The Situation On (and Under) Harry Howard at Underhill Pond Is B-A-D Bad! Maybe Not As Bad as 1969, Though We'll Have To Wait And See!

 

Do not expect to drive or bicycle on Harry Howard Avenue between Washington and Paddock anytime soon.  My prediction for the complete repair of Harry Howard Avenue at Underhill Pond is between two to three two months.   

Yesterday afternoon, I came across an old-timer surveying the scene (as I was) who lives on Harry Howard just south of the inaccessible portion. He said that Harry Howard would "probably be closed all summer," and he should know.  He told me that this was the third time in his lifetime that that portion of road had given out due to a "broken drain."  He claimed that the first instance involved a car falling into a hole that had suddenly opened up in the street. "What year do you think that was?" I asked him. "Well, let's see," he pondered. "That musta been around 1969." 

YOU ARE WELCOME! AND THANK YOU FOR PASSING THROUGH! PLEASE COME BACK SOON! WE'D LOVE TO SEE AND HEAR YOU AGAIN! WE'LL KEEP THE ROADS SMOOTH FOR YOU!

 

It's Not A Problem! Fire Trucks and Hoses Are Never Far Away!

 

Following the Fire Department's monthly report at the beginning of last week's so-called SAFETY Committee meeting -- the remainder of which had everything to do with parking -- I asked a question of the Fire Department representative regarding out of service hydrants.  But Committee head Henry Hadddad decided that he was the most qualified person to answer my question.  "I think I can answer that one," he started with.  Before Henry could get much further, I interrupted him. "Can I hear somebody from the Fire Department respond to my question?  I didn't ask you a question, Henry."  Committee member Claire Cousin, seated at the table with Haddad and 2 people both from HPD and HFD, seemed to sympathize with my plight.  While Henry was responding to me, she said, "He seems to be willing to answer the question."  

Where Else In America?

 

Galvan Giveth and DPW Taketh Away. Not Ye Worry, There Always Be Hudson Hub!

 

I'm thinking it was in October or November of last year, no more than 5 months ago, when Galvan had a contractor pour a concrete sidewalk -- where one did not previously exist -- in front of their new asphalt private parking lot at 6th & Washington for their tenants in the Depot Lofts at 7th & State. (Can you imagine moving to the "country" and wanting/needing to park your car so far from your apartment? And having to pay for it!). The enormous chunk of loose concrete from that sidewalk that you see in the pictures I took this morning at 7:00 appeared at least ten days ago, and I'm not kidding.  I don't know what else other than a DPW snowplow could have obliterated that sidewalk.   (Notice the lone car parked in the lot. There are a lot of dark windows facing 7th Street at night at the Depot Lofts. Lots!) 

How Could It Have Been Possible? (So Many Questions!)

 

If we are to believe Margaret Morris's recent explanation of the events leading to her "very minor [vehicle] accident" in a Warren Street parking lot on February 20th -- that her "car slid on the ice" while she was parking it -- how on earth did both of her car's front wheels make their way over a 6-inch ( I measured it) concrete curb  at the front of the parking space then continue rolling another foot or two before the front of the car hit the side of a building?

Somewheres Over The Rainbow?

Well into last Monday's one hour Parking Safety Committee meeting, apparent parking supervisor and actual Police Captain David Miller -- without any prompting -- gave a spiel about how far the city has come with parking since "HPD took over parking less than a year ago."  It came after a Warren Street resident stood up and voiced her concerns and complaints for a few minutes about the new parking system and after several minutes of mostly confusing responses from SAFETY Parking Committee head Henry Haddad, Miller and Police Chief Franklin (yes, there are three people speaking on parking matters these days).  Miller's speech was as laughable as it was incoherent.  Here it is; hold on to your wig: