Absent? MIA? At All Effective? Unfamiliar With Zoom? The Wrong Person For The Job? Not Happy To Be Back On The Second Floor of 520 Warren?

 

As all readers likely know by now, former Hudson mayor Tiffany Martin is now the aide to our new mayor, Joe Ferris.  As the mayor's aide, Hamilton has been forced to take on the title of ADA Coordinator to, for one thing, make sure the city complies with the U.S. Justice Department's 2019 "settlement agreement" forcing the city to make our ridiculously dangerous sidewalks and curb ramps ADA compliant.  And, just like her predecessor, Justin Weaver, the ADA Coordinator is required to be a member (and an important one!) of the Public Works Board, the group of five members tasked with complying with the DOJ's directive and implementing the new and ambitious city-wide sidewalk repair program known as the Sidewalk Improvement District (SID).  A lot is riding on the efforts of the Public Works Board.  A whole lot.  Everyone has to be on board, so to speak, including, and especially, the city's ADA Coordinator.  C-O-O-R-D-I-N-A-T-O-R!

Where There Once Was A Sidewalk In What Once Was a Residential Neighborhood...

... there is now a drive-thru drop-off area for wealthy guests of a hotel, restaurant, bar, wellness spa, etc., many of whom will be taking advantage of a car valet service.  I can't wait for the blinking, multi-colored neon signs at 6th & Washington to arrive this spring:  VALET SERVICE 100 FEET AWAY WITH DRIVE THRU!  ALL ARE WELCOME!

When Will The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Be Taking Place This Year? Or Will It Be In 2029?

What I am looking forward to -- and what all council members should be looking forward to (and demanding to know) -- is when someone from HPD can confidently announce to city residents and the council that their new, expanded paid parking system is completely implemented, that all the necessary changes have been made and the serious kinks have been worked out.  So that, just maybe, the city can have a ribbon cutting ceremony or christening of the new paid parking system that is supposed to make things better for everyone and create millions of dollars in parking revenue annually for the city for decades to come.  This announcement should include, of course, the important detail that no more signs or kiosks need to be installed anywhere.  But, from the looks of things, it appears that HPD Captain David Miller, Chief Mishanda Franklin and, possibly, Doreen Danforth have a long, long way to go to make such an announcement or even consider one.  They probably have no idea when all of the parking changes will be complete, when the new system is in fully in place, 100 percent "up and running."  They probably have no idea when the answer to the question ARE YOU DONE YET WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CITY'S NEW PAID PARKING SYSTEM? will be a definitive YES.  Heck, they can't honestly say that everything is in place even on the half block of North 5th Street in the heart of downtown, that's for sure!

Well, At Least The Pocketbook Is Lining HPD's Pockets!

On my walk this morning in the neighborhood (which is no longer strictly residential in nature), I came across three ticketed cars parked at the end of Prospect Street, along the mega-business known as the Pocketbook Hotel and Baths.  One car was from New Jersey, one from Pennsylvania, and the other had NY plates, so it's fairly safe to say that at least two of those cars were owned by guests of the hotel.

There's No Doubt About It, Things Are Going "Great" With Parking! Couldn't Be Greater!!

 

Aren't you so proud of your city and the parking experts at HPD?  Ain't they just killin' it! Who should get the gold star this week for parking sign presentation and all-around professionalism, Chief Franklin or Captain Miller?  How about both of them?

Is Our New Mayor The Same As Former Mayors, Including A Former Mayor Who Is Now The New Mayor's Aide and ADA Coordinator?

 

I had my first opportunity to speak with Mayor Joe Ferris and his Aide and ADA Coordinator, Tiffany Martin, when I visited 520 Warren last Tuesday to ask them a question about a sidewalk that had been completely blocked by snow for over two weeks.  Let's just say that I was not impressed with the results.

Hey, Buddy, Can You Direct Me To Columbia Street? And Where Is 7th Street?