Sinkhole City In The Year Of Erosion

For at least the past month, I have been trying to figure out a way to piece together an article on the topic of the crazy amount of infrastructure work and repair going on around the city at the hands of DPW, contractors and utility companies.  I've felt challenged to write something that wouldn't overwhelm readers with information, street names, company names and pictures.  But last night while walking on Warren Street, I came across something that may help encapsulate at least some of the situation that Hudson finds itself in this year with regards to infrastructure issues.  

In a HUDseen article from nearly one year ago on the same topic*, I made the following premise: We seem to be at a critical stage with our old, neglected and abused infrastructure. This still seems to be true. The trouble never seems to end, and all the rain we now get is likely a big cause of the problem. We live on a planet that consists mainly of water, and trying to tame water is a fool's errand. Concrete and asphalt are no match for the wet stuff in the long run. Our DPW can barely keep up with the repairs.

It's Time To Pray To Allah Again ...

... while once again parking in a signed NO PARKING ZONE along a bright yellow curb (aka, NO PARKING ZONE) every weekday for at least one hour.  ALLAH AKBAR!

We Reap What DPW Sows

Late this morning, it was clear to me that someone from the DPW Water Department (aka, the Department of Public Works Water Department) had been on State Street earlier maintaining fire hydrants with a weed whacker.  The dead giveaway was all the grass, weeds and dirt they left on the sidewalk and in the street, opting not to tidy up after themselves.  There probably wasn't a broom and bucket available in the truck even if the worker had wanted any tools to clean up his mess in the sidewalk and street.  

The Co-Opting and Disregard Of Oakdale Park Continues

Let The Digging Begin To Replace Something Important That Our DPW Superintendent Was Apparently Completely Unaware Of Until Recently

During the DPW portion of this month's informal council meeting, Robert Perry, via Zoom of course, informed the council and the public that Colarusso and Sons had won the bid for the "Union Street sewer replacement project."  He then went on to say this about the large project:  "This project should get moving pretty quickly, probably sometime in July and hopefully we should be done about September or October.  This is the new sewer main on Union Street to eliminate the storm backups that take place in a couple of houses in the middle of the block."  Colarusso was granted the project with a bid of close to $800,000.  July through October is a duration of 3-4 months.

BOOM BOOM CRASH CRASH! Welcome To Your New Home! Do Not Complain!

On Saturday afternoon, after emerging from the woods behind Oakdale Lake and onto the DSS driveway, I heard the unmistakable sound of drums ahead of me.  I assumed it was the marching band practicing in the Firestation parking lot, but it turned out not to be.  When I reached the Firestation, I could hear the crash of cymbals and the boom of a bass drum further south on 7th Street as if there was live music at the Depot Brewery.  Sure enough, there was a rock band playing at the brewery, with drums, electric amplified instruments and an amplified voice.  Except that the drummer and his kit were not inside the building with the others.  That band member and his instrument were actually situated outside the building underneath a tent beyond the back door, with the rest of the band presumably just inside the door.  Anyone standing outside, even on the street, could hear little else than the drums.  Boom Boom Boom Crash Crash Crash Boom Boom. 

I'm thinking that the drummer was set up outside for a reason or two (I've noticed the same thing during other live shows at the brewery).  Either the space inside is not large enough to accommodate the entire band or the drums inside would drown out the rest of the band and be too loud for patrons.  Of course, the drummer was wailing away on his kit no more than 50 feet away from the 63-unit apartment building being built directly behind him.  

The outside drummer, taking a break 
(his kit is obscured by the car)

Won't the sounds of future drummers outside the brewery be too loud for the tenants in the 63-unit apartment building situated less than a stone's throw away?  Will Galvan or the brewery owners figure out a way to keep the doors closed during live shows with the drummers inside the building by the time the enormous multi-story apartment building next door is ready to be occupied?  Or will the brewery just have to stop offering live music on the weekends?  Or will Galvan have a special stipulation in every tenant's lease agreement?  Something like:  Live amplified music with outside drumming performed by possibly the region's worst cover bands must be tolerated by all tenants during certain weekend live music events next door at the Depot Brewery.  One complaint about noise from said live music will immediately null and void this lease agreement and tenants must leave the premises within one week.  Close your windows or leave town for the weekend if you do not want to be bothered by possibly the region's worst cover bands that go really heavy on the drums.  You have been forewarned.

