Farmers Market or Circus On Pavement With Flying Flames?

 

I wonder if the county government
would have approved of this.

This past Saturday.  

Word On The Street (Lower Warren, Specifically) Doesn't Look Good For Luizzi. Or For Us!

A few days ago, I had a chat with an acquaintance who lives on lower Warren and who is very familiar with the DRI work being done in his neighborhood by the paving contractor, Luizzi.  He told me (and I have no reason not to believe him) that he was told by a reliable source that Hudson City Hall recently told Luizzi that if the DRI project is not finished by the end of June (today), they will be fined $1,000 a day until it is finished.

This Happens Far Too Often!!! And It Is Worsening! Does Rob Perry Care? Does Kamal Johnson Care?

 

Yesterday afternoon while in my car, waiting second in line on North 4th Street at Columbia for the red light to turn green, I noticed something that no longer surprises me.  

The situation in Hudson with wrong way drivers has gotten completely out of hand.  City Hall yawns.  

Surrounded By Slobs, At Least One Who Loves To Offer Nonstop Nonsense!

This was what I came across yesterday morning at the southeast corner of 2nd & Warren: A cone directly in the middle of the sidewalk on top of bricks that are not yet completely installed, and a brand-new stop sign post 45 inches from the edge of the curb that someone will surely walk into sooner or later.  At least the intersection's four temporary stop signs are finally gone!

You Know We Have A Serious Problem At City Hall...

 

... when a contractor can do something like this without consequence.

In Lieu of This Month's Parking Study Committee Meeting...

 

...at least we got this spray-painted circle in the City Hall parking lot.  Now that's what I call progress!

"Slow Drivers Down"? In Hudson? On Front Street?

That's what Luizzi's safety employee told me this morning that the three arrows now found at the intersection of Front & Warren are intended to do.  Yes, to "slow drivers down!"  I didn't see any vehicles slowing down or hitting the brakes as they went through the intersection.

Cleanin' Up The City! Takin' Out The Trash! At Long Last! And With A Smile!

 

click for one more picture:

WTFF!

 

No turns allowed?  That's right, drive straight into the park!  Each and every one of you!  If you turn, you may be ticketed for dangerous driving!

Good Riddance To You, Kamal Johnson. For Six Years You Failed To Uphold One Of Life's Most Basic and Important Maxims.

 

LEAVE THINGS BETTER THAN YOU FOUND THEM!

How's That Ill Advised Pocketbook Factory Project Coming Along?

It's been quite a while since HUDseen has focused on the Pocketbook Factory project on North 6th Street, so I thought it was time to have a look at the ambitious development that will transform the neighborhood primarily in negative ways.  It seems to be rolling along lately without the pauses that were common last year and the year before.  I won't call it progress, though.

There's been plenty of noise daily, plenty of guys in hard hats, plenty of beep beeps from machinery backing up (even on Sundays), plenty of stones and mud in the street on both Prospect and on 6th, new windows have been installed, a series of dumpster at the southeast corner have been filling up quickly (some with scraps if you want wallboard, as in picture), trucks block the intersection, and the lovely chain link fence along what was once a sidewalk is still looking so neighborly and inviting (not to mention annoying if you park next to it and need to use a passenger side door).  But most telling, perhaps, is that the developers continue to make sure the hundreds of lightbulbs inside the expansive 4-story building remain on at night.  That makes me think they aren't going to run out of money anytime soon. 

Be Concerned. Be Very Concerned. No Matter Where You Live, But Particularly If You Live In Or Near The 200 Block Of State Street.

The lead picture looks frighteningly similar to one featured in a HUDseen article from last summer, doesn't it?  See and read about it (and also the same from a year previous) here: is that a fire hydrant in there?

There are three FIRE HYDRANTS in the 200 block of State Street.  Here's what they look like, from east to west:

Ten Solid Reasons To Have Pride In Our City, Kamal Johnson, Rob Perry And Our Department of Public Waste

24 hours after the Hudson Pride Parade festivities ended, and several hours after DPW had removed all the orange NO PARKING signs from Warren Street yesterday morning, it took me no more than fifteen minutes to find and photograph ten discarded strands of multiple disposable plastic zip ties that had secured the signs to poles for no more than 48 hours.  It was no "accident" that they were all dropped or thrown into the street by a DPW worker or workers.  This is how Rob Perry's DPW operates.  He is a slob, and he allows, perhaps even encourages, the same from his workers.

Who Is The Director of Public Communications At Hudson City Hall?

