COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 44 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported is ten fewer than yesterday, suggesting that 54 people are now considered to be recovering from the virus. There are 118 more county residents in mandatory quarantine today than yesterday, but the number hospitalized with the virus and in the ICU remains the same. There has not been a death from COVID-19 since Monday, January 11.  

The New York Forward dashboard is reporting a positivity rate for Columbia County yesterday of 11.1 percent and a seven-day average of 8.3 percent. By comparison, the daily positivity rate for the Capital Region is 8.2 percent and the seven-day average is 8.7 percent.

Getting Vaccinated in Columbia County

Today at 5:00 p.m., Matt Murell, chair of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors, and others who are part of the county's COVID-19 team will be reporting to the Board of Supervisors and the public about vaccine distribution in Columbia County. It is promised they will give the best information about where and how to sign up to be vaccinated. 

To watch the meeting on YouTube, click here. If that link doesn't work, go to columbiacountyny.com, click on "Departments," then "Board of Supervisors," then "Upcoming Meeting Information" in the left column.

Plans for the Streets

Arterial, the urban planners working on the DRI-funded improvements to the streets, sidewalks, and intersections in the part of the city known as the BRIDGE District, made a second presentation to the Common Council on Monday, during the Council's first informal meeting of the new year. Much of the presentation seemed intent on walking back the impression that the plans presented on December 15 were anything but the most preliminary concepts. Council president Tom DePietro introduced the presentation by saying that Arterial's planning was at a "much earlier stage than Starr Whitehouse," the landscape architects reimagining the entrance to Promenade Hill, a design that was reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission last Friday.

The Arterial presentation on Monday included some of the same images that were part of the earlier presentation, notably this one, of the intersection of Warren and Front streets.

A small but significant alteration to the rendering is that the boulders in front of the entrance to Promenade Hill have been replaced by what appears to be a granite sign, reminiscent of what might mark a corporate headquarters in a suburban setting. 

David Lustberg of Arterial explained where the project was in the development process. Phase 1 is the scoping and planning phase; Phase 2 is the design and implementation phase. Lustberg said the project was now "coming toward the end of Phase 1." What needed to be decided was "how and what can be implemented" with the $3.5 million in DRI funds now available for this project.

In his part of the presentation, James Ribaudo of Arterial reiterated the three goals of the Hudson Connects project:

• celebrate the historic integrity of Hudson;
• make the streets safe and accessible to all;
• reconnect with the waterfront.

Ribaudo acknowledged that $250,000 of the funds for the connectivity project have been set aside for repairing and improving the Second Street stairs, but no plans for those repairs and improvements have so far been presented. 

Two strategies for using the $3.5 million were presented--Strategy 1: Focused Improvements; Strategy 2: Distributed Improvements.   

In Strategy 1, Front Street, from Dock Street to Allen Street, will be reimagined as a "waterfront promenade--a destination and amenity," and there will be improvements to selected intersections in the BRIDGE District. Strategy 2 does not involve turning Front Street into "a destination and amenity," but it makes improvements to all intersections in the BRIDGE District. The following compares the improvements that can be made with the two strategies. (Click on the image to enlarge.) 

The big difference in the two strategies is the redesign of Front Street, not all the way to the train station or to Basilica Hudson, but only from Dock Street to Allen Street, the portion of Front Street that is on the Empire State Trail. What is being proposed for Front Street widening the sidewalk on the west side of the street, along Hudson Terrace, narrowing the street, and adding lane markings.

The diagram presented to show what's proposed does not include increasing the number of trees. Perhaps that was done to make what's essentially a diagram easier to understand, but if Front Street, in both directions from Warren Street, were treelined, if there were a canopy of trees that shaded the street and the sidewalk, it would go a long way in enhancing the street and making it, if not a destination, an amenity. 

The plan for Front Street also includes a shared path along the west side of the street--a path shared by pedestrians and cyclists. This kind of shared path is also proposed for the north side of State Street from Second to Front streets. 

One wonders about the wisdom of that plan. Section 78-16 A of the Hudson city code states: "No person shall ride, drive or operate a bicycle along any public sidewalk or footpath intended for the use of pedestrians. . . ." The law exists because bicycles on the sidewalk were perceived to pose a hazard to pedestrians. It is important to provide cyclists with a safe alternative to having to share the street with motor vehicles, but having cyclists share a path with pedestrians hardly seems a good solution. 

