Thank You For Your Support

I would like to thank all of the 574 people who voted for me in the Hudson Mayor's race. It was because of you that I won in three of Hudson's five Wards, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd along with a virtual tie in the 4th. 

But it was not enough to overcome the vote for my opponent in the 5th Ward. 

I brought up the issues that I think would help make Hudson a better place for all of its citizens. I am proud of the race I ran and happy for all of the amazing people I met and new friends I made on the campaign trail.

I remain committed to those issues and will continue working for smarter, better, greener and more inclusive solutions for all of Hudson. 

A group of us will be discussing ideas on how to have greater success in two years. If you would like to participate in those discussions, feel free to contact us at betterforhudson@gmail.com.

My sincerest thanks to all of the volunteers, contributors and supporters who helped us get as far as we did this time. 

Onward for Hudson!

Victor Mendolia

Compare The Plans

During the campaign for Mayor in Hudson this year, the voters were denied the chance to compare the candidates positions at a debate. So we are left to compare what is out there. It's like comparing apples and oranges.

Print
Victor Mendolia has published an extensive agenda with his plan for Hudson. His detailed agenda includes plans for Hudson's waterfront, truck route issues, green initiatives, job training program and much more. Read it here.

William Hallenbeck's "Priorities" include 8 points and is a grand total of 13 sentences. Read it here.

Audio
@Issue September 18 Victor Mendolia's interview with host Tom DePietro on WGXC can be heard here.

@Issue October 31 William Hallenbeck's interview with host Tom DePietro on WGXC can be heard here.

Video

Both candidates participated in HudsonVotes.com 10 questions videos hosted by Greg Mosley.

These are the ten questions that were asked:

1. What are your priorities if elected mayor of the City of Hudson?
2. How would you solve the small city challenges?
3. What would your plans be for the waterfront?
4. How would you address the issue of gentrification and diversity in Hudson?
5. What's your take on the number of elected officials?
6. How would you address the issue of housing and the lack of affordable housing?
7. What would you do about the budget? What would you do to increase the budget?
8. What would you do to improve the police department, if it needs improving?
9. The youth are the future of our city. What are your plans to service the youth?
10. What makes you the better candidate to be mayor of the City of Hudson?

See Victor's answers here

See Hallenbeck's answers here.

Metroland Covers Hudson Mayors Race

Albany alternative weekly Metroland has a piece covering the Hudson Mayoral race.

Read Positive and Negative

Rogovoy Reports on Town Hall Meeting

Seth Rogovoy on his Rogovoy Report has done an in depth analysis of Victor's town hall meeting and his positions on Hudson's future. This is by far the most extensive reporting and analysis of Victor's vision for the city.

Read the full report on the Rogovoy Report.

Victor Calls for Action on the Waterfront and Redevelopment on Columbia Street

David Lee - Register-Star

The Register-Star today reported on Victor's town hall meeting on Saturday, moderated by Francesca Shanks.

In it, the paper outlines Victor's plan for moving forward on Hudson's waterfront and revitalizing Columbia Street, among other issues.

The most curious part of the article in was when "Hallenbeck called Mendolia’s decision to send the invitation to his work email “inappropriate.”

In a previous article in the Register-Star from October 15th "Hallenbeck said he never received any formal invitation from Mendolia to [debate]".

So whether the invitation is made by the paper of record and the community radio station in Hudson, or his opponent invites him directly at his official email address, apparently any invitation to discuss the issues in front of the voters is "inappropriate" to Mayor Hallenbeck.

Read the full article in the Register-Star

A Desperate Man's Only Campaign Issue

"My opponent has AIDS".

Bubbling just beneath the surface of this year's campaign for Mayor in Hudson has been Mayor Hallenbeck's surrogates raising questions about my health due to my HIV+ status and trashing me for accessing disability benefits for which I am legally and legitimately qualified. Up until now, I had no indication that the Mayor was actually driving this.

