PBF Hudson and the IDA: Update

This morning, the Hudson Industrial Development Agency (IDA) announced it would be holding a special meeting "for the purpose of discussing the PBF Hudson LLC project" on Wednesday, December 15, at 2:00 p.m. 

The plan for the redevelopment of the Pocketbook Factory was also a topic of discussion at yesterday's IDA meeting. The discussion began with Mike Tucker reporting that the applicant had provided a written response to the requests presented at the public hearing by the group calling itself the Community Benefits Alliance of Hudson. The written response, which addresses each ask made by the group, begins with this statement from Sean Roland and Gabriel Katz, the principals in the project:

Thank you for your letter, and for taking the time to share your concerns and asks of us at Pocketbook Hudson. Given our goal is to restore Pocketbook and transform it into a vibrant and inclusive space that creates positive social and economic impacts, we are very much looking forward to continuing a dialog with this group, in addition to the many ongoing conversations that we as locals are also having with area residents, community and business leaders, and elected officials.

In the spirit of openness, we have responded to each item addressed in the letter below, providing answers, context and highlighting potential areas for collaboration. Several of the requests have already been addressed by the City of Hudson Planning Board, while others are outside the scope of the IDA’s authority as the criteria for evaluating IDA applications are limited in scope and clearly defined by state law. For some of those items we have noted that we are open to continuing the conversation as members of the greater community who do want to work together collaboratively to find viable solutions.

The letter goes on to respond to every ask. Most of the responses were positive, often referring to the conditions already imposed in the Planning Board approval. A couple of responses are of interest.  

Ask: Provide indoor or grounded covered outdoor space to campers at Oakdale in the event of avoiding a rain cancellation.

Response: It is not feasible for us to provide “rain day” space for summer day or overnight campers due to logistics and liability considerations. However, in addition to provi[di]ng access for passive daytime recreational use of the courtyard, there will be flexible space available for local organizations to schedule in advance to book and utilize the “garden room” which will be a multi-purpose educational space on the ground floor.

Ask: 10% of income from hotel and restaurant goes towards the Hudson Housing Trust Fund

Response: It is not a realistic ask given that 10% of income is likely equal to or above the entire net operating income for the project, which would make it economically not feasible. We are investigating alternate methods that we can support the Hudson Housing Trust Fund. For example, the placement of a small percentage surcharge on guests’ checks, which could then go towards the fund. In addition, the project is estimated to generate over $100,000 a year from the 4% Hotel Occupancy tax, and with the lobbying efforts of constituents, the City Council could choose to allocate a portion of the revenue to housing or other identified needs. 

Tucker told the IDA that he was setting up a meeting with the applicant and members of the "alliance."

They then reviewed the criteria the IDA must use to make its decision about the project. These seven criteria apply to all categories of projects. (The relevant project information in provided in parentheses.)

1. Extent to which a project will create or retain jobs (65 construction jobs; 63 direct hires)
2. Estimated value of tax exemptions (calculated at just over $1.3 million, an amount that is shared with Columbia County and Hudson City School District)
3. Amount of private sector investment ($25 million)
4. Likelihood of project being accomplished in a timely fashion (completion is expected in 2024)
5. Extent of new revenue provided to local taxing jurisdictions (anticipated property tax revenue over next 10 years with no development is $292,000; tax revenue under proposed PILOT is $1 million) 
6. Any additional public benefits
7. Extend to which a project will provide local labor construction jobs.

In discussing the commitment to hire Hudson residents, Roland said the commitment being proposed was "in the same parameters as 620 Union"--the hotel project approved by the IDA for financial benefits in 2020. Rebecca Wolff told him, "That was a major corporate developer coming from Nowheresville, but you should do better."

There are nine additional criteria to the considered for commercial projects:

1. Regional wealth creation (% of sales/customers outside of the City)
2. Located in a highly distressed census tract
3. Alignment with local planning and development efforts
4. Promotes walkable community areas
5. Elimination or reduction of blight
6. Proximity/support of regional tourism attractions/facilities
7. City official support
8. Building or site has historic designation
9. Provides brownfield remediation

Taking up a theme introduced by Quintin Cross at the public hearing, Tiffany Garriga, who chairs the IDA, spoke of enforcement, saying she wanted to create a committee to monitor the project to make sure they are meeting the requirements they agreed to. Christine Chale, counsel to the IDA, told her the IDA is responsible for doing this, adding, "In your policies, you have a process to do this."

