Youth Government Day at City Hall. Gossips has learned that, during the course of the day, Elena Mosley, founder and executive director of Operation Unite, announced she had a new associate director: former mayor Kamal Johnson.
It seems as though failure breeds fantastic careers. And endless jobs. Perhaps this failure should give testimony on how as mayor he let Hudson’s schools fall apart and let the kids fall off an academic cliff. But hey. That’s small beans right? His job hunt was more important. Hello anyone. Read the academic record at the high school. It is a full on horror story. Those port kids. Wake up Hudson.
Let's be clear about education and especially education in a difficult district. Although technically and by law the mayor od Hudson has no "Command" over the school district it would be total surrender if we said that our political leaders cannot help the kids they represent at the very least. And then to say that they owe the kids and the district a degree of inspiration, aspiration, opportunity and discipline. A good mayor would know all the parents for example. It is like saying that just because the library has no role in the school district their reading programs therefore don't or can't help. IMHO, everyone who has some say in the spiritual, political and educational heaven over Hudson should know the kids' scores, should know their names, should offer help. Should have their well being and futures in their heads. First and formeost. Let's see, a new sidewalk or ten more diplomas with honors? Or let's play opposite day, what if the mayor focused on the school district and kids for the areas that are part of his/her jurisdiction, such as being a true guiding light. Would we say, hey, stay away from the kids! New York State is in charge or the BOE is in charge? We are all in charge. Pitch in. But if you are mayor maybe the kids should come first. However you craft your role. Things they are a failing out there on Harry Howard.
To his credit, he was pretty involved with the school and youth programs. His yard signs were in the school colors. I would even say he was more around Harry Howard than City Hall
I would agree that it would be nice if a mayor took on a more vocal stance on the general (fiscal and academic) underperformance of the HCSD. But de jure, it cannot be more than performative.
The current mayor likewise hasn't said anything yet and we have learned from the recent Basketball-Gate that it's a delicate topic.
Kamal, who attended said school himself and whose daughter is overperforming and doing well there, would be even more keenly aware of this.
What puzzles me is how parents overwhelmingly seem so chill while simultaneously footing an inflated tax bill as their kids aren't receiving the education they could.
Max, I wouldn’t think of a mayor’s active, public interest in the district to be performative necessarily. Rather, I’d see it as the pointy end of the spear — representing the sentiments of his/her constituency about a matter of overwhelmingly local importance.
On Sunday night the BOE held an unusual meeting specifically focused on finding a new super. Any idea on what came of it? It looks likely they made their selection generally speaking.
Not going to be bullied into voting for a budget “it’s for the kids” ( the battlecry) when the previous two superintendents overspent and HR could not figure out its software .
"Hudson Youth Government Day is a student-led civic engagement program that gives local youth hands-on experience in understanding how city government works" - How awkward that the former failed mayor leads this. It's almost like a student from the bottom 25th percentile teaching or leading the HCSD. Yikes. The youth deserve better.
Chris, you insult my intelligence. I see you. It is a great coincidence in timing for the students’ participants of the HCSD that Kamal Johnson came on board Operation Unite NY during our hands-on civic engagement program. His input is valuable as it is and will be from Mayor Joe Ferris. I have embraced all the Hudson Mayors and have introduced students to process and activities of Council Members, and Department Heads, city staff, etc. . Kamal is two months in a limited position, and you attempt to muddy the waters of a youth program that inspires many former students with months of planning and the City of Hudson's meetings. Thank you for your transparency.
Losing an election doesn't make you a "failed mayor." In fact, Kamal won several elections and inspired black youth to learn more about government and politics. Congrats Elena, an inspired choice Operation Unite.
No offense folks, with whom I generally agree, especially on education, but Kamal did take more interest in HCSD (perhaps because his daughter was going to school there) than most mayors. I have advocated for years that Hudson's mayor (and its citizenry) should care about HCSD and it students, and thought we had a breakthrough when the new mayor, at a meeting of first ward citizenry a couple months ago, expressed a determination to do something.
This thread has finally gone full loco and I am bored. And that is saying a lot. The former mayor hung around the schools for a variety of reasons. All mayoral reasons I am somewhat maybe certain. It doesn’t matter. He knows. That’s enough. But he is gone. The new mayor is busy but I think he is smart. Just a guess but I have heard. Let’s rally him and not mention the former clown show. However mothers or taxpayers describe it there is always more we can do to help the kids and cut costs. And the cost cutting has to happen before no one is left to pay the bills. Let’s switch this up to the last post from the remarkable susan Troy’s note today. She is my favorite former tennis student and helped me win the Columbia county title in 1976. Over to the new chat n let’s teach susan to post. lol.
How do you get back into City Hall after losing an election... how do you do anything in Hudson... you make it about "the kids".
ReplyDeleteThrowback to when former Mayor Kamal raised his own salary (to be above that of the Treasurer).
That maneuver will not be possible based on Operation Unite's 990s:
https://apps.irs.gov/pub/epostcard/cor/141783766_202506_990_2026030623983032.pdf
It seems as though failure breeds fantastic careers. And endless jobs. Perhaps this failure should give testimony on how as mayor he let Hudson’s schools fall apart and let the kids fall off an academic cliff. But hey. That’s small beans right? His job hunt was more important. Hello anyone. Read the academic record at the high school. It is a full on horror story. Those port kids. Wake up Hudson.
