tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post1159271440601921334..comments2024-03-28T17:55:31.180-04:00Comments on The Gossips of Rivertown: I Hate to Say I Told You So, But . . . Carole Osterinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010623982526286408noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-39255332003493304632016-05-27T16:42:46.401-04:002016-05-27T16:42:46.401-04:00Just seeing this! What I meant was an individual ...Just seeing this! What I meant was an individual tasked with investigating solutions (not being an advocate) -- no one really knows what might work, and we all have ideas. What would be helpful is someone who knows how to research and can come up options that might stand a chance, and at the same time, eliminate ideas that are nonstarters. Again, not an advocate, but a person whose task it is to look for and evaluate solutions that the city and its residents can then consider. As for getting involved, I have written to and talked to every elected official I could find back in the day, before I gave up, understanding that it is likely nothing will change as long as we are all speculating about what might work but not focusing on finding solutions in a professional way. Pcappshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00595302127312664228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-55873837668461373562013-11-27T11:07:52.808-05:002013-11-27T11:07:52.808-05:00Actually, that is one of the strategies mentioned ...Actually, that is one of the strategies mentioned at the meeting.Carole Osterinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16010623982526286408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-85288474096079892412013-11-27T11:01:59.419-05:002013-11-27T11:01:59.419-05:00RE truck routes: Since most trucks have GPS why no...RE truck routes: Since most trucks have GPS why not appeal to the companies that do the upgrades for these systems to direct trucks around Hudson as the most desirable route.leonardo siderihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07238144897574760385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-46605646168000795392013-11-25T22:49:05.184-05:002013-11-25T22:49:05.184-05:00http://www.nymir.org/pdf/NYMIR%20Marcellus%20Roads...http://www.nymir.org/pdf/NYMIR%20Marcellus%20Roads%20FINAL.pdf<br /><br />A link to a good explanation on the subject. I suspect that one decision by an intermediate court that is fact specific does not end the matterolanafanatichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14707721780386710657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-56788664837923628422013-11-25T13:27:05.740-05:002013-11-25T13:27:05.740-05:00When the developers of the Widewaters or Greenport...When the developers of the Widewaters or Greenport Commons mall (whatever it is calling itself these days) was discussed at meetings of the Columbia County IDA (Industrial Development Agency) a few years ago, many citizens who watch such things, attended meetings and brought up the issue of increased traffic on both Route 9 and Joslen Blvd. Our concerns fell on deaf ears, who only heard "jobs" and "increased sales tax revenue." It did not take long after Widewaters/Greenport Commons was built, for the complaints about traffic to be heard. I cannot stress enough how important these meetings of the economic development agencies, IDAs, planning boards, and zoning boards are. And White Whale is right--the county needs a comprehensive plan.Ellen Thurstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01686459169580076405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-22825627161704486402013-11-24T21:48:46.646-05:002013-11-24T21:48:46.646-05:00Regarding the additional traffic the Greenport sho...Regarding the additional traffic the Greenport shopping center expansion meant for Hudson, the above post explains how we rejected a role to find a less harmful outcome at the moment of our greatest opportunity.<br /><br />The Gossips author herself sponsored the all-important legislation for our city legislature to influence beforehand the inevitable adverse traffic effects, while others circulated a petition which didn't garner much support. <br /><br />In the State of New York at least, a mere handful of advocates can't influence very much on their own. The opportunity made available by the state-required State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) is effective only when everyone who's impacted by a proposed action takes an interest.<br /><br />Years ago when the City of Hudson had this opportunity, the Common Council relinquished any role for the city concerning the soon-to-increase truck traffic. It was then that the truck issue should have been addressed, but aldermen such as Mr. Donoghue denied us the privilege, which in turn ended up hurting Greenport too.<br /><br />Wherever broad public interest is lacking, SEQR is notoriously vulnerable to being manipulated, just as it was in Greenport (Widewaters), and more recently in the City of Hudson (LWRP; zoning amendments; Holcim land transfer). <br /><br />All of these corruptions were the direct result of the vacuum left by too few citizens getting involved. We don't need more "designated" advocates; what we need is a less passive citizenry. <br /><br />Having said that, my sincere thanks to all who've posted on this subject, including Ms. Capps.unheimlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00204285837938988668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-13427929559290924862013-11-24T19:16:47.160-05:002013-11-24T19:16:47.160-05:00The problems of truck traffic throughout Columbia ...The problems of truck traffic throughout Columbia County have been abounding for many, many years because individual City & Town government agencies have little or no means or authority to resolve the issues of State highways. Until the County Board of Supervisors can present a united front & a comprehensive plan to the NYS DOT, nothing, and I mean nothing, will happen for any municipality in this county.White Whale Limitedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07600048500466092214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-30352299315435458092013-11-24T18:21:49.398-05:002013-11-24T18:21:49.398-05:00It's