Should Galvan and Walter Chatham Be Charged With Crimes Against Humanity?

Hudson's latest gift from Galvan and their so-called architect, Walter Chatham, can be found at the end of their/our new sidewalk on South 4th Street in front of what is to someday be a luxury hotel and bar.

Conspicuous In Its Absence! (At Least To This Park Patron)

Gone is the lovely plastic porta john greeting everyone entering and leaving Oakdale Park that the Youth Department had been paying $225 per month for at least the past 5 years.  Either Calvin Lewis ran out of money to pay for the lovely plastic box, or he finally came to his senses over a year after he inherited it.

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.

Don't We Deserve A Whole Lot Better Than F'ng Plastic?

 

Doesn't our one and only planet deserve better than plastic?

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? 

Hudson Just Might Be, Hands Down, The Most Poorly Managed City In America!

 

A few months ago, while out for a walk, I was able to talk to a Washington Street neighbor who had grown up in Hudson, having attended Hudson High School in the 1980's.  After telling me stories about what kids did for fun around here in the 80's ("driving up and down Warren Street among all the vacant buildings..."), the conversation became all about the parking mess surrounding the Pocketbook Hotel and business complex.  One of the last things my neighbor said to me was, "For as long as I can remember, parking in Hudson has been a problem."  It still is, but it doesn't need to be.  And, unless we start over, parking likely always will be "a problem."  Even on Warren Street.  

The following is further evidence to be added to the file titled, "Parking is Great As Long As Parking Captain David Miller Says It Is."

It's Just A Matter Of When, Not If, Isn't It? And What Will The Price Be? So Many QUESTIONS!

Six or seven days ago, when I first noticed the new stop sign for westbound traffic on Warren at Park Place, I guessed that it was 8 feet from the curb.  A measurement the following day proved I was exactly right.  I also figured that by the weekend the new sign would be damaged or just knocked over altogether with the new signpost.  I was wrong, so I gave it another week.