Rally in Catskill on Monday

On Monday, October 17, Natalie Merchant will perform and a number of New York State Democratic Committee members and candidates will speak at the SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY RALLY at Catskill Point, 1 Main Street in Catskill. The event takes place from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.

    

The purpose of the rally is to articulate the vision of our local Democratic candidates who are seeking to protect women’s rights, protect voting rights and to create a more diverse, inclusive and just New York State. The rally is free to attend and will be held indoors at Catskill Point. Presented by the Columbia County and Greene County Democratic Committees in conjunction with Club Helsinki and Melmar Productions, it comes in advance of the November elections and will encourage participation in the upcoming elections. 

The Columbia County Democratic Committee and Greene County Democratic Committee will be represented along with a number of their endorsed candidates. Among those speaking will be Michelle Hinchey, New York State Senator; Josh Riley, Congressional Candidate; Heidi Cochrane, NYS Supreme Court candidate; Megan Galligan, NYS Supreme Court candidate; Sharon Graff, NYS Supreme Court candidate; Lori Torgerson, Greene County Legislature; and Sam Hodge, Chairman of the Columbia County Democratic Committee. 

Natalie Merchant’s forty-year career has earned her a place among America’s most respected recording artists as well as garnering a reputation for her quality songwriting. Over the course of her solo career and as lead singer for the group 10,000 Maniacs, she has also been active in promoting a number of non-profit organizations by lending both financial support and raising public awareness, particularly in the Hudson Valley where she resides. 

Melmar Productions is a collaboration between Cameron Melville and Randall Martin and is a progressive event and multi-media production company. This will be the second official production of the company. Their most recent effort was raising money for medical supplies for Ukraine. Club Helsinki has been a longstanding presence in the Hudson community championing music and activism. 

Free parking for this event will be at Dutchman’s Landing. The Catskill Visitor’s Center will provide golf cart rides to and from Catskill Point.

Arbor Day 2023 Assured

As Gossips reported, Arbor Day 2022 almost didn't happen. But in the nick of time, a generous donor contributed five trees, a gift facilitated by Hudson Development Corporation, enabling Arbor Day 2022 to happen as planned on Sunday, October 2.

Next year, Arbor Day in Hudson will happen in the spring, and the Conservation Advisory Council will be planting twenty-four trees!

At the informal Common Council meeting on Wednesday, a resolution was introduced authorizing the CAC to accept a grant of $7,850 from National Grid, an amount considered sufficient to plant nine trees. It was also noted during the meeting that the Board of Estimate and Apportionment (BEA), made of up the mayor, the Council president, and the treasurer, has agreed to include funds for fifteen trees in the 2023 city budget. All in pursuit of the CAC's new motto: "Keep Hudson Shady: Plant Trees."

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Waiting for Promenade Hill to Reopen

Earlier this week, Gossips got word that the fence was down at Promenade Hill, so that afternoon, Joey and I headed down to Front Street on our afternoon walk to check it out. By the time we got there, the fence was back in place, but I managed to take this picture through a gap in the chain link.

At the informal Common Council meeting on Wednesday, Rob Perry, superintendent of Public Works, reported that the plumbing is now being assembled for the water feature in the children's playground. Perry also indicated there is an issue that has to be worked out with National Grid involving the lighting. The lamp posts have been installed, but National Grid needs to attach the luminaires. The problem stems from the fact that, in Perry's words, "they can't just pull up in their bucket trucks" to do the installation. They need to find another way to gain access to the lamp posts.

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COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 30 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 3 more than yesterday, from which it can be inferred that, since yesterday,  27 county residents have recovered from the virus. There is 1 fewer county resident hospitalized today than yesterday, but the number in the ICU remains the same. There has not been a death from COVID-19 reported in Columbia County since Wednesday, October 5. 

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported 15 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 5,226, and the number of active cases was 75. There were 250 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 6 were hospitalized, and 1 was in the ICU. The total number of deaths in Columbia County attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 103.

