A Lot Of Explaining And Repair Work Is In Order. Already!

Sometime in November of last year, give or take 4 months ago, the contractor who the city hired to do the DRI work on the city's west end finally put down new concrete sidewalk curb ramps (and beyond) on all 4 corners at the intersection of 1st & Warren.  The job there, from ripping up the sidewalk to replacing it, TOOK FAR TOO LONG TO COMPLETE and was the first red flag of their project.  (Actually, the intersection is still missing 4 permanent stop signs!)

Whenever possible, pouring concrete in the cold is best to be avoided.  Wet concrete needs warmth to cure properly for a long life of being walked on and subject to the elements.  Concrete that does not harden quickly is a weak and imperfect end product.  It doesn't take a professional paver to know this.  Luizzi's timing for their concrete work was the second red flag of their project.

I recently spoke with one of the long-time owners of 102 Warren Street, the brick house with the store front at the northwest corner.  Let's just say that the owners, who live there, are not at all happy about the work Luizzi left on their sidewalk late last year.  Any property owner would be equally upset, possibly infuriated.  (I could give details that would shock you, but maybe at a later time.) 

The evidence of awful concrete work that is already apparent on two of the intersection's corners should be concerning to every resident and taxpayer in the City of Hudson.  But, in the bigger picture of paid contractors working on our infrastructure (even beyond DRI), we should all be concerned whether Kamal Johnson, Rob Perry and the few people on the Public Works Board are even aware of the shit work that Luizzi is leaving us with, or if they are one bit concerned about it if they are aware.  Because the cracks in the new concrete sidewalk are nothing but the third set of RED FLAGS at the intersection, these ones huge. 

Within four months of a new sidewalk being installed, we have this:

What do you suppose the concrete at all four corners will look and feel like 6 months, one year, or five years from now?  How well will Luizzi's concrete curb ramps hold up one block away at 3rd Street where they just began work last week?  How about the long new sidewalk of theirs on the west side of Front Street, and the new curb ramps at intersections on the east side of Front, including Cross, Allen and Union?  If and when all that concrete starts cracking and coming apart in chunks, will (can) the city force Luizzi to come back to replace their shit work?  Do they guarantee their work for a certain number of months or years -- is a quality guarantee even part of the contract they signed with the city?  And who the hell will be responsible to repair/replace a failing sidewalk resulting from the DRI contractor's shit work, perhaps 4 months or 4 years after a sidewalk was created?  Would the property owner be responsible, or would it be the city with their so-called "sidewalk district," a scheme which, if we are lucky, may become a reality in 2035?  And who would be hired to remove the failed and dangerous sidewalk and replace it with something decent, whoever does the hiring?  Would it be a paving contractor not named Luizzi who, if there is one in the area, actually knows what they are doing and guarantees their concrete sidewalk work?

TIME TESTED?  BY WHOM?

Go to Luizzi's website to see if you can find any references to their expertise in CONCRETE or CREATING SIDEWALKS.  (Hint: Don't bother, you won't find a thing).  What you will find are references to "asphalt paving services" and plenty of pictures of dark-colored streets and parking lots made of asphalt.  But no concrete sidewalks.  You will also be able to read all about their "reliable snow plowing services."

None of this should be acceptable to anyone at City Hall!  Kamal Johnson and Rob Perry should hold a public meeting (in person only!) where a representative from Luizzi answers questions and does some explaining.  That'll be the day!