Hudson’s popular (ice-) creamery LICK naturally is open only in the (semi-) warm months. So this winter, their storefront is morphing into LOAF, a bakery. After hearing the news, artist/designer Ben Veronis, decided to take their business incubation idea to the next logical extreme...
There’s a second installment, coming soon...
Tag-teaming here on another GoR post, this one about the General Worth Hotel...
In 1940, the Federally-funded Work Projects Administration (WPA) issued the first edition of New York: A Guide to the Empire State. The guide was reissued again in 1949, and contained among others this entry for the City of Hudson:
The GENERAL WORTH HOTEL, 215 Warren Street, is a rare and unusually well-preserved example of Greek Revival architecture [...]
But by 1969, the City of Hudson was moving to tear down what just twenty years earlier had been deemed “unusually well-preserved.” The Worth had been closed for six years—long enough for any building to require some restoration and maintenance, but surely not long enough to warrant complete demolition.
Today’s Hudson officials like to claim that every building torn down in the ’60s, ’70s and on into the ’90s was beyond repair. The simplest rejoinder is the ample local evidence of how individuals have restored much farther-gone buildings—left out in the rain for 10-40 years longer than the General Worth.
Far more ordinary structures than Hudson’s famous Hotel survived far more years of neglect, just waiting to be rediscovered decades later. First-time home owners managed to return countless historic properties to liveable standards (and in some cases, close to their original glory) largely without government assistance.
In that same year, 1969, the prolific architectural writer Ada Louise Huxtable was awarded the first Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Criticism. It was also the year that Huxtable published several stinging critiques of Hudson “leaders” as they moved to tear down the General Worth and push forward with increasingly discredited Urban Renewal programs.
As Huxtable noted in December of 1969, many American planners and architects had already concluded that Urban Renewal was a mistake. But that realization had not reached the developers and builders and bureaucrats overseeing these programs. And so the bulldozers continued their work erasing America’s architecture treasures. In The New York Times, Huxtable wrote:
The bulldozer approach [is] a thing of the past. Total clearance is dead. We are going to save our cities and spare our pastoral splendors and make an environment that is civilized and humane.Or are we? Everyone who believes in fairies raise his hand and Tinker Bell will live. There is no corruption in Vietnam, no Mafia in Sicily, and there are no bulldozers anymore.
They’ve all gone to Lexington, Ky., where they moved in at night to start demolition of a three-block historic district, or they work weekends to insure the reduction of landmarks to rubble in Santa Fe. They stand poised to demolish everything around a few token preservation blocks in Denver; they wait to level 148 acres in Pittsburgh; they bide their time for the heart of the historic communities of Salem, Mass., and Hudson, N.Y.
Nothing much has changed except the statements of Federal policy that somehow get lost in the translation at the local level...
In a Wall Street Journal article earlier that year (anthologized in her book Kicked a Building Lately? (1976), Huxtable wrote more extensively about the Worth Hotel’s demise:
The Hudson River Valley Commission, the State Historical Trust, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation urged that it be saved. But political heads prevailed and Hudson demolished its National Register property. Ready for the biggest gag of all? Read it in the Hudson Register-Star:“A modern Dairy-Queen Drive-In will be constructed on the site of the historic General Worth Hotel that fell victim to the bulldozers last year. The Common Council in special session voted to sell the site for $1,700. Council President Thomas Quigly said the purchase ‘was a step in the right direction to develop downtown Hudson.’”
There are more sadly ironic details in the original article. (Did Hudson ever get that drive-in DQ?) The point being that the approach taken by Hudson officials in the late ’60s and early ’70s was one much of the rest of the nation had already realized was a giant mistake. And yet the General Worth Hotel came down—and after that precedent was set, it was that much easier to find more local victims for the wrecking ball.
Over at The Gossips of Rivertown, Carole Osterink has a post entitled Hudson Renaissance Blamed for Homelessness, taking to task a Reg-Star report on a County housing study.
