Where There Once Was A Sidewalk, There Are Now Parked Cars

Prior to Galvan's efforts on North 7th Street to help solve the city's housing crisis, one could walk the eastern sidewalk there in a straight line from State Street to the end of the street at the confluence of the DSS driveway and Washington Street.  Crossing the (only) intersection at Railroad Avenue (which is quite a busy on weekday mornings) was, well, normal.  You made sure no vehicles were headed your way before walking straight ahead, crossing the street and continuing on with the last stretch of sidewalk towards your destination, possibly one of the 3 houses ahead.  Yes, all the while walking straight ahead -- you know, normal-like.  No turns. No steep curbs to step over or up onto.  No wondering or saying out loud, "what the fuck do I do now?"  And when you were done, say, with your walk in the woods behind or around Oakdale Lake, you might walk back along the same straight-as-an-arrow sidewalk on 7th Street, the one with no encumbrances, if a bit narrow at times. 

Read All About It: Margaret Morris Is "Concerned"! The Acting Police Chief Is "Surprised It's A Problem" But The "Guys" Are On It! "Whatever!"

Since the E-bike/pickup truck collision at 1st & Warren on August 12th that put the two-wheeled rider in an Albany hospital with serious head injuries, always involved and busy 1st ward Common Council member Margaret Morris has taken on the issue of E-bike safety, particularly regarding riders who do not obey traffic laws.  She has discussed the matter at the past three informal council meetings following each HPD report, another concern of hers added to her already overflowing, deep and wide bowl of problems in the city that she wants to solve.  With so much to keep an eye on, it's difficult to imagine Margaret can give any one of her issues the proper attention they all need.  

In case you missed it, here is an excerpt of the discussion between Morris (MM) and acting Police Chief/Captain David Miller (DM) at the September informal meeting following Miller's HPD report, edited for clarity and brevity and with my comments in parentheses. Morris began the discussion:

Speaking of Non-Compliant Sidewalks!

Two months ago, on August 12th, HUDseen reported on the cracked condition of the concrete sidewalks along the very new Ferry Street bridge that was built by Colarusso & Sons.  The concrete pad with the most conspicuous crack was located near Front Street (unlike the pads above the tracks, this pad had just one crack).  That pad and that crack are still there (as are all the others above the tracks), but a new crack has sprouted to join the original perpendicularly.  This one makes it nearly all the way across the width of the pad.  (I haven't measured the width of those sidewalks along the bridge, but they appear to be at least 5 feet wide!)

Need A Good Laugh and Possibly a Cry? Try This Study In Contrasts!

 

If you'd like to get a real-time, true sense of how deplorable the sidewalk situation in Hudson continues to be, carefully step on over to the eastern end of Prospect Street to behold two examples that are quite different but both part of the same intransigent problem:  a Hudson City Hall that refuses to care about pedestrians or the sidewalks we all walk on.  For the time being, perhaps these pictures will help.

Let's Not Forget That It's Also At The INTERSECTIONs Of Two One Way Streets and A Major Artery In and Out of Town Where Speeding Is Rampant

 

Why Did DPW Bother To Repaint This Fire Hydrant Two Years Ago?

 

I'm thinking that the black gunk caked on this hydrant near the turn in the truck route is the same diesel engine effluent that gets lodged in our lungs so easily.  What else could it be?

Is This The Best Kamal Johnson Can Do For Us and For Visitors? Or... Welcome To Hudson, Bowling Capital Of Bygone Days!

 

Who the hell can read this sign while driving by at 20 or 30 miles per hour?  Who the hell needs to read this sign?  

Are the decades-old successes of a high school sport really what we want drivers taking their eyes off the road to (attempt to) read about?  Especially about bowling!