Tuesday In The Park

 

5 empty beer cans, a bench full of and surrounded by food and drink litter, an empty glass bottle of pineapple vodka and never a Hudson police officer on foot in sight.

It's The Quality of The Work That Impresses Me The Most

Last fall, in their wise effort to make the intersection of 7th & State safer, DPW extended the yellow curb on the north side of State Street to prevent cars from parking too close to the intersection.  Visibility of westbound State Street traffic was limited for drivers headed south on 7th Street attempting to enter the intersection.  The new yellow paint removed two parking spaces in an area that has seen an influx of cars over the last year with the two new breweries nearby.  The visibility and safety issues arrived with the new businesses thanks to hungry and thirsty visitors needing a place to park. 

The Often Updated But Still Incomplete Vacant Buildings List

70-72 North Fifth Street, still vacant after at least ten years

As readers may know, the Hudson Code Enforcement Office is required to keep a vacant buildings registry and associated list of vacant buildings. The idea is to charge property owners an annual fee if their properties remain vacant -- $1,000 for the first year, $2,000 for the second year, and so on.  Either fix your house so someone can live in it or pay!  A deterrent, if you will, to property owners neglecting their properties and eventually having to knock them down. This fee system can be found in words in the city code, but it is rarely (or, more likely never) actually implemented in the real world. Equally concerning are the several vacant buildings in town that can't be found on the list.

You Know, I Imagine It Should Hopefully Happen Soon

 

During his monthly report at this month's informal Common Council meeting, DPW Superman Robert Perry took more time than he ever has to let the council and public know what is going on with National Grid's gas line replacement project which began in August of last year.  I believe, actually, that this was just the second time during Perry's monthly reports that he has made mention of the project.  Relatively speaking, it was an overwhelming amount of information and, lest we forget, I think it is worth getting on the record exactly what he said.   

Our Department of Public Waste Shows Its True Colors Yet Again

 

Yesterday, I walked along both sides of the newly paved upper portion of Columbia Street to inspect Colarusso's work that was completed the day before.  Their paving work seems good at least for now, but it was our DPW's "cleanup" work that leaves a whole lot to be desired and a whole lot to be discouraged about.  This was not the first time they've proven how lazy, disrespectful and polluting they can be, and it won't be the last. Still, we all deserve better from the department and particularly from the DPW Superintendent who makes over $115,000 a year.  The Hudson River -- if not the entire planet -- deserves far better, too. 

This Utility Pole Should Win An Award!

The pole, found on Lake Street, should be crowned the ugliest of all poles.  Or the prettiest!  Or the hairiest!  All of the above!

What You Will And Won't See

What you will see, especially this time of year, is a DPW crew of two in a green diesel-burning dump truck wandering around the city, even in the alleys and parking lots, occasionally stopping to fill potholes and cracks in the pavement with temporary asphalt patch (there is nothing permanent about it, especially if wheels roll over it).