Dear Hudsonians, new subscribers from City Hall, and a few brave County Supervisors,

The days are long, the pace slower. We sit in the lull between the Democratic Primary upset and the general election that will matter for the City and the County. The Charter Change Reform petition has met its end, less from public apathy than from self-inflicted wounds (overlooked deadlines). Their story is unfinished. Lessons learned will appear in these pages in the weeks ahead. The grassroots group moved the City of Hudson from "if" to "how" on updating the Charter. We expect this question to be one of the animating drivers of local discourse and a deciding factor in the mayoral election.

This week we bring three pieces, two substantial and one light. Walter Chatham, a widely respected architect, offers our first commissioned guest essay. He examines Hudson’s housing dilemma and poses a sharper question: is it really a housing problem, or is it an earnings problem?

We also publish our look at the curious choice of mediums used by mayoral candidates, a piece that unexpectedly drew praise from Gossips readers and residents across the County. Marshall McLuhan even makes an appearance, and the lack of Tiktok is perhaps most revealing.

Finally, we dive into the Oakdale Grant fiasco, the longest article we have published, confronting the role of lobbyists in City Hall and the recurring arrival of well-intentioned billionaires to “help” Hudson and their local conflicted fixers. This rapid response editorial tested us: lawmakers and leaders who "agreed with our principles," nevertheless urged "just this one exception".... for the kids. In the process we learned which candidates and lawmakers act from conviction and which from emotion. We also learned to publish slower and fact-check more. The story and new facts developed throughout the day right until the vote, which says something  about the lack of transparency in City Hall.

The fiasco will certainly be a footnote in a forthcoming special civil proceeding.

Features this week:

Guest Op-Ed from Walter Chatham: Housing or Hollowing: Hudson's Choice

Editorial: FB Comment, IG Story, Email or (Scanned) Handwritten Letter?

Editorial: Oakdale Park Grant: Gift or another example of Hudson’s financial dysfunction?

Our beta website is now live at www.HudsonCommonSense.com. Beyond Instagram, you can now see our "Front Page" news feed of Editorials, Guest Op-Eds on the left, and more permanent guides and schedules on the right margin. And if you are busy building the future and your family8, simply subscribe to our Common Sense Briefing newsletter and we will find you.

Please hit reply to this email with feedback, suggestions, Guest Op-Eds,  and let us know if you want these email briefings every other week, or every week. We want to calibrate to meet your needs.

We keep an eye on Hudson so that you can keep an eye on your world.

As always we applaud Hudson’s rich media ecosystem, and share the best (Wail) memes, (Cidiot) podcast, and Gossips story we found this week. See the postscript.

Challenge, fact‑check, and share Common Sense. Hudson depends on it.

Your Editors on Warren Street and Correspondents across all wards

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1. Trixie's List: Featuring HUD-TV and Leopold Chartwell

HUD-TV is a community-based, community-access television station built with the grit, gravel and determination that has made Hudson so great these many years. Besides HUD-TV, the Chartwell family name has brought plenty to this county, for eons! I am a 5th generation Hudsonian, so my opinion matters more than anyone.

2. Gossips or Rivertown: No Saunas for Us