First It's Not Enforcing Open Containers, Then It's A Barbershop, Then A Homeless Encampment, Then Someone Gets Stabbed To Death

A few days ago while walking through the troubled 7th Street Park, I saw something for the first time there that made me want to scream.

Sitting at the edge of the reservations-only-for-regulars table was the park's most regular and most notorious patron, Michael Madison.  Standing right beside Madison, and with one hand at Madison's head, was a male who I did not recognize and who, like Madison, I would not choose to get too close to.  In that person's hand was an electric hair clipper, which was removing Madison's scalp hair, and possibly his facial hair.  The clipper's electric cord was plugged into the nearby and easily accessible live electric outlet.  I didn't get too close to the pop up barber shop, but I wouldn't be surprised if the barber, like so many other regulars in the park, had also been using the outlet to charge his phone.

The haircutting activity that I witnessed in broad daylight a few feet from Warren Street in our downtown public park was only able to occur because the City of Hudson provides a live electric outlet with two receptacles for anyone to utilize. (There are also at least 2 other live outlets in the park, though not as conveniently located as the one in the southeast corner).

In the always well-maintained and welcoming Riverfront Park, on the other hand, the only electric outlets available for public use are located in a metal box inside the gazebo.  Since only DPW can open the padlock securing that box, no one can gain access to that electricity without permission from the city.  I've never seen anyone charging their phone or using an electric hair clipper in that park.

My guess is that HPD and others at City Hall would say that the problems in the 7th Street Park (if they were to acknowledge any) stem primarily from the regulars in the park. Of course, that would be a crock of bullshit.  HPD doesn't bother with regular foot patrols through the park.

Michael Madison has a court date tomorrow in Hudson City Court.  This past Saturday, he violated an order of protection, which he signed in front of Judge Connor 11 months ago, after he once again threatened me with violence.  He was not supposed to even be talking to me.  A month or two ago, Madison had a court date for his latest string of violations.  About a half hour after having passed Madison lingering by the front door of the Police and Court building, I heard Judge Connor call his name.  Then Connor mentioned that Madison was a no show because "he claims he has covid."  That's Madison's go to excuse for staying away from the courtroom, and it seems to work.  I don't doubt that he will try it again tomorrow.