If It Looks Like The Work Of An Unsafe Slob, Chances Are We Can Thank Rob!

You may remember that there was a two-vehicle crash at 4th & Warren a few months ago caused by a driver who ran a red light which resulted in a) a ground-based traffic light and pole being demolished; b) a pick-up truck that caught fire after plowing over the traffic light pole; c) serious damage to the iron fence in front of the HOME store along the sidewalk on Warren which stopped the truck form progressing any further (a tree was next in line and it was charred!); and d) several weeks with a missing traffic light (and pole) because Rob Perry was not prepared to replace a pole and traffic light on Warren Street, likely because he never imagined a vehicle could possibly do such damage to a pole and light standing a foot from the curb. (Vehicles never make their way onto the sidewalks in Hudson!).  In other words, Rob Perry was completely unprepared for a vehicle taking out one of our many ground-based traffic lights.  Why not just wait and see if it ever happens!  Hmmm... what else is he unprepared for that just about any other Public Works Department in the country would be?

During his DPW report a month or two after the "accident," our $117,000 DPW Superintendent mentioned that he was having difficulty getting the parts to replace the pole and light.  Of course, not one council member thought to ask Rob why he didn't have a pole and light ready to go and if he will be ready for the next pole and light that will someday surely need replacement.    

In other words, Rob Perry had not purchased a replacement pole and light in preparation of the inevitable (of course, it could have easily been two poles that were taken out by that pickup truck).  Apparently, our DPW Superintendent (what does that word even mean?) also had difficulty finding the removable metal plate/door that is supposed to cover the hole at the base of the pole, allowing access to the wires powering the important traffic light above and keeping debris, rain, snow and human fingers (especially of the smaller variety) out of the inside of the pole and anywhere near live wires.  

Actually, it turns out that Rob never found the plate, opting for fucking electrical tape instead.  That tape has held up really well and has looked so wonderful for months!  It's getting lovelier by the day, a sure sign of the work of a professional who takes their work seriously, don't you agree?!  

Most definitely our DPW's work,
with Rob Perry's stamp of approval!
This is the NEW pole we waited a month for?

Notice the snow (ice?) inside the pole among all the NEW colored live electric wires, just what Perry was intending when he installed a new traffic light pole along Warren Street!  I would love to hear him offer an explanation.  "Oh, it doesn't matter, easily accessible bases to streetlight poles and live wires are all over town.  We've never had a problem with this approach, plus the doors are really difficult to find and they never hold up for very long.  Tape is just easier.  We'll replace the tape tomorrow with more tape.  Would that be helpful?"

Oh, to be paid $117,000 to 
be a slob and a difficult person.
If we were all so fortunate!

While at that corner this morning taking pictures, I noticed that every stiff wind that blew shook the light at the top back and forth a few centimeters.  The pole was secure to the ground, but the light was not completely secure to the pole.  That, too, will get better by the day, especially considering how windy it is nowadays.  Maybe Rob is still looking for the missing bolt or two to keep the light from shaking back and forth so that eventually it doesn't fall off and hit someone in the head.  If that were to happen, how many months do you suppose it would take him to replace that light?  Would he take the blame for killing a pedestrian with blunt force traffic light trauma to the head?

At least three years!

 "We had a problem, blah blah blah, it's not my fault, blah blah blah, here's a picture, blah blah blah, we're waiting on a crucial part that is difficult to get and I never thought to have one on hand until now, blah blah blah, here's another picture of the problem that was not my fault.  Oh, and something happened to the wires at the base, they all seem to be corroded and failing already for reasons we are investigating.  I've asked HPD to help with the investigation, we are sure it must be vandalism.  Don't expect that light to be up and running again for a few months.  Let's hope the lack of a traffic light at that corner doesn't cause an accident.  That would be too bad, but it would not be my fault, of course...Blah blah blah!"

HUDSON, WE HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM.  NO ONE AT CITY HALL IS PAYING ATTENTION.  WE NEED TO GET RID OF THIS MAYOR AND FUTURE MAYORS. TELL YOUR WARD REPRESENTATIVES TO CHANGE OUR FORM OF GOVERNMENT TO INCLUDE A CITY MANAGER SO THAT BULSSHIT LIKE THIS STOPS.  THIS CAN'T BE ACCEPTABLE ANYMORE AND IT IS MUCH TOO COMMON!