Those of us who remember Hudson in the ’70s and ’80s—I grew up about 20 miles to the east, and moved to the Not-So-Friendly City in the late ’90s—don’t remember there being any abundance of quality, affordable housing here. But we do remember there being a surplus of abandoned buildings, as well as grossly substandard housing managed by slumlords. Much of the “affordable” housing was often more suitable for squatters than families.
Sure, you could rent stuff for cheap back then. But dirt cheap might also mean a dirt floor. Whether a tenant could get heat, hot water, a roof that didn’t leak, safe wiring, decent appliances and a vermin-free home was another matter entirely. Enforcement of the most rudimentary requirements—for example, that landlords at least provide working fire alarms—only came about more recently.
So any suggestion that Hudson was once some kind of renter’s paradise ignores several decades when City Hall and HUD turning a blind eye to substandard housing, egregious code violations, and landlords soaking Section 8 for guaranteed rents, while their tenants suffered their neglect.
Does anyone seriously think Hudson would be better off if Gellert and Kravitz got all of their buildings back?
It’s certainly true that some multifamily buildings have been converted to single-family dwellings. But it’s also true that many buildings are sitting either empty or seriously underutilized. The practice of “warehousing” apartments (keeping them off the market, in anticipation of a bigger payday at a later date) is a topic I dealt with in depth last Spring.
Rather than scapegoating those individuals who risked their own time, money and sweat equity to improve one building so they could live in it comfortably, why not pose these questions to those few speculators who have bought large buildings, emptied them of their existing tenants, and left them unused for five or more years?
Ask Eric Galloway why the large apartment house on the corner of 2nd and Warren is still locked up; or Eleanor Ambos what she plans to do with her huge Allen Street and Union Street properties. Ask why Richard Cohen’s buildings on Warren and Fourth are likewise sitting fallow, with neither renovated apartments nor the long-awaited hotel. Instead of pointing the finger at those taxpayers who are filling the City’s coffers and taking pride in their homes, ask why other absentee owners are keeping so many units empty. Even a casual stroll around Hudson will turn up a big inventory of opportunities to house people and alleviate rental pressures.
Whether such buildings and apartments would be best used as temporary homeless shelter, or instead as affordable housing, is a separate debate. But if the City better served the latter, there might be a lot less of the former...
Going back to the late ’90s, Linda Mussmann—co-director of Time & Space Limited, former Waterfront chair, and Hudson Democratic chair—has made many private and public pronouncements about Mayor Rick Scalera.
Most of these are now inconsistent with her current politics. In 2007, hoping to salvage her unpopular Waterfront plan, Mussmann did an about-face (to save face) by becoming a Scalera ally. Her primary run that year against Michael O’Hara, and subsequent independent bid—against the wishes of her board, many of whom resigned in protest—helped ensure another Scalera term.
But many of her past condemnations of Scalera, whether published in the papers or circulated via various email lists, are pretty difficult to walk back. Some choice nuggets follow below; Mussmann also has some pungeant things to say about a number of other familiar Hudson political figures, from the Elks Club and Tom Koulos to Jack Connor and Cappy Pierro. The typos, ALL CAPS and malapropisms have been left intact.