It Isn't Over Until It's Over

A press release received today from Matt Murell, chair of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors, contains this update on the state of COVID in the county. 

The numbers of positive COVID-19 cases rebounded this week after last week’s slight drop-off, with 85 positives in the first four days of the week, said Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb today.

"We don’t have any major clusters as we have in the past few weeks. This is just a sign that the virus is making the rounds in the community,” said Director Jack Mabb. He noted that his department has had a number of positives among staff, with all of them repeat cases and all fully vaccinated and boosted.

"We know that we have very contagious variants making the rounds and the three months of immunity we had from the earlier variants doesn’t seem to apply. People are getting sick again just a month or two out from previously being positive," said Director Mabb. The county’s high rate of vaccinations and booster shots has had a positive effect, though, as hospitalizations remain low with 9 hospitalized and no one in the ICU.

The county vaccinated 167 at last week’s COVID-19 clinic at A.B. Shaw, with most of the shots the bivalent booster. The county also vaccinated 43 against monkeypox this week–10 of those were first doses.

“Demand for the vaccination is definitely slowing down,” added Director Mabb.

Don't abandon your masks just yet. Caution is still called for. 

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 12 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 8 fewer than yesterday, from which it can be inferred that, since yesterday, 20 county residents have recovered from the virus. There are 2 more county residents hospitalized with COVID-19 today than yesterday, but the number in the ICU remains the same. There has not been a death from COVID-19 reported in Columbia County since Wednesday, October 5.

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported 38 new cases of COVID-19 after a holiday weekend. The total number of cases was 5,211, and the number of active cases was 79. There were 243 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 4 were hospitalized, and 1 was in the ICU. The total number of deaths in Columbia County attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 103.

Anyone Recognize This Ceiling?

The History Room at the Hudson Area Library is looking for help in identifying the location shown in this photograph, found among the Arthur Koweek Urban Renewal Papers. Assuming the building still exists, the key to identifying the building may be the tin ceiling. 

If you know what building this is, please share the information in a comment or email me at carole@gossipsofrivertown.com.

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since Friday, there have been 51 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 2 more than on Friday, from which it can be inferred that, since Friday, 49 county residents have recovered from the virus. There is 1 fewer county resident hospitalized today than on Friday, but the number in the ICU remains the same. There has not been a death from COVID-19 reported in Columbia County since Wednesday, October 5.

A year ago today, October 11 was a holiday, and the CCDOH did not report COVID numbers. On Saturday, October 9, the CCDOH reported 6 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 5,173, and the number of active cases was 67. There were 269 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 2 were hospitalized, and 0 were in the ICU. The total number of deaths in Columbia County attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 103.

Developing the Budget

After canceling all the budget workshops last week, the Board of Estimate and Apportionment (BEA) this morning scheduled a number of additional workshops for this week. Here is the complete schedule:

• Tuesday, October 11, at 2:30 p.m.  Police Department
• Wednesday, October 12, at 2:30 p.m.  Planning Board
• Wednesday, October 12, at 3:00 p.m.  Senior Center
• Thursday, October 13 at 2:30 p.m.  Cemetery, Water and Sewer

The BEA workshops take place in person only at City Hall. 

Meetings of Interest in the Week Ahead

Indigenous Peoples Day is coming to an end, Yom Kippur is behind us, the concrete blocks marking outdoor dining areas are soon to be removed, and the leaf peeping season may have already peaked. Meanwhile, here's what is happening on the meeting front in the week ahead. 

• On Tuesday, October 11, Hudson Community Development and Planning Agency (HCDPA) holds its monthly meeting at noon. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place at City Hall and on Zoom. Click here to join remotely.
• At 2:30 p.m., on Tuesday, October 11, the Board of Estimate and Apportionment (BEA) meets to consider the proposed budget for nondepartmental expenses. The meeting takes place in person only at City Hall.
• Also on Tuesday, October 11, the Planning Board meets at 6:00 p.m. The agenda for the meeting, which can be found here, includes public hearings on the subdivision proposed for 6 to 12 Hudson Avenue and the proposed redevelopment by the Galvan Foundation of the Community Theater as Hudson Forum. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely. 