A report from the Cornell University Bicycle and Pedestrian Education maintains that "sidewalk biking can be extremely dangerous--both to pedestrians and to the bicyclists themselves." That same report advises that although riding on the sidewalk can "eliminate the relatively small danger to cyclists of crashes with overtaking motorists," it actually "increases the potential for more common intersection collisions." Given this information, one wonders why these shared paths are being proposed and what evidence exists that they are practicable and safe.

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Of Interest and Some Embarrassment

The Berkshire Edge reported yesterday some bad behavior on the part of some of our fellow Columbia County residents: "Maskless New Yorkers pack Lake Mansfield to play hockey, dismiss COVID as 'government hoax.'"

Photo: Dale Abrams|The Berkshire Edge

Thanks to Sam Pratt for bringing this to our attention.

A Preview of the Depot District

The full report on tonight's Planning Board meeting is yet to come, but first, for those who are curious, here are renderings and elevations for 75 North Seventh Street and 708 State Street that were presented to the Planning Board tonight by Galvan Initiatives Foundation. Both buildings are significantly different from what has been proposed for these two sites in the past. Galvan now has a new architect for the two projects, Walter Chatham, and has engaged the services of Dale Schafer from Wagner Hodgson, who did the landscape plan for the hotel at 620 Union Street, to design the green spaces.    

The Depot District viewed from the south

75 North Seventh Street

Elevation for 75 South Seventh Street

708 State Street

Elevation for 708 State Street

Plan for Landscaping

More the come.

A Statement from the Chair

Earlier today, the following press release was issued by Matt Murell, chair of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors.

CHAIRMAN BLASTS STATE'S ABSURD VAX DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

"This situation has gone beyond crazy," said Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell on Tuesday. 

"Governor Cuomo's vaccination distribution quote-plan-unquote has done nothing but sow confusion in the state and Columbia County," Chairman Murell continued. "Every day seems to bring another random announcement that does nothing to further the cause of getting the vaccine in the arms of our residents."

The governor's announcement last Friday that vaccine distribution was being expanded to include the 1B and now 1C categories caused an avalanche of telephone calls into the county Department of Health, Chairman Murell said. That barrage of calls continues as county residents seek to determine their eligibility, and, if possible, to sign up for their vaccine.

"As soon as someone hung up the phone, another call comes in, which has only been exacerbated by the state's hotline being overwhelmed," said Chairman Murell. "The system, such as it is, is broken. There are now millions of more people eligible--under the state plan--for the vaccine than there are available vaccines. It's beyond unreasonable to expect the county Department of Health to conduct vaccination PODS, test for the coronavirus, answer a barrage of telephone calls, contact trace, and conduct normal business under these conditions, among other daily tasks. This has all been caused by the State's haphazard approach to managing the vaccine distribution process."  

On Monday, Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb said that his department was allotted 300 doses of the vaccine this week. "That allows us to reach only a tiny portion of those eligible," he noted.

"It makes no sense at all," said Chairman Murell. "I may be painting with a broad brush here, but basic math tells me if we continue to receive but 300 doses per week, in a county of 62,000 residents, it will take months for individuals to get their first doses."

Further, he said, "At a time when county personnel are already hamstrung by COVID-19 infections, mandatory quarantines, and other COVID-related issues, county workers are being diverted into assisting the Department of Health. That's one thing, but to attempt to keep up with the governor's whims and conduct county business at the same time is a near-superhuman chore."  

Governor Andrew Cuomo has said New York is getting 300,000 doses a week. One-thousandth of that amount is coming to Columbia County.

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 37 new cases of COVID-19. The CCDOH is reporting seventeen more active cases today than yesterday, suggesting that twenty more people are now considered to be recovering. There are 128 more county residents in mandatory quarantine today than there were yesterday, but three fewer are hospitalized with the virus. The number in the ICU remains the same, as does the number of deaths from COVID-19 in Columbia County.  

The New York Forward dashboard is reporting a positivity rate for Columbia County yesterday of 5.8 percent and a seven-day average of 8.6 percent. By comparison, the daily positivity rate for the Capital Region is 10.4 percent and the seven-day average is 9.0 percent.

Just So You Know

Although he criticized the directive from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Governor Andrew Cuomo said today that New York will follow the guidance and extend vaccine eligibility to anyone 65 and older and to those with compromised immune systems. 

At the same time, News Channel 10 is reporting that Columbia County is only getting 300 doses of the vaccine a week. Yesterday, when people 75 and older became eligible, Jack Mabb, director of the Columbia County Department of Health was quoted as saying, "When you move from 1a, which was a very narrow category, to something like this, which is a very broad category, the estimates are anywhere between three and four million people in New York State, that's thousands in Columbia County, and I have to make do with 300 a week." With today's addition, the category got even broader.