You know, that's not out of the realm of possibilities from Galvan, now is it?

"Oh, Boy"? "Oh, Too Bad"? WTF!

There were a few instances during the most recent Informal Common Council meeting worth highlighting that show the depths of Robert Perry's childish, damaging nonsense.  It's almost unbelievable to me the things I hear from this man's mouth, even and especially during public meetings.  He has no shame or sense of decency.  He is an embarrassment and, dare I say, he would probably have been shown the door long ago if he worked for any other municipality.  Honestly, what Robert Perry brings to the table, so to speak, is disgusting and pathetic.  And so-called Council "President" Tom Depietro has no issue with Perry's behavior, merely encouraging more of it. 

"Early May"? How About Early July?

As Hudseen reported on in mid-April, DPW Superintendent Robert Perry told the council in early April that "Mullen should be wrapping up on Warren Street in early May."  Then why did Mullen begin digging up the south side of the 300 block of Warren today, in late June?

The Long Game Of Whack-a-Hole Has Begun. Hudson Will Likely Not Win.

In recent weeks, I've noticed 3 sinkholes forming along the recently repaved area of the north side of the 400 block of Warren Street.  The paving work was done by a company out of Troy called Bob Talham, Inc., one of National Grid's many subcontractors who are all part of National Grid's natural gas pipe replacement project ordered by the State Department of Public Service.  For what it's worth, Talham's rating on Google is less than two stars out of five.  They do not have a good reputation as a quality paver, and it is already showing on our streets.  I have seen some other shoddy work of theirs elsewhere in town having nothing to do with National Grid's project.   It must be stated clearly:  The City of Hudson did not hire Talham, Inc. to repave our streets.  Rather, National Grid hired them to repave our streets and we will have to live with and likely repair their work for a long time to come.  

Scenes At The New Entrance To Our Most Popular Park

I came across this scene a few weeks ago in the entrance to Promenade Park.  The water fountain was on, its push button seemingly stuck.  3 hours later, the water was still flowing, so I forced the button out to stop the waste.

The Eternal Question: Does Robert Perry Or Anyone At City Hall Care?

I would guess that most Hudson residents have never had to cross a street on foot at the Stewart's intersection, nor likely will ever have to do so.  They are the lucky ones.  For the unfortunate few who have had to cross a street at our busiest and most pedestrian-unfriendly intersection along the truck route, they might recall how bad the sidewalk and curb ramp at the northeast corner was before the so-called improvements to the intersection were made late last year.  In short, there was little to no ramp or sidewalk to speak of as a result of all the turning vehicles off of 23B/Green Street westbound onto Fairview northbound that made their way onto the sidewalk for a second or two.  The sidewalk/ramp was a battered, destroyed, ugly mess.  Then, in August, at long last, new concrete was poured for curb cuts and sidewalks at the intersection, including at the worst, most abused, neglected and tripping hazard-filled corner.  Smooth at last!  Respectable!  Safe!  Friendly!  I knew that it would not last long.

The Residents of Hudson Deserve Better Than This! Especially The Children!

So far this year, the water in the swimming area at Oakdale Lake is as unwelcoming as I have ever seen it.  Even as hot as it has been lately, I have had no desire to jump in to cool off.  I'm thinking that I am not the only one who feels this way.

Quiz Time Again!

Q:  What color car is most likely to be in accidents?

With Great Power (and Light) Comes Great Responsibility! Even Here In Hudson?

Work is progressing slowly but surely on the approximately 175 streetlights along and near Warren Street as National Grid's lighting contractor replaces the energy-sucking incandescent bulbs with more efficient but annoyingly bright LED bulbs.  DPW has always been responsible for the maintenance of the black plastic lampposts (though you wouldn't know it!), but now they are also responsible for the maintenance of the bulbs at the top.  (The picture above shows a lamppost on 7th Street freshly equipped with LED bulbs.)

National Grid's contractor is making sure that there is no ambiguity about this shifting of responsibility by placing a sticker that says as much at the base of each newly LED-equipped post.  They clearly don't want anyone notifying them anymore about our dead streetlights.  

I Feel So Reassured. Don't You Too?

