New Hudson Common Council president Tom DiPietro announced Jan. 8 he was adding one committee, deleting another, and renaming two others. DiPietro is creating a housing and transportation committee, and added the word parks to the Department of Public Works committee. The Youth and Aging Committee will now be called the Youth, Education, Seniors, and Recreation committee. The Arts Entertainment, and Tourism committee is getting the axe. PLAY BRIEF EXCERPT HERE (In excerpt DiPietro says, "I think we can all agree that art and entertainment are doing well in our city and need no help from government.") Arts organizations everywhere are currently in danger now because of the new federal tax plan will reduce incentives for giving to non-profit charities. "One estimate found that the number of Americans who itemize could drop from 46 million to fewer than 20 million," National Public Radio reports. The new Common Council president also said the $20,000 budgeted for the Arts Entertainment, and Tourism committee will now be doled out by the entire council. DiPietro also said he is fulfilling a campaign promise to allow citizens to sit on committees, though they will not have voting rights. The full recording of the Jan. 8 Hudson Common Council meeting is available on the WGXC Newsroom. Full disclosure: DiPietro is a WGXC volunteer programmer.