• On Wednesday, October 12, the Hudson Industrial Development Agency (IDA) meets at 9:30 a.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at 1 City Centre, Suite 301, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely. 
• At 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 12, the Common Council holds its informal meeting for the month. So far, there's not much on the agenda for the meeting, but that is sure to change. The meeting will be a hybrid, taking place at City Hall and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely. 
• On Thursday, October 13, the Board of Estimate and Apportionment (BEA) meets at 2:30 p.m. to receive the proposed budgets for the cemetery and water and sewer. The meeting takes place in person only at City Hall.
• At 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 13, the Common Council ad hoc Truck Route Committee has its monthly meeting. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely. 

• On Friday, October 14, at 10:00 a.m., the Historic Preservation Commission holds the first of its two monthly meetings. The meeting takes place in person only at City Hall.

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The Perennial Problem of Sidewalks

Gossips has shared this little news item about sidewalks before, but with the intensified effort to solve the problem and the fast-approaching deadline to do so, it seemed an appropriate time to share it again. It's from the Hudson Daily Star for August 5, 1851, and it provides a few hints about the sidewalks of Hudson 171 years ago: they were brick, they were the responsibility of the City, and there was reason to complain about them.

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COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 13 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 2 more than yesterday, from which it can be inferred that, since yesterday, 11 county residents have recovered from the virus. There are 2 more county residents hospitalized with COVID-19 today than yesterday, and 1 those hospitalized is in the ICU. There has not been a death from COVID-19 reported in Columbia County since Wednesday, October 5.

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported a death from COVID-19 and 16 new cases. The total number of cases was 5,154, and the number of active cases was 97. There were 264 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 1 was hospitalized, and 0 were in the ICU.  The total number of deaths in Columbia County attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 103.

There's Nothing Like a Deadline

People have been discussing the sorry state of Hudson's sidewalks for more than a decade. The Common Council--first the Legal Committee, then an ad hoc committee, now the Legal Committee again--has been talking about a solution to the problem for nearly four years. At the end of September, it seemed the ad hoc committee was getting down to the business, setting forth an action plan, but then Council president Tom DePietro decided to reassign the issue to the Legal Committee. 

At the Legal Committee meeting this past Wednesday, Councilmember Margaret Morris (First Ward), who chairs the committee, explained DePietro had asked the Legal Committee to take up the sidewalk issue in order to meet the requirements of the City's settlement agreement with the Department of Justice over ADA accessibility. Before the end of the year, the Council must come up with a policy and a local law and update the code regarding sidewalks. To accomplish this, the committee will be meeting more than once of month. Morris proposed that they meet every other week.

Since January 2019, the Council has been struggling between enforcement of the current code, which holds property owners responsible for the sidewalks adjacent to their property, and adopting a policy modeled on the one in place in the City of Ithaca, which funds sidewalk replacement and maintenance with an annual sidewalk assessment fee. At the last meeting of the ad hoc Sidewalk Committee, Councilmember Vicky Daskaloudi (Fifth Ward) brought up yet another means of getting sidewalks replaced or repaired: requiring sidewalk repairs at the point of sale. Daskaloudi suggested that buyers might be given sixty days to make any necessary repairs to the sidewalk adjacent to their newly acquired property. 

Promoting the idea at the Legal Committee meeting on Wednesday, Daskaloudi said, "If twenty houses sell in Hudson next year, at least we will have those sidewalks fixed." Morris said the point of sale solution appealed to her because of the rate of turnover of properties in Hudson. She suggested, however, that sidewalk repair should be the seller's responsibility, but it could be done after the sale when the seller has the money from the sale to use to repair the sidewalk. She also suggested that point of sale might be combined with the assessment model.