I have just received the following email from an employee at Providence Hall, a building in the 2^nd Ward for seniors and the disabled:

Hey Victor,

Just want to let you know that Hallenbeck has told a Schuyler Court resident that you have aids. The residents at Providence Hall told me he was here last night to speak and told them also that you have aids and that you are on disability. He also told them since he was a police officer years ago, that he got lots of information on you and that they would be shocked if they knew what you did. So he is spreading this crap. What a jerk he is.

I think he is a disgusting man and I just wanted to let you know what he is doing. My co worker heard about this and told him that she is not going to vote for him because he has no right to discuss information like that with other people. But he still seems to be spreading this information.

I am going to give him a piece of my mind also, believe me. Let me know if there is anything I can do.

I believe that the Mayor thinks that he can win this race by avoiding the issues and raising questions about my health and abilities. Having struggled for almost 25 years with HIV, life has, admittedly been extremely difficult at times, but with the help of my fellow HIV/AIDS activists, the miracle of science has brought my health to the point of stability. In the past year my HIV viral load has become undetectable and I am ready to take the next step in my life; serving the citizens of Hudson.

I do not see my health struggle as a disadvantage. To the contrary, I see it as something which enables me to see more clearly, the obstacles that others face. Hudson is an amalgamation of many things. We are a city facing new prosperity after a long decline. We are a city of rich and poor and of able bodied people along with the elderly, sick and differently abled. That is why I recently joined the board of the AIDS Council of Northeastern NY and why I have met with many of Hudson's service providers in many fields. To better understand what is working for Hudson's residents and what isn't. My experience and my search for solutions gives me insight into the struggles that many people face. Insight which, in my opinion, my opponent does not possess.

The people of Hudson will decide whether they believe that I am the better choice to lead the city.I ask Hudson residents to compare our plans for the city.

My agenda for Hudson can be found here.

To see Mr Hallenbeck's plan, it is all of twelve sentences, go here and click on "Priorities". 

Rather than falling prey to the kind of negative innuendo characteristic of negative campaigning I ask the people of Hudson to notice which plan is detailed and specific. Notice which plan is more in line with the vision you have for Hudson. My plan includes redevelopment plans for our blighted neighborhoods to drive down property taxes, real solutions we can all support for our waterfront, green initiatives to reduce our energy use in municipal buildings and for residents, job training and education programs and more. The Mayor's includes justification for barring access to the North Bay and a plan to build a multi story parking garage on Columbia Street and not much else, all without any details.

I will be holding a town hall style meeting this Saturday Oct 26th at 2pm. The meeting will be held at the former Charles Williams School at North 3rd Street and Robinson Streets. The meeting will be co-moderated by Francesca Shanks, current editor at The Berkshire Eagle and former city editor of the Register-Star and Greg Mosley. It will follow the League of Women Voters format. The moderators will accept questions from citizens beginning at 1:45 pm.

Please join me and come with your questions.

Victor Mendolia

Democratic candidate for Mayor

For more information join the Facebook event or see previous post.

Town Hall Meeting Scheduled

Victor Mendolia, Democratic Candidate for Mayor of the City of Hudson has scheduled a town hall style meeting in place of a debate, since Republican incumbent William Hallenbeck Jr. has rejected numerous offers to debate.

Hallenbeck chose not to participate in a debate which was to be sponsored by the Register-Star and WGXC. Since Mendolia believes that the voters deserve the opportunity to hear directly from the candidates on the issues that are important to them, he will be holding a town hall meeting in place of the Mayoral debate. 

The meeting will take place on Saturday Oct 26th at 2pm in the auditorium of the newly renovated Second Ward LLC (the former Charles Williams School). The town hall meeting will be moderated by Francesca (Olsen) Shanks, current editor at The Berkshire Eagle and former city editor of the Register-Star and Greg Mosley. Written questions will be accepted from audience members which will be sorted and asked by the moderators.

Mr. Mendolia commented "I am thrilled to be holding this Town Hall meeting in the 2nd Ward, an area of the city which is often the forgotten Ward of Hudson. I look forward to seeing people from all over Hudson join us in the 2nd Ward where I live, for this meeting to discuss Hudson's future."