ReplyDeleteIt's not clear to me what specific agency a mayor of Hudson would have over the schools.
DeleteHe was a terrible mayor. He had nothing to do with the school district. Both can be true.
DeleteLet's be clear about education and especially education in a difficult district. Although technically and by law the mayor od Hudson has no "Command" over the school district it would be total surrender if we said that our political leaders cannot help the kids they represent at the very least. And then to say that they owe the kids and the district a degree of inspiration, aspiration, opportunity and discipline. A good mayor would know all the parents for example. It is like saying that just because the library has no role in the school district their reading programs therefore don't or can't help. IMHO, everyone who has some say in the spiritual, political and educational heaven over Hudson should know the kids' scores, should know their names, should offer help. Should have their well being and futures in their heads. First and formeost. Let's see, a new sidewalk or ten more diplomas with honors? Or let's play opposite day, what if the mayor focused on the school district and kids for the areas that are part of his/her jurisdiction, such as being a true guiding light. Would we say, hey, stay away from the kids! New York State is in charge or the BOE is in charge? We are all in charge. Pitch in. But if you are mayor maybe the kids should come first. However you craft your role. Things they are a failing out there on Harry Howard.
ReplyDeleteTo his credit, he was pretty involved with the school and youth programs. His yard signs were in the school colors. I would even say he was more around Harry Howard than City Hall
DeleteI would agree that it would be nice if a mayor took on a more vocal stance on the general (fiscal and academic) underperformance of the HCSD. But de jure, it cannot be more than performative.
DeleteThe current mayor likewise hasn't said anything yet and we have learned from the recent Basketball-Gate that it's a delicate topic.
Kamal, who attended said school himself and whose daughter is overperforming and doing well there, would be even more keenly aware of this.
What puzzles me is how parents overwhelmingly seem so chill while simultaneously footing an inflated tax bill as their kids aren't receiving the education they could.
Max, I wouldn’t think of a mayor’s active, public interest in the district to be performative necessarily. Rather, I’d see it as the pointy end of the spear — representing the sentiments of his/her constituency about a matter of overwhelmingly local importance.
DeleteOn Sunday night the BOE held an unusual meeting specifically focused on finding a new super. Any idea on what came of it? It looks likely they made their selection generally speaking.
ReplyDeleteThought experiment:
ReplyDeletewhat if the City of Hudson, HCSD, and the catchment area of the Hudson Area Public Library, all perfectly overlapped on the mapped.
- Would voters notice the overlap more?
- Would it be complete gridlock?
- Would everyone immediately demand consolidation?
You are forgetting the most important factor, the one responsible for most of the confusion: the ZIP code 12534.
DeleteNot going to be bullied into voting for a budget “it’s for the kids” ( the battlecry) when the previous two superintendents overspent and HR could not figure out its software .
ReplyDeleteEnough is enough. They need the state to come in at this point.
Delete"Hudson Youth Government Day is a student-led civic engagement program that gives local youth hands-on experience in understanding how city government works" - How awkward that the former failed mayor leads this. It's almost like a student from the bottom 25th percentile teaching or leading the HCSD. Yikes. The youth deserve better.
ReplyDeleteChris, you insult my intelligence. I see you. It is a great coincidence in timing for the students’ participants of the HCSD that Kamal Johnson came on board Operation Unite NY during our hands-on civic engagement program. His input is valuable as it is and will be from Mayor Joe Ferris. I have embraced all the Hudson Mayors and have introduced students to process and activities of Council Members, and Department Heads, city staff, etc. . Kamal is two months in a limited position, and you attempt to muddy the waters of a youth program that inspires many former students with months of planning and the City of Hudson's meetings.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your transparency.
Losing an election doesn't make you a "failed mayor." In fact, Kamal won several elections and inspired black youth to learn more about government and politics. Congrats Elena, an inspired choice Operation Unite.
DeleteNo offense folks, with whom I generally agree, especially on education, but Kamal did take more interest in HCSD (perhaps because his daughter was going to school there) than most mayors. I have advocated for years that Hudson's mayor (and its citizenry) should care about HCSD and it students, and thought we had a breakthrough when the new mayor, at a meeting of first ward citizenry a couple months ago, expressed a determination to do something.
ReplyDeleteThis thread has finally gone full loco and I am bored. And that is saying a lot. The former mayor hung around the schools for a variety of reasons. All mayoral reasons I am somewhat maybe certain. It doesn’t matter. He knows. That’s enough. But he is gone. The new mayor is busy but I think he is smart. Just a guess but I have heard. Let’s rally him and not mention the former clown show. However mothers or taxpayers describe it there is always more we can do to help the kids and cut costs. And the cost cutting has to happen before no one is left to pay the bills. Let’s switch this up to the last post from the remarkable susan Troy’s note today. She is my favorite former tennis student and helped me win the Columbia county title in 1976. Over to the new chat n let’s teach susan to post. lol.
ReplyDelete