The IDA is likely to vote on approving the PBF Hudson project at the special meeting scheduled for Wednesday, December 15, at 2:00 p.m.

COPYRIGHT 2021 CAROLE OSTERINK

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 47 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 42 more than yesterday, from which it can be inferred that, since yesterday, 5 county residents have recovered from the virus. There are 47 more county residents in mandatory quarantine today than yesterday, 3 more are hospitalized, and 1 more is in the ICU. There has not been a death from COVID-19 in Columbia County since Wednesday, December 1.  

The New York Forward dashboard is reporting a positivity rate for Columbia County today of 10.1 percent and a seven-day average of 8.8 percent. By comparison, the daily positivity rate for the Capital Region is 5.6 percent and the seven-day average is 7.0 percent.

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported 18 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 1,080, and the number of active cases was 86. There were 288 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 14 were hospitalized, and none was in the ICU. The total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 46.

Meeting Canceled

Tonight's meeting of the Hudson Housing Authority Board of Commissioners--its regular monthly meeting--has been canceled. It is possible to speculate that the meeting was canceled because there would not be a quorum. Some of the commissioners are no doubt involved in the Hudson Housing Fund Open House taking place from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. today at the Hudson Area Library.

Of Solar Farms and Snowballs

There were fourteen items on the agenda for last night's Conservation Advisory Council meeting, but only one topic was discussed: the solar farm being considered for North Bay. At one point, Common Council president Tom DePietro told the CAC, "The common fear is that these things snowball, and no one can stop them. That's not going to happen." To this observer, it seems it has already happened.

The notion of building a solar farm within the two square miles of Hudson started out as an idea for monetizing unused and otherwise unusable City-owned land. The original idea was to have a solar company install solar panels on a specific parcel north of Charles Williams Park and make lease payments to the City for the use of the land, thus creating a new source of revenue for the City. That was back in February.  

Now, ten months later, there have been three responses to the City's request for expressions of interest (RFEI), all three of which have their eye of the capped landfill, which was not the intended parcel, is not owned by the City of Hudson, and is a significant habitat for rare species and an important open space for the residents of Hudson. It seems time to step back and ask why are we doing this?

Is it to create revenue for the City of Hudson? Despite the fact that it is located in Hudson, the landfill belongs to Columbia County, and revenue from a solar farm would go to the County not the City. To get any financial benefit from the solar farm, the City would have to work out some sort of revenue sharing agreement with the County.

Is it to provide a lower cost, renewable energy alternative for the residents of Hudson? Last night, Michael O'Hara, who serves on the CAC and chairs the Columbia County Environmental Management Council, said that Columbia County is "looking at community solar that would cover the entire county." According O'Hara, the plan is already in the works, and Hudson residents can participate.

Is it to enable the City to complete another Climate Smart Communities action and earn some more points? O'Hara asserted that the community solar project being pursued by the County would be sufficient to do that.

Although it is unclear precisely why the plan to establish a solar farm in North Bay is being pursued, Peter Bujanow, commissioner of Public Works, said he was going to set up a meeting with the County Solid Waste Department, which has responsibility for the landfill, and the county attorney to discuss "what the sharing agreement would be." He later said he wanted to "meet with the County and get the OK to move forward." He also said he wanted the Common Council to discuss the solar project at its informal meeting on Monday, December 13, and "give the go-ahead for the RFP [request for proposals]." First Ward supervisor Sarah Sterling, who has worked to preserve the landfill as a bobolink habitat and fought back a plan to install solar panels on the landfill proposed by the County in 2016, cautioned, "The assumption when you do an RFP is that you want to do this."

One wonders about Bujanow's zeal to move this forward.

COPYRIGHT 2021 CAROLE OSTERINK

Of Interest

The following news was reported in the Albany Business Review this morning: "Albany landlords sue city over 'good cause' eviction law."   

The Common Council is expected to vote on enacting Hudson's version of the "good cause" eviction law at its regular meeting on Tuesday, December 21.