Update: The Columbia County Department of Health published this statement about an hour ago:

The Columbia County Department of Health is not making appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine. All of our currently scheduled clinics are full. Vaccine supply has been extremely limited. As vaccine becomes available, we will be posting links to register through our website at www.columbiacountynyhealth.com. Please check back at that address frequently for more information and to register for vaccination as it becomes available. As stated by Governor Cuomo, it is expected that it will be 14 weeks until we are done with Phase 1A and 1B of the distribution plan. This will be a long process and we are working around the clock to vaccinate our community as quickly as possible. Please check back with our website for links to registration. We are not maintaining a waiting list for vaccinations. 

Council Reform

If you scroll back through the minutes of the Common Council, you will find that there have been committees of the Common Council for at least 150 years. Council presidents have created new committees, abolished existing committees, altered the names of committees, but there have always been committees. Last night, Council president Tom DePietro announced they would "no longer continue with the committee system." He explained that the committee meetings "have gotten out of hand, on the assumption that they are a public forum, which they are not, and have descended into free-for-alls." He asserted, "Meetings that are disjointed and held days apart have led to a certain disjointedness in City policy making and the Council getting its work done." 

DePietro's solution to the perceived problem is to collapse all of the business of the committee meetings into the monthly informal meeting of the Council. All committee subjects, all reports from department heads, and reports from "various quasi-governmental agencies" (DePietro mentioned HDC specifically) will happen at the informal meeting. 

Up until yesterday, there were eight committees, each holding a meeting that traditionally was scheduled to last for forty-five minutes--that's six hours of meeting time. How all that business, along with reports from agencies heretofore not required to report to the Common Council, will fit into one meeting hard to imagine.

Resolutions and other legislative initiatives now begin in committees. Up until now, it was a requirement that resolutions and laws come before the full Council from a committee. Last night, DePietro announced, "All resolutions will be funneled through my office," and he will determine if an ad hoc committee is needed "to shepherd them through." The rules of order adopted by the Council last night include this: 

Rule #4 Local Laws and Resolutions

All Resolutions and Laws shall be submitted in writing at the Informal Session for discussion before submission to the Formal Session. This rule may be waived by the President of the Council when deemed necessary. Any matter, motion, proposed resolution or law introduced at the Informal or Formal Session, the President, at his sole discretion, may assign it to the appropriate ad hoc Committee(s), or place it on the Agenda for consideration by the Council. A petition by three members of the Council to the full Council will be sufficient to discharge a draft law or resolution and bring it up for consideration by the Council.

There is also this rule, which is unaltered from last year, although then it was Rule #10.

Rule #8 Non-Members Addressing the Council

At the discretion of the Chair, non-members, after identifying themselves and providing their place of residence, may address a question before the Council or new business at the new business portion of the meeting, in each case, after council members have discussed the issue at hand. As with council members, non-members first must be recognized by the Chair. The Chair has the authority to limit the number of speakers and the time allocated to each person.

The 2021 Rules of Order can be found here.

Also at the organizational meeting, it was announced that Tiffany Garriga (Second Ward) will continue as majority leader and Rebecca Wolff (First Ward), the only alderman who is not currently a registered Democrat, will continue as minority leader.

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COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there has been another death from COVID-19 in Columbia County. The CCDOH is reporting 42 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases is now sixteen more than yesterday, suggesting that 25 people are now considered to be recovering from the virus. There are 68 more county residents in mandatory quarantine today than yesterday, and one more person is hospitalized with the virus. The number in the ICU remains the same. 

The New York Forward dashboard is reporting a positivity rate for Columbia County yesterday of 8.5 percent and a seven-day average of 8.9 percent. By comparison, the daily positivity rate for the Capital Region is 8.9 percent and the seven-day average is 9.1 percent.

Hudson Awarded $1 Million Grant

It was announced this morning on the City of Hudson website that the City and Hudson Community Development and Planning Agency (HCDPA) will receive a $1 million grant to implement "strategies to address displacement of communities of color." The grant was awarded by Enterprise Community Partners, in collaboration with the New York State Attorney General. The effort to secure the grant was led by aldermen Rebecca Wolff (First Ward) and Calvin Lewis (Third Ward); Mayor Kamal Johnson; mayoral aide Michael Chameides; Serria McGriff, Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood service provider; Luisa Thillet, Columbia County Sanctuary Movement organizer; and Dan Kent of the Galvan Foundation.

