In The Year 2525, If Hudson Is Still Alive!

Four or five years ago, while attending a meeting of the Columbia County Public Works Committee at 401 State, I asked Chairman Ron Knott when the county was going to replace the long stretch of longtime dangerous sidewalk in front of the county building at 610 State Street, a so-called pedestrian walkway that my neighbors and I are all too familiar with.  While I didn't laugh at Ron's response at the time (it was more of a groan), in retrospect it's comical (and SAD) to consider what he said well before the acronym SID came into existence.  In essence, Ron told me and the committee members in attendance, "We understand that the City of Hudson is going to be replacing all the sidewalks in town, so it isn't our plan to replace that sidewalk." Ron didn't say the sidewalk was damaged, dangerous or in need of replacement (nor did I ask if he felt it was), but his answer sure implied he felt that way, didn't it? 

Needless to say, the long, dangerous and ugly (asphalt patch, aka code violation) sidewalk in front of 610 State did not make it on the Public Works Board's SID list of just 8 sections of sidewalks -- which just the other day fell to 6 -- targeted for replacement this year. (Most of the choices the PWB made are not nearly as dangerous as 610 State's sidewalk is!)  I'm thinking that it's not on a county list either, particularly now that the building has been vacated and vehicles can no longer be seen parked in either parking lot.  The county big wigs and the employees who worked at 610 State are likely doing their best to forget about that old place that was built in 1866 and constantly being repaired recently. (Let me tell you, it was depressing in there, particularly the Probation Department offices.)  The county still isn't paying any taxes on the vacant, inactivated property that was most recently assessed by the city for $1.25 million, so why should we think that they will try to keep the building from falling into disrepair (more windows falling to the parking lots!), let alone make their sidewalks respectable and smooth for future generations of Hudson residents and visitors?  Hell, Galvan's been doing the same god damn thing right next door for over ten years with their two properties (comprising two rotting houses and one vacant property), and the Code Enforcement Department -- whose offices are found one long block away -- don't give a god damn hoot!  Garbage begets garbage!  Keepin' up with the Joneses!  Monkey see monkey do!  The cream rises to the top!  The rest of us can fall flat on our faces and be carted off to the hospital or morgue and hope a decent ambulance-chasing lawyer comes knocking.

The long and short of it is that NO ONE
 IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING 
THIS SIDEWALK.

Can you imagine if the sidewalks surrounding the County Courthouse, 410 State, the DMV building, and 11 Warren were all in the same condition as 610 State's?  "Hey, Joe, while you're at it, you mind fixing these other sidewalks of ours, too!  And don't take your time, we don't want anyone getting hurt or suing us, particularly our employees!"

To truly understand how little regard the county 
 has for the city (and their own employees),   
you have to walk in front of 610 State.  Carefully.  
Try to do it only while the sun is shining!

Maybe if we're fortunate, particularly those of us living in the vicinity of the complete blight that the north side of the 600 block of State has become (the final piece is in place), the county will surround the entire property of 610 State, including the parking lots, with an 8-foot-tall chain link fence and several concrete barriers to complement the only other two properties on that side of the block, both owned, fenced, and neglected by Galvan (with assistance from the Hudson Code Enforcement Department).  And if we're really, really fortunate, Ron Knott will erect the fence on the outside of the two sidewalks (on 6th and on State) so that pedestrians (residents!) can no longer walk on them or have the misfortune of falling and having to sue the county while the county waits for the Public Works Board to find 610 State on a map and add it to the SID list to replace the county's 600 feet of dangerous sidewalks for around $1.25 million in the year 2525.  100% paid for by city residents and non-tax-exempt property owners, of course.

SID? More like SAD!

I don't know anything about Sonja Okun other than she is the Columbia County Board of Supervisors member representing the city's third ward, which includes 610 State.  For all I know, she is doing a fantastic job in her new role.  But I do wonder if she's ever walked past 610 State on her own two feet, perhaps at night pushing a baby stroller.  And if she has -- without falling and bouncing her head off the sidewalk -- what did she think of that sidewalk that not too long ago was Columbia County's responsibility to maintain?  Would she agree with Ron Knott that the long stretch of public sidewalk in front of vacant, county-owned 610 State should hold off on being replaced by the City of Hudson with something respectable, attractive, smooth, hazard-free, and lawsuit-free, perhaps -- considering the pace with which things are progressing at the Hudson Public Works Board --in the year 2525?  That is, if man and woman are still alive!

If she is aware of it or has walked it, what do you suppose Linda Mussman's thoughts are about the lovely sidewalk in front of 610 State?  Is she also all aboard on possibly waiting until the year 2525 to get it replaced with something approaching respectability and ADA compliance?  (By the way, Linda recently told me that she had just had her second knee replaced!)

How about Abdus Miah?  (Don't bother asking him, you probably won't understand a word he says.  Plus, he's got a building project "in progress" at 3rd & Columbia to be concerned about that is long overdue for completion.  Which, by the way, recently got two new concrete sidewalks!)

How about Rick Scalera and Alexandria Madero, the last of the 5 county supervisors supposedly representing Hudson?  Is a replacement date for the sidewalk in front of 610 State by the Hudson Public Works Board SAD SID project sometime in the year 2525 okay with those two as well?  Would they be okay with every sidewalk surrounding every county-owned property in Hudson (vacant or not) to be equally as dangerous as the sidewalk in front of 610 State Street?  I sure hope not!

How about the Chairman of the Board Of Supervisors, Matt Murell?  Had he ever visited 610 State before the doors were locked for good a few weeks ago?  Does he live anywhere near 6th & State?  Does he or any of his family members regularly (or ever) walk in the neighborhood near 610 State, maybe even on the sidewalk along the north side of the 600 block of State at night?  If so, I haven't noticed him.  Given the longtime dangerous conditions of the sidewalks surrounding the county-owned, very old, and now vacant 610 State, particularly in the front, I'm thinking it's entirely possible that Mr. Murell doesn't know or care to know how neglected and dangerous they are or continue to be for decades.  Heck, he may not even care if a resident living near 610 State -- perhaps me or my neighbor who struggles to walk with a cane -- falls on their chin and winds up in the hospital or morgue, perhaps tonight.  Too bad for you!  Try the other side of the street next time, pal!  If you have a problem with our sidewalk, call the mayor's aide, Tifffany Martin.  She's also the city's expert ADA Coordinator.  She cares.  We don't.  Sorry.

Thankfully, there's plenty of time for these people to get this simple matter resolved (if they care to); awareness, communication, will, money, and concrete is all they need to get it done.  That is, of course, if Hudson is still alive... in the year 2525.