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health released its numbers at 8:00 p.m. today. Since yesterday, there have been 59 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 8 more than yesterday, from which it can be inferred that, since yesterday, 51 county residents have recovered from the virus. There are 105 more county residents in mandatory quarantine today than yesterday, and 5 more are hospitalized. Of those hospitalized, 1 is in the ICU. There has not been a death from COVID-19 in Columbia County since Wednesday, December 1.

The New York Forward dashboard is reporting a positivity rate for Columbia County yesterday of 13.6 percent and a seven-day average of 9.4 percent. By comparison, the daily positivity rate for the Capital Region is 10.3 percent and the seven-day average is 7.5 percent.

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported 5 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 1,062, and the number of active cases was 72. There were 263 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 21 were hospitalized, and 1 was in the ICU. The total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 46.

How Do You Define "Tourism"?

Last night, at the Tourism Board meeting, Margaret Morris, alderman-elect for the First Ward, raised a question about how tourism was being defined by the Tourism Board. Reacting to some of the projects whose expenses were being approved for reimbursement, Morris commented, "One of the missions of the Tourism Board is to increase tourism and revenue from tourism, but it doesn't seem any of these things have been quantified into contributions to the public purse." She went on to say that cultural events, such this year's Latinx Heritage Festival, were important to the community and should be supported, but they are not tourism-related. 

Tourism Board member Chris McManus responded to Morris's comments by telling her that the board had redefined tourism, and according to their definition, she was a tourist. He went on to say the board did not look at tourism as an industry but as "something much more." Morris objected to being called a tourist, asserting that she was a resident, and there was a difference between a resident and a tourist.

The following pages from a document called "A Planning Framework for Hudson 'Tourism,'" created by the Tourism Board in April 2021, illustrate what McManus was talking about. 

   

Responding to Morris's question about quantifying the impact of the projects receiving funding from the Tourism Board, Alderman Ryan Wallace (Third Ward), who now chairs the Tourism Board, said they were working on a survey to be distributed to hotel guests to determine what brought them to Hudson.

At last night's meeting, the Tourism Board also heard a report from Gary Purnhagen, project manager for Warren Street Seasonal Usage Program. In his report, Purnhagen shared the results of a survey of businesses that participated in the program this year. Of the more than thirty businesses that expanded into the street in 2021, only eleven responded to the survey. Overall, their responses were favorable. Purnhagen reports that:

• 64 percent of respondents strongly believe that WSSUP had a positive impact on their business.
• 46 percent feel their customers' responses to the program were entirely positive.
• 71 percent would participate if the program were offered again in 2022.
• 64 of respondents said they "never" heard complaints from customers about parking issues.

The following pie chart shows the responses to the statement: "The reflective cones were a sufficient deterrent to people in cars bumping into the cement blocks."

The terms of all the members of the Tourism Board expire at the end of the month. As it was originally structured, the Tourism Board is made up of eight members--four appointed by the Common Council, four appointed by the mayor--and chaired by the alderman who chairs the now defunct Common Council Economic Development Committee. Since the current Tourism Board was formed in 2020, four members have resigned, and three new members have been appointed to replace them (there is currently a vacancy on the board), and Ryan Wallace has replaced Calvin Lewis as the board chair. It is rumored that three people now serving on the Tourism Board have expressed the desire not to be reappointed.

COPYRIGHT 2021 CAROLE OSTERINK

COVID News

A press release was just received from Matt Murell, chair of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors, with this unwelcome headline "County Infection Rate Highest in the Area." The following is quoted from the press release.

As of midday today, the Columbia County Department of Health had recorded 54 new cases of COVID-19 infection, with 57 on Saturday and 55 on Sunday and Monday combined.

There are 12 county residents hospitalized, 10 of whom are patients of Columbia Memorial Health. Of those 10, three are vaccinated. There is one individual in the ICU. There are four corrections officers and six inmates currently infected at the Columbia County Jail.

County DOH Director Jack Mabb said today that Columbia County currently stands atop the region's list of highest infection rate at 10.73 percent. Other counties in the area range from seven to nine percent at this time.

Keep wearing your masks!