According to the announcement on the City of Hudson website:

The grant will fund a new partnership with St. Catherine's Center for Children, with collaboration from the Columbia County Department of Social Services, to provide emergency funds and opt-in case management to Hudson residents at immediate risk of displacement. Many at risk of displacement can't access emergency funds because of existing eligibility requirements. Often, living in market-rate housing or paying above 30% of one's income for housing creates ineligibility for housing assistance programs. This new program will supply emergency funds for renters who wouldn't otherwise qualify. At the same time, it will provide gap funding where in some cases it will make someone eligible, thereby unlocking and leveraging additional state and federal funds.

The grant will also fund a collaboration with Pattern for Progress on the creation of Hudson's Affordable Housing Development Plan. The plan will review developable properties, funding opportunities, and development feasibility in order to create a document that recommends the operations, timeline, and partnerships for developing affordable housing.

The grant will also fund a new staff position to expand outreach to people of color at risk of displacement, increase coordination between organizations that provide housing services, carry out the goals of Hudson's Strategic Housing Action Plan (SHAP), and advance the grant projects. The SHAP identified creating a housing-focused staff position as a top priority action.

The bulk of the grant is reserved to seed a Housing Trust Fund for future anti-displacement projects. The Housing Trust Fund will be created this year and will include spending criteria, governance structure, and strategic planning.

The entire announcement can be read here.

Meetings of Interest in the Week Ahead

The city calendar for January looks pretty sparse, but that's because the Common Council committee meetings have not yet been scheduled. That should happen after tonight's organizational meeting. Meanwhile, here's what's currently on the calendar.

• On Monday, January 11, the Common Council holds its organizational meeting at 7:00 p.m., immediately followed by the informal meeting for January. At the informal meeting, Arterial will present proposed improvements for streets, sidewalks, and intersections in the BRIDGE District--that is, the part of the city below Second Street. Click here to access the Zoom meeting.

• On Tuesday, January 12, the board of Hudson Community Development and Planning Agency meets at 10:30 a.m. Click here to access the Zoom meeting. 
• Also on Tuesday, January 12, the Planning Board meets at 6:00 p.m. Click here to access the Zoom meeting. The agenda for the meeting, which can be found here includes the continuation of the public hearing on the proposal to install communication equipment on Providence Hall, the continuing deliberation on the conditional use permits sought by Colarusso, and consideration of the Galvan Foundation proposal to construct buildings at 75 North Seventh Street and 708 State Street. 

• On Wednesday, January 13, the Board of Commissions of the Hudson Housing Authority meets at 6:00 p.m. The link to the Zoom meeting can be found on the HHA website.

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COVID News

The Columbia County Department of Health announced this morning that a COVID-19 vaccination information line is now available. The number is: 

518 697-5560

Whodathunkit?

For those veterans of the battle against the notorious "Greenport Project," not to mention more recent skirmishes against schemes to incinerate trash in nearby cement kilns, the irony is stunning. CNBC reported this morning that LaFargeHolcim is going green: "As priorities shift, world's largest cement firm inks $3.4 billion deal to focus on solar, green roofs."

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health released its numbers for the day at 5:30 p.m. Since yesterday, there have been 56 new cases of COVID-19, but the number of active cases being reported is fifteen fewer than yesterday, suggesting that 71 people are now considered to be recovering. There are thirteen fewer county residents in mandatory quarantine today than yesterday, and one more county resident is hospitalized with the virus. The number in the ICU remains the same as yesterday. Mercifully, since yesterday, there has not been another death from COVID-19 in Columbia County.

The New York Forward dashboard is reporting a positivity rate for Columbia County yesterday of 8.7 percent and a seven-day average of 7.8 percent. By comparison, the daily positivity rate for the Capital Region is 8.2 percent and the seven-day average is 9.2 percent.

Getting the Vaccine

Starting tomorrow, Monday, January 11, everyone in New York who is part of Group 1a or Group 1b can make a reservation to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Group 1a--nursing home residents and staff and hospital workers--has been eligible for the vaccine for a few weeks now. Group 1b will become eligible tomorrow. 

Included in Group 1b are teachers, first responders, public safety workers, public transit workers, and 1.4 million people 75 and older, for a total of 3.2 million New Yorkers.

In his COVID-19 briefing on Wednesday, Governor Andrew Cuomo warned that, although you can make a reservation, it may be weeks or even months you can actually get vaccinated because of the current supply rate of the vaccine. New York State now receives 300,000 doses of the vaccine a week. At that rate, Cuomo calculates, it will take fourteen weeks to vaccinate the people in Group 1a who have not yet been vaccinated and everyone in Group 1b. 

