Is This What We Want or Need? Was This Margaret Morris's and Joe Ferris's Idea?

During last month's informal council meeting, 4th ward member Rich Volo asked Henry Haddad if his SAFETY Committee had taken up the issue of "bicycles, E-bikes and scooters going the wrong way down one-way streets."  Henry replied, "No."  A discussion ensued about the issue of E-riders. (What do you call someone on an E-scooter?  An E-scooterer?)

Life Must Be Rough Along The Truck Route!

 

This morning, I came across this frightened-looking young squirrel on the screen of a basement window in the 600 block of Columbia Street.  The fuzzy fella's message was clear:  HELP, it's scary out here!  Please let me in!   Can you blame him?

Now What? (Where Three Perfectly Good, Occupied Houses Once Stood)

 

It's going to be difficult for grass to grow between all the gravel (not that anyone at City Hall cares).  But at least we got a lovely new sidewalk.... surrounded by gravel on both sides!  (Hey, DPW Superintendent Perry, how much of that gravel will eventually make its way into your precious sewer system?  Hey, ADA Coordinator Martin, how much gravel is acceptable on our streets, sidewalks, curb ramps and ADA curb safety mats?)

Our Department of Polite Workers (DPW)

On Wednesday, April 29th, I had the good fortune of interacting with a large crew of DPW workers leaving the site of the Harry Howard Avenue repair project that was nearing completion.  Superintendent Rob Perry was even there!  I tried my best to keep to myself and not interact with any of them or get in their way.

WTF Is Going On At City Hall? (New Mayor, New Council President, Same Dysfunction!)

During Rob Perry's DPW report at last night's Code & Infrastructure Committee meeting -- in which for the first time Nick Fox from the Code Enforcement Department was actually present, showing up in person -- the issue of the Pocketbook Hotel's parking lot on Washington Street came up.  It turns out that the signed lease between the PBH and the City of Hudson that was made late last year -- signed by our dear former mayor and Gabe Katz, the man behind the money behind the PBH -- is null and void.  Or it has just been crumpled up and thrown out.  Or there is no longer an "agreement."  Or the signed lease is just being "amended."

Are The New Common Council Committees Any Help?

It shouldn't surprise anyone one bit that the Common Council, the mayor's office and the so-called SAFETY Committee are all tied up in knots with what to do about too many vehicles turning right on red at intersections throughout the city.  Last I heard, the SAFETY Committee is hoping for more DATA before they decide which approach to choose: a blanket NO RIGHT TURN ON RED law throughout the city or individual signs at intersections that someone deems necessary.  What kind of DATA they are they hoping to get (and from whom) is a mystery to me.  

Has City Hall Officially Ditched The Title of Friendly City For JUNK CITY?

 

A few weeks ago, I notified the Code Enforcement Department of the several mattresses on the ground behind 720 Columbia Street.  The part-time officer I spoke with (only the head officer is full-time) indicated that they were already aware of the situation.  Ugly and most certainly a fire hazard for the building and the nearby gasoline station, nothing has been done about them since.