There are five councilmembers on the Legal Committee, but only two--Morris and Theo Anthony (Fourth Ward)--were present for the meeting on Wednesday. The video recording of the meeting can be viewed here.

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Observing Indigenous Peoples Day

Late this afternoon, the following press release was issued regarding an event arranged by the Mayor's office for observing Indigenous Peoples Day in Hudson on Monday.

The office of Mayor Kamal Johnson proudly presents an intimate celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2022 with Native musician, storyteller, artist, and ceremonial space holder Shawn Stevens on October 10, 2022 from 5 to 6:30 pm at the Henry Hudson Riverfront Park, free of charge. All are welcome to attend and encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. Light refreshments will be provided. 

Shawn Stevens, also known as Red Eagle, is a tribal member of the Stockbridge-Munsee band of Mohican Indians, whose ancestral homelands cover the area now known as the Berkshires and Hudson River Valley. Stevens is a culture and language helper, storyteller, artist, craftsman, Indigenous medicine practitioner, ceremonial space holder, and musician, specializing in traditional Native American drums, singing, dance, and flute. He is an ordained minister of the Universal Church of Light and a certified facilitator of White Bison’s Mending Broken Hearts. 

This celebration is the first of an upcoming series of events arranged by the Mayor’s office in collaboration with Indigenous historian and decolonial education consultant Heather Breugl that will center on the Native history and present of the region during Native American Heritage Month in November 2022. These events follow the unanimous resolutions of the City of Hudson’s Common Council to designate the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and May 5, 2022 as National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in the City of Hudson.

Inquiries or requests regarding accessibility for persons with disabilities may contact Mayoral Aide & ADA Coordinator Michael Hofmann at 518-828-7217 or mayoralaide@cityofhudson.org.

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 25 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 12 more than yesterday, from which it was be inferred that, since yesterday, 13 county residents have recovered from the virus. There are 3 fewer county residents hospitalized today than yesterday, and none is in the ICU. There has not been a death from COVID-19 reported in Columbia County since yesterday.

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported 6 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 5,138, and the number of active cases was 90. There were 278 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 5 were hospitalized, and 1 was in the ICU. The total number of deaths in Columbia County attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 102.

Happening This Weekend

Next Monday, October 10, is Indigenous Peoples Day, a.k.a. Columbus Day, and this weekend, the city will likely fill up with visitors. On this three-day weekend, which promises to be pleasantly autumnal, there are a couple of events that merit mention.

• Open Studio Hudson, the annual artist studio tour, returns for its third year on Saturday and Sunday, October 8 and 9. More than forty artists are participating this year, exhibiting their work from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day, in their work spaces and at Hudson Hall, 327 Warren Street, and the Flow Chart Foundation, 348 Warren Street. Click here for a complete list of participating artists and for a map of the studio sites.

• On Saturday, October 8, from noon to 2 p.m., the Hudson City Democratic Committee and the Columbia County Democratic Committee sponsor a Rally to Get Out the Vote! The event takes place at Henry Hudson Riverfront Park. Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP to info@hudsoncitydemocrats.org.

Surprising News

The Hudson City School District announced today that the remainder of the varsity football season, including homecoming, has been canceled. What follows is the press release that made the announcement.

After serious consideration, the Hudson City School District and athletic department has made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of the varsity football season due to lack of eligible participants.

We understand the frustration that may be generated from this action. However, it's important to note that this is the option the district and athletic department selected due to several extenuating circumstances.

The decision stems from active injuries sustained to a few student-athletes, disciplinary and academic ineligibility of other student-athletes, and consideration for the opposing school districts so they have ample time to find a replacement game.

"We as a district empathize with our courageous scholars who gave their all this season, those who are ready and able to play and their faithful fans," Superintendent Dr. Lisamarie Spindler said. 

As many of you know, many school districts state and nationwide have seen declines in participation in all sports, particularly football with recent health studies. Hudson CSD is proud to also offer Cross Country, Golf, Soccer and Volleyball for boys varsity sports during the fall season.