Those who now qualify for the vaccine in Columbia County can call or email the Columbia County Department of Health to make a reservation. The phone number is 518 828-3358. You are advised to "listen to all prompts to go to Option 7." The email address is [email protected]. Emails are preferred because of the overwhelming volume of calls being received by the CCDOH. When you leave a message or send an email, you must provide the following information:

Name

Date of Birth 

Contact Information--phone number/email address

When you have made a reservation, you will be contacted with information about where and when you can receive your vaccination. The CCDOH has provided this information about vaccination sites:

Vaccination will be administered at mobile clinics run by the Columbia County Department of Health. At this time, the Department of Health does not have information about which type of vaccine will be available nor the specific locations of the mobile clinics.

Tomorrow's Common Council Meeting

Tomorrow, Monday, January 11, the Common Council meets at 7:00 p.m. The first part of the meeting will be the annual organizational meeting, which takes place at the beginning of every new year. At that time, the majority and minority leaders are elected, the Council president announces committee assignments, and rules of order are adopted. 

At the Conservation Advisory Council meeting last week, Council president Tom DePietro, responding to Hilary Hillman's disappointment that no one on the Legal Committee was familiar with the proposed tree ordinance she had submitted to committee chair John Rosenthal well in advance of the Legal Committee meeting on December 23, said he was "rethinking a lot of things for the coming year." Presumably, at the organizational meeting tomorrow night, we will learn the outcome of that rethinking.

Also at Monday's meeting, there will be a presentation of the draft Hudson Connects Connectivity Plan. Information provided on the City of Hudson website explains: 

The City is partnering with street design consultants Arterial, and they will share proposed improvements for streets, sidewalks, and intersections in the DRI district. The presentation will review cost projections and options for which projects to prioritize. This meeting will be an opportunity for the public to provide feedback and ask questions of the City and the design team. 

The link to the Zoom meeting has not yet been provided but should appear sometime tomorrow on the City of Hudson website. Scroll down to the calendar.

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News from Friday's HPC Meeting

The Historic Preservation Commission meeting on Friday included two public hearings and lasted for more than three hours. Needless to say, the meeting generated lots of news.

The first public hearing concerned 241 Columbia Street, the original house of worship for Shiloh Baptist Church, constructed from 1920 to 1924 and recently designated a local landmark. 

The proposed changes to the building that are part of its restoration include installing windows in the tower; adding a greenhouse structure at the rear; lowering the entrance to the building; moving the door to the basement, now under the stairs, to the left; covering the foundation, which is now stuccoed, with wood siding.

Four members of the public spoke during the public hearing: Chris Perry and Cathryn Dwyre, who explained they lived on Warren Street, in proximity to 241 Columbia Street, and Ronald Kopnicki and Matt McGhee, who have been eloquent and outspoken champions of the building and its history. Perry and Dwyre expressed their satisfaction with the proposed changes to the building, calling them "necessary in terms of [the building's] functionality" and saying they were happy to see the building "brought into the 21st century." Kopnicki and McGhee expressed displeasure over the plan to move the basement door, hence destroying the symmetry of the facade. McGhee read from a history of Old Shiloh and appealed to the HPC to preserve intact the work of the parishioners who built the church and to "give the city a place of history and true inclusion for us all." 

When the HPC deliberated about the building later in the meeting, concerns were expressed both about moving the entrance and the basement door and about covering the foundation with clapboard. Jane Smith, architect for the project, explained that they had looked at many designs to make the stairs and the entrance code compliant, and none was "as successful at respecting the design of the building" as the one proposed. She told the HPC, "We have worked really, really hard on this." The change to the proposed plan that was agreed to was that the foundation would continue to be covered in stucco. With that change, the HPC unanimously voted to grant a certificate of appropriateness to the plans for restoration.

The subject of the second public hearing was the DRI funded alterations to the entrance to Promenade Hill. Chris Anderson of Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects presented the plan, which has been slightly refined since it was first presented to the HPC on December 6.

Anderson described the plan for the plaza as "reinforcing the visual relationship between Front Street and the Promenade" and spoke of celebrating the history of Promenade Hill and connecting to it. The principal refinement was relocating six lamp posts and adding more lamp posts to insure that the universal access route to the promenade was adequately lighted. Gail Wittwer-Laird, also of Starr Whitehouse, told the HPC that the groundbreaking for the project was anticipated to take place "on a sunny day" in February.