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since Saturday, there have been 55 new cases of COVID-19. The number of new cases being reported today is 5 more than Saturday, from which it can be inferred that, since Saturday, 50 county residents have recovered from the virus. There are 70 more county residents in mandatory quarantine today than on Saturday, but there are 2 fewer hospitalized. One of those hospitalized is in the ICU. There has not been a death from COVID-19 in Columbia County since Wednesday, December 1.

The New York Forward dashboard is reporting a positivity rate for Columbia County yesterday of 7.6 percent and a seven-day average of 8.8 percent. By comparison, the daily positivity rate for the Capital Region is 6.5 percent and the seven-day average is 7.4 percent.

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported 13 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 1,057, and the number of active cases was 72. There were 263 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 19 were hospitalized, and 1 was in the ICU. The total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 46.

Meetings of Interest in the Week Ahead

As we move deeper into the holiday season and closer to the end of the year, here are the meetings that are happening this week. 

• On Monday, December 6, the Tourism Board meets at 7:00 p.m. The agenda for the meeting can be found here. Click here to join the meeting on Zoom.
• On Tuesday, December 7, the Conservation Advisory Council meets at 6:00 p.m. No agenda is available for the meeting, nor has the link to the Zoom meeting been published.
• On Wednesday, December 8, the Hudson Industrial Development Agency (IDA) meets at 1:00 p.m. The Pocketbook Factory project is certain to be on the agenda, and it likely the IDA will take a vote on approving the application for tax abatements. Click here to join the Zoom meeting.

• At 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 8, the Hudson Housing Authority Board of Commissioners holds its monthly meeting. The meeting is likely to provide an update on the plans for the redevelopment of HHA properties. Click here to join the Zoom meeting,
• On Saturday, December 11, there is a community input gathering event at Henry Hudson Riverfront Park that seems only to have been announced on Instagram.

The announcement from Future Hudson on Instagram provides this information:

Our friends at the Hudson Valley Collaborative and eDESIGN DYNAMICS are partnering with the City of Hudson to develop a design for the *Henry Hudson Riverfront Park.*

As a waterfront community on the estuary, Hudson has the opportunity to engage in a nature-based design process that will enhance the waterfront as both intertidal ecosystem and active recreational shoreline.

During our year-long process we look forward to working with the community at every step from collecting ideas and site knowledge to finalizing a design framework for an urban riverfront park that regenerates the shoreline, responds to climate change, and maintains recreational access that is critical to the Hudson community.

During this process, we will consider plans and resources previously collected and published by many stakeholders who envisioned the waterfront previously. The final outcome is a design that can be implemented by the City in the future.

Look out for announcements for upcoming public events to learn about the project and participate.

• December 2021

Gather Community Input

• April 2022

Share Preliminary Designs for Feedback

• July 2022

Share Final Designs for Feedback

• Sept 2022

Share Final Report

This Saturday's input gathering event takes place rain, snow, or shine from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Henry Hudson Riverfront Park.

COPYRIGHT 2021 CAROLE OSTERINK

About the Housing Trust Fund

Creating a housing trust fund seems to be the principal goal of the anti-displacement grant that the city was awarded almost two years ago. During the budget process, Michelle Tullo requested 10 percent of the city's American Rescue Plan Act funds and 50 percent of the lodging tax revenue, for a total of about $200,000, for the housing trust fund. (In the end, $20,000 was allocated for the fund in the 2022 budget.) The "ask" from the Community Benefits Alliance is that 10 percent of the profits from the hotel and restaurant proposed for the Pocketbook Factory go to the housing trust fund. Exactly what the trust fund will do and how it will be operated has yet to be explained to the public. It would seem plans for the housing trust fund are still evolving.

On Wednesday, December 8, there is to be a Hudson Housing Fund Open House from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at the Hudson Area Library.

The invitation to the event, reproduced above announces: "The City of Hudson and the Hudson/Catskill Housing Coalition seek input from residents on a new fund to support housing affordability." It is later explained that the input sought is "on how Hudson should use its funds for housing affordability."

The Pocketbook Factory and the IDA

The Hudson Industrial Development Agency (IDA) meets this Wednesday, December 8, at 1:00 p.m. The public hearing on the proposed redevelopment of the Pocketbook Factory took place last Tuesday, so it is likely that at Wednesday's meeting the members of the IDA will vote on whether or not to grant the financial benefits sought for the project. The investment being made in the redevelopment is estimated to be $25.6 million. The benefits being requested amount to just over $1.3 million: sales tax exemption on materials used in the project ($800,000); mortgage recording tax exemption ($478,979); PILOT agreement ($112,500).