Just over one month ago, I successfully appealed one of two parking tickets HPD had issued my car in January (neither of them being the one shown above***).  The two appeals both took place on the same day in front of City Judge John Connor in what is known as the Parking Bureau's "Level 2 Appeal" which anyone can opt for following denials of original written appeals to the bureau (which the City Attorney ultimately handles).  City Attorney Andy Howard was there in court, representing the Hudson Parking Bureau, as he tried to persuade the judge that I should pay both $15 tickets. (How much do you suppose the city paid Andy to do this?)  I showed up with pictures and tons of evidence to counter Andy's claims, accomplishing half of what I set out to do.  Howard and I were finished for the day in court and shook hands outside before we went about our days.

Security or Dangerous, Militaristic Nuisance?

 

Could The $10,000 Parking Kiosks Be On Their Way? Or Is It Just Hopscotch Time?

 

Could this really be the place where Jen Belton, Mishanda Franklin, Tom Depietro and the rest of the parking kiosk gurus are planning on installing a kiosk and a pair of signs for the city's parking lot located next to MOTO? Not inside the lot, but on the sidewalk where people tend to be found walking -- often in droves -- and where the kiosk and signs will be in the way, more so if someone is using the kiosk!

This Is How Recycling Works In Hudson? This Is Rob Perry's Idea Of Proper Waste Management?

 

Today is recycling day on the city's north side, a day late because of yesterday's holiday.  Yesterday was the day to place your waste-filled fast-food bags on the ground for DPW to "recycle" for you today.  No questions asked.  No inspection necessary.  The DPW crew will just bend over and pick up every little bag of fast-food waste that you leave on the ground and throw it in the truck with all the other recycling headed for the recycling pile at the County transfer station.  Thank you for recycling so respectfully.  It really helps them out considerably!

How Much Is The DPW Budget? How Much Did It Increase This Year? How Much...

... did Rob Perry take home last year? (Last I checked, it was at least $123,000!)  What is Kamal Johnson's salary? ($75,000, I believe.)  How much did property taxes rise this year so that the increased city budget, including DPW's budget, could be covered?  How much longer can we go on like this?

Several weeks ago, I conducted a little experiment to see how well or poorly our Department of Public Works is on top of things.  Call it the DPW budget and attention test.  They failed.  Miserably.  And they're still failing.  Miserably.  Apparently, their budget and Rob Perry's salary are still not high enough for them to pay attention or attend to the most basic of tasks we expect of them.

Something We Should All Be Able To Get Behind -- But Soon!

As many or all HUDseen readers may know, National Grid has two proposals in front of the NY State Public Service Commission to raise their rates for the electricity and natural gas they provide us.  If you don't want your gas and electric bills to raise at least 20 percent without any improvements in services from National Grid, I suggest you fill out a comment form and submit it to the PSC.  You have until June 30th to make your voice heard, and below I have provided links to the pages necessary to do so.

No F'ng Warning? No One Paying Attention Again?

 

The local contractor dealing with pipes below the 500 block of State Street at Dodge Street left one lane of traffic yesterday afternoon when they packed up for the day.  There is not one sign anywhere east or west of the narrowed-to-a-single-lane construction site with two huge holes in the street warning drivers of what lies ahead.  On the State Street Speedway at a fucking intersection, all night in the dark as well!  And we'll probably have the same thing tonight. 

More On Those Homeland Security Street Barriers and Our "High Security" Flag Day Parade

On Sunday morning, the day after Flag Day festivities here in Hudson, I took a ride around to do my best to count the number of street vehicle barriers that were used for the two-hour parade (or does it last just one hour?).  I found 16 of the black barriers scattered around, though there certainly could have been more of them.  I came across a DPW crew of two, including the DPW foreman (second in command), loading a few barriers onto the special barrier trailer at 4th & Warren.  That trailer, it turns out, is sold by the same company that sells the barriers. 

This is a picture of the license plate on the trailer.

A City Cannot Function Properly If Its Own Code Is An Antiquated Mess Full Of Falsehoods and Backwards Nonsense! Here Are Just Two Examples of How Screwed Up Things Are.

 

1)  I don't know if the city has ever had a traffic engineer, but I can tell you that in the past ten years it has not had one.  Lord knows we could use one, though!  Instead, we rely on our so-called Police Commissioner, Shane Bower, to supposedly be our traffic safety expert and decision maker.  But he never shows up to Common Council meetings; he doesn't have an office in City Hall or at 701 Union, nor a city-issued phone (or anything city-issued, as far as I can tell); the Chief of Police and the Police Captain have both explained in no uncertain terms to the council on several occasions that "the police commissioner does not work for HPD; he works for city administration;" and I've never heard Shane Bower or his two predecessors referred to as the city's traffic engineer.  Probably because he isn't, and they weren't, our traffic engineer.  Because we don't have one, even though our code says we do. 

Foxes Among Us (Though, Sadly, One Fewer).

I came across this roadkill between the lakes this morning.  It was definitely not a cat or dog, appearing to be a very young red fox.  I moved it into the shoulder. 

Flag Day Parade Preparation Or NO KINGS Protest Preparation?