Before the public hearing was opened, Victoria Polidoro, legal counsel to the HPC, advised about procedure, explaining that the SEQRA (State Environmental Quality Review Act) assessment of the project was still outstanding. She asked the HPC to move to make the Common Council the lead agency for SEQRA. A motion was made and seconded and unanimously approved, after which the HPC voted to open the public hearing. There were no comments from the public about the proposed plan. 

Among the new projects to come before the HPC on Friday, three are of interest, the first of those being 94 North Fifth Street, the house whose wrap-around porch with intricate lattice work was, to the dismay of many, removed last fall.

    

It was explained that the front porch had been removed "as a result of miscommunication," but the HPC was assured that the details, in particular the ornate lattice brackets, had been preserved, and the porch was to be reconstructed exactly as it had been.

The subject of much discussion during the review by the HPC were the two over four windows found in various locations on the house. Chip Bohl, architect member of the HPC, noted that windows of this configuration would have been original to the house. Paul Barrett, historian member of the HPC, commented that the windows were unique and cautioned against changing them. Andy Didio, of Taconic Engineering, representing the building's owner, cited consistency, functionality, and availability as reasons not to use two over four windows, but Bohl insisted that the configuration should be maintained, asserting that "consistency is not an argument."

The second project of interest was the restoration of 223-225 Allen Street, the building damaged by fire last May.

Photo: Julie Metz

The plans for restoring the building involve removing layers of vinyl and other siding to expose and restore the original clapboard, reinstating the missing windows on the facade, restoring the Greek Revival sidelights at the entrance doors, and re-creating the entrances in Greek Revival style, which would have been the original design of the building. Two color schemes were proposed for the restored building, although the HPC does not opine on paint color. The restored building will have six apartments, two on each floor.

The same team of architects and owners presented a proposal for 205 Warren Street. This is the third proposal for the building that has come before the HPC in recent years.

In May 2017, the HPC approved a plan that involved converting the ground floor into storefronts. Although it was granted a certificate of appropriateness, that plan was never pursued.

In April 2018, a different plan was presented for the building, which involved, among other things, replacing the vinyl siding with Hardiplank, adding wood panels below the ground floor windows, and enhancing the entrance with a new pediment, entablature, and pilasters. That plan was not pursued either.

What is now being proposed is a restoration that respects what Bohl called "the wonderful idiosyncrasies" of the building.

The plan is to remove the vinyl siding to expose the original clapboard and to restore it. Bohl suggested that in that process they may discover that the first floor windows were originally taller than the second floor windows.  The plan also involves converting the attic into an apartment, and to achieve that a dormer will added at the back of the building. The building currently has four units; the restored building will have five units.  

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COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. The most disturbing news is that, for the second day in a row, there has been a death from COVID-19. The CCDOH is reporting 47 new cases of COVID-19, but the number of active cases has decreased by 82, suggesting that 128 people are now considered recovering. The number of county residents in mandatory quarantine remains that same as yesterday, as does the number hospitalized and in the ICU. 

The New York Forward dashboard is reporting a positivity rate for Columbia County yesterday of 8.0 percent and a seven-day average positivity rate of 7.7 percent. By comparison, the daily positivity rate for the Capital Region is 6.7 percent and the seven-day average is 9.5 percent.

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 62 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases has only increased by seven since yesterday, which suggests that 55 more people are now considered recovering. There are 37 more county residents in mandatory quarantine today than yesterday, and two more county residents are hospitalized. The number in the ICU remains the same, and there has not been another death from COVID-19 in Columbia County since Monday.

In his COVID press briefing today, Governor Andrew Cuomo reported that the Capital Region, with 22.04 percent, has the lowest available hospital capacity of any region in the state. When hospitals predict they are 21 days from having only 15 percent available capacity, it triggers a shutdown until the spread of the virus can be brought under control.

Update: Half an hour after the CCDOH released the numbers reported above, the report was updated to include the information that there had been another death from the virus. The total number of deaths from COVID-19 is now 52.

More Word from Our Representatives

About an hour ago, a statement by Kirsten Gillibrand, recounting yesterday's events, appeared in the New York Times: "Kirsten Gillibrand: 'Yes, We Are Safe,' I Texted From the Capitol." In it, Gillibrand asserts:

These rioters must be held responsible for their criminal actions. So should the president who incited them. Every option available, from invoking the 25th Amendment to impeachment and removal to criminal prosecution, should be on the table. These options will require the vice president, cabinet members and Republican members of the Senate to hold the president accountable in a way they never have before. When they fail to take decisive action, history will judge them as complicit.

