Good evening everybody.

Thank you for joining us here at the community work committee.

We've got one item on our journey.

Now we turn out local role D staff to be local.

Umphabetical order.

Uh Councilmember uh Ballin.

And then Councilmember Harrell.

Here.

Council member Johnson is absent.

Councilmember Williamson is currently absent.

And Councilmember Damon.

Thank you very three out of five.

We're also joined with um the mayor's office, Liv Maria Penn as well as Peter Malays.

Okay.

Well thank you, everybody.

Uh thank you joining us today a little earlier than our normal meeting.

Um the docket we have local order D.

Always go changing the position of cultural affairs uh the administrative services office to uh directly under the mayor.

Uh do you have anyone from the administration here?

Hello.

Yeah.

Um so in regards to this amendment, um, it really just uh clarifies the responsibilities of the Department of Administrative Services and its oversight of the Office of Cultural Affairs, um, formally adding the office to the list of functions administered by the department.

And so really adding a key piece to the mayor's uh efforts to turn the lights back on.

Um Keith and his team are vital to this work, whether it's uh a press conference, working with local uh small businesses across the city and also to um leading on large initiatives and events.

Um this aligns with city code with the change in reporting structure and the amendment is primarily administrative in nature.

Uh we do not anticipate a change in staffing function or salary.

And Keith is with me.

Um, you know, also too to share any uh insights to his office and and the work that his him and his team does, so if you have anything, but just wanted to give him the opportunity as well.

Hey guys, I I'm sure most of you guys know what we do, so if you guys have any questions, we're here to answer.

But um this is a transition that we've been uh hoping for for a while.

I think it it it makes sense to to join the mayor's office because uh most of our initiatives line up with what our initiatives are, which is to have uh fun and uh exciting events for the city of Albany and to do it in uh an efficient and uh financially responsible way.

Okay, uh any questions from committee members.

Okay, there's no question from community members.

Is there any uh other Jenny guess what?

Oh no, I it's really helpful to know, and of course we know who keep this and so appreciate everything I do, but it's very helpful to know that this is something that um all parties are very excited about the movement of and um I'm thrilled to see the potential of what cultural affairs can become.

I think that you've done amazing things over the years, but um perhaps more when you're more in unison with the mayor's office, there'll be even better things.

Thank you.

Any additional questions to move local law D of 2026 out of committee with a transfer recommendation?

I'll make a motion to move local law B of 2026 out of committee with a positive recommendation.

Okay, all in favor.

Okay.

Thank you.

This now moves out of committee and to uh general meeting.

Thank you.

Uh do I have a uh and thank you.

Thank you both for taking the time to be here today.

Thank you.

Uh do I have a motion to adjourn?

Second.

Okay.

Uh all in favor to adjourn.

All right, excellent.

Thank you, everybody.

Mic check, mic check.

Good evening, everyone.

Carly, if you could oh uh Carly, if you don't mind reading through the roll and saying who's here.

Councilmember Adams.

Councilmember Anane.

Councilmember Ballorin.

Councilmember Brody?

Here.

Councilmember Farrell.

Here.

Councilmember Flynn?

Here.

Councilmember Howie.

Present.

Councilmember Johnson.

Present.

Councilmember Jones.

Not present.

And then uh Councilmember Keegan?

Here.

Councilmember Lumpkin.

Present.

Councilmember Powell.

Present.

Councilmember Robinson.

Here.

Councilmember Williamson.

Present.

And Councilmember Zamer.

Here.

That's 14 out of 15.

We're also joined by Council President Council President Kimbrough and from staff.

We have City Clerk Shneekwa Jackson, Legislative Director Brian Jimenez, Research Council Robert Wenner, Junior Legislative Aide Carly Johnson, Ninth Ward Intern Ariana Costella, and Senior Assistant Corporation Council Martha Mahoney.

Thank you so much.

So we'll go through the agenda briefly.

Approval of minutes from previous meetings.

We have the February 19th minutes.

We have from Councilmember Adnant Adams Ordinance 43126.

Yes, briefly.

Thank you, Councilmember.

That covers uh a lot of the history, and so we're happy to answer any additional questions.

I know that the applicant and planning staff will be at the planning economic development land use committee meeting on Monday, the 9th.

You'll be able to ask questions whether you're on the committee or not.

And that is something that it's a very long-standing um building that's been vacant that's bounced around a lot.

So very much appreciate everyone's work on that.

Next we have Councilmember Ballorin's ordinance 53126, which is an ordinance to amend the USCO in relation to adjust the affordable housing requirement.

Um councilmember Ballorin, do you want to say anything on this?

I'll be brief.

I'll be brief.

Thank you.

And that will go to planning as well.

And thank you for your work on that too.

That has been a long process, but a very important one.

In ordinances held, we'll be voting on Councilmember Anane's ordinance one twenty-one twenty-six, which moved out of the law of buildings and code committee.

Councilmember Anani, do you want to say anything on that?

No, I'm also I'll speak for resolutions introduced.

Uh we have a resolution thirteen thirty-one twenty-six R, which will commemorate women's history month.

And um I believe we are all co-sponsors on that.

Yes, so um, that will be a voice vote.

We also have from Councilmember Zamer resolution 1431 26 R, which is a resolution amending City of Albany Capital Resource Corporation of Incorporation, um, off authorizing a continuity.

Um, do you want to say anything about that?

Um just that we're gonna uh be discussing this more fully also a Monday night at the planning committee meeting and we'll have some represent representatives from the IDA and the CRC to answer questions.

This is a reauthorization.

We changed um uh we amended the legislation a few years ago to extend the reauthorization from two weeks every two years to four years.

Um so it's pretty straightforward, but if you have questions about what the CRC is and uh what they do specifically, please come to the meeting Monday night.

Uh and that will go to planning.

Councilmember Ballorin's resolution 1531 26R, um, a resolution at the common council reappointing Thomas Mueller as a member of the Commission on Human Rights.

That will go to human rights human resources.

Um and I will say he's been a long time and very dedicated member on the Commission on Human Rights.

So it should be make you feel good to be able to interview him a bit.

That is everything in the agenda this evening.

Um I wanted to bring up something fun.

Councilmember Williamson brought up the idea of potentially doing um a council kickball team and maybe playing against some other departments.

Um so far Liz has said that the mayor's office might be interested.

And um, and he's also reached out to the fire department and APD to see if there's any interest.

So just wanted to mention it to bring up the idea and also to get people training because obviously if we're gonna play kickball, we gotta win.

So um if anybody has anything, you're welcome to bring it up.

If not, we can wait until the council meeting starts at seven.

Anything?

Okay.

Members, take your seats.

It is now 7 p.m.

Time for us to start the Thursday, March 5th, meeting of the Albany Common Council.

Anani?

Present.

Brody.

Present.

Here.

Present.

Howie.

Present.

Johnson.

Present.

Jones.

Keegan.

Here.

Lumpkin.

Present.

How here?

Robinson?

Here.

Williamson.

Present.

Zamer.

Here.

14 President One Absent.

Okay.

Welcome.

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

And the moment of silence?

Thank you.

Okay, we have no public hearings.

We'll start with public comment.

Do we have all the lists of names?

Okay, this public comment period is uh time during our meeting where we receive public comment from the public on any topic of your choice.

Uh you have five minutes to uh you know, give your comment.

Uh we'd ask that you give the name, uh, municipality and any organization you represent if if you do.

Um five minutes.

We're on a strict time uh table here now, moving forward.

So call the first uh speaker, Madam Clerk.

Uh first speaker is Simona Fish.

There we go.

Hello, my name is Simona.

I am an Albany resident.

Um thank you for the opportunity to speak.

I am the community engagement coordinator for Capital District Tobacco Free Communities serving Albany, Skinnecty, and Rensselaer counties.

Our mission is to reduce tobacco use, prevent youth initiation, and protect residents from exposure to secondhand smoke.

Most communities are familiar familiar with the dangers of secondhand smoke from traditional cigarettes.

However, it is important to recognize that e-cigarettes are not harmless water vapor.

They contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance, along with ultrafine particles, heavy metals, and cancer-causing chemicals.

These substances can cause lung damage and respiratory issues, even for people who do not vape themselves but are exposed secondhand.

What is less widely known is the growing problem of e-cigarette litter.

Disposable vapes, pods, and cartridges are now a significant source of waste in public spaces.

Unlike cigarette butts, which are already a major environmental pollutant, vape devices contain plastic, heavy metals, and lithium ion batteries.

These materials do not biodegrade and can leach harmful chemicals into soil and water, posing risks to wildlife and ecosystems.

In the United States, an estimated half a million disposable disposable vapes are thrown away every day, creating an urgent environmental concern.

Protecting people from exposure to all types of smoke and vapor, whether from traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, marijuana, or other tobacco products, helps maintain healthy, safe, shared environments.

Second hand exposure can irritate the lungs, worsen chronic respiratory conditions, and increase long-term health risks for non-users.

Strong protections help safeguard children, older adults, people with chronic health issues, and the broader community.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Josh Lyacona.

Good evening and thank you for the opportunity to speak.

My name is Joshua La Icona, Regional Director of Safety and Security for St.

Peter's Health Partners and St.

Joseph's Health.

Our concern is specific, measurable, and directly related to patient safety.

Cannabis smoke is infiltrating the sterile clean room at St.

Peter's Hospital through its dedicated air handling system.

This is not a theoretical problem.

Our pharmacy has documented repeated incidents where smoke intrusion jeopardizes sterile operations.

Clean wounds are highly regulated environments intended to protect immunocompromised and high-risk patients.

Any contamination, especially smoke particulates, create risks and undermines pharmaceutical sterility requirements.

If the clean room environment is compromised, production must stop delaying medication preparation for critical patients.

When sterile compounding must pause due to smoke exposure, time-sensitive medications, many for high acuity and immunocompromised patients are delayed.

This creates downstream clinical impacts that extend far beyond the clean room itself.

Staff have reported that the odor has migrated beyond the clean room and can be detected in adjacent clinical areas, including the cardiac surgery operating room.

Any detectable smoke in or near surgical environments is unacceptable and poses a clear threat to maintaining required air quality standards.

Exposure to smoke, particularly in sterile production environments, can also affect an employee's physical ability to perform precise high risk tasks.

Even mild impairment or distraction during sterile compounding increases the potential for human error.

We have been working closely for many months with our council member Jack Flynn and deeply appreciate the city's engagement and responsiveness.

The ordinance reflects thoughtful collaboration and a recognition that vulnerable populations, including hospital patients, deserve protection from secondhand smoke exposure.

Our colleagues in the Capitol District tobacco-free communities just spoke, have long advocated for reducing smoke exposure in public spaces, including around parks and community facilities.

This ordinance builds on that work and creates one consistent standard that protects residents, patients, and staff from both tobacco and cannabis smoke.

We sincerely appreciate the council bringing this forward and advocating it so quickly after committee review.

The ordinance provides a practical enforceable solution that improves safety without placing undue burden on community members.

On behalf of St.

Peter's Health Partners and the patients we serve, we strongly support this proposal.

Thank you for your time, your collaboration, and your can uh continued commitment to public health.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Sage Hamilton.

Hazarika.

All right.

Thank you to everyone in the room.

Appreciate the opportunity to speak.

Thank you for the other presenters and the public for being here as well.

My name is Sage Hamilton Hazarica.

I am from Brooklyn, New York, and I'm one part of a team uh that's assembled from across the state uh in favor of a Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Scenic Byway.

Um, this is an initiative that came together between three organizations.

Um the Underground Railroad Consortium of New York State, which was founded by the uh the executive directors of the Stephen Harriet Myers residence and Underground Railroad Education Center.

Um, the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area and uh tourism in Cayuga County, which is where Harriet Tubman's home is.

This initiative is to build a 550-mile scenic byway across New York State that would both uh preserve cultural heritage in the form of the history of the Underground Railroad and connect visitors and locals to sites of abolition importance all across New York State.

Uh, currently we have a bill in the um the New York State Senate and Assembly in favor of the first segment of our scenic byway that stretches from Niagara Falls to Auburn, New York.

We were able to secure municipal resolutions in every one of those municipalities, about 80 to 100, and we are currently securing the next phase of resolutions from all of the municipalities that our proposed route crosses through between Auburn, New York, Albany, and New York City.

Uh so once that first phase is designated by the state, we've been working very closely with Department of Transportation.

Uh, they have a plan for signage that will help connect people to historic sites, and then the whole idea is that it will also be an economic development route that helps um put abolition history sites to the forefront and help those uh nonprofits and cultural sites that are uh administering those places.

It helps them work with their tourism uh operators and also municipal leaders.

Uh, we are formally requesting a resolution from this body in support of the Harriet Tubman uh scenic byway uh because of its route through Albany and also because of the wonderful history of abolition in Albany, no notably with the uh the Myers residence.

That is a site uh that Harriet Tubman is known to have worked at, and she worked with the uh the Myers uh folks.

Um and also uh Albany is a crucial point for the history of Harriet Tubman, uh, not only because of her um her work in in the region, but also we know that in some instances of her travel, she took the train.

So the entire east side of the Hudson River will include that, and also it will allow for uh continued research into abolition history and Harriet Tubman's history and how she crossed the river from Rensseller to uh to this county.

So I have uh a few pieces of documentation talking about the benefits of a scenic byway.

Uh also information about the bill we currently have, and I have a map that shows the 22 counties that our scenic byway goes through uh for um for reference.

Uh I'm happy to answer any questions, and our organization is happy to come back to make a formal presentation about the byway resolution process, and we can supply um example resolutions uh that other other municipalities have uh have signed on to.

And uh with that, I yield the rest of my time.

Happy to answer any questions or offer any more.

Members can't ask questions right now, so that's that's related, but please give uh the documents to our staff so they can distribute them, although they were attached to the email, I believe.

Yes.

Thank you, sir.

Yeah, appreciate all of you.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Bridget Savage Spees.

Hello everyone.

Um, my name is Bridget Savage Spees.

Um I uh work with Capital District DSA on um their housing committee.

Um, and I'm here to talk about a um ordinance that's being introduced today um to uh modify the inclusionary zoning um ordinance that currently exists in Albany.

Um so I do want to start by saying that I love Albany in the past five years that I have lived here.

I have really enjoyed getting to make this city my home.

Um I walk all over the city all the time, um take the bus all over the city all the time.

Um including much of downtown that's now the focus of the governor's new championing championing Albany's potential initiative.

Um this initiative has a goal of tripling the number of residents downtown.

Um, and I can't help but tie that to this change in inclusionary zoning in the way that it has a goal of increasing the number of housing units.

Um as a goal of increasing the attractiveness of Albany to developers.

Um and while I love the idea of everyone living in Albany, um, I try to convince my friends to move here all the time.

Um I can't help but think about the ways in which we have already failed so many of the people who live here right now.

Um I work with tenants across Albany in downtown who are living in some pretty horrible conditions um in both private and public housing um with blocked fire exits, buildings that aren't up to code, pests, um all sorts of conditions, mold, everything.

Um we need to be doing better for people who already live here rather than trying to attract theoretically wealthier people to Albany.

Um many of the people who live in this city have incomes well below the media the area media median income that is laid out in um the new inclusionary zoning bill, um even though it has been reduced.

The $50,000 buyout that developers can have for inclusionary zoning is very much a drop in the bucket for what these developers are making on individual units.

Um rent on these units can be $2,025.

Um in many of these luxury buildings, the kind of buildings that the governor is looking to attract to downtown and to areas, I've seen some pretty bad things.

Um I've seen windows that have holes straight through them on the side in residents that are getting charged $2,000 a month for rent.

Um the current structure is not suited to help uh to help the people who already live here.

Um, and it is instead looking to attract theoretically people who may want to live in Albany.

Um, and I think the way that we can do that is mostly by showing how much we care about the people who already live here.

Um I did also want to say that I was at the um the recent housing um hearing that was held, the budget hearing at the Capitol, um, in which the representative from Governor Hopel's office said that she's not aware of any municipalities that are looking for a way that would make it easier for them to opt into rent control.

Now I know that ETPA, the emergency kind of protection act is something that this body opted into um before, and the vacancy study was you know a pretty bad process.

Um and there was a resolution that was passed here for the REST Act, um, which was a way that would allow this this body to um opt into rent control without having to do the vacancy study.

Um, but the governor's office is not hearing from municipalities that it needs to that the rent control process needs to be easier.

And I would really like to see more outreach from here to the governor's office that that is something that Albany needs.

We need rent control, and I think that that is how we ultimately uh step up for the right renters and the residents in um in this city.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Tabora Marcus.

Good evening, members of the council and council president.

My name is Tabora Marcus.

I am the president of West Hill Neighborhood Association.

I'm here today to talk to you guys about what is happening with a lot of our uh folks being pushed, as the young lady just talked about, the conditions of their housing.

There are folks that are being continuously pushed into um homelessness.

Um, right now, February 13th, we had our um homeland security workers furloughed, they aren't being paid, they're pushed out, being pushed out of their homes, and that population of people can very much will find themselves being unhoused within the city of Albany.

So I don't think many people are even paying attention to that, that that is something that's happening.

Um, so I urge you guys to kind of look into that.

There's no um resources that many of these individuals who work directly for our airport services that can uh tap into resources that can help them mitigate some of those bills that they're experiencing.

When we talk about food and security um housing issues, these folks are gonna start feeling the ripple effect of that while they're not being paid.

Um, I'm also urging you guys as another young lady just mentioned um about the cannabis or uh I think the gentleman, the city received a cannabis revenue, and that revenue no one knows where that revenue is, and that revenue is supposed to impact um communities that were affected during the war on drugs.

That means West Hill and the south end of the city should be able to see some of that money.

So while a young lady is telling you guys that there's housing issues that they're having, that revenue when that board was established, the board stated that we will make sure that those fundings were going back into those areas, those houses and things yet.

Every time a question comes up about the cannabis revenue, no one seems to know where the money is going.

So I encourage you guys to please go back have go to the drawing board, figure out where that money is so that areas like West Hill where they're still homeowners, right?

So while you guys are developing and thinking about bringing other people into the community, you're gonna be pushing those seniors out of their homes because the taxes have increased for them.

They did their pay isn't increase, they don't their their social security disabilities aren't increasing.

So think about how that's gonna offset or or help those individuals, and then also I implore you guys to think about what's happening in our federal government.

We're at war.

Are we not thinking about like some type of um we have to think about something emergency preparedness?

I'm sitting home telling my children pack a bag, make sure we have a bag prepared.

I know no one wants to live in fear, but this is real time.

This is something that's happening, and what we don't want to see happen in our city, which is Albany, is what New York City experienced when they were attacked.

So I think while we sit here and we twiddle with our fingers and we think about everything else, we are in real time war, and we should definitely be thinking about a preparedness that our city have ready and tangible for our community, our vulnerable populations of people.

You guys have to think about that, and thank you.

I yield to my time.

Thank you, Ms.

Marcus.

Thank you.

Next speaker is James uh Gia Cologne.

Good evening.

My name is James Chocalone.

Uh, I reside at 33 Trinity Place in the second ward.

I spoke before the council last year against reducing the inclusive housing requirement, and I have returned again tonight with the introduction of a new attempt to do so because last month's release of the downtown Albany Strategy or DTAS report, uh, reinforce just how important it is to keep this requirement in place for those who have not found the time to read the full 88-page report.

It does mention mixed income housing throughout.

Great.

Except that when we looked at the actual grant application guidelines, we find that there are no requirements related to affordability or housing being mixed income.

In fact, the only eligibility requirement related to housing for any of the grants is that the housing specific grant requires the project to generate at least two net units of housing.

And yes, that is a flat two units, regardless of the size of the project.

So if you want to renovate the over 500,000 square feet of the central warehouse into two ultra luxury super jumbo apartments, fantastic.

You're eligible to have the state pay for 40% of that project.

Mixed income housing also doesn't directly appear in the project selection criteria.

It doesn't even appear indirectly in the criterion aligns with priorities established in the DTAS report, because none of the areas where the report lists priorities include mixed income housing as one.

And as a reminder, grant decision making will be made by Empire State Development, not the city.

So we won't have the capacity to just pick mixed income projects when the time comes.

We know that when you build expensive apartments and pretty upstreets and make an area more desirable, low income residents get priced out.

That was the whole point of the inclusing housing inclusive housing requirement to take a step towards integrating our community so that working class residents also get to experience beautiful, safe, welcoming neighborhoods.

Even with the current inclusive housing requirement, the 10 years of planned downtown cap improvements are going to drive up property values and demand, and in doing so drive up rents until the low-income residents of these areas are driven out.

The DCAS report identifies the South End as one of its target areas and itself reports that the median household income there is $42,000.

Council members, that is less than the affordability bar for a one-person household under the current inclusive housing requirement.

Again, currently, the majority of households in the South End cannot afford a unit built for one person and labeled affordable under today's requirement.

More than half of South End residents are not going to be able to afford anything built under the championing Albany's potential banner, even with the inclusive housing requirement.

And without it, you can be certain that after all these improvements and beautification projects, the only affordable housing in the South End is going to be public housing.

And if you've ever spoken to residents of public housing in Albany, you know that the Albany Housing Authority is even more negligent than our private landlords.

CAP doesn't create a new source of funding for public housing.

It's not going to improve.

It cannot be the only option available to low-income people within one mile of the Capitol building.

And the South End isn't even the poorest area that the DCAS report wants to approve.

By its own claim, one third of the households in the international district that it wants to create have an income of less than $15,000 and only 5% greater than 100,000.

By the report's own words, the district is 32% foreign-born and 75% non-white, and it suggests improvements that will price out the very residents it wants to create an identity around.

The inclusive housing requirement must stay in place because CAP grants do not have any reported affordability or mixed income housing requirements or selection criteria.

Further, the City of Albany must act now to establish rent controls in existing buildings in the areas that will be affected by the downtown Albany strategy.

That's everything within a mile and a quarter of the Capitol Building before these community improvements force communities to move in order to survive.

You are staring down the barrel of a gun that will displace more low income and working class residents than even the creation of the Empire State Plaza 60 years ago.

Once again, the state would like to beautify the capital at the expense of its people.

You have the power to protect them, and if you insist on considering this bill, it must be paired with protections for existing residents.

I'd like to use a couple seconds of my remaining time to remind Councilmember Adams that in January they made a commitment to the people of the Hinford Brewery Apartment that they were going to put forward some legislation to protect tenants from unfair landlords and from skyrocketing rent prices.

Again, we don't have the capacity to handle gentrification on the scale that the CAP program is putting forward.

Something needs to be done.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Next speaker is Keith Irish.

Staff and members of the public present.

My name is Keith Irish, current resident of the ninth ward and lifelong citizen.

I'm here tonight to advise you of many topics that are all related.

First, let's start with the last common console meeting on February 7th, 19th.

When I finally started viewing the recorded meeting on the government Albany Community Media Cable Access Channel 1303, programmed and scheduled by Schenectady, not Albany, at a cost to Albany taxpayers.

The