In a proactive attempt to secure future opportunities with the football program, the district is actively seeking a relationship with other districts that are struggling with roster depth. This would be similar in the way the district actively has a merger for its swimming program. 

Bluehawk Sports Complex, the main element of which is the football field,
dedicated in September 2017

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. There may be declarations that the pandemic is over, but people are still dying. The CCDOH reported a death from COVID-19 today and 13 new cases. The number of active cases being reported today is 6 more than yesterday, from which it can be inferred that, since yesterday, 6 county residents have recovered from the virus. There is 1 fewer county resident hospitalized with COVID-19 today than yesterday, but the number in the ICU remains the same.

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported 10 new cases of COVID-19. There were 252 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 6 were hospitalized, and 1 was in the ICU. The total number of deaths in Columbia County attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 102.

Another Meeting Canceled

This afternoon, Gossips was notified that tomorrow night's meeting of the Common Council Truck Route Ad Hoc Committee has been canceled. There is no word about the meeting being rescheduled. 

Some History of Activity at the Waterfront

Recently, Sam Pratt brought to Gossips' attention documents found among others he received a few years ago in response to a FOIL request. They reveal some history relevant to the current situation regarding the Planning Board and A. Colarusso and Sons.

Back in October 1996, the Planning Commission granted site plan approval and a conditional use permit to allow salt to be delivered by barge to the dock, then owned by Independent Cement Co., and stored in the building located there. In August 2010, Sarah Sterling, then an alderman representing the First Ward, brought it to the attention of the Common Council that the salt was no longer being delivered by barge but was being trucked in and trucked out. She suggested that the parties involved--then Cargill (the salt operation) and Holcim (owner of the dock)--needed to go back before the Planning Commission for a review of the activities now being conducted at the dock.

Salt being stored at the dock in 2010

Sterling's initiative led to Peter Wurster, then Hudson's code enforcement officer, issuing a Notice of Violation, in September 2010, directing and ordering Cargill "to immediately cease and desist: 1) accepting any shipments of salt by means of transport other than via ship; and 2) storing any additional salt out of doors at this location."

In the Settlement Agreement reached between the City of Hudson and Cargill at the end of 2010, it was agreed that, among other things, Cargill would:

1. immediately and permanently cease and desist from transporting any salt to the dock;
2. remove all salt currently stored out of doors by May 1, 2011, and all of the treated salt currently stored inside the 25,000 square foot storage building by May 1, 2012; 
3. cease all operations at the dock by May 1, 2012;  
4. remove any salt residue from the water retention pond associated with the salt storage operations.

In sending the documents to Gossips--the record of the 1996 Planning Commission action, the 2010 Notice of Violation, and the 2010 Settlement Agreement--Pratt observed:

An interesting aspect of the settlement is the City’s strong assertion that Cargill was not allowed to deliver anything to the dock by truck.

Another is that Cargill was not allowed to store more than a small amount of salt at the site.

Furthermore, it shows that the City had at that time a strong interest in regulating not only truck traffic to the dock, and outdoor storage of materials there, but also a concern about the use of retention ponds there. 

All of this is very strong evidence that the Planning Board has a great deal of power to regulate and even end activities at the dock, contrary to the claims of people like Colarusso’s lawyer.

Asphalt being stored at the dock in 2017

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News from City Hall

The budget workshops scheduled for this afternoon--Housing Justice, Mayor's Office, and City Clerk, Common Council, and Parking Bureau--have been canceled.

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 14 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 6 fewer than yesterday, from which it can be inferred that, since yesterday, 20 county residents have recovered from the virus. The number of county residents hospitalized with COVID-19 today is the same as yesterday, but 1 fewer is in the ICU. There has not been a death from COVID-19 reported in Columbia County since September 12.

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported 19 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 5,122, and the number of active cases was 97. There were 241 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 7 were hospitalized, and 1 was in the ICU. The total number of deaths in Columbia County attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 102.