Congressman Antonio Delgado, in an email distributed to constituents, made a similar appeal:

Donald Trump's actions and words make it clear that he is unfit for the Office of the President.

I took an oath to protect the Constitution. I've come to the conclusion that in order to protect our democracy, Trump must be removed from office by the Cabinet invoking the 25th Amendments or by this Congress impeaching him.

We must restore the soul of our nation. We must protect our democracy. We must repair the damage that has been done through compassion, love, and facts. We must return America as a beacon of liberty, equality, hope, and opportunity for all.

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 77 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases has increased by 22, suggesting that 55 people have recovered from the virus since yesterday. The number of county residents in mandatory quarantine remains the same as yesterday, as does the number of people hospitalized and in the ICU. There has not been another death from COVID-19 in Columbia County since Monday.  

The New York Forward dashboard is reporting a positivity rate for Columbia County yesterday of 8.0 percent and a seven-day average positivity rate of 7.6 percent. By comparison, the daily positivity rate for the Capital Region is 9.1 percent and the seven-day average is 10.0 percent.

Happening in Washington

Senator Chuck Schumer made this statement a few hours ago:

What happened at the U.S. Capitol yesterday was an insurrection against the United States, incited by President Trump.

This president must not hold office one day longer.

The quickest and most effective way--it can be done today--to remove this president from office would be for the Vice President to immediately invoke the 25th amendment.

If the Vice President and the Cabinet refuse to stand up, Congress must reconvene to impeach President Trump. 

Late last night, the Wall Street Journal reported: "House Judiciary Committee Democrats Ask Pence to Invoke 25th Amendment to Remove President Trump." The following was quoted from the  message to Vice President Pence from eighteen committee members: "The world watched aghast as insurrectionists, who had been egged on by the President, threatened the safety of elected officials and staff and destroyed public property as they stormed and occupied both the House and Senate chambers bringing our democracy to a halt. At one point, the insurrectionists even removed an American flag flying at the Capitol and replaced it with a Trump flag."

A couple of hours ago, NBC News reported published this update on efforts to take action against Trump: "Schumer calls on Pence to use 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office."

In the meantime, one member of Trump's cabinet, Elaine Chao, wife of Senator Mitch McConnell, has resigned from her role as Secretary of Transportation.

Update 1/8/21  The New York Times reported yesterday that Vice President Pence was refusing to take phone calls from Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, calling on him to invoke the 25th Amendment. Also yesterday, a second cabinet member, Betsy DeVos, Secretary of Education, resigned.

Local Response to the Chaos of Yesterday

Today, a group of thirty-seven Columbia County officials from different parties condemned the violence in Washington, D.C., yesterday. The group includes the chairman and deputy chairman of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors, numerous supervisors, and the leaders of the Republican and Democratic parties in the county. Their statement read:

We strongly condemn the violent actions of those who invaded the U.S. Capitol buildings yesterday. This shameful activity is not to be condoned. Lawlessness and rioting are never acceptable, in any fashion, no matter the reason. Our democracy rests on the orderly and peaceful transition of power, and this transition from one president to another must be allowed and supported. While we each have our political views and affiliations, we stand united in upholding the rule of law, and the Constitution of the United States. We ask you to do the same; our democracy depends upon it.

