Margaret Morris Must Be Satisfied With The Public Work Board's "Progress"!!!

We can only assume (and perhaps they have stated as much) that the Public Works Board's decision-making process to arrive at just six portions of sidewalk to be replaced this year was simple:  walk around the entire city and rank every portion of sidewalk from, at the top of the list, horribly dangerous and insulting down to smooth and safe as can be/not a problem, with a few degrees of ADA-noncompliance in between.  Then, of course, they would have had to choose six portions of sidewalks (well, first it was ten, then it was 8...) from the top of the list and leave the rest for future years, likely well into the 23rd century.  A simple and logical approach to fixing things, right?  Well, maybe in Ithaca, but probably not here in Hudson, particularly if Margaret Morris is involved.

What should come as no surprise to anyone alive today who has ever wheelchaired, walked (with or without a cane), waited in line at a food truck, or pushed a baby stroller on the so-called sidewalk on the west side of South 5th Street from Warren to Cherry Alley -- along Galvan's grassy, off limits, fenced, and useless grassy field at 5th & Warren -- is that this 125-foot section of concrete mess made it on to the PWB's list of "Sidewalks Slated For Replacement Fall 2026/Spring 2027."  (Using a form of the word slate in the title of the list seems kind of hilarious to me.  How about scheduled or planned?)  That sidewalk of Galvan's (which produced a lawsuit a few years ago that the city was involved in, the details of which would make your head spin) was a no-brainer for the PWB -- it has been talked about, laughed at, groaned at, avoided, and the butt of jokes for far too many years.  One awful sidewalk down, just 5 to go.  

Sort of.

It turns out that the PWB continued past Cherry Alley to include that side of the block's other half of sidewalk that reaches Union.  That 125-foot section of sidewalk is included in one entry on the PWB's list of 6 slated sidewalks, described on the PWB webpage as 5th Street between Warren Street and Union Street - west side.  Expect that by any measure that 100-foot stretch of sidewalk is not in bad condition, certainly not anywhere near the worst of the city's worst.  One can't help but wonder what on earth the PWB members were thinking when they included this sidewalk on their list of the city's sidewalks requiring urgent replacement.  It's beyond laughable; it seems more like a bad and cruel joke.  It's also looks and smells fishy.

Guess who owns the only propertry that abuts the entire 125 feet of that relatively decent, safe, and entirely walkable sidewalk south of Cherry Alley that is no different than so many of the city's NOT HORRIBLE sidewalks that did not make this year's list?  Why, of course, that would be property owner Margaret Morris, the so-called President of getting practically everything improved in Hudson!  Morris, who has owned and, presumably, lived in 548 Union Street for the past 16 years, will soon have the decent concrete-asphalt sidewalk alongside her house and garage replaced with a new one thanks to fees tacked on to everyone's property tax bill this year.  And she's okay with this?  Why, yes! She couldn't be more thrilled!

Have you recently attempted to walk the 80-plus steps past the side of 43 North 6th and fronts of 555 and 549 State Street, like in the past ten years?  Holy hell is it awful!  In the past three years or so, I have seen three people fall here, only because I just happened to be standing across the street.  My most recent sighting happened earlier this week.  First, as usual, I heard the scream.

Sorry, didn't make THE LIST!

ADA compliant?  CHECK!

How about 251 Columbia Street, a property that has been vacant for several years and was recently fenced off?  (The sidewalk should have been included!)

"Sorry, not nearly dangerous or neglected 
enough for our list!  Maybe next year, but  
probably not then either."

How about 516 Columbia Street, A VACANT PROPERTY OWNED BY THE CITY OF HUDSON???

Margaret Morris's sidewalk is being replaced before this one?  Are you fucking kidding me?  Was the PBW not allowed to include sidewalks abutting city property on their sidewalk replacement list?  Were they told not to?

3 inches!  And it passed the PWB's test!

What do Tyler, Tiff, George, and Gary think of those three sidewalks (I could have included at least twenty more!)?  Have they ever tried to walk them even once? Did they take a look at these absurdly dangerous sidewalks during the "walk through" they said they were going to make this past May to determine the condition of all of the city's sidewalks?  Did their walk through include just 5th and 6th streets, where all 6 of the sidewalks slated for replacement can be found? Does Margaret Morris think that those three sidewalks are in better condition than the sidewalk alongside her house?  Has she ever attempted to walk on any of those three sections sidewalks, let alone looked at them?  Does she even know that the city owns 516 Columbia Street?

If, as we can only assume, Margaret Morris is aware that her 100-feet of sidewalk along the east side of her house made it onto the PWB's list of this year's "slated" sidewalks, what do you think went through her mind when she first found out?  "Finally, city taxpayers will pay to replace my awful sidewalk!  What the hell took them so long?"

Or did Margaret think, as she should have, WHY ON EARTH DID THEY CHOOSE MY SIDEWALK TO BE REPLACED?  WITH ALL THE AWFUL, DANGEROUS SIDEWALKS IN TOWN, THEY CHOSE MINE?  NO, THIS DOESN'T LOOK LIKE FAVORITISM AT ALL!"

Why the heck didn't Margaret Morris reach out to the PWB members weeks ago and immediately tell them, "You must remove my sidewalk from your list now.  Find a sidewalk that needs replacing; mine is not one of them.  You made a mistake and this does not look good for me.  I will not allow city taxpayers pay to replace my sidewalk.  Remove it now or I will force you to by making a public announcement of your obvious mistake.  You need to open your eyes and WALK AROUND THE CITY.  Stop the stupidity!"

Has Margaret Morris allowed her sidewalk to remain on the PWB's supposed worst of the worst sidewalks list because she is just as clueless and blind as all of the PWB members seem to be? 

Of course, it's entirely possible that Morris isn't even aware that her 100-feet of sidewalk is SLATED for replacement sometime this year or next (count on next).  That would be funny and not too surprising in and of itself, but then, of course, much like her little car crash this past winter in a city parking lot, she could always fall back on the excuse that those with no sense of responsibility often resort to:  "I didn't know.  And I didn't do anything wrong.  I have nothing further to say, and I won't allow anymore public comment on this matter."  

How much is Vosburgh & Sons planning on billing the city to replace the decent sidewalk along the east side of 458 Union Street, an amount that is known to those who have seen their bid documents.  Does Margaret Morris know how much her new 125 feet of sidewalk will be costing us?  How much safer will her sidewalk be when it is replaced?  Does she care?