Prepare for November 8

The sample ballots for the general election on November 8 are now available online at the Columbia County Board of Elections website. This year, it's important to turn the ballot over,, where there on three propositions.

The first is State Proposal 1, the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022, which will make historic investments in protecting drinking water, creating new parks and trails, making communities more resilient to flooding and other climate impacts, conserving food-producing farms, and preserving habitats. Scenic Hudson describes the proposition as a "once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect clean water, update infrastructure, and improve quality of life in every county in the state."

The next proposition, Proposal 1, approves the amendments to the ward boundaries in Hudson required to maintain five wards of equal population.

The changes that are involved and the reason the changes must be made are explained in a presentation that can be found here.

The final proposition, Proposal 2, would, if passed, require the City of Hudson to contribute an additional $100,000 annually to the Hudson Area Library. The City currently contributes $250,000 annually to the library's operating budget.  

Election Day is Tuesday, November 8. Early voting begins on Saturday, October 29, and continues through Sunday, November 6. The two sites for early voting are 401 State Street in Hudson and the Martin H. Glynn Municipal Building, 3211 Church Street in Valatie. 

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Of the Housing Trust Fund and the 2023 Budget

The Housing Trust Fund Board meets today at 6:00 p.m. At the last meeting of the HCDPA (Hudson Community Development and Planning Agency) Board, the Housing Trust Fund's expectations from the 2023 City of Hudson budget were revealed. They are recommending a salary of $80,000 for Housing Justice Director Michelle Tullo. In 2022, Tullo's salary was paid for by the anti-displacement grant.   

There were also recommendations for contributions from the city budget to the Housing Trust Fund. The fund has established with $600,000 in seed money from the anti-displacement grant. In 2022, the City contributed $20,000 to the housing trust fund. Going forward, the board is  proposing contributions from the City of $40,000 in 2023, $45,000 in 2024, $50,000 in 2025, and $55,000 in 2026.

The Board of Estimate and Apportionment (BEA), consisting of Mayor Kamal Johnson, Council president Tom DePietro, and city treasurer Heather Campbell, is scheduled to consider the budget requests relating to housing justice on Wednesday, October 5, at 2:30 p.m. The BEA's budget workshops are open to the public, but they are in person only. 

The schedule for the BEA's budget workshops, which was revealed today, begins this week and continues through the rest of the month. Here are the topics of the workshops this week.

• Monday, October 3, at 2:30 p.m.--Department of Public Works
• Tuesday, October 4, at 2:30 p.m.--Youth Department
• Tuesday, October 4, at 3:00 p.m.--Conservation Advisory Council
• Wednesday, October 5, at 2:30 p.m.--Housing Justice
• Wednesday, October 5, at 3:00 p.m.--Mayor's Office
• Wednesday, October 5, at 3:30 p.m.--City Clerk, Common Council, Parking Bureau
• Thursday, October 6, at 2:30 p.m.--Assessor's Office
• Thursday, October 6, at 3:00 p.m.--Planning Board
• Thursday, October 6, at 3:30 p.m.--Senior Center
• Friday, October 7, at 2:30 p.m.--Treasurer's Office
• Friday, October 7, at 3:00 p.m.--Legal Counsel
• Friday, October 7, at 3:30 p.m.--Non-Departmental

All the BEA meetings are in person only at City Hall.

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COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since Friday, there have been 29 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 14 fewer than on Friday, from which it can be inferred that, since Friday, 43 county residents have recovered from the virus. There is 1 more county resident hospitalized with COVID-19 today than on Friday, and 1 fewer of those hospitalized is in the ICU. There has not been a death from COVID-19 reported in Columbia County since September 12.

A year ago, October 3 was a Sunday, and the CCDOH did not report COVID numbers. On Saturday, October 2, the CCDOH reported 14 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 5,103, and the number of active cases was 105. There were 352 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 4 were hospitalized, and 0 were in the ICU. The total number of deaths in Columbia County attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 102.

