It's Painfully Clear That The Left Hand Doesn't Know What The Right Hand Is Doing At DPW (Business As Usual)

It has been 10 weeks since I last posted about the Washington Street dirt lot, where DPW Superintendent Robert Perry allowed far too much debris and fill to be haphazardly dumped last year.  In March, the newly created steep and unstable portion of the lot nearest to Oakdale suffered a mudslide, creating a problem with the sewer pipe located at the outer edge of the lot that feeds the creek. Then the entire lot got a failing grade from a subsequent NY State DEC inspection after I made a phone call to them.  DPW was then forced to spend a few days digging to unclog the pipe and clear things up near the creek.  Unbelievably, at least perhaps to some, things have recently gotten even dumber and more WTF.

When A Tree Outgrows Its Welcome, and Its Liabilities Outweigh Its Benefits

For those so inclined and available, it might be worth the effort to stop by Union Street near Hudson Avenue on Monday morning to witness the ancient sidewalk tree there finally come down.  It won't be a simple or quick task, but it might be a good show.

Perhaps It's A Cultural Thing

It has been a full month since the local primary election was held, and thankfully nearly all of the election signs once sticking out of the ground have made their way to a distant garbage landfill where they belong. The big exception, unfortunately and curiously, is on Columbia Street below 3rd Street in the 2nd ward, where the bulk of the remaining signs can be found, imploring anyone with eyes to vote for Dewan Sarowar, Abdus Miah and Brian Herman.

One Bed, Easy Walk To Everywhere

What do you suppose the rent is like for a one bed on lower Columbia Street?

(Picture taken today.  I first noticed this mattress leaning up against the wall of the house, along with other furniture, on July 7th, or 3 weeks ago!  Right now, as I write, it is soaking up a whole lot of rainwater!)

How To Chase People Away From Hudson, One Deplorable Picnic Table At A Time!

This morning, a DPW employee using a ride-on mower cut the grass of the lawn at the Furgary shacks, as has been done weekly for the past two or three months.  The broken down table in the middle of the lawn that the mower rolled past hasn't always been in that spot (someone moved it there recently from near the dirt road), but it has been on the lawn for at least two months in essentially the same condition.  It is, and has been for months, useless, ugly, obscene, unwelcome, insulting, and if you ask any parent of a child, dangerous. 

When Fear Of THE BOOT Fails, Who Pays?

Finally BOOTed

When I first noticed this booted vehicle last week, I thought it looked familiar. It turned out that it was familiar, and very much so.  I had posted 2 articles, one in March and one in April, about the black Jeep (KRC 3382) with the Hudson parking permit hanging from its rear-view mirror when it had a crazy amount of outstanding unpaid parking tickets and no BOOT on its front driver's wheel.

DPW Sign Of The Week

So Civic-Minded, Those Folks At Galvan

As I thought would be the case, our friends at Galvan didn't bother to apply for a $50 sign permit from the Hudson Code Enforcement Office before they installed their large sign at the corner of Union Street and Hudson Avenue 2 or 3 months ago. (The CEO has no permit on file for the sign).

What Would Fredric Church And His Painterly Pals Say?

Hudson's million-dollar view, often full of the distracting
 and unwelcome non-stop CLANGING of metal

Though I posted an article a few months ago about the annoyingly loud flag in Promenade Hill Park, I think my interaction yesterday with the flag warrants another look at (or listen to) the ol' Red, White and Blue that figures so prominently in downtown Hudson.

How To Improperly Operate A Small City (aka, The Parking Meter Update)

Here is a quick look at what has been going on in 2 of the city's municipal parking lots for at least the past 3 weeks (and possibly a lot longer).

What Does Another $200 or $300 Matter?

Any contractor who digs up a sidewalk or street in the City of Hudson must first be issued a Street Permit from the Department of Public Works.  The permit is important for a number of reasons.  It allows the city to know where contractors and utilities are digging, why they are digging and how big a hold they will be digging.  DPW charges the contractors a fee of anywhere from $200 to $500 for a Street Permit (and on the rare occasion, even more).  This money is primarily used to cover the expense of DPW having to repave the hole once the work is done.  The contractor covers their hole with a rough patch when they are finished, but DPW eventually comes along and tears that patch out to make a "permanent" patch.

Beware The Irresponsible Tree Owner

What to do when confronted with low hanging tree branches blocking the plane of the sidewalk, especially those at head level and waiting to poke an eye out?