ridiculous that the health and safety of ...It's ridiculous that the health and safety of residents and visitors to homes and businesses on the truck route has no advocate, but it's assumed that the polluting trucks do. You can discuss for years on end, as it appears Hudson does, with no change to the status quo . . . .but at some point, someone needs to be designated to do the work to find out what solution would work. Pcappshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00595302127312664228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-66238269419267691882013-11-24T16:33:41.774-05:002013-11-24T16:33:41.774-05:00A quote from David Woodin (DOT) January 3, 2011: &...A quote from David Woodin (DOT) January 3, 2011: "One of the points I made at the meeting was that the City of Hudson could control some of the truck traffic that passes through the city. One of my duties is to designate highways within the state (both state and local highways) for use by a class of vehicles called special dimension vehicles. This category of trucks include 53’ trailers, stinger steered autocarriers, tractor trailer combinations that are longer than 65 ft overall (usually due to a long sleeper cab), and twin 28’ pup tandem trailers. All of these vehicle combinations meet the standard weight requirements (80,000 pounds maximum), but they require special permission to operate because they exceed the maximum vehicle combination length of 65 feet. Most importantly, although these vehicles are longer than the standard legal combination, their operating characteristics are such that they can turn as well or better than the standard 48 foot trailer w/cab (this 65 foot vehicle combination is the benchmark vehicle for operation comparisons).<br /> <br />Looking at the map of designated truck routes for special dimension vehicles within Hudson, I had told the audience that some of the major truck routes through the city allows tractor trailer combinations, but not tractor trailer combinations over 65 feet. The local police could issue tickets to those offending vehicles. The downside is that once a ticket is issued, the operator usually applies for the route to be designated. It is a 90 day process and the criteria evaluates specific geometric issues like lane width, accident history, and use of the route by standard 48 foot tractor trailer combinations. Typically 99% of all requests are approved. Dislike of large trucks and local opposition are not factors that are considered."Chad Wecklerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15721057452000779552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-45792563970750581392013-11-24T16:33:25.238-05:002013-11-24T16:33:25.238-05:00First of all, let me say that I know someone else ...First of all, let me say that I know someone else posts here as Hudson and I have tried to change my posting name in google, with no success.<br /><br />Also, there is an error in the post above. I say that what is left after sending half of sales tax revenue to the state is divided between the towns and Hudson. But, I forgot about the amount the county keeps prior to the distribution. They keep 70% of the portion not sent to the state, or 35% of what is collected, leaving 15% of the sales tax collected to be split among the 19 towns and Hudson. So, no town (or Hudson) is getting rich on sales tax revenue.<br /><br />And, as I read the comments in your post and the paper, I did assume she meant the sales tax. That is because I was not aware that the county did any sharing of their revenues from property taxes while I was aware of the sharing of sales tax revenues. Does the county share what they get in property taxes in any way?<br /><br />Elizabeth Nyland -- (try to post as HudsonElizabeth, but am denied by google.)hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17609894830470680121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-53492957523465706212013-11-24T15:46:41.437-05:002013-11-24T15:46:41.437-05:00@ hudson: I believe Roberts, although she was not ...@ hudson: I believe Roberts, although she was not specific, was talking about property tax revenue not sales tax revenue since she made reference to "development." Carole Osterinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16010623982526286408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-18325046814539876372013-11-24T15:38:28.417-05:002013-11-24T15:38:28.417-05:00Cheryl Roberts is wrong: Greenport is not getting ...Cheryl Roberts is wrong: Greenport is not getting all the tax revenue from Widewaters. All sales tax collected in the county goes to the County. There is no record of how much comes from each town or the city of Hudson. All of it goes to the county. The county then sends a large portion -- I am not sure, but think it is half or more -- to the state. What is left is divided between the towns based on population. Greenport is not as populace as Claverack, Kinderhook, or Hudson so they all get more money back than Greenport. Further, my recollection is that Hudson already has some special deal and gets more back than its population would lead to. And, to the best of my knowledge Greenport has no such special deal. What Greenport gets is a pittance relative to what we have to cover. Not only wear to our infrastructure but also police and fire, etc. It would be good if Hudson's attorney knew what she was talking about before flaming the fires that pit Hudson and Greenport against each other.hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17609894830470680121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-3300199745677353952013-11-24T15:38:14.578-05:002013-11-24T15:38:14.578-05:00Given the assumption that truckers don't like ...Given the assumption that truckers don't like negotiating Hudson's narrow and congested streets and would happily go a few miles out of their way to avoid them. And the problem is notifying the truckers so they can make the right decision for themselves. Let's use social media to help us out ...from twitter to Facebook. My expertise is not in this area, but it seems to me, it could work.Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15502515434454023349noreply@blogger.com