Should he change his mind, the town hall meeting remains open to Mr. Hallenbeck, who has been formally invited to participate. Mr. Mendolia said, "I hope that the Mayor will reconsider and allow the public to compare our visions and our plans for the city. But either way, I will be there ready to share my thoughts and hear from the public about their concerns." 

What: Town hall style meeting with Democratic candidate for Mayor Victor Mendolia (Mayor Hallenbeck has been invited to participate)

When: Saturday October 26th at 2pm. Written questions will be accepted starting at 1:45 pm

Where: Second Ward LLC (the former Charles Williams School) Auditorium, 71 North 3rd Street at the corner of Robinson Street Map

Read more: 
Register-Star, Rogovoy Report and Gossips of Rivertown and Register-Star Editorial

Join the Facebook event for updated information

No Vision, Empty Promises, No Debate About It

In the past few weeks a number of people have been working feverishly to put all of the logistics together to host a Mayoral debate in Hudson. The Register-Star, WGXC Radio, Martin AV Services and a number of individuals have all been working in concert to allow the voters to hear from and speak with the candidates who wish to lead Hudson as Mayor.

The location was set, the debate would have been broadcast over the radio and streamed live to the web. I was asked if I would participate, to which I responded that I would debate any place, anytime with any format. 

The only thing holding things up was Mayor Hallenbeck, who could not decide whether he would do it or not. It now appears that he will not.

It is incredibly disappointing that Mayor Hallenbeck has refused to participate in such a well organized and needed debate. All elected officials should face their constituents and make the case for their reelection. But his refusal really comes as no surprise. The Mayor has no plan for Hudson's future and has no record of success to stand on. Not wanting to further expose his lack of vision and the lackluster record of his first term any further publicly, makes perfect sense. It's just more of the same.

The Mayor has done nothing to unlock our waterfront's potential. Instead of more access to the waterfront, he brought us a fenced off Fugary and a fenced off cement plant with no plan for the future and no access. Wasted potential and wasted time.

While the tax burden continues to drive residents away and hold back development, the Mayor trumpets a 0% tax increase which was nothing more than a shell game based on "anticipated revenue" from the sale of properties which never happened. His 0% percent increase was really a $300,000 hole in the budget. But he won't talk about that until after Election Day. All this while he gives sweetheart deals to wealthy developers of questionable ability and questionable motive. 

Even though it has been known for months that Garth Slocum, Hudson's Sole Assessor would not be reappointed, Hallenbeck has done nothing to bring someone new (and better) on. All at a critical time when every taxpayer must reregister to keep their STAR exemption and right before seniors and the disabled must provide their updated documentation. This is a fiasco waiting to happen, and it will only hurt our frailest neighbors. 

Later this month he will also will have no one in the Code Enforcement Office. Given the code issues surrounding building, renovation, plumbing, and quality of life issues like garbage and sidewalks that Code Enforcement is responsible for, our poorly enforced code will have no one enforcing it. The Mayor and his administration are asleep at the wheel or completely missing in action.

But where he has failed most of all, is addressing the issues facing residents of the neglected and forgotten wards on the North side. The people who live in the most underserved areas of the city have been watching while the Mayor (who hasn't been seen in these parts of town since campaigning here two years ago) scrambles to make it look like he has done something to help break the cycle of poverty, crime, addiction and despair. But they know, we know, that he has done absolutely nothing to change their neighborhood or to improve their lives. But they will not be fooled again.

So it is not surprising that he would not want to be further exposed in public, where his lack of vision and poor leadership skills would have been even more obvious than they are already. With so little to stand on, I get why he has chosen not to debate. But will the public accept this disregard and disrespect? Time will tell.

I look forward to meeting with and hearing from all of Hudson's citizens. I will be announcing plans shortly for a Town Hall meeting to take the place of the debate which the Mayor has declined. I encourage people to attend and let your voice be heard, so that we can continue making Hudson more sustainable and more respectful, where each person's contribution is appreciated and honored.