Welcome To The City Of Orange Cones

As I reported on recently, National Grid is preparing to replace their gas lines on and near Green Street, a continuation of the work they have been inching along with on the 200 block of State Street for several weeks.  How big is the job going to be?  It's difficult to say, because there has been no mention by the DPW or City Hall about anything, even the work on State Street.  But if the number of pipes that I noticed yesterday in the vacant lot on Washington Street is any indication, the project is going to be extensive.

Hudson, The City That Cares

Here are the conditions found this morning behind two Galvan-owned buildings in town, pretty much the same as most days of the week. 

Why Bother To Recycle?

 

After the party

Why bother when there's a garbage can so close at hand?

Why It Pays To Not Speak English In The Hudson City Court

Yesterday, at the beginning of Judge John Connor's Hudson City Court session, Connor began by saying that there were " a lot of traffic tickets to get to today."  He then told everyone present what their 3 choices were in handling their tickets since "the DA's office no longer offers reduced charges for tickets in court."  As Connor often repeats, the choices are these:  Either plead guilty today and pay the fine; plead not guilty and schedule a trial date; or, have today's court date adjourned for two months so that you have time to appeal the ticket to the County DA's office via their online ticket reduction request form.

How City Hall Keeps Our Taxes High And DPW Keeps Our Streets And Sewers Full Of Debris

As you are likely aware, the City of Hudson has been doing its best for quite some time to sell off two of its properties on Warren Street.  What is really perplexing to me is that the city never attempts (at least as far as I know) to get rid of the vacant lot known as 516 Columbia Street.  

What A Croc!

As I made quick mention of in an article on July 7th, National Grid is preparing to replace their natural gas lines along Green Street and elsewhere.  This morning, at the intersections of Columbia, Green, and State Streets, I noticed employees from National Grid and at least two of their contractors having a confab with DPW Superintendent Robert Perry.  

"Welcome to Hudson," Indeed! [with update]

In March, when Hudson City Hall temporarily relocated to the Fire Station on 7th Street, the projected date for City Hall offices to return to Warren Street was stated as "July 2023."  This is no longer the case, according to DPW Commissioner Peter Bujanow and anyone observing the progress at 520 Warren.  Work on the sidewalk and parking spaces in front began in earnest just yesterday.  Bujanow stated at last week's Common Council meeting that the return date has been pushed back one month.

If This Happens, It Won't Have Happened Soon Enough

I don't know about you, but long ago I grew tired of the awful condition of Amtrak's railroad crossing on Broad Street.  I don't know what's worse when getting to and from the Riverfront Park: driving a vehicle over the 3 sets of tracks or riding a bicycle.  It ain't much fun for pedestrians either, of course.  The crossing never should have reached this level of roughness.

A Thing Or Three About Our "Double Woods"

Here are a few fun facts about wooden utility poles in the City of Hudson:  In all but the very rare case, they are owned by the huge utility National Grid.  Even if it's a very old-looking pole, it is owned by National Grid.  If it is a very new-looking pole, it was installed by National Grid, and they own it.  If a utility pole is knocked over or blown over, National Grid will be the company to replace it.  Other utilities, such as Mid-Hudson Cable (MHC), Verizon, get permission from National Grid to use their poles, and I believe there is some sort of lease agreement involved.

Hello, City Hall? Is Anyone Paying Attention?

Imagine if every homeowner or renter with a sidewalk in Hudson did this!

Last summer and fall, as the year before, the entire strip between the curb and the sidewalk on the east side of Dodge Street, from State Street to Rope Alley, was lined with buckets full of soil and planted veggies and herbs.

Has Anyone Seen Mark Carter?

Who, If Anyone, Is In Charge At City Hall?

As I reported on a month ago, another HPD Parking Enforcement Officer has decided to quit his position. Yesterday was Mike Markessinis's last day on the job, and as of today there are just two Parking Enforcement Officers employed by the city of Hudson.  Both of them are considered part-time employees, as is the norm, and both have been walking up and down Warren Street for many, many years.  One of the two remaining officers repairs the meters and empties them of quarters.  Normally, the city employs four officers, typically with two working each day.

Has HPD Given Up On Nabbing Distracted Drivers?

This morning while walking near the intersection of 6th and State, I noticed a car headed east on State approaching the stop sign.  The male driver had both hands at the top of the steering wheel, close to the 11:00 and 1:00 positions.  Each of the driver's hands was also holding on to his cell phone that he was staring at and using his thumbs to write something really important to someone.  Or maybe he was searching for an important website of some sort.  What he was not doing was paying close to 100% attention to the road in front of and around him.  He stopped for the stop sign and proceeded up State Street, cell phone still touching his steering wheel and held directly in front of his face, thumbs-a-twitchin', and in plain view of anyone nearby.