THE SAYINGS OF CHAIRMAN MUSS
Rick Scalera could not wait to tear [the 4th Street] school down. I know some don't like to remember the past but this was one of Mr. Scalera's grand achievements....Stalin had similar longings. [Linda Mussmann, May 2005]
I have not run for office because I need a job but because I thought that the people in power were not representing a larger view.....very few people are allowed to participate in Rick Scalera's government for example. In fact this is a very closed circle. [Linda Mussmann, Dec. 2004]
I did see in the Indep. a photo of Danny, Ricky, & Patty Mann [Assemblyman Patrick Manning] at Laura [Margolis]'s club....pretty cute---sure looks like Republicans havin' a good time. [Linda Mussmann, Nov. 2004]
it might be time for the Democratic Committee to censure Rick for breaking the law as well as Shook and Donahue. [Linda Mussmann, Sept. 2004]
the real issue here is "conflict of interest" ---it is against the City Charter to play a duel role in government. The questions have been asked all year and last year and years before that about these conflicts but we are told that "it has always been done this way and we should mind our own business" or Jack Connor(the inept city attorney) is checking on it---now an answer was delivered and now Rick Scalera will fix it because he has to keep Grandinetti employed. The CONFLICT OF INTEREST list is long and grows longer every day that these people are in office....please speak out about this gross act of self interest. Rick Scalera, Dan Grandinetti, Chris Nedwick, Bill Lowenstein, Dick Koskey, Eric Galloway, Bill Better, Judy Meyer, Charlie Butterworth, the Elks Club members (who voted on their own application which is now tied up in court and costing the city a great deal of money) Cappy Pierro (who cut one of the worst deals over the fire house building) and on and on. The deals constructed by SLC and this administration to get a "host" deal with the city goes back to Scalera's campaign contributions as well as block parties sponsored by SLC and on. The Spririt of Hudson boat deal, Colorusso deal regarding Hudson's backup water supply, Willard Place deal, the Library's Preservation obstruction by Scalera and company and ond, and on. There are more but time is short for me this morning. Please write a letter to Elliot Spitzer the attorney and ask for an investigation. Please write a letter to the ed. and ask that Rick Scalera be investigated, and the rest of the back room of Hudson's political players who are raising your taxes to pay for their deals. The mayor got a salary this year, so did Grandinetti, and so did Cappy Pierro----they will need more next time----and one would think that they use much of their time working to stay in power---what have these people done for the city of Hudson is the real question. [Linda Mussmann, Sept. 2004]
the Library has become this season's political football---starring Rick (Rough & Ready) Scalera, Pat (tall man) Manning, Ed (ever-ready to serve) Cross, and Dan (I want to Mayor) Grandinetti....no way should the Library let the city get this building with out an army of Lawyers making a contract that it can only be a Library and this deal can only be used for THE Library....It is clear that the School board was outa the loop on this one.,...I guess it would have made sense to ask the school board what they thought about this swap first before going public at the "press conference?!!". The Library should be free of this nightmare----the Library board should make a statement on the position it wants to take and not be used by Rick, Pat, Ed, and Danny as a tool of political monkey business. I doubt that these men have read a book lately???!!!!! favors, exchanges, swaps, this Library Fiasco sounds like classic ole' timey Hudson Politics or a poker game gone sour. (here is a little factoid that I learned last night at CCF meeting)---the closing of the new fire house will cost over a 1/2 million dollars.....how about that for steering the ship of state right into the river bank?) [Linda Mussmann, Aug. 2004]
Rick Scalera hates this idea of saving anything that does not benefit him and he thinks the preservation commission is worthless. If he can't control it he is going to dismantle it. [...] Sarah Sterling seems lost, Lew Kramer was stunned, Ashton was holding Rick's hand, and Jamison Teal???!!!! wow! where's the gavel ???? it sure could have been used last night. The meeting was a platform for Rick, Tom Koulos, Tom Flemming, and Shailer Evans (school board pres) to rant about the irrational Preservation Committee” [Linda Mussmann, July 2004]