At the public hearing last Tuesday, Claire Cousin, who identified herself as representing the Hudson/Catskill Housing Coalition, spoke of letter that had been submitted to the IDA by a group calling itself the Community Benefits Alliance of Hudson--a group made up of housing advocates like Cousin and some residents of the neighborhood. Cousin read the letter aloud at the hearing. The following are the "asks" presented in the letter, quoted directly from the letter.

Neighborhood asks (For the neighborhood) (4)

• Engagement process with neighborhood, separate from city-wide communication; developing clear channels for addressing problems or requests. This includes clear communication to neighbors (not digital) about construction schedule--any anticipated inconveniences re: traffic, noise, dust, roadblocks will be outlined and communicated to neighbors. Problems will be resolved through a formal community accountability system, a Community Advisory Board of 5-7 longtime residents of the adjacent blocks.

• Commitment to minimize other changes/impact in neighborhood, including withdrawal from parking lot plans across street. The hotel should not become a driver for other adjacent changes. This includes the area across the street. The hotel will commit to preserving the existing neighborhood and/or will campaign for a full environment assessment of toxic dumping/known asbestos issues near 7th street lot.

• Sound limits/time limits for outdoor PA system
• [db(A): 7am-7pm=60,  7pm-10pm=55, 10pm-7am=50]
• Amplified sound off after 10 PM outdoors

• Help instituting a residential parking permit system
• Literature provided to guests basically laying out what is residential [and] what is not
• Co-sign legislation that addresses the permit system

Use of Space asks (Retail, Event space, offices, Yard) (4)

• Limit on number of large events given the foot/car/catering etc traffic impact in residential neighborhood

• Tenant applications for retail spaces also go through PBF Community Advisory Board (see above) 

• Retail businesses must be locally owned and operated

• Provide indoor or grounded covered outdoor space to campers at Oakdale in the event of avoiding a rain cancellation.

Employment-related asks (3)

• 50% percent hiring from Hudson city-proper

• Housing support provided for a certain amount of local hires (direct or subsidized)

• Protection of workers to organize - unionize

 Initiatives (2)

• Promote car-free tourism and use of city through shuttle system and networking with other hotels

• Visitor impact communication with guests and clients - how can PBF educate people staying at their hotel about contemporary housing issues in Hudson?

City Improvements (5)

• Help make surrounding area more pedestrian friendly: level sidewalks and paths around Oakdale

• Fund created to offset real estate tax increase for long time home owners in the area

• 10% of income from hotel and restaurant goes towards the Hudson Housing Trust Fund

• Donating money to rebuild the Oakdale playground

• If the HYC does end up doing paid Oakdale beach passes for tourists, the hotel would purchase a limited number of passes to maintain predominant use of the beach by locals

Cousin concluded that approval of the project was inevitable, there was no point in trying to stop it, but these "asks" were being presented for the IDA's consideration.

Kaya Weidman of Kite's Nest, Suzanne Snider, a neighborhood resident, and Quintin Cross of the Hudson/Catskill Housing Coalition, all expressed their support for the "set of commitments" outlined in the letter. Weidman said it was important "to offset the negative impacts" on the community. She reiterated the request made by Cousin at an earlier IDA meeting that the proposed hotel accept homeless vouchers "to enable homeless people to stay in the community."

The link to the recording of the public hearing, which lasts for 36 minutes, can be found here.

COPYRIGHT 2021 CAROLE OSTERINK

A Holiday Event in a Historic Setting

On Friday, December 10, master storyteller Jonathan Kruk will perform Charles Dickens' immortal tale A Christmas Carol at the Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack. Kruk employs a treasure trove of voices to create more than thirty characters in an intimate, imaginative, and inspired blend of theater and storytelling.

The performance takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 10. The church is located at 88 Route 9H in Claverack. To secure tickets, email office@claverackreformedchurch.org or call (518) 851-3811. For more information, visit the church's Facebook page. The event raises funds for the restoration of the historic church's bell tower.