Picture Of The Week

 Seen in a public park in Hudson.  No one was in the car, nor near it.  

As I recall from my college days, it is a big problem when a bong begins to leak -- especially, I would imagine, inside an automobile!

On Weeds, Plastic Bags, Our Fire Hydrants, and A City That Seems Not To Be Paying Attention

This fire hydrant (yes, there is one in the picture) on N. 5th at Long Alley really inspires confidence in our Fire Department and DPW Water Department, doesn't it?  Don't you feel a little safer and securer knowing that the city is being sure to test and maintain every fire hydrant in town regularly?  If they can't bother with going anywhere near this hydrant, what others are they ignoring?  What other important things besides hydrants are they also ignoring?  Weeds?  Who cares!

What Does It Matter If The Debris and Mud Remains Untouched?

 

It has been 4 days since the water main break a few feet below South 4th Street sent water streaming to Warren, along with dirt, silt, pebbles, rocks and debris.  4 days later and DPW hasn't bothered to remove what remains on the streets and sidewalks and what pedestrians are forced to step on:  Mud, dirt, pebbles, debris.  If DPW has done any cleanup since Sunday, they've done very little.

"What Does It Matter?," Indeed.

This past Sunday, I came across one of the two new poorly located and unneeded bicycle racks in the 7th Street Park.   Neither rack had a bicycle near them nor attached to them.  The rack I focused on was no longer secured to the soil, because someone had yanked it out of the ground.  This was easy enough to do since it had been "secured" to the ground with some sort of long screw or nail, probably the common 7-inch dirt screw or nail.  The screws were gone, and the rack, while still upright, was a few feet from where it had been installed and at an unhelpful angle.

How On Earth Does Robert Perry Prioritize DPW Work?

Pedestrian walkway, aka city property. 
Not a maintenance priority

I noticed several DPW workers, vehicles and a piece of paving machinery in the Amtrak lot on Front Street this morning. The crew had already ripped up a one-inch layer of asphalt near the entrance, and marked a long line on the south side of the lot where more asphalt would be replaced. Actually, that asphalt is just an old patch job of DPW's.

More Zig Zagging on Warren Street and Something New To Trip On

As of Monday, the sidewalk in front of 205-207 Warren Street has reopened to pedestrian traffic. Well, 60% of it has, anyway.  And it appears City Hall is fine with that.

It's All Garbage! It's A Garbage Truck, After All!

No separation of recycling and garbage 
is possible in this truck.  It's all garbage.

6 weeks ago, Hudseen published an article about a local garbage hauler dumping recycling and garbage into the same truck without any separation of the material, the truck being a "rental" with a different company name and logo on it than the company handling the waste, Superior Waste of Cairo, NY.  This morning in Long Alley, I saw the same truck and the same operator doing the exact same thing as 6 weeks ago.

The Joys Of Living And Walking In A City

During my short walk in the neighborhood this morning, I came across not just one pile of fresh dog shit, but two.  Two piles of dog excrement left behind by dog owners within a half block of each other.

What Does A "Good Sign" Look Like?

5 cars parked behind this Jeep 
were also issued $15 tickets last night.
No signs anywhere in sight.

At least 6 vehicles were issued $15 WRONG SIDE PARKING tickets on the 200 block of Warren Street last night. The city is at least $90 richer for it (more if tickets aren't paid on time).

What Else Can't DPW Attend To?

There's no telling if DPW could have prevented last night's water main break on South 4th Street, but there are concerning signs on our streets of ancient and damaged water-related infrastructure that they seem to be fine with ignoring for years, and their presence begs a few questions.

"I'm Sure Something Else Needing Attention Will Soon Appear" [with update]

I finished Friday's article about our water and general infrastructure woes with that line.  It came true a lot quicker than I thought it would, and it's a biggie that surely needs DPW's attention! 

There Are No More Useless Payphones in Hudson! Hurrah?

As of this past Thursday, all 8 of Hudson's public payphones (or what remained of them) had been removed by the California company that bought all of Verizon's payphones more than ten years ago.

Are The Respectable Receptacle Lids Returning?

Is there a more handsome, respectable
 public trash receptacle anywhere?

When I first visited Hudson over 12 years ago, one small but important detail about the city that impressed me were the public trash receptacles lining the sidewalks.  They were not ugly, as they often can be.  I felt that the wood slats surrounding the receptacle and the wooden lid with a small hole so that you couldn't actually see the garbage inside was unique and classy.  Also, no plastic bags were inside the receptacle (less waste) or sticking out the edges.  Someone in Hudson, perhaps long ago, had obviously given the city's chosen public trash receptacle some thought with an eye toward aesthetics, which most towns do not. 

