Get well soon, Ed! (Photo: Hugh Reynolds)
Next phase: Requests for proposals on the future of the two stretches of tracks designated for trains were opened last week. Sources indicate two bids were received, one from a rail-bike company on the Phoenicia run, the other from CMRR for its Kingston-to-West-Hurley run. If nobody measures up to the county’s rather stringent requirements for rail, will leaders then conclude there’s no future at all in rail and rip up every inch of track for walking trails? It could happen.
Courting Marcus
The Poughkeepsie Journal reports Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro is apparently toying with a run for governor on the Republican ticket in 2018. Molinaro, reelected to a second four-year term as county exec last year, does nothing in the article to discourage such speculation, but insists he’s dedicated to his present job. Seems we’ve heard that routine before on the congressional level from the west side of the river.
Molinaro confirms he’s been traveling around the state talking to Republicans, but in his own car and on his own dime, after hours.
He could be an attractive candidate, assuming Albany scandals continue up to the next election for governor. Rising from an 18-year-old trustee of Tivoli, a village about the size of High Falls or Phoenicia, to its mayor, to county legislator, to three-term assemblyman and to county executive, Molinaro is still only 40, an obvious comer.
If elected, and that’s a very long shot for any Republican in New York, would Molinaro be the first governor from Dutchess since FDR in 1928? No. Tom Dewey of Pawling won the first of three elections in 1942.
A Ford in our future
Kingston City Historian Ed Ford, 98, fell at home and injured his hip last week, for most people 20 years younger a most serious situation. Ford, who was bright and alert but in considerable discomfort at Benedictine Hospital — excuse me: HealthAlliance’s Mary’s Avenue Campus — was scheduled for weeks of rehab at another facility. His son and family flew in from California to oversee his care.
Respected as the meticulous keeper of city historical records, Ford is also revered as the lead advocate for preserving Kingston’s historic buildings. He doesn’t always win, but if a building is at least 50 years old, has some historic significance and is a target for demolition, you can count on Ed Ford to be in the forefront in trying to save it.
Ford’s efforts leading the Friends of Historic Kingston saved City Hall from the wrecking ball in the 1970s, at a time when he was not yet city historian (his appointment dates to 1984), is the stuff of legend.
Ford has had his physical trials — he broke the same hip 10 years ago — but he retains his mental acumen and that wonderful wry sense of humor.
His goal is to reach at least 100. We wish him the best.
Your article is misleading. Not sure if intentional or simply due to poor research or writing.
How about that removal of the tracks in Kingston from midtown heading toward Kingston Point for the Greenline began last year?
Or that even before tracks were removed it wasn’t possible for a train to run from Kingston Plaza to Kingston Point because of buildings like Kingston Hospital?
On the County tevel, have you ever read the report from Stone Consulting? You paint all decisions as being reached due to personal politics rather than having a basis in research provided by objective experts and consultants.
Doing your readers a disservice.
N
I really feel for MY MAN Jesse Smith(yes and his counterpart too who shall remain nameless because she works for the worse fish wrap over there). How in the WORLD can anyone so much as HEAR what people are saying at these Common Council meetings? That sound system doesn’t come up to the standard of being poor. It is PISS-POOR. They need to hire some tech-savvy 8-year old who will fix the thing within an hour, or recommend a cheap system that will work. Or if all else fails, string some cups together with some strings. That system SUCKS. I was there last night(June 7( and I missed MOST of what was said. How in the world does anyone without hearing amplification at these meetings so much as HEAR what is going on? Like everything else in Kingston, a bunch of B.S.!!!