Victor Mendolia

Candidate for Mayor

Democratic/Working Families

Read more in Register-Star and Register-Star Editorial

Hudson's Needs Are Victor's Top Priorities

As the campaign moves into high gear, Victor is hitting the streets with campaign literature explaining his positions and plans for Hudson.

Check out the new palm card that went to press today.

As we move into the most crucial month of the campaign, 

please consider making a contribution of any amount.

Make it your contribution to a better Hudson.

Contribute now with ActBlue

SEIU Local 200 United Endorses Victor Mendolia for Mayor

SEIU Local 200 United has endorsed Victor Mendolia in his race for Mayor of the City of Hudson. Victor had this to say about the endorsement. 

"I am so proud to have SEIU Local 200 United's endorsement. Labor sees that I am fighting for the working people of Hudson.  Jobs, smart development, environmental preservation and restoration and green initiatives are my top priorities and I stand with labor in their fight for living wage jobs in Hudson and Columbia County. I look forward to working together with labor during the campaign and in my administration."

Also endorsed by SEIU Local 200 United was Lee Jamison for Stuyvesant Supervisor and Mike Winnie for Columbia County Sheriff.  

Mendolia continued "I am thrilled to be running as a team with Lee Jamison and Mike Winnie with Labor's support. Together we will work to bring real change to Columbia County".

This is the second major labor endorsement for Victor's campaign. He was also recently endorsed by the Upper Hudson Central Labor Council of the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation.

SEIU Local 200 United union serves 15,000 public & private sector workers in the Upstate New York region. SEIU Local 200 United represents direct care workers and nurses, administrative assistants and secretaries, teaching assistants, food service workers, bus drivers, EMS professionals, municipal workers, security guards, janitors, buildings and grounds keepers, maintenance workers, ticket takers and ushers, cemetery workers, parking attendants and many more.

See the SEIU Local 200 United endorsement announcement.

Learn more about SEIU Local 200 United

Victor Does @Issue Interview on WGXC

Democratic Mayoral Candidate Victor Mendolia is currently on hiatus from @Issue, the public affairs interview show he normally hosts on community radio station WGXC 90.7 FM. 

He will return as host after the upcoming election. But this past Wednesday, Victor was a guest on the show with Tom DePietro hosting.

The interview covers a wide range of topics including:

• Hudson's Waterfront
• Property Taxes
• Development
• Housing
• Job Training
• Hudson's Form of Government
• Green Energy
• Hudson's City Attorney
• and More

You can hear the entire one hour interview in the WGXC Archives.

http://www.wgxc.org/archives/6978

Hallenbeck Rejects Debates

In an article in the Register-Star Republican Mayor William Hallenbeck Jr. has rejected Democratic Mayoral Candidate Victor Mendolia's call to debate. Victor has proposed a Town Hall meeting in all five wards and one city-wide debate. In his press release Victor said "“Each ward has its own unique problems and concerns, both candidates should hear those concerns and have a chance to present their plans to address them,” stated Mendolia, the former city Democratic chairman. “Hudson is at a crossroads, and the voters of each ward and the city at large deserve an opportunity to hear how the candidates would address the issues they care about. I sincerely hope that the mayor will participate in these forums.”

Hallenbeck responded "It’s reasonable my opponent would request a debate. But he’s requesting six debates, one in each ward. It borderlines on the comical". 

Comical to hear from and interact directly with the voters?

Even with that, Hallenbeck still has not committed to even one debate.

Read the full article here.

Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation Endorsement

The Upper Hudson Central Labor Council has endorsed Victor Mendolia's campaign for Mayor of Hudson. The Council, which is part of the Hudson Valley Area Labor Federation represents thousands of Columbia County union members.

In response to the endorsement, Victor Mendolia said, "Having labor's support is a great honor and will be a tremendous help with our campaign to put people first. I am thrilled to have labor with us in our fight for smart development, better solutions for our waterfront and living wage job opportunities for all of Hudson's residents."

