HUDSON—Questions about income verification, existing benefits and results evaluation arose frequently at an online information session about the HudsonUP income program hosted by the Hudson Area Library August 20.

HudsonUP plans to give 25 Hudson residents $500 a month for five years, as a pilot program to test former presidential candidate Andrew Yang’s Universal Basic Income (UBI) proposal. Recipients will not have to pay taxes on the $500 itself, and they will be able to use it however they want, said Susan Danziger and Albert Wenger, cofounders of the Spark of Hudson, which will contribute toward the payments. The first checks should come in October or November, said Mr. Wenger. He and Ms. Danziger were the main speakers at the session.

The session began with Ms. Danziger and Mr. Wenger explaining the selection process for Hudson’s program and giving the background of universal income ideas. Then they answered questions submitted by viewers. Read more…

HUDSON—Goals, reopening plans, the code of conduct, and cellphone policy dominated the Hudson City School District (HCSD) Board of Education meeting August 18.

“Despite our additional challenges, we still need to keep our eyes on our mission,” said district Superintendent Maria L Suttmeier. This includes preparing students for college, career and citizenship. As the Vision 2020 time frame ends, the district needs to set future goals, but given the circumstances, “it’s impossible to set specific targets,” she said.

Instead, the district will set “philosophical goals” and figure out how to meet them despite the challenges, Dr. Suttmeier said. Proposed directions include: achieve, become and commit. Read more…

(Much of this story first appeared on columbiapaper.com August 23, 2020—Ed.)

HILLSDALE—At special virtual meeting of the Town Board Tuesday, August 25 there was discussion of whether to appoint a new interim town supervisor but no vote on an appointee.

The discussion came up because the interim supervisor has resigned. If this sounds complicated, it is.

Former Supervisor Peter Cipkowski resigned effective July 27. He’s moved to California. The timing of his resignation left only seven days for interested persons to be nominated by a party and three days to collect enough signatures to have an independent line on the fall ballot. Read more…