Life On The Street Designed For Horse Carriages

 

"Hello, OSHA? Can You Make It To Hudson Today?"

Cut limbs and branches falling, no helmet.

This morning at the 7th Street Park, I came across a scene that was a bit difficult to fathom.  But honestly, I wasn't surprised too much.  DPW has set the bar pretty low when it comes to safety.

Four DPW workers and one hired tree professional were busy trimming trees in the park, a task that was long overdue.  Here is what I witnessed.

How One Pair of Small Traffic Signs Reveals Underlying Problems At DPW

Approaching Green Street from upper Columbia

Why?

"Welcome To Oakdale Park! Do You Need To Take A Poop?"

Why Bother?

I would love to know what the discussion 
was like when the decision was made
\to leave this sign here!

Apparently, there is a speeding problem on Front Street at the bottom of the hill near the intersection with Dock Street.  

Or was the only appropriate place HPD could find downtown for the huge digital speed limit sign at a spacious corner with little traffic (especially at night) and likely no speeding problem whatsoever?  One thing is for sure -- there's no space for a sign of that size anywhere on State Street or Columbia Street where there actually are speeding vehicles regularly endangering pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers day and night.

What a wasted effort!

(Though the picture appears to show the sign not functioning properly, it was offering a legible display of speed for passing motorists to read.  It seems that a camera cannot fully capture a digital display.)

The Importance Of Stop Lines (Part II)

 

Is This How It's Always Been Done And Always Will Be Done?

While on the second floor of City Hall today, I noticed a jobs posting on the bulletin board outside of the Department of Public Works offices.  Curious, I read it and took pictures. 

The VACANCY NOTICE, from Robert Perry, Jr., Superintendent, is dated April 23, 2024 (2 days ago).  The date by which applicants must "notify the Superintendent IN WRITING" is "on Thursday, April 25, 2024," today, all of 2 days later. The notice is marked "TO:  ALL PERSONNEL."

Recycle and Create Litter At The Same Time!

And recycling placed in a plastic bag is
a violation of DPW recycling rules

Just fill a container that will tip over easily in the wind!

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).

Our Great Communicator, At It Again!

Our DPW Superintendent's approach to communicating with the Common Council and the public never ceases to amaze me.  Take the recent household water rate raise, for example.

The first and only mention at a council meeting explaining the reasons behind this year's household water rate increase of $25 (to $150 per quarter) arrived well after the decision was made and after the $150 water bills had been mailed by DPW.  It's possible that this was the first mention of the raise at all at a council meeting (if it was previously mentioned, I missed it).

I WISH I HAD TO MAKE THIS NONSENSE UP! Unfortunately, There's No Need To.

This car turned right on red, as it was 
permitted to do.

As Hudseen readers likely know, the improvements to the Stewart's corner were finished late last year. But as Hudseen recently reported, the intersection is missing a NO TURN ON RED sign -- a sign that was present prior to the improvements. This issue has not gone unnoticed by at least two council members, as well as the police chief.  But actually getting the sign installed is going to take a whole lot more than talk, something there has been no shortage of.  Confusing, repeated, wasted and, at times, absurd talk.  All of it fascinating, of course.

Busy On The Phone Or Completely Stoned?

DO NOT what?

For the second time in just four days, I have watched a car proceed in the wrong direction on N. 6th Street then wait at the red light at Columbia Street before turning onto the truck route.   Both times, the driver was completely unaware of being headed in the wrong direction, even while waiting at the light.  Today's instance was more frightening and shocking if only because I saw it from the beginning until the end.  There was no rain, no sun glare, no fog, and no excuse for what occurred.  Fortunately, there was no accident either.

The Importance Of Stop Lines

 

The Exercise In Futility Continues

The Truck Route Committee meeting scheduled for last Thursday wound up being cancelled for lack of committee members showing up.  Margaret Morris, the head of the committee, was the only committee member present in the City Hall chambers.  Member Dewan Sarowar, "attending" remotely -- possibly from the house he owns in Greenport -- was also ready to get things done.  Other than those two, no one else showed up, so the meeting never got started.  After saying that there was "only one document to review anyway," Margaret apologized to the public and signed off 8 minutes after the hour.   

When "Would He Be Here At A Meeting?" Is An Appropriate Question But "What Did You Do To Your Head?" Is Not

Yet another concerning interaction occurred during last month's regular Common Council meeting, once again displaying a council reaching new lows.  Concerning?  For sure!  Surprising?  Not at all!  This is the third issue that Hudseen has highlighted based on questions and comments during that meeting.  The video of the meeting is a gold mine of painful reminders of how bad things are for the present council.

3 Down, 8 To Go! Literally, TO GO!

5 years wasting away.  How much longer?

It has been precisely 5 years to the month since 11 "stormwater planter" sidewalk trees were installed in the 400, 500 and 600 blocks of Union Street. The project has turned out to be a complete failure and waste of time and money, something that was obvious to me long ago.

More Evidence That City Hall Is Failing Us And Our One-Way Streets

Without a sign facing north above the intersection of 6th & Columbia that says WRONG WAY DO NOT ENTER, the city continues to prove that it is failing to keep our streets and intersections as safe as possible.  This is also true at all the other intersections in town that include a one-way street where vehicles can too easily be headed in the wrong direction because of the city's minimal amount of effort to prevent the all-too-common dangerous situation.