Willard Place is under siege---saws, trucks, earth movers, seem to have taken the post-modern axe[the chainsaw] to the contested trees----T. Eric Galloway/Rick Scalera the Paul Bunyons of Hudson have won another victory-----Willard Place looks like Baghdad....check it out. Reports came in that the attack came Friday night at 5:30pm buzz buzz crash democracy in action Ricky style. [Linda Mussmann, July 2004]
My guess that the $81,000 problem with the audit ticked some people off. That was an old wound and Scalera, has dirt all over his hands from this little mess. This was the ruling of the DEC regarding the DSS building being built on petroleum site. THis may be part of it. Or it is the good ol' boys just taking care of business. The last thing the Demo's need is a Republican watching the dough???!!!!! [...] Jimmy Dolan at work? Was it the Hudson cops that got him?? I missed it. I don't believe Scalera was upset, remember the Chief Martin was brought down and disgraced. Payback time. [Linda Mussmann, Feb. 2002]
THERE IS NO GOOD IN SITTING ON A PANEL BY ST. LAWRENCE, FOR ST. LAWRENCE---THIS IS NOT DEMOCRACY WHEN THE COMPANY IS IN CONTROL. THIS IS A JOKE. THIS REMINDS ME OF RICK SCALERA'S PANEL TO OVER-SEE JIMMY DOLAN. THIS WAS A WAY TO SHUT THE OPPOSITION UP AND MAKE A MOCKERY OF FAIRNESS AND INCLUSION. [Linda Mussmann, Mar. 2000]
This is another plot by Rick S. to save his ass---he could have had this property for the city but was out bid by Sun. Now Sun wants to sell---but I don't know if the selling price is right?? However-- this is another bash to the Antiquers---cause who needs another Antique Store???according to the locals??? and Mr. Scalera---is saying this in coded words. Hudson could use a grocery store---and Ricky wanted his buddy from Philmont to come on down here to serve us some snacks---but failed to get the space cause he wanted it another way---this is another HDC/HCDPA deal that failed(ie) bankrupt/auctioned off and SUN became the owner. This could be a better plan then the Scrap Yard project ---maybe some one should mention it to Rickky and Jimmy (the HudStones). [Linda Mussmann, Jul. 1999]
the actions of various parties going to Jimmy Dolan Jr. or Scalera with their hands out for HUD money --these requests have all revolved around the HUD money: The parking lot for the Opera House is one, Historic Hudson (Chicken Shack) is 2, and Columbia County (Carrie Haddad's) art mall idea for the 300 block of Columbia Street is 3, Operation Unite is 4, and I am sure there were/are more. These are just some examples of the inability to listen to some who have stood up to speak out while others went behind closed doors to do a deal with the devil. There has always been a desire to believe that Jimmy Dolan and Rick Scalera could be changed. (WHat a joke)! [Linda Mussmann, Apr. 1999]
These are the people Rick's gang s really likes--they provide the way for HUD money to roll on into Hudson---this money comes off the backs of the poor people---if Hudson was not so poor and filled with blight Rick's gang would have not grants to write. [Linda Mussmann, Feb. 1999]
During the 2003 election, Scalera swiped the independent party name, logo and ballot line of his mayoral opponent using an election law technicality. Even longtime Scalera loyalists were scandalized.
The Register Star’s normally 100% supportive editorial board wrote:
[Scalera’s] actions remind us of a notable American politician who so feared his opponents that he resorted to tricks: Richard M. Nixon.
The editor of the now-defunct Independent said that “Scalera’s move this week... fails to pass the smell test for spite,” calling it “just plain stupid” and “a cross between a prank and bullying.”
Scalera himself chortled to a Metroland reporter that his move “was meant to be devious” and that he fully intended to “hurt feelings.”
[NOTE: Of course, the candidate he stole the line from (and whose feelings he intended to hurt) was Linda Mussmann of TSL—who since has been exhibiting symptoms of some political strain of Stockholm Syndrome, empathizing with her former tormenters. Some of Mussmann’s past opinions of Rick Scalera will follow in Volume 5 of this series.]
During the 2003 Hudson campaign, former Police Commissioner Geoffrey Bagnall was moved by a Rick Scalera TV ad to write an open letter to the community. The bulk of Bagnall’s statement follows below.
HUDSON POLITICS & HUDSON POLICE:
MYTH VS. REALITY
I was amused to see Mr. Scalera’s television commercial wherein he portrays Hudson as a safer city because of all he has done for the Hudson Police Department.
