tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.comments2024-03-18T07:16:20.270-04:00The Gossips of RivertownCarole Osterinkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16010623982526286408noreply@blogger.comBlogger29736125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-85732979581955566002024-03-17T18:46:06.422-04:002024-03-17T18:46:06.422-04:00So, this clarifies that trucks can in fact use the...So, this clarifies that trucks can in fact use the truck route through Hudson?Lewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11982121887047333288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-60818741609104446962024-03-16T13:06:31.714-04:002024-03-16T13:06:31.714-04:00You’re half right: we have no one in city governme...You’re half right: we have no one in city government who is seemingly up to the task of leading. We do, however, have a chief executive office under our charter — the mayor. The fact that he’d rather fiddle than work is sad but true. John K. Friedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05658184081506566069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-62710029166657890542024-03-16T11:56:03.560-04:002024-03-16T11:56:03.560-04:00This is long overdue. And I’m excited, and encoura...This is long overdue. And I’m excited, and encouraged by the City’s efforts to include more and more of our neighbors in the process. The more who show up, the stronger our plan.<br /><br />At the risk of repeating myself, the Planning Gap is the single biggest obstacle to progress in Hudson. The Planning Gap has two parts. <br /><br />First, we have an outdated Comprehensive Plan. Typically, these are updated every 10 years, mapping out the next 5 to 10 years. Ours is from 2002. <br /><br />In 2002, Facebook did not exist, Anna Nicole Smith’s show premiered on E!, Tobey Maguire was Spider-Man, The Wire premiered on HBO, and the second iPod Launched with 20G<br /><br />Second, we have no one qualified whose job it is to represent a Plan in development decision-making. Nothing connects to anything else, because nothing connects to a plan. And nothing connects to a plan, because it’s nobody’s job to make that connection visible. <br /><br />The Comprehensive Plan is an exciting opportunity.<br />We are being given a once in a generation opportunity to have a conversation about the kind of city we want to be. I hope to see you there. <br /><br />But, it is only half of the Planning Gap. <br />My question is: How do we build planning capacity to execute the plan and represent our voices in the years after this process?Peter Spearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06398694115350009138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-15819323630022719732024-03-16T09:01:05.752-04:002024-03-16T09:01:05.752-04:00A plan is a great thing to operate by, but unless ...A plan is a great thing to operate by, but unless you have the ability to execute your plan (with sufficient and competent staff, proper protocols and procedures, money, etc) you will fail. Or you will need to hire a consultant to show you how to execute your new plan. Might as well hire a city manager and get rid of the mayor - it would save us money in the long run.BILLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06165652134301551300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-37707525976139185912024-03-15T21:09:06.004-04:002024-03-15T21:09:06.004-04:00It seems like once again we are paying consultants...It seems like once again we are paying consultants a lot of many to tell us what we should do. It seems the only people making any money in Hudson are all the consultants we hire.Wowserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03200387559243782633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-86425716918669654292024-03-15T12:49:42.198-04:002024-03-15T12:49:42.198-04:00The f'n facebook mayor who in over 4 years has...The f'n facebook mayor who in over 4 years has yet to hold a State of the City town hall gathering. Covid is no longer an excuse for him not to physically appear in front of the residents of Hudson to tell us what, if anything, he is doing, what he's accomplished, what his department's are working on and to take questions and comments from the public. One wonders why Kamal Johnson is not willing to do anything of the sort. "Check my facebook page," he says, "it will tell you everything you need to know about what I am doing. You don't like facebook or that I am addicted to it? Too bad, get a life!""BILLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06165652134301551300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-66556604436710156772024-03-14T00:20:33.060-04:002024-03-14T00:20:33.060-04:00I notice that somebody is taking on the renovation...I notice that somebody is taking on the renovation of the house at the corner of State and Carroll St. (across from the County office building at #401 State.) The structure was a mess, it's amazing that some developers have the appetite for such a project.peterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15516536444700341403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-62854595695903951552024-03-13T17:39:01.810-04:002024-03-13T17:39:01.810-04:00The current administration really embraces a cultu...The current administration really embraces a culture of non-enforcement and thus no consequences for not following your civic obligations. From the failed parking amnesty to not making property owners maintain their sidewalks, and as you mention paying your taxes... why does anyone need to do anything they don't feel like doing. It's not a secret that many operate on "beg forgiveness, rather than ask permission." We're at peak disfunction and the mayor is going to keep cruising on until someone has the courage to call it out and unseat him.Union Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00202329176999159989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-17682473267385076912024-03-13T16:44:16.927-04:002024-03-13T16:44:16.927-04:00A good high stakes law suit might change minds ......A good high stakes law suit might change minds ...leonardo siderihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07238144897574760385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-18264634885428275902024-03-13T13:19:24.998-04:002024-03-13T13:19:24.998-04:00Yes, it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NRqsK...Yes, it is:<br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NRqsKz4Rk8Carole Osterinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16010623982526286408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-44349797655598063682024-03-13T12:46:39.528-04:002024-03-13T12:46:39.528-04:00Dear Carol, is yesterday's Planning Board meet...Dear Carol, is yesterday's Planning Board meeting available on line today?Rundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02765045986299819192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-48822179587934696012024-03-13T11:15:32.233-04:002024-03-13T11:15:32.233-04:00There's another typo in the text. The letter ...There's another typo in the text. The letter "a" in RPTL section 466-a should be lower case, not capitalized. Although it might seem trivial, it's important to get legal citations correct in local legislation.The Dudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11453473795429562541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-64559561489529816122024-03-13T10:52:32.312-04:002024-03-13T10:52:32.312-04:00There's a typo on page 