This is what I came across today on and in front of the Assessor's Office in Hudson City Hall in the year 2024.  I'm not sure how long the hand truck has been blocking the door, but I know for a fact that the lovely sign has been taped to the door for at least two years.  The area seems to be a dumping ground for items with nowhere else to go, like a closet or the unused bank vault 3 feet away.

May "Was A Very Good Month" For Noise, Toxins In Our Lungs and Street and Infrastructure Damage!

During the DPW portion of last weeks' informal council meeting, Superintendent Robert Perry began, as usual, by offering the amount of money his department took in last month from septic companies dumping their waste at the city's wastewater treatment plant on Dock Street. He said that at over $54,000, May was "one of our highest months to date." (Monthly "septic revenue" is typically in the low 40's.)  Mr. Perry then concluded, "It was a very good month."  He did not bother mentioning the number of septic trucks that each had to twice drive through the city last month.  How convenient!  (He could have offered that number, of course.)

Our 3rd Ward Exemplar, Helping Bring All Of Hudson Into The 21st Century! (You'd Think He Would Give A Crap)

While viewing last week's informal Common Council meeting on my laptop, I noticed that my two 3rd ward council representatives were in attendance -- Shershah Mizan attending in person at City Hall and Lola Roberts "attending" via a screen.  I didn't hear either one of them say anything of importance or ask any questions of any department heads (forgive me if I missed when they opened their mouths to offer anything of import if they did).  I also didn't hear any council members bring up the issue of the missing NO TURN ON RED sign at the Stewart's corner, an issue that seems to have been dropped altogether among all the other distractions the poor members are facing.  It's like a never-ending deluge as they are struggling to tread water and keep their heads from sinking!   Let me tell you -- it ain't pretty!  Many appear to have just given up.

I Finally Saw What I Was Expecting To See

I would have given fifty dollars to be in the room when the discussion of creating the new handicap parking space with a ramp in front of City Hall took place last year or the year before.  I would have been listening for any dissent from the participants when the realization that the entire sidewalk in front of City Hall would have to be narrowed to 5 feet wide rather than the 10 feet of width it has been forever.  Did anyone offer some pushback and common sense?  Such as: "This is the stupidest, most unnecessary, dangerous idea I have ever heard of!  It sets a horrible example, the DOJ would probably not approve, and it should not happen.  The city attorney should be consulted first, and the entire council should be made aware of this before we proceed any further with this horrible idea.  This does not need to happen, and it should not happen!  The handicap parking space can and should be in line with the other parking spaces all along the sidewalk!"  

It's Even More Bush League Than I Thought!

During the HPD portion of last week's Informal Common Council meeting, Police Chief Mishanda Franklin told the council and the public that she was interviewing candidates for the position of a parking enforcer since an enforcer had "unfortunately quit" last month.  While Mishanda didn't mention if she had posted the job opening on the city's website, she did mention that she had posted it on Indeed.com.  Of course, Indeed is not free.

The position Mishanda is trying to fill is not currently, nor has it ever been, posted on the city's own website.  According to the difficult-to-find JOBS & VOLUNTEERING page found on the ABOUT HUDSON page of the city's website, the only currently available position at City Hall is that of a dispatcher at HPD, a job that apparently still remains unfilled after at least 8 months.  It is not unusual of late to call HPD and be greeted by a regular police officer, though I'm pretty sure that one new dispatcher was hired recently.  Whatever the case, that posting has been up about as long as the Missing Person Advisory flashing at the top of the main page.  Welcome to Hudson!

This Happens ALL THE TIME! Do You Think Anyone At City Hall Cares?

Another tractor trailer headed west on the Alternate Truck Route (ATR)!  This driver knew exactly where he was going, and this was probably his 600th time making a delivery or pickup in Hudson using State Street.

Check out the driver's preferred route...

They Went Looking For A Problem Below The Park...

... when all along a problem was in plain sight ABOVE the park, where toxic signs are sprouting like poisonous mushrooms on a Christmas tree stand in the pool of a former fountain in June of the year 2024 in a public space they once called the People's Square.

"It's More Like A Thunk"!