Meetings of Interest in the Week Ahead

With frost warnings now a regularly occurring thing, autumn is definitely upon us. In the week preceding Indigenous People's Day, a.k.a. Columbus Day, here is what's happening on the meeting front.

• On Monday, October 3, the Housing Trust Fund Board meets at 6:00 p.m. The meeting takes place in person only, presumably at City Hall.
• On Tuesday, October 4, the Conservation Advisory Council meets at 6:00 p.m. This meeting, too, is in person only and takes place at City Hall.

Update: Tuesday's CAC meeting has been canceled. It may be rescheduled for another time later in the month, but that is yet to be determined.

• On Wednesday, October 5, the Hudson Industrial Development Agency (IDA) meets at 9:30 a.m. At its last meeting, the IDA adopted its new guidelines for evaluating projects that apply for financial benefits, so presumably the moratorium on reviewing hotel projects has ended. If that's the case, the IDA will resume its review of the application for Hudson Public, the hotel the Galvan Foundation plans to develop at Fourth and Warren streets, which was granted site plan approval by the Planning Board last week. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at 1 City Centre, Suite 301, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

Update: The IDA meeting scheduled for Wednesday morning has been canceled.

• Also on Wednesday, October 5, the Common Council Legal Committee meets at 6:00 p.m. The word is that the issue of a sidewalk law/policy has been moved from the ad hoc sidewalk committee to the Legal Committee, so it is likely the discussion of sidewalks will be taken up at this meeting. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

• On Thursday, October 6, Mayor Kamal Johnson holds a public hearing at 4:00 p.m. on a number of amendments to local laws, all of which are described here, and on the local law extending the lodging tax. The hearing takes place in person only at City Hall.
• Also on Thursday, October 6, the Common Council ad hoc committee dedicated to the issue of solving the problem of trucks passing through the city meets at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

Update: The meeting of the Truck Route Ad Hoc Committee has been canceled.

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Conflicting Environmental Interests

In late August, when the drought was putting the City of Hudson's water supply in jeopardy, the Water Department issued an advisory about conserving water which began with an explanation of where our water comes from.

The City of Hudson receives the raw water for its public water supply from the 78-million-gallon Churchtown reservoir. That man-made water body is primarily filled by water diverted from the Taghkanic Creek in the Town of Taghkanic. Our watershed encompasses 55-square miles in the Towns of Claverack, Hillsdale, Taghkanic and Copake and its regulations are codified by State Law under 10 NYCRR 109.1.

On Friday, an open letter addressed to Mayor Kamal Johnson and Matt Murell, chair of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors, which appeared as a full-page ad in the Register-Star, warned that the Hecate Solar Project proposed for Shepherd's Run in Copake could adversely impact Hudson's water supply. The following is quoted from that letter:

Last week, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner announced the Taghkanic Headwaters Conservation Plan. The Plan maps five areas of exceptional importance including the Taghkanic Creek which supplies drinking water for the City of Hudson and other residents of Columbia County.

This essential water source is at risk from Hecate Energy’s proposed Shepherd’s Run solar project (DMM #21-02553) which is located in the broad alluvial floodplain of the Taghkanic Creek, its associated wetlands and tributaries.

Hecate’s consultant recently made regulatory filings identifying 21 wetlands (159.53 acres) in the Project Area, and 17 streams, 9 of which are NYS protected streams including the Taghkanic Creek.

Construction of a project on this scale could adversely impact drinking water for the City of Hudson. Significant concerns include: 

• The boring of underground electrical lines under NYS Protected Waterbody Crossings
• Excavation and grading near NYS Protected Waterbodies
• Clearing of 40 acres of forest
• Oil in large transformers requiring a spill containment plan
• Steep slope erosion
• Road construction 

There are many disturbing statements in the application (Petition Items 53 & 54 filed 7/29/22). Exhibit 13 “Water Resources & Aquatic Ecology” and Exhibit 14 “Wetlands” describe the construction process which will take place over 9 to 12 months. We encourage you to read Exhibit 13 and 14, namely:

1. HDD [Horizontal Directional Drilling] boring methods are proposed for burying electrical lines under NYS protected waterbody crossings [which we assume is the Taghkanic Creek]. A total of five streams are being crossed using HDD boring, and one stream is having trees cleared from its banks. [Exhibit 13, Page 23].