A press conference announcing the entire slate of endorsements was held on Wednesday Sept. 18th at Harvest Spirits in Valatie.

Read more in the Register-Star

Yard Signs Have Arrived!

Our Campaign Yard Signs 

Have Just Arrived!

To get one, email us at 

betterforhudson@gmail.com 

and we'll drop one off to you.

Or stop by campaign headquarters at 

6 South 2nd Street

and pick one up.

How To Fix Hudson's Property Tax Problem

One of the most predictable conversations with new residents of Hudson goes something like this. "I just received my first tax bill after buying my house in Hudson. Can it be right? I can't believe how high the taxes are here! How much do you pay?" 

Many people who buy a home here are shocked at our tax rate and people who have lived here for years are just as outraged. Often people thinking about buying property or companies wanting to start a business here have to abandon those plans after they investigate our tax rates. They are simply too high and they are unsustainable.

The City of Hudson's annual budget is nearly $12 Million. The Hudson City School District annual budget is in excess of $40 Million. While the city and school district can achieve some cost savings, the bulk of their budgets are fixed costs for services that the community needs and deserves.

Hudson's position as the County Seat and the substantial number of not-for-profits and service providers in the city, only adds to the problem since those properties are not on the taxable property rolls. 

Ultimately the problem with Hudson's property taxes has less to do with what we spend, and more to do with there not being enough taxpayers shouldering the burden. That needs to change.

Building the Tax Base by Growing the Community.

At its peak, Hudson's population was twice what it is today. While there are a number of factors for that, the city's infrastructure is able to sustain a lot more people than it currently does. Encouraging redevelopment of properties in Hudson's blighted area and vacant lots would increase Hudson's population. This is exactly what is needed.

The way to achieve this is to encourage new smart development in Hudson.  To facilitate some new growth on the North Side quickly, I will propose and champion rezoning derelict structures and vacant lots of Columbia Street from 3rd Street to 5th Street. The new zoning would allow for more dense development than is currently permitted. 

The new zoning would permit some buildings, particularly those on corner lots, to be built nearly to the property line. This allowance for more buildable space would make the properties more attractive and more profitable for developers which would lead to much faster development that is currently occurring.

The more people we have living in Hudson, the more people paying taxes and contributing to our local economy. This would result in a greater number of people shouldering our tax burden and lower taxes for Hudson's beleaguered property owners.

Encouraging New Smart Development to Solve Other Problems

Developers who are afforded the right to build more densely would be required to help the city and its residents by giving back.

Parking issues continue to hold back Hudson's development.

Any new buildings which are afforded the right to build without the currently required setbacks, would be required (whenever possible) to include underground parking and ground floor commercial space. Those buildings which provide underground parking would also be allowed one extra story of buildable space for a total of five stories. The elimination of required setbacks along with an extra story of residential space would be very attractive to developers.

Hudson is also struggling with a lack of affordable housing.

In those buildings granted extra buildable space, a percentage of new apartments would be reserved for low and moderate income tenants. In many cities an 80/20 percent mix seems to work quite well. I would support a similar set aside. These lower-rent units would be mixed into all areas of the building so as to not stigmatize low income tenants and afford them the same amenities as any other tenant.

Looking Ahead to Waterfront Development While Increasing the Tax Base Now

Everyone in Hudson knows that our waterfront is our greatest asset. But unfortunately the current city government has failed to achieve a better outcome for the huge amount of land occupied by Holcim. The demolition and remediation which will be required in order to develop the former Kaz warehouse or Foster's Refrigeration factory, will not happen quickly. While my administration will immediately begin working for better solutions for our waterfront, it will take a while even under the best circumstances to get to the point where the city can develop there. But Hudson needs relief now.

Rezoning and developing the Columbia Street corridor would give the city's taxpayers the property tax relief they so desperately need. While at the same time it would allow for a measured and forward thinking plan for the waterfront and the other contaminated industrial parcels to be developed, all with the proper and required citizen input.