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health released its numbers for today at 3:00 p.m. Since yesterday, there have been 57 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 8 more than yesterday, from which it can be inferred that, since yesterday, 49 county residents have recovered from the virus. There are 2 fewer county residents in mandatory quarantine today than yesterday, and 1 fewer is hospitalized. The number in the ICU remains the same. There has not been a death from COVID-19 in Columbia County since Wednesday, December 1.    

The New York Forward dashboard is reporting a positivity rate for Columbia County yesterday of 9.2 percent and a seven-day average of 9.4 percent. By comparison, the daily positivity rate for the Capital Region is 7.5 percent and the seven-day average is 8.1 percent.

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported 11 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 1,034, and the number of active cases was 63. There were 230 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 14 were hospitalized, and 1 was in the ICU. The total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 46.

Winter Walk Window Awards

The start of Winter Walk is just hours away, and here, to help you chart your course along Warren Street and beyond, is the announcement of the winners of the 25th Anniversary Winter Walk Window Decorating Contest. 

Hudson’s creative business community has once again demonstrated its many talents and true Winter Walk spirit with incredible displays, making awarding just one winner impossible for the anonymous judges. Instead, in the spirit of unity and recognition of the challenges we’ve all faced together this past year, 21 shops and businesses have been awarded as winners this year, with a shout out to Green Street businesses, whose efforts won them a "Greening of Green Street" special mention.  

The awardees this year range from old favorites and returning winners (such as CaMea, Source Adage, and the Quiet Botanist) to fresh faces like Merchants Social (333 Warren) to a new and hip bar and lounge who took out the "Most Starlit Newcomer" award. An abundance of glorious holiday trees were highlighted with the "Best Tannenbaums" award, presented to Red Dot (321 Warren), Hudson Home (366 Warren), Nine Cakes (748 Warren) and the beautiful tree erected by Friends of the Public Square in Seventh Street Park. On this theme, Green Street businesses Sprig & Social (21 Green Street), Circle 46 (46 Green Street), Izzy’s Room (84 Green Street), and The Rosary (128 Green Street) were given a special mention for their lovely "Greening of Green Street."

“We have been absolutely thrilled by the excitement, creativity, and flair with which our local business community have come out to support Winter Walk this year,” says Hudson Hall Executive Director, Tambra Dillon. "We congratulate and thank all the businesses who have participated in the annual window decorating contest on this special silver anniversary. Thanks to their community spirit, people of all ages and abilities can enjoy a safe and magical Winter Walk down Warren Street.”

2021 Winter Walk Window Decorating Contest Winners

Most Festive

Ca' Mea (214 Warren Street

Most "Crypto Current" Window

Source Adage (314 Warren Street)

Most Starlit Newcomer

Merchants Social (333 Warren Street

Best Tannenbaums

Red Dot (321 Warren Street)

Hudson Home (366 Warren Street)

Friends of the Public Square (Seventh Street Park)

Nine Cakes (748 Warren Street)

Most Caroling Carolee

Second Ward Foundation (429 Warren Street)

Most Welcoming

Hudson Clothier (443 Warren Street)

Most Beautiful

Quiet Botanist (445 Warren Street)

Oldest Santa

524 Warren Street

Most Fashion Forward

Mikel Hunter (533 Warren Street)

A Little Knight Music

Stair Galleries (549 Warren Street)

Most Cristo Christmas

Modern on the Hudson (555 Warren Street)

Best and Only Bambi

McKay Lighting (554 Warren Street)

Most Woodsy

Clove & Creek (613 Warren Street

OFF WARREN

Best Wylde Wyndows

WYLDE (35 South Third Street)

Sweet Sugar Plum Plum

Vasilow’s (741 Columbia Street)

Special Award for the Greening of Green Street

Sprig & Social (21 Green Street)

Circle 46 (46 Green Street)

Izzy’s Room (84 Green Street)

The Rosary (128 Green Street)

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 37 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 1 fewer than yesterday, from which it can be inferred that, since yesterday, 38 county residents have recovered from the virus. There are 89 more county residents in mandatory quarantine today than yesterday, and there are 4 more hospitalized. One of those hospitalized is in the ICU. There has not been a death from COVID-19 in Columbia County since Wednesday, December 1.