In his commercial, Mr. Scalera takes credit for the introduction of the Police Department’s bicycle patrol. As a point of information, Mr. Scalera cut last year’s budget for the Department, and did not fund these bicycles or the cost of training the officers. The funds came from private donations.
It costs approximately $1,700 to buy and equip a police bike and train the officer in its use. These bicycles and training were paid for as a result of the Hudson Police Benevolent Association raising the funds on their own. [...]
In his commercial, Mr. Scalera takes credit for the Hudson K-9 units. These units came into existence during the prior administration as a direct result of funding found and provided by New York State Senator Stephen Saland. Mr. Scalera, on the other hand, has a long history of public opposition to any Hudson K-9 operation. Further, the police union, which has chosen not to endorse candidates, has filed a grievance over Mr. Scalera’s forced use of the Police Officer in the filming of the commercial.
In his commercial, Mr. Scalera points to the creation of surveillance cameras, which are wired directly into the Police Station. The point of fact is that this project was commenced by Chief Richardson and myself, before Mr. Scalera became mayor.
In his commercial, Mr. Scalera points to a sign indicating an area as a “Neighborhood Watch” community. That program was a direct outgrowth of something called “N.J.A.” or “Neighbors Joined in Action”, a private group of residents who literally took to the streets to put pressure on drug dealers. [...]
When it comes to the upcoming Hudson City election, there are only three local propositions on the upcoming ballot. One deals with the Library budget while the other two deal with the city charter. The salary increase for a “full-time” mayor is not among them.
That’s right, the increase in the Mayor of Hudson’s salary to $60,000.00 is not going before the voters for approval. In fact, it is already a done deal, and, interestingly enough, it did not require a change to the city charter or voter approval. [...]
Even more interesting is the concept that the mayor’s job was sold as a “full time” position, and that therefore this salary increase was necessary for a “full-time” mayor. However, the section of New York State law which covers elected officials has no provisions for how many hours an elected official need put in. In the case of this already approved, “full-time” mayor, the mayor can work more or fewer hours, as few as he/she wants, and there are no minimum hours. In effect, one becomes one’s own boss; accountable to no one for what hours he or she works. In effect, it is nothing more than a smokescreen for a huge pay increase for the same job. [...]
Mr. Scalera has claimed the salary increase, which is now law, was done months ago in the hope of “removing politics from the issue.” I would suggest the true way to remove politics from this issue would have been to put the proposition for his salary increase in front of the voters, in the same fashion that the Library budget is on the ballot. Had he chosen to do so, perhaps it would not have been as necessary for him to cut the Police Department’s budget.
At The Gossips of Rivertown, Carole Osterink reports some details of Rick Scalera’s private meeting last weekend at the mansion of embattled Hudson developer Eric Galloway. According to her source, Scalera attempted to make an inventory of “his accomplishments during his many years in office” for an audience largely of new residents, most of them not from Hudson.
A review of Rick’s List would appear to leave many controversial episodes unmentioned. For the next few days, this site will present a few items from past campaigns and controversies, largely from third-party sources.
TAKING A HINT
During the 2007 Hudson election, a flyer was circulated by a group calling itself the Hudson Information Network, or “HINT” for short. Though the group remained anonymous, it was widely assumed that this flyer was created by members of the Michael O’Hara mayoral campaign team.
The HINT flyer challenged Scalera’s claim that Hudson needed his “proven experience.” On page 1, HINT reviewed what it called Rick’s Greatest Hits, taking Scalera to task for one claim after another, making the following allegations pegged to various topics such as:
On page 2, the HINT flyer from the O'Hara camp levelled even more explosive charges against Scalera:
The flyer furthermore listed past issues over assessment lawsuits, police contracts, and the Waterfrnt process during Scalera’s previous terms, concluding that “voters do not need to settle for more of the same.”
[NOTE: Yours Truly was not a member of the O’Hara campaign team or HINT, and has merely transcribed the following material from the flyer received.]
The Hudson Cut (from the window of Skalar Gallery, Warren Street).