Two months ago, while gazing out the windows on the top floor of the Columbia County Mental Health Center at 325 Columbia Street, I decided that a picture of a passing truck 2 floors below in the distance might fit nicely in a future HUDseen article concerning the topic of our controversial and unwelcome truck route.  I took two pictures of trucks headed east on the truck route, the first being one of ADM's oddly shaped grain trucks headed to the plant in Greenport and the other of yet another tractor trailer just passing through Hudson to get somewhere else.  Both of them had several wheels and lots of rubber on the road.

More News About Lightbulbs. Our New Lightbulbs!

The ownership transition of Hudson's streetlights is in process, something City Hall has been talking about for years.  According to a National Grid worker I recently spoke with on Warren Street, once National Grid and their contractor switch all of the old incandescent lights out for LED's, our Department of Public Works will be responsible for the maintenance of all the lights, though National Grid will still own and maintain the poles.  I was told the transition should be completed in about two months.  (Hudson will continue to own and maintain the black streetlight poles not made of wood which are found on and near Warren Street.)

Who Ultimately Calls The Shots Inside Hudson City Hall? (Hint: It's Definitely NOT The Mayor! )

Show me a picture of another intersection anywhere in the United States with a bright white stop line without an associated stop sign and I will eat my favorite winter wool cap.  Go ahead, I dare you to find one for me!

Oh, That Sweet, Sweet Aroma Is Back!

As I ascended the stairs at Promenade Park yesterday afternoon, my nose caught the unmistakable scent I had first smelled there a few years ago in June.  There was no doubt about it, and I didn't have to see them -- the basswood trees were in bloom.  Lucky us!

My "Screwed Up Priorities"

On the morning of June 5th, I walked into the new Code Enforcement Office at 77 N. 7th Street to see if anyone there had pursued my recent complaint to the CEO about my neighbor's overgrown grass and weeds that have not been cut once this year.

What About All Those Lightbulbs At The Pocketbook Factory? Are They Still On 24/7?

Now that HUDseen has been at it for well over one year, I thought I would occasionally revisit one-year-old articles to let readers know where things stand now and what has and hasn't changed regarding the issue or issues 12 months later.   There are SO many issues to keep track of these days in Hudson, the last thing that we should do is just eventually forget about them all. 

We've Gone Ten Years Without The Ferry Street Bridge ...

... and NOW we get the detour signs and all the bloody cones?  For how many months?  Or will it be years?

At Least The Trail Isn't Completely Washed Out (For Now) [with update]

It always pains me to write or say this: The Hudson Youth Department is responsible for maintaining all of Oakdale Park.  Yes, all of Oakdale Park -- including the trails, the lake and the beach -- all year long.  Not DPW, but Liz York's Youth Department.

"Excuse Me, Sir, Do You Know Where I Can Park My Car To Visit The Hudson Code Enforcement Office?"

"Yes. Over there in the dirt lot across the street where there are plenty of parking spaces for you to choose from!"

Who, What and Where Are DPW's Priorities?

Late this past Wednesday afternoon, I counted 94 potholes on the pavement of the (private) property surrounding the Antiques Warehouse building that had been filled earlier that day by our Department of Public Works.  As HUDseen saw on Tuesday and reported on Wednesday, DPW had filled several dozen potholes found primarily along the driveway of the south side of the building and in the southern portion of the parking lot in front.  But DPW's diligent work on Tuesday continued well after I had left the area, covering the entire driveway to the exit at 9G, the entire front parking lot and around the northwest corner of the building where vehicles head to the Hudson Brewery on the north side of the building. 

Now Serving At Return Brewing, Once Again: Blocked Sidewalk With A Pint Of "Go To Hell, We Don't Care!"

Good News For A Change!

It took City Hall exactly 7 years to the month to tape a handwritten sign to the lovely garbage bag vending machine in front of City Hall. The long wait was worth it, don't you think?

How Many HPD Officers In How Many Patrol Vehicles Does It Take To Get A Car Towed?

 

It's been a few years since the City of Hudson stopped BOOTing vehicles with outstanding parking tickets.  Apparently, according to the City Clerk, it was too difficult, if not impossible, to do because of poor communication between the Parking Bureau administrator and the city's parking software system. (We are now on board with a new system.)  But, it turns out, if there is a car parked in the way of a parade, HPD is ready, willing and able get a tow truck on the scene in a jiffy to get the car removed - no BOOT necessary.  Of course, it takes practically half of the entire police force in several vehicles to get the seemingly simple task accomplished.