We Can't Wait Two More Years

The next two years will be critical in deciding whether Hudson continues being an affordable and livable city. It will not be if we fail to address our exorbitant property taxes. Alleviating the burden on Hudson's taxpayers will be the first order of business in my administration.

In the two years that Mayor Hallenbeck has been in office the Mayor has not put a single proposal forward to fix the underlying problems of Hudson's property tax burden. In that same time he has not proposed anything to address the parking problems in the city or the need for decent affordable housing. Not one! 

My proposal addresses a range of issues which have been ignored under Mayor Hallenbeck. It will go a long way toward sustainable fiscal health for the city, lessen the burden on current taxpayers, contribute to solving the acute lack of parking and affordable housing, all while lifting up the most blighted area of the city.

Victor Mendolia

Do you have any ideas about how we could do things better for Hudson? 

Let us know your thoughts.  

Email Victor at betterforhudson@gmail.com

A Community Center's Highest and Best Use

Investing in our kids.
Lifting up our adults.

For the past several years the Hudson Youth Department Budget has undergone cut after cut. The staff that remains does a great job providing services to Hudson's Youth with extremely limited resources, and worn out equipment. But the budget cuts have left Hudson's Youth Department in the worst shape in memory. That needs to change. Hudson's children deserve better.

My administration will find the funds to reinvigorate the Youth Department. We need to give our children all of the tools that they need to be successful.   We will implement and fund enhanced recreation programs with new updated sports equipment and upgraded computer equipment.  We will also offer expanded hours including weekends.

The Youth Department's home for most of the year is at the Boy's and Girl's Club on South 3rd Street. The building is not used for youth programs all Summer when the action is all at Oakdale Lake. The center is used for senior programs for part of the day year round. But there are still plenty of times when the center is not being used at all. This is a terrible waste, the building should be alive with activity all year long, all week long and all day long.

My proposal for the Boy's and Girl's Club is to turn it into a more full featured Community Center. The  Hudson Community Center would serve not only young people, but a wide range of people of all ages at different times of the day. The Community Center would serve as meeting space,  job training center, education center and recreation center depending on the time of day. 

The job training and education center would help train our unemployed or underemployed residents for the jobs that are already here in Hudson and Columbia County. We will enlist all of the expert talent in Hudson to help make the job training program successful as volunteers or paid trainers and we would actively seek out Federal and State Department of Labor grants to fund the job training program.

Apprenticeships in hospitality, restaurants, agriculture, antique restoration, construction, home weatherization and green technology installation could be offered. The city would partner with Workforce Development which could provide up to 6 months salary for the training of apprentices. Businesses would have the ability to train new potential employees and have that training subsidized or paid for by Workforce Development. We can lift up our unemployed and underemployed residents but teaching them skills they can use right now. While at the same time increasing the pool of skilled labor for our local businesses. 

My administration will hit the ground running to provide even better programs for our youth, while at the same time working to solve some of our most vexing social issues. By offering a path to jobs with real earnings potential for our neediest residents, we will work to break the cycle of poverty that is all too common in Hudson. 

Hudson can and must do better for all of its people. 

The change begins on Election Day, November 5th.

Hudson's Waterfront Plan? Less Access, Not More.

Mayor's Only Waterfront Initiative in First Term,
Restricts Access to Waterfront.

It has been one year since Mayor Hallenbeck evicted the members of the Fugary Boat Club  in the dead of night with a S.W.A.T. team. Since then, the North Bay has been surrounded by fencing and police tape.

From a Register-Star article this week marking the one year anniversary.

Asked what plans the city has for the property after it’s been vacant a year, Hallenbeck said a committee had been formed. 

“It’s in the Common Council’s hands to determine what the schedule will be,” he said. “I brought to their attention that the council should act expeditiously to save a couple of the shacks for historic purposes, to remember the historic significance of the shacks. They are still out, considering that at this time.”