The New York Forward dashboard is reporting a positivity rate for Columbia County yesterday of 11.0 percent and a seven-day average of 9.8 percent. By comparison, the daily positivity rate for the Capital Region is 7.7 percent and the seven-day average is 8.2 percent.

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported 7 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 1,023, and the number of active cases was 63. There were 220 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 14 were hospitalized, and 1 was in the ICU. The total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 46.

Happening Tomorrow

Tomorrow, of course, is Winter Walk, Hudson's joyous start of the holiday season produced each year by Hudson Hall. You can view the whole lineup of events here. You can download the official Winter Walk Map here. 

But even before the bells of the First Presbyterian Church begin ringing in the start of Winter Walk at 5:00 p.m., there are holiday things to do.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Hudson Farmers Market Holiday Market happens at the Elks Lodge on Harry Howard Avenue. It is the first of three holiday markets happening on the three Saturdays leading up to Christmas.

Another opportunity to do some holiday shopping comes in the afternoon, when the History Room at the Hudson Area Library holds a One-Day Shop from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the library, 51 North Fifth Street. All the items from the online shop will be available, as well as many historic books, including city directories, Hudson High School yearbooks from as far back as 1931, and books of local history and New York State history. The History Room will also be selling photographs, postcards, and ephemera, including one of their two framed original photographs of the 1909  New York National Guard Drum Corps Parade. Hudson history buffs, don't miss the chance to acquire something wonderful!

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 40 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 53 fewer than yesterday, from which it can be inferred, if the numbers are correct, that since yesterday 93 county residents have recovered from the virus. There are 9 more county residents in mandatory quarantine today than yesterday, but the number hospitalized and in the ICU remains the same. There has not been a death from COVID-19 in Columbia County since yesterday. 

The Register-Star reported that the two deaths reported yesterday were both people who were vaccinated. CCDOH Director Jack Mabb is quoted as saying, "Both of them were seniors, both of them vaccinated, but both of them had a lot of comorbidities."

 

The New York Forward dashboard is reporting a positivity rate for Columbia County yesterday of 5.2 percent and a seven-day average of 8.8 percent. By comparison, the positivity rate for the Capital Region was 6.8 percent and the seven-day average was 8.2 percent. 

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported 22 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 1,016, and the number of active cases was 65. There were 183 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 16 were hospitalized, and 1 was in the ICU. The total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 46. 

Only Two Days Away

The 25th Winter Walk is happening this Saturday, December 4, from 5:00 tp 8:00 p.m. Gossips just received word that Assemblymember Didi Barrett will present a special citation to Hudson Hall to honor this significant anniversary.

Assemblymember Didi Barrett will present a special citation to Hudson Hall to honor the 25th Anniversary of Winter Walk on Saturday, December 4, at 5:00 p.m. at 7th Street Park. The presentation coincides with the beginning of the beloved city-wide event, which kicks off with the ringing of the First Presbyterian Church bells 25 times in celebration of the silver anniversary and in honor of pioneering Hudson antiques dealer Vincent Mulford, who passed away this past October. Assemblymember Barrett will then officiate the lighting of the Holiday Tree (sponsored by the Friends of the Public Square), in front of which she will present the citation to Hudson Hall Executive Director, Tambra Dillon. The young choristers of Harmony Project and the Hudson High School Band & Chorus will then perform a holiday medley.

"For a quarter century, Winter Walk has lifted the spirits of Columbia County residents with colorful storefront displays, charismatic street performers, beautiful fireworks, and an abundance of holiday cheer," says Assemblymember Barrett. "The event brings together Hudson's diverse and creative community and has secured the City's status as a must-see destination every December."

Photo: JD Urban

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 2 more deaths from COVID-19. There have also been 44 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 70 more than yesterday, which suggests there has been an error in reporting somewhere along the line. There are 48 more county residents in mandatory quarantine, and 1 fewer hospitalized. None of those hospitalized is in the ICU.  

The New York Forward dashboard is reporting a positivity rate for positivity rate from Monday to Tuesday for Columbia County of 5.3 percent and a seven-day average of 7.5 percent. By comparison, the positivity rate for the same 24-hour period for the Capital Region was 9.6 percent and the seven-day average was 7.9 percent.

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported 3 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 994, and the number of active cases was 53. There were 186 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 15 were hospitalized, and 1 was in the ICU. The total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 46.