The statement was signed by Brenda Adams, Supervisor, Town of Canaan; Jacob Ashby, Assemblymember, 107th Assembly District; Didi Barrett, Assemblymember, 106th Assembly District; David P. Bartlett, Sheriff, Columbia County; Arthur Bassin, Supervisor, Town of Ancram; Michael Benvenuto, Majority Leader, Columbia County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor, Town of Ghent; Robert W. Beaury, Supervisor, Town of Germantown; Hugh Clark, Deputy Supervisor, Councilmember, Town of Ancram; Monica Cleveland, Town Clerk, Town of Ancram; Donal Collins, Supervisor, Town of Chatham; Greg Fingar, Chairman, Columbia County Republican Committee; Brenda Gevertz, Second Vice Chair, Columbia County Democratic Committee; Deborah Gordon, Councilmember, Town of New Lebanon; James Guzzi, Deputy Chairman, Columbia County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor, Town of Livingston; Tistrya Houghtling, Minority Leader, Columbia County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor, Town of New Lebanon; Bonnie Hundt, Councilmember, Town of Ancram; Keith Kanaga, Chair, Columbia County Democratic Committee; P.J. Keeler Jr., Treasurer, Columbia County; Chris Kersten, Supervisor, Town of Hillsdale; Ron Knott, Deputy Chairman, Columbia County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor, Town of Stuyvesant; Robert Lagonia, Supervisor, Town of Austerlitz; Patsy Leader, Supervisor, Town of Kinderhook; Jeanne E. Mettler, Supervisor, Town of Copake; Abdus Miah, Supervisor, 2nd Ward, City of Hudson; James Miller, Highway Superintendent, Town of Ancram; Matt Murell, Chairman, Columbia County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor, Town of Stockport; Linda Mussmann, Supervisor, 4th Ward, City of Hudson; Norman Rasmussen, Councilmember, Town of New Lebanon; John C. Reilly, Supervisor, Town of Gallatin; Marcie Robertson, Town Clerk, Town of New Lebanon; Richard Scalera, Supervisor, 5th Ward, City of Hudson; Sarah Hoe Sterling, Supervisor, 1st Ward, City of Hudson; Ryan Skoda, Supervisor, Town of Taghkanic; Chris Tague, Assemblymember, 102nd Assembly District; Holly Tanner, Columbia County Clerk; John Trainor, Councilmember, Town of New Lebanon; Clifford “Kippy” Weigelt, Supervisor, Town of Claverack.

Plans for the Plunge in 2021

If snow and frigid temperatures don't deter people from plunging into Oakdale Lake, neither does a pandemic! 

The following announcement was made yesterday:

The Oakdale Plunge returns with an icy cold splash on Saturday February 27th! 

This year we'll be playing it HUDSON SAFE. Small groups of intrepid plungers will jump into Oakdale Lake's frigid water in staggered shifts, maintaining social distance. Spectators will be unable to attend in person, but can still enjoy the show via live stream. Updated information on the schedule and live stream will be available at OakdalePlunge.com closer to the event.

Proceeds of this whacky fundraiser are evenly split, as they are each year, between the Hudson Fire Department Water Rescue and Dive Team and the Hudson Youth Department. The all-volunteer Rescue Team does the crucial job of saving people who get into trouble in the Hudson River, and will use their share to continue upgrading their aging safety equipment. The Youth Department provides free recreation, enriching activities and safe space for local kids and will use the funds raised to support their summer Waterfront Program, providing lifeguards seven days a week for community swimming at Oakdale Lake.

Last year, close to 100 swimmers braved the freezing waters of Oakdale Lake to raise over $30,000. Crazily costumed teams from local organizations and businesses supported the effort, including Avalanche Sponsors Columbia Memorial Hospital and Metzwood Insurance.

To make a splash as an individual or team, or to donate in support neighbors who may be braver than you, visit OakdalePlunge.com.

Can This Be Hudson?

The Galvan Foundation announced this morning plans for not one but two new buildings to be constructed in the area of the city it has dubbed "The Depot District." 

The announcement reads:

We are pleased to share our Depot District plans, including two new buildings at 75 North 7th Street and 708 State Street, along with the restored Upper Hudson Depot building and a new park. . . . The Depot District will feature 138 new homes and 10 new commercial spaces. The plan and designs are the product of extensive conversation with community leaders and officials from the city, county, and state.

First and foremost, the Depot District will help relieve Hudson's housing crisis, as laid out in the city's Strategic Housing Action Plan, by providing both market-rate and affordable apartments in one-, two-, and three-bedroom configurations. Finally, households of all sizes and income levels will access high-quality housing in Hudson that they can afford.

Housing isn't the only challenge that Hudson faces, of course. Over the past year, we granted $100,000 to minority- and women-owned businesses, and we heard from business owners--over and over again--that Hudson needs affordable commercial spaces. So we are designating four of the new spaces for minority and women entrepreneurs with preferential rents.

The Depot District will also feature a new park and will be handicap accessible throughout. All told, the project will invest over $50 million into the Hudson and Columbia County economy. According to independent analysis, it will create 65 new, permanent jobs along with 347 additional jobs during construction.

The fact sheet accompanying the announcement includes the rather vague, uberurban rendering shown above, along with this information.

It is not clear if the two buildings mentioned in the announcement are the same as those for which Galvan has already provided renderings--the five-story building proposed for 75 North Seventh, which was to contain 77 units, and the four-story building that appeared at 708 State Street in renderings of the proposal for Hudson Upper Depot. 

One wonders why the City is bothering to spend $30,000 to hire Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress to create an Affordable Housing Development Plan when Galvan is busy doing all the planning and developing for us.