2. Short term minor stream impacts (i.e. increases in downstream turbidity levels and sediment deposition downstream) are possible with the open stream crossing method [Exhibit 13, Page 14]

3. Certain construction activities have potential to result in direct and/or indirect impacts to surface waters. These activities include the installation of access roads, and the installation of buried electrical collection lines. [Exhibit 13, Page 15]

4. The volume of oil in the large power transformers located at the substation is expected to trigger the requirement for a SPC and Spill Containment Plan. The other large storage site is located at the inverter-transformers. [Exhibit 13, Page 21]

5. There will be some unavoidable impacts to the 100 ft. adjacent area of state regulated wetlands, specifically the adjacency of six delineated State regulated wetlands will include some disturbance from . . . installation of solar arrays, clearing and/or maintenance of adjacent area vegetation, earthwork for the placement of roads, placement of security fence, trenching of buried electrical collection lines, forest clearing . . . and planting for visual screening . . . . [Exhibit 14, Page 7]

6. Slope and Erosion Considerations in Relation to NYS Protected Waterbodies--There are two areas of steep slope, greater than 35%, within the project area. . . . [Exhibit 14, Page 17]

The private developer, who is motivated solely by large potential profits, will claim they have mitigation plans for all of these hazards. Given the importance of protecting the drinking water supply to the citizens of Hudson and Columbia County, we should not rely on a private developer’s assurances when no independent oversight is in place. . . . 

We must carefully implement the DEC’s Conservation Plan, whose vision statement is:

“The Taghkanic Headwaters and the lands that surround it support clean water for the people, plants and animals, and provide vital wildlife habitat connections between New York and New England. We envision a future Taghkanic watershed that is cared for by local communities and landowners to protect clean water. . . .”

The application referenced in the letter can be found here.

The map of the Taghkanic Creek Headwaters below shows the location of the proposed Hecate Project construction area in relation to the City of Hudson's Churchtown reservoir. Compare this map with the one shown earlier. The red outline marks the 55-square-mile area that is the City of Hudson watershed. 

This project appears to pit the benefits of renewable energy against the inarguable need to protect our water supply. This is a project that deserves the attention and intervention of both the City of Hudson Conservation Advisory Council and the Columbia County Environmental Management Council.  

COPYRIGHT 2022 CAROLE OSTERINK

Addendum: The Columbia County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution (R151-2021) opposing the Shepherd's Run Solar Project in May 2021. The resolution was introduced by Hudson Third Ward supervisor Michael Chameides.

COVID-19 Update

Gossips is a day late. Here are the COVID numbers reported by the Columbia County Department of Health yesterday. Between Thursday and Friday, there were 13 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases reported on Friday were 10 more than on Thursday, from which it can be inferred that, from Thursday to Friday, only 3 county residents recovered from the virus. The number of county residents hospitalized with COVID-19 and in the ICU remained the same. There has not been a death from COVID-19 reported in Columbia County since September 12.

A year ago on September 30, the CCDOH reported 13 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 5,075, and the number of active cases was 99. There were 301 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 4 were hospitalized, and 0 were in the ICU. The total number of deaths in Columbia County attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 102.

Arbor Day on Sunday

Tomorrow at 10 a.m., the Conservation Advisory Council observes Arbor Day by planting five trees in various locations around the city. Yesterday, however, the Department of Public Works did the hard work of digging the holes and setting the trees in place. What is left for the volunteers is filling in the holes, attaching the tree watering bags, and posing for pictures.

COPYRIGHT 2022 CAROLE OSTERINK