Is Hudson's Ageing Infrastructure At A Critical Stage?

Preparation on Green Street for 
National Grid gas line replacement

The New York Times recently published an article about how the water infrastructure in almost every municipality in America is ill equipped to handle the increased amount and intensity of rains that a planet altered by global warming is serving up for us.  In short, our pipes and other water infrastructure simply weren't designed to handle the increased flow of water they are now having to move along, and things are only going to continue to intensify.  

Global warming is stressing water systems all over the country and world, and it just might be happening here in Hudson, too.  Add lots of enormous and heavy trucks to the streets of a small city and you just might have the perfect storm of infrastructure failure and a never-ending menu of expensive repair projects to keep things from completely falling apart.  A really costly, perpetual game of infrastructure whack-a-mole, if you will, with orange safety cones everywhere.

Something Does Not Look Right In Front Of 205-207 Warren Street

What used to be in front?  Anything?

The contractor working on the long portion of sidewalk in front of 205-207 Warren Street should be finishing up work soon, reopening the sidewalk to pedestrians after at least three weeks of it being closed and forcing us all into the street.  According to the DPW clerk, the contractor was issued a DPW permit to block the sidewalk with the intention of being done by the end of June.

You Think Hudson's Truck Route Is Bad?

Imagine if the landfill where Hudson, much of New York State, and elsewhere deposited their garbage was located in or near Hudson.

How To Make Things More Difficult And Risky Than They Need To Be

If a contractor wants to occupy parking spaces and block the sidewalk, they need to go to two different locations to obtain two separate permits.  HPD, over on Union Street, issues $25 Parking Permits for machinery and dumpsters parked in the street, and DPW, over on Washington Street (or the second floor of 520 Warren), issues $25 Sidewalk Permits allowing the sidewalk to be blocked.  These two permits should be issued from one department, in one building, from one room, and from the same person.  Otherwise, as is often the case, and is the present situation in front of 360 Columbia Street, contractors, if they apply for a permit at all, are able to apply for one and not the other.

Galvan Ain't Nothin' But Trash

Just once (or maybe twice), I would like to be a fly on the wall at a Galvan manager's meeting where they discuss their plans for the week or month.  Like recently when they decided to replace the large dumpster in the alley behind their building at the intersection of 2nd and Warren Streets, known as 201-203 Warren.  Dan Kent, or some other manager-type, may have told everyone in attendance:  "Let's get a smaller dumpster for the building, lock it, and not allow our tenants unlock it.  Let them leave their trash on the ground near the dumpster.  This is working just fine near the alley behind our apartment complex in the 200 block of State Street where there hasn't been a garbage dumpster for 8 months, and our tenants, their neighbors, and the city of Hudson don't seem to mind.  We are not required to provide garbage dumpsters for our tenants anymore." 

How Is This Welcoming?

Four or five years ago at an Informal Common Council meeting, I asked DPW Superintendent Robert Perry why there were no permanent picnic tables on the lawn by the Furgary shacks at the North Bay.  He responded by telling me that the DRI would take care of any changes there, not DPW.

6 years after the State of New York granted Hudson $10 million in DRI funds, the improved entrance to Promenade Hill Park is finished, and to the north we have this to enjoy down by the river:

More Digging On The Truck Route

It may be worth noting that the morning after all that rain on Sunday evening, DPW cut the pavement on Columbia Street just west of 4th Street in preparation of excavation and, likely, pipe work.  Heavy rain and the ensuing runoff often cause pipes to burst, which was probably the case there.  It's a big dig -- about 25 feet by 9 or 10 feet.  There seems to be at least one burst pipe below our beleaguered Columbia Street portion of the truck route every year.

Meanwhile, Around the Corner...

This is the so-called sidewalk on N. 6th Street just north of State Street, the responsibility of the owner of the rental at 562 State Street.  According to tax records, the irresponsible property owner lives in Stuyvesant.  He also has trouble mowing the grass strip between the sidewalk and the curb.  Such a delight.

A Sidewalk In Need Of a Global Solution

Anyone who regularly walks near the intersection of 6th and State, especially those of us who live near there, knows what portions of sidewalks to avoid and what tripping hazards are the worst of the worst.  As with the rest of the city, there are plenty of hazards to trip a body up (or, more likely, down) near this intersection, but the sidewalk in front of 549 State might take the cake. If you must walk in front of that house, being vigilant is wise.  Perhaps unsurprisingly, the owner of that house does not live in the house.  Nor in Hudson.  Nor in New York, and not even on the East Coast.  The owner lives in Texas.  Dallas, Texas.  Or possibly India.