3, section 5 of the pro...There's a typo on page 3, section 5 of the proposed law would provide an exemption to firefighters. The text states "SEVERALBILITY." The proper spelling is "severability."The Dudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11453473795429562541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-32214945717993850172024-03-13T10:13:35.212-04:002024-03-13T10:13:35.212-04:00Yeah, it seems that this is of no help to us. I d...Yeah, it seems that this is of no help to us. I don't think it's even a first step in ridding our streets of pass through trucks. Getting rid of a portion or two of the truck route isn't going to get it done, especially if enforcement is going to be difficult or non-existent. Seems to me like a waste of time and effort.BILLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06165652134301551300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-38633433990975419862024-03-13T07:56:20.927-04:002024-03-13T07:56:20.927-04:00Actually I mistyped: 3 properties owe $750k. The t...Actually I mistyped: 3 properties owe $750k. The total is $2m. For comparison, the city budget is less than $14m. The question to ask is, why is the mayor playing favorites? Could it because he doesn’t pay his own taxes so he doesn’t believe anyone else should? Or are the beneficiaries of “his largesse” political cronies? His landlord? John K. Friedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05658184081506566069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-55591512212583643742024-03-12T19:07:00.819-04:002024-03-12T19:07:00.819-04:00Good question. This also raises the question if th...Good question. This also raises the question if the city now shoulders liability since they've basically taken responsibility of the sidewalks.Union Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00202329176999159989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-7334849188518458142024-03-12T18:24:52.323-04:002024-03-12T18:24:52.323-04:00That's a lot of back tax. Curious to know what...That's a lot of back tax. Curious to know what three properties and who owns them?SlowArthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04083489406162869002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-35786725300845626802024-03-12T16:55:09.870-04:002024-03-12T16:55:09.870-04:00How many volunteer firefighters and ambulance work...How many volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers live in Hudson? The Dudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11453473795429562541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-80196885345704751982024-03-12T09:56:14.779-04:002024-03-12T09:56:14.779-04:00I don't think anyone begrudges the fire depart...I don't think anyone begrudges the fire department members or the elderly/needy reasonable property tax relief. What I'd like to know, and what I think many of my neighbors would like to know, is why are the mayor and city council refusing to collect property tax arrears that rightfully belong to the rest of Hudson's property owners and their tenants? As I understand it, there's over $2m in back taxes owed by only 3 properties. And don't kid yourself -- the City needs these funds: last time I looked at the numbers, even a partially paid fire department (with paid officers and volunteer line) would bankrupt the City in a few years or cause a massive property tax increase (or more likely both). <br /><br />Tax breaks for the deserving and needy are good; revenue assurance is good, too, especially when not collecting past-due taxes negatively impacts the rest of us who live and work here, either directly or indirectly.John K. Friedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05658184081506566069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-30052668220476742192024-03-11T22:42:07.981-04:002024-03-11T22:42:07.981-04:00With all the carping about Hudson's unique sid...With all the carping about Hudson's unique sidewalks ... I'd like to know if anyone has ever been injured enough to sue any owner ... does that information exist?leonardo siderihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07238144897574760385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-16140411031727496652024-03-11T16:48:33.552-04:002024-03-11T16:48:33.552-04:00What a mess, as many of us predicted. The sidewalk...What a mess, as many of us predicted. The sidewalks are even worse since the law was passed since property owners have no incentive to fix them. How did anyone think this complicated regime would be better than simply enforcing the old law, like most functional municipalities do? When does the DOJ circle back because of this non-solution? Union Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00202329176999159989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-13316437097541978842024-03-11T16:44:17.698-04:002024-03-11T16:44:17.698-04:00The endless merry go round that it is to have a pr...The endless merry go round that it is to have a project in front of the Planning Board. It's a shock if anything gets built in the next few years. It's as almost they mayor handpicks them to sniffle development. Hmmmmmm?Union Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00202329176999159989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-9605592677824596882024-03-11T16:41:31.331-04:002024-03-11T16:41:31.331-04:00The complexity of this statement alone demonstrate...The complexity of this statement alone demonstrates the challenge it would be to inform and enforce this, as others have mentioned in earlier posts. The only way any of this will work is if the state steps in and forces or builds a route that circumvents the narrow streets of Hudson and would be more efficient that the trucks would also want to use them anyway. Until then, it's just a shell game between 3rd St or Worth Ave that pits the city against itself. And Claverack and Greenport won't do a thing until the state forces them. Why would they?Union Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00202329176999159989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-43214235111990139322024-03-11T16:34:19.056-04:002024-03-11T16:34:19.056-04:00I'm fine with these tax breaks.The senior ones...I'm fine with these tax breaks.The senior ones are means tested, so it's going to those who could use a break. The firefighter one is too low in my opinion. They're doing free labor for the city and ultimately I think we'll have to hire a professional workforce as the city population becomes older and wealthier, they'll have even more difficulty getting volunteers. The kind of tax breaks I'm against are exemptions and PILOTs given to wealthy developers under the grift of "affordable housing." There's plenty of demand for market rate, and even non-luxury, housing. The taxpayers don't need to fund your investments. No more.Union Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00202329176999159989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5723709701684173708.post-82199099917754824082024-03-11T16:21:10.613-04:002024-03-11T16:21:10.613-04:00Officers make more money than you think. I know o...Officers make more money than you think. I know of one patrol officer who makes over $82,000 a year. Before he passed away recently, Sgt. Filli was taking home over $102,000 a year, or about 50 bucks an hour. He patrolled the city, too. <br />Give me the name of an officer, I can tell you how much they made last year. BILLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06165652134301551300noreply@blogger.com