However, there is no public record indicating the formation of such a Committee, or a list of individuals on said Committee, nor records of when this supposed Committee has met. Shouldn't a Committee formed to help solve one of the more controversial moves made by the Mayor, be a public affair, with open meetings?

While the Mayor tries to deflect responsibility for limiting Waterfront access instead of expanding it, the fact remains that the Mayor has not put forward one proposal in the 1 1/2 years he has served as Mayor, which would enhance or expand the public's access to the river. Not one.

The Mayor made the decision to evict the people who had used the shacks for decades. But failed to champion or steer a plan for the area after the eviction. The Mayor sets the agenda for Hudson, but there seems to be no agenda and no plan for our Waterfront. If the Mayor truly has a vision for the city, he should bring it forward.

The place he should start is the North Bay. Secure the buildings and any dangerous walkways, take down the fencing and reopen access to the river and the North Bay for everyone now.

Bumper Stickers Now Available

The campaign now has bumper stickers available.

They are removable and they are free.

If you would like one, 
drop an email to betterforhudson@gmail.com 
and we'll get you one.

Happy Independence Day

Best wishes for a happy and safe Independence Day.

In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; 
it must be achieved.  ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

Columbia County Democrats Endorse Mendolia for Mayor

In a rare move, the Columbia County Democratic Committee has endorsed Victor Mendolia for Mayor of Hudson. 

Victor said in response to the news "I am so honored to have the backing of the Columbia County Democrats. I am truly grateful for the support and confidence the Columbia County Democrats have placed in me."

The County Committee has not endorsed in a Hudson Mayoral race in recent memory.

Victor continued, "I am particularly pleased to be running on the same ticket with Columbia County Sheriff candidate Mike Winnie. Voters have a real choice for Sheriff and for Mayor in Hudson."

Both Mr Mendolia and Mr. Winnie have the backing of the Democratic and Working Families Parties.

Show Your Support - Window Signs Now Available

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!
Window Signs Available Now.

(Lawn Signs Coming Soon)

The Better for Hudson Campaign now has 11 x 17 window signs available.

Drop an email to betterforhudson@gmail.com and we'll drop one off to you.

Contribute with 

Campaign Begins Accepting Contributions

Our campaign is now set up to begin accepting contributions. With your support we can take the City of Hudson in a new direction. One which puts people first.

Victor's agenda for open and transparent government, municipal control of the waterfront, solutions to the truck route issue and for green and sustainability initiatives will move Hudson forward in a new direction. One we can all be proud of.

Contributions in small amounts from many people, really add up. So please make a contribution of any amount. Your support is greatly appreciated.

If you would prefer to contribute by mail, please make checks payable to "Better for Hudson" and mail to Better for Hudson, 245 State Street, Hudson NY 12534

Victor's Plans For Hudson

Victor Mendolia's Citizen's Agenda for Hudson is detailed and growing. But it can be summed up with the following. 

On Day One, 
Victor will immediately implement:

• An open and transparent government which is accessible, respectful and responsive.

In the first 90 Days he will:

• Institute a modern interactive website and social media presence with the ability to transact all City business, make complaints or suggestions. 

All with rapid response to issues and problems by City employees or by the Mayor himself.

Going Forward
As Mayor, Victor will immediately get to work to solve the issues which have plagued the city for years.

 He will fight for and lead the city toward:

• Municipal control of Hudson's Waterfront with citizen input
• Increasing available commercial and residential space by redeveloping Columbia Street
• Real solutions to State truck route issues
• New initiatives for upgrading sub-standard housing
• Reliable true high-speed broadband with free wi-fi in public parks and municipal buildings
• Eliminating blue trash bag method of trash disposal
• Restoration of the 7th St Public Square, along with new green spaces and playgrounds
• Creation of Hudson's first Dog Park

Victor will lead Hudson to become a model for green technology, protection and enhancement of the environment and sustainability.

• Fast tracked solar and wind power at City owned facilities for real taxpayer savings
• Green initiatives for residents
• Stormwater capture initiative