The numbers from the CCDOH do not indicate the vaccination status of the new cases or of the people who died from the virus. On Monday, however, the Times Union published the following chart, using numbers from the New York State Department of Health. 

The chart shows that there are 21,530 Columbia County residents that have not been fully vaccinated, as compared with 38,386 who have. The percentage of fully vaccinated residents in Columbia County is 64.1 percent--the fourth lowest percentage of eight counties in the Capital Region. Remember that as you go out and about.

Happening Tonight

There are two meetings of interest happening concurrently tonight. The Common Council Legal Committee meets at 6:00 p.m. The link to the Zoom meeting is now available. Click here to access the meeting.

At 6:15 p.m., there is another community planning workshop, this one having to do with the SEQR (State Environmental Quality Review) process. The workshop, which takes place in the Community Room of the Hudson Area Library, 51 North Fifth Street, will be facilitated by students from Albany Law School. According to the flyer for the workshop, "Attendees will learn how the state environmental review process (SEQR) regulates and affects development in Hudson, and the role citizens play in the environmental review process."

The workshop is an in-person event. Masks are required. Space in limited. Click here to register.

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 61 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 30 fewer than yesterday, from which it can be inferred that, since yesterday, 91 county residents have recovered from the virus. There are 42 more county residents in mandatory quarantine today than yesterday, but 1 fewer is hospitalized. None of those hospitalized is in the ICU. There has not been a death from COVID-19 in Columbia County since Wednesday, November 17.  

The New York Forward dashboard has not been updated since yesterday.

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported 7 new cases of COVID-19 and a death. The total number of cases was 991, and the number of active cases was 54. There were 243 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 20 were hospitalized, and 1 was in the ICU. The total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 46.

Pocketbook Factory Public Hearing

The IDA public hearing on the application from PBF Hudson LLC for financial benefits for the redevelopment of the Pocketbook Factory will be accessible on Zoom. The meeting takes place at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 30, at the Hudson Area Library. The link to the Zoom meeting can be found here. Written comments can be submitted prior to the meeting to mtucker@columbiaedc.com. If you wish to comment by Zoom during the public hearing, you must submit your name, email address, and phone number t0 mtucker@columbiaedc.com. In your email, make reference to "Pocketbook Hudson Project public hearing."

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since Saturday, there have been 46 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 6 fewer than on Saturday, from which it can be inferred that, since Saturday, 52 county residents have recovered from the virus. There are 31 fewer county residents in mandatory quarantine today than Saturday, but 3 more are hospitalized. None of those hospitalized is in the ICU. There has not been a death from COVID-19 in Columbia County since Wednesday, November 17. 

The New York Forward dashboard is reporting a positivity rate for Columbia County yesterday of 9.7 percent and a seven-day average of 7.8 percent. By comparison, the positivity rate for the Capital Region yesterday was 8.4 percent and the seven-day average was 7.8 percent.

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported 6 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 984, and the number of active cases was 69. There were 269 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 20 were hospitalized, and 1 was in the ICU. The total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 45.

COVID Closes Building Again

It was announced this afternoon that 325 Columbia Street, the location of the Columbia County Human Services/Mental Health Department, is now closed because of a positive COVID exposure and will remain closed until Wednesday, December 1.

Meetings of Interest in the Week Ahead

In this week between Thanksgiving and Winter Walk, there's not much happening on the meeting front, but those scheduled are sure to be interesting.

• On Tuesday, November 30, the Hudson Industrial Development Agency (IDA) holds a public hearing on the proposal from PBF Hudson LLC for financial assistance for the Pocketbook Factory project. The hearing takes place at 6:00 p.m., in person only, at the Hudson Area Library, 51 North Fifth Street. Click here to review the documents relating to the project.

• On Wednesday, December 1, the Common Council Legal Committee meets at 6:00 p.m. This is the committee's last meeting of the year. It will be interesting to see what legislation, if any, they try to push through before a new Council is seated in 2022. The meeting is expected to take place on Zoom. The link to the meeting should be posted on the City of Hudson website prior to the meeting.
• On Friday, December 3, the Historic Preservation Commission meets at 10:00 a.m. Click here to join the Zoom meeting. 

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