Plastic, Plastic, Plastic! Plastic EVERYWHERE! Plastic On The Sidewalk... And Plastic In Yo' Hair!

Out with the metal and in with the plastic!

The natural gas pipes that National Grid's contractor has been busy replacing on a few streets for the past several months are all made of plastic. 100% plastic.  I read somewhere online that National Grid expects their new plastic pipes to last for 80 years.  Of course, no one has tested plastic gas pipes for even 20 years, so we (including National Grid) can only hope that the plastic pipes being buried underground do at least as good a job as the metal pipes that have been around and well-tested for several decades, some for 100 years or more.

Some Code Violations Are Acceptable, It Seems

I first noticed the ugly plastic and metal things popping up at curbs and on properties over 4 weeks ago, in early March, prior to the daffodils and crocuses.  Ughh, I thought, not again already!  Political sign pollution season is here, and it gets longer and worse every year.  How long will these useless eyesores be around for us this year to see over and over and have no positive effect whatsoever on anyone?  

Our 7th Street Park, Where The Ugly Stuff Grows!

Approaching the southwest corner of the 7th Street Park this morning to stroll through it, I noticed someone in the park erecting a plastic lawn sign (you know - with the thin metal legs to poke into the soil).  I assumed that it would be yet another political sign but was a bit surprised to see that it was something far more deplorable:  a two-sided advertisement for window blinds.  There was one already up in the southeast corner.

8 Months of Bad Air Along Our Truck Route

Just Ten Dollars?!! What If It Had Been All 4 Wheels?

Considered the same violation as not filling the meter

On Friday morning, a city parking enforcer issued two tickets to this Subaru parked in the 300 block of Warren Street -- a ten-dollar PARKING METER violation and a ten-dollar IMPROPER PARKING violation.

Hudson's Household Water Rate Just Went Up! Again!

Just about every vehicle headed up Worth 
Avenue hits this exposed piece of DPW infrastructure

Now that the water rate has increased another $25 this year, I wonder if the DPW Water Department can finally afford to replace the loose water valve cap and its long-damaged supporting apparatus on Worth Avenue that probably should have been replaced 5 years ago.  And then maybe replace the missing asphalt surrounding the valve to make the street less bumpy and damaging to cars and bicycles. And then maybe attend to all the other loose, noisy and damaged water valve caps and supporting apparatuses seen, felt and heard all around town.

Jagged cast iron is always a welcome 
addition to our busy streets!

COVID Is No Longer A Threat! No More "Attending" Meetings Virtually!! No More Driving While Voting!!!

Getting it done!

Something else of note occurred prior to the 6 minutes of bickering at the end of last month's regular common council meeting, though you really had to be paying attention to a computer screen to notice it. 

Of the ten ward representatives on the council, three of them -- Shershah Mizan of the third ward, and Mohammed Rony and Dewan Sarowar of the second ward -- were the only ones who "attended" the meeting without being physically present with the others.  The seven others were sitting in the same room, the way human interact and communicate best.   You know, the way things have been done since the dawn of man.

Our DPW Should Leave Street Repaving To The Professionals. We Can't Afford Them To Mishandle It Anymore!

July 2023 (the asphalt was still hot
to the touch when I took this picture)

It doesn't take a structural engineer to know that laying asphalt in the rain is an absolute no-no (unless, of course, you want to create a surface that won't last very long).  But that is exactly what our DPW did in early July of last year on Columbia Street. Just 8 months later, DPW's street repaving work is showing signs of weakness and failure. This is not the first time I have noticed shoddy paving work by DPW.  It seems to be their forte.  (The picture above was taken prior the final layer of asphalt being installed the following day.)

Can Things Deteriorate Any Further For Our Common Council?

Anyone who has been following common council meetings closely in the past two years knows that there is some friction between 1st ward member Margaret Morris and Council "President" Tom Depietro.  That friction got ugly at March's regular informal meeting, and it was inevitable.  Additionally, at least one new member of the council also seems to have a negative, unsupportive view of Depietro.   

I'm telling you, THE SITUATION AT THE COMMON COUNCIL IS ABYSMAL AND IS ONLY GOING TO WORSEN AS LONG AS TOM DEPIETRO IS IN THE CHAIR.  And it all might come to a head real soon -- it nearly did last month.  It felt like a stressed balloon ready to burst.  I just hope the "president" doesn't attack any council members physically in a fit of rage like he did a few years ago.

The State Of Our Silent Facebook Mayor

Last week, the new mayor of the City of Poughkeepsie gave her State of the City address in front of the city council and the public.  Yvonne Flowers, in office for just 3 months, touched on topics familiar to our silent mayor:  homelessness, public park improvements, recruiting more police officers, finances, public safety, fire department issues, hiring a city administrator (!), housing, quality of life issues, economic development and their comprehensive plan. 

Mayor Flowers ended her address with this:  As the first African American mayor of this city... I am humbled by this opportunity and pledge to work on behalf of all city residents as we all work together in moving the City of Poughkeepsie forward. The transcript of the speech, found on the city's website, is 24 pages long.

The Flat Tire Says It All!

The teal blue car in the picture is as perfect an example as one can have of how Hudson City Hall is simply not paying attention. 

It turns out that anyone can pay the Hudson City Clerk's office $250 for a municipal parking lot permit, hang the permit from a rear-view mirror in a car of one's choice, park the car in a metered space in a municipal lot and leave it there for the year without ever moving it, receiving a parking ticket or having the car towed.