Who Actually Pulls (and Hangs) The Strings In Hudson?

  

Notice that nowhere on the banner is there any indication or implication that today's Hudson Flag Day Parade is "brought to you by The City of Hudson."  Apparently, our friends at Galvan and Colarusso are taking care of EVERYTHING!  Isn't that sweet of them?

Can You Imagine...

 

... if this were the situation on every block in the city year after and Code Enforcement allowed it by doing nothing about it year after year?

Where Is That Door Anyway? Surely It Can Be Found SOMEWHERE!

I can only assume that all HUDseen readers, like me, are aware that there is only one Hudson Department of Public Works (DPW) office and that it is located on the second floor of City Hall at the top of the stairs. (If not, now you are!). 

The City Ordered A Flatbed Trailer For The Flag Day Parade. How Do You Suppose It Arrived On Front Street?

Why, of course, by way of the Alternative Truck Route (ATR)!!!  And possibly from the State of Maine!!!

Why Was A Hudson DPW Crew Of 4 Filling Dozens Of Potholes On Private Property Yesterday Morning?

First of all, I want to make two things absolutely clear for the purposes of this article.  First, someone, or some group of people, who goes by the name of South 99 LLC has owned the former L & B Factory since 2013, a property technically known as 99 South 3rd Street and familiarly known as the Antiques Warehouse for the past several years.  The City of Hudson does not own the former L & B Factory nor the parking lots and driveways surrounding the large building.  It is all private property and the owner is responsible for the maintenance of everything.  There can be no disputing this!

Second, with this article, I am not out to get anyone fired, in trouble, thrown under the bus or dragged in the mud.  If it happens, then so be it.  I am here to report what I saw and the facts surrounding what I saw that I think the general public and the Hudson Common Council should be made aware of.  I do not write this easily or lightly.  

The laborers at Hudson DPW are a tough, reliable bunch and they mostly do good work, at least as far as I can tell.  Yes, I am often unimpressed with their work, but I have lots of respect for them and know that they are simply doing what they are told to do and trained to do.  But I am absolutely convinced that there is something rotten above them directed their way.  If there is malfeasance at the top of DPW, well, the truth should come out and there should be corrective actions taken and certain people should be held to account for their actions.  This is not a novel idea in the history of local government.  City Hall (the mayor?), including the Common Council, should react swiftly, forcefully and appropriately to the circumstances surrounding scene I witnessed yesterday and not, as it tends to do, just bury its collective heads in the sand to allow the poor optics, possible malfeasance and misspending of money to continue.  A dysfunctional, poorly run city that continually wastes money and has little to no accountability is going absolutely nowhere but backwards and is likely headed for an ignominious, disastrous fall.  I say this is in all seriousness.  Things appear to be getting out of hand at City Hall, particularly at DPW.  But that's just my view from the street.

The Way I Figure It

A mayor who is comfortable with reading gibberish on the door next to his every time he enters his own office for years and years...

Just In Case You Were Wondering, As I Was ...

No electricity, no petrol!  Get on your
bicycle and ride right on by!

... YES, digital gasoline pumps require electricity from the power grid.

And NO, gasoline is not available when the power goes out, as it did for about two hours this morning.

At least this was the case at the Green Street Speedway station this morning.  Would it be, or have been, true at Stewart's and Lucky's as well?

Part-Time Code Enforcement Just Ain't Cuttin' It Anymore!

According to the City of Hudson's website, the Code Enforcement Office is open to the public Monday-Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm.  However, when head Code Enforcement Officer Craig Haigh is on vacation or otherwise out of the office for a day or more, his department is open for just 4 hours.  This will be the case for the next 5 days.

Wouldn't It Be So Hilarious!

I've heard and read that National Grid's new plastic natural gas pipes which they are burying around town are expected to be transporting gas for the next one hundred years, about as long as the metal pipes they are replacing have lasted.  I don't know how anyone would be able to determine that buried plastic pipes carrying natural gas can last a century, but whatever.  Welcome to the 21st century, where metal is out and plastic is everywhere, seen and unseen.  We'll just have to hope that one of humanity's most environmentally destructive, unhealthy and problematic manufactured substances holds up well for us as it sits a few feet under our streets and sidewalks.  For a really, really long time.