This morning at 7th & Warren, I watched for more than five minutes as three DPW workers, two HPD detectives and one cop removed three incredibly heavy metal street barriers from a special hydraulic trailer (likely rented) attached to a DPW pickup truck that was completely and unnecessarily blocking the crosswalk area.

The DPW pickup and special trailer then moved on to another corner to drop off more of the street barriers, apparently provided to us by Homeland Security.

Luizzi Lied. Say It Ain't So!

According to our Mayoral Aide and ADA Coordinator, Justin Weaver, the lazies at Luizzi assured him last week that the permanent stop signs on Warren at 2nd, 1st and Front would be in the ground by today, the day before the Flag Day parade down Warren.  At the same Public Works Board meeting, Justin said there was a chance that the long-awaited opening of the Ferry Street bridge could happen "by Flag Day."  Then there's Justin's boss, Kamal "Help, I'm Way Out Of My League" Johnson, who recently tried his best to put together a "working group" to come to some sort of compromise between the city and Colarusso and their dock operation.  They basically told him and his working group to go to hell. 

A Quick and Simple Primer On Climate Change and Air Pollution

(as seen at a local gasoline station)

 

Do Not Vote For This Person! Do Not Let Your Friends Or Family Members Vote For Him! Say "NAE"!

 

Dear Neighbors of the sprawling 3rd ward: 

If you know what is good for ALL residents of Hudson, including you and your neighbors, you will do your best to keep Shershah Mizan off this fall's ballot for a seat on the Common Council.  He is a worthless phony, and EVERYTHING he claims on his slick two-sided flyer is COMPLETE BULLSHIT.  The flyer you likely recently received from him in the mail is a carbon copy of the useless flyer he sent out two years ago, and there is as little to believe on it now as there was then.

"You Know, The Usual Places."

It's difficult for me to put in words how strongly I feel about how broken and dangerous Hudson is (oh, how I've tried!), but the three-car crash at 8:00 this morning at 6th & Columbia was another reminder of how truly fucked up things are at City Hall.   

Welcome To The New Parking Bureau! The Hospital Is Just A Few Blocks Away!

 

The Bane of the 7th Street Park Is Due In City Court Tomorrow. Yet Again!

In New York State, Rape in the First Degree is the most serious of the three degrees of rape. It is a Class B Violent Felony that can get you 25 years in prison.

Michael Madison is now scheduled to be in front of Judge Roberts tomorrow to answer for at least one charge of Rape in the First Degree (there seems to be an additional rape charge since yesterday).  I do not know what, if anything, transpired in front of Judge Connor yesterday.  My guess is that Madison was a no-show, probably refusing to leave his prison cel, something he has done before. 

Would This Have Been Tolerated At 5th & Warren For 8 Months?

At the June 5th Public Works Board meeting, Justin Weaver announced that he had been reassured by Luizzi, the DRI paving contractor, that they would be installing permanent stop signs at several intersections, including four at the intersection of 1st & Warren, "sometime between June 9th and June 13th." He added, "Yes, that will be happening next week."  Before announcing the details and after saying "the stop signs," at least two members, including 1st ward council member and Public Works Board head Gary Purnhagen, laughed.  Gary, I believe, lives in the 100 block of Warren.  Apparently, he finds the temporary signs to be hilarious and would be okay if they stuck around ON THE FUCKING SIDEWALKS AND IN THE STREET for another year or two.

It Must Be Nice To Be Loaded With Money, Entitlement and Disrespect!

According to the city's online parking ticket portal, this BMW has been ticketed five times in the past three weeks.  Three of those tickets were for Parking In A Fire Zone, which carries a fee of $50.  All three of those tickets were issued when the car was blocking the same fire hydrant, the one at the northwest corner of 6th & Long Alley that is surrounded by yellow curb.  The third ticket was issued last night, 40 minutes after I called HPD. 

When Will It End? When We Run Out Of Money, Or When His Liver Stops Functioning?

Michael Madison, the bane of the 7th Street Park, was released from the county jail sometime in early May, about a month ago.  This morning, he was due in front of City Court Judge John Connor to answer for the charge of rape which, as far as I can tell, he was arraigned for this past Saturday at 6:27 pm.  Madison has been in jail since then with a bail that was set by Connor at $25,000.

Who Isn't Able To Pay Attention? Rob Perry, Shane Bower or Kamal Johnson? Or Is It All 3 Of Them?

 

As part of their DRI work, Luizzi finished installing the new sidewalk on the east side of South Front Street between Allen and Cross Streets at least 6 months ago.  They probably ripped out the old (and horribly dangerous) sidewalk a month before that.  Since then, however, including this past Saturday, cars have been allowed to park along the 100 feet of curb south of Allen that had been painted yellow, as well as parking in the 5 spaces 100 feet north of where a NO PARKING HERE TO CORNER sign once stood that Luizzi removed before they ripped out the sidewalk.  Luizzi removed the sign and the 100 feet of yellow curb last year but have not replaced either one by early June.  In other words, cars are parking legally where they were not allowed to park as recently as 8 months ago on a hill at a bend at a busy intersection where the street is further narrowed by construction AT THE INTERSECTION!  Sounds like just the "revitalization" we all need (and spent millions on)!  Yeah, the same old crap.

Not To Worry, HPD Is ON IT. ON FAKEBOOK, That Is!

 

FOR MORE PICTURES AND COMMENTARY HIGHLIGHTING THE ABSURDITY OF HPD'S FB POST, CLICK BELOW.

He's "OUT," She's "Not Getting Answers" and We're Screwed! All Bad Signs!

If there is one positive thing about our good old fashioned parking meters (and there is more than one), it is this:  THEY DON'T REQUIRE SIGNS. Not one! Meters act as their own signs.  They are basically self-explanatory, and what little information anyone needs to know about a parking meter is written on it (or should be).  No signage is needed to direct someone to a parking meter -- they are always right there next to every metered parking space.  No questions, no ambiguity, and no signs (or poles) to purchase, install (in concrete), maintain (graffiti, cars hitting them, fading) or to replace.  Ever.  And, of course, like everything else, signs and sign poles ain't cheap.  Parking meters help keep costs DOWN!

Sentence Structure, Grammar, Effective Communication and Helpfulness Are Not City Hall's Strengths. But Parking Sure Is! Welcome To Hudson!

 

This is the most recent ANNOUNCEMENT on the city's website.  Did Kamal Johnson have something to do with its creation?  Did he write it or just sign off on it?  How about letting people know that 701 Union is at the corner of 7th and Union Streets for those who don't know their way around Hudson?  And what the heck is a 701A anyway?

The coup is complete, or at least it seems as if it is.  The Hudson Police Department has taken over control of all parking matters.  Law enforcement can wait.  First, though, they have to find a clerk to handle all the tickets and money money money!  (Read carefully!)

HPD's Fakebook posting for the same position, which appeared before the posting on the city's website, still indicates a salary range of "$35,000 - $45,000."  Make up your mind, Mishanda!  How much will the clerk will be paid?

Big Hole$, Big Money Pit$!

Yesterday at 2 pm, I came across 8 DPW workers -- and just as many vehicles and pieces of machinery -- working in and around an enormous hole in the middle of South Front Street at the bottom of the hill by the train station.  They had all likely been there for hours, because the hole was pretty goddamn deep and wide.  8 workers, each making at least twenty dollars an hour, with most of them standing at the side of the hole looking in.

I Just Gotta Say....

...Last summer, one week before the Youth Department was forced to close down Oakdale Lake to humans and pets due to a bloom of toxic algae, HUDseen published a piece about the concerning situation with the lake.  That was in early August. 

Here we are just 10 months later, and the situation with the lake appears to be worse than it was last summer when HUDseen put out the warning that something was wrong and possibly dangerous with the water.  Yesterday, I published a similar, though less wordy, article.

Great News For A Change (But Don't Forget Your Aqua Hazmat Suit!)

 

I was told yesterday by soon-to-depart Youth Department Director and all-around nice person, Liz Yorck, that DEC's recent test of water from Oakdale Lake passed, allowing swimming in our only public swimming hole (at least for now).  Hooray! (Of course, this was not the case beginning early in August last year.)  Liz also informed me of something else I was not aware of: that lifeguards had been at the lake last weekend keeping an eye on things and that they would also be in their chairs this weekend and beyond.  I asked Liz if swimming was allowed with so much algae on the surface for swimmers to contend with, to which she responded that the algae was a sign of a healthy water ecosystem.  (The lead picture was taken yesterday, June 3rd.)

This Occurs Far Too Frequently in Our Tiny City, Particularly On 5th Street

DPW, HPD, the Mayor's Office and the Police Commissioner (who "doesn't work for the police department") are not doing enough to prevent wrong way drivers.  I guess they all look at it as part of the inescapable reality of having one-way streets.  It's not really a problem to anyone at City Hall, and nothing else can be done besides sticking with the existing small, often poorly located (or obscured), black and white ONE WAY signs.

It's The Quality Of DPW's Work And Their Follow Up That Is So Impressive! (Part TWO!)

 

LAST WEEK

Here is the top of the curb as seen late last year, a few months after DPW repainted the side and top of the curb for the 2nd time after first painting it yellow about a year and half ago.  

Sure, They're Real Cute and Fuzzy, Especially When They're Young. That Is Until...

... THEY EAT THE GARDEN VEGETABLE PLANTS YOU HAVE INVESTED SO MUCH TIME, THOUGHT AND MONEY INTO AND HOPED TO EAT ONE DAY!  THEN YOU WANT TO KILL THEM ALL!