The face of Hyde Park government has taken a more youthful look this year with Hannah Black, 24, joining the Town Board to represent Ward 3 residents.
Black moved to Hyde Park from Washington as an infant and graduated from FDR High School in 2002; she completed her associates degree at Dutchess Community College and graduated from Binghamton University in 2006 with a political science degree. Black works as an assistant court analyst in New York State’s Children’s Centers Program at the Dutchess County Family Courthouse and interned with the congressional office of Maurice Hinchey (D-Hurley), where she spent time cooperating with federal agencies, including FEMA.
Black is entering public service for the first time and found Hyde Park residents to be very supportive when she decided to run for office. “I was really nervous going into the campaign and wasn’t expecting people to be so generous,” said Black. “I probably went to over 700 doors – those people were fantastic and wonderful; they even offered me cookies and hot drinks,” said Black. “The spirit of Hyde Park was fantastic.”
Black defeated Republican challenger John Kane Jr. in the November election after longtime councilman Bob Kampf chose not to run for re-election.
Dennis McMahon, who teaches U.S. history, government and economics at FDR High School, taught Black for two years and was pleasantly surprised when he first noticed Black’s campaign signs along the road; he’s confident that his former student will succeed in politics. “She had a good idea of who she was, and how she felt politically. As a student she was a very level-headed kid who understood the world around her,” said McMahon. Black is the first student of McMahon’s to enter public office, he said, and her people skills will be an asset. “She’s a well-grounded individual who’s very personable, very likeable,” said McMahon.
Black also has the support of her family, which includes her parents and two younger siblings who attend high school at FDR. Black said her parents have thus far let her form her own opinions about Hyde Park politics. “My parents have been encouraging and supportive but have really stayed out of it, which is nice. I should have my own opinions,” said Black. Her parents have always had a positive attitude about their community, says Black. “They never really complain too much – they love Hyde Park,” she said.
Changes on the way
Black has been doing her homework and sees Hyde Park in a time of great change. “A lot of exciting things are going on in Hyde Park,” she said.
Large-scale proposed projects, including St. Andrews at Historic Hyde Park and a central sewer district, have the potential to serve as catalysts for economic growth, she said. After speaking with constituents during her campaign, Black knows that opinions are mixed about commercial expansion in town. “Hyde Park is torn about commercialism – some people want it and some people don’t.”
Black also understands concerns about controlling taxes. “We need commercial growth to help taxes in Hyde Park,” she said.
St. Andrews at Historic Hyde Park, if approved, may bring hundreds of new homes as well as a conference center, hotel and shops to the gateway of Hyde Park on Route 9, and not all residents welcome the idea.
“I don’t think we can please everybody because some people don’t want the St. Andrews project at all. I think we can come to a compromise,” said Black, who has been busy reviewing the Final Environment Impact Statement (FEIS) for St. Andrews Village. It’s too early to have a solid opinion for the project one way or another, she said.
“I would be jumping the gun if I had an opinion,” said Black. “Right now I’m doing a lot of reading and will be sitting back listening and observing – I think that’s the best way to learn.” Black will review many documents passed on by her predecessor, Kampf, and is impressed with the work that the previous board conducted. “I think the previous board did the best job they could do. They took their time to listen to all concerns.”
Living near Val-Kill, Eleanor Roosevelt’s historic property off Route 9G, Black enjoys the town’s scenic benefits. “It’s beautiful here,” Black said of Hyde Park. “Vanderbilt is my favorite place to go. I like being able to have my country and have peace – that’s really important. Hyde Park takes pride in historic and natural beauty.”
Life in Hyde Park also has a few drawbacks, said Black, such as lack of shopping. “It’s upsetting that I have to go outside of Hyde Park for necessities.”
Black has the opportunity to provide a voice for young professionals, many of whom have been forced to leave the area due to escalating housing prices. “As I think about conversations I’ve had with my friends, several issues have come up,” said Black. “A lot of my friends are being pushed out of the area and can’t come back from college because of home prices – how do we alleviate that burden?” asks Black.
She would also like to see young adults spending more time shopping and enjoying entertainment in Hyde Park. Coffeehouses with live music venues and perhaps music stores would be great additions to the town, she said.
Black’s immediate goals are to listen to her fellow board members as well as her constituents as the town makes plans in 2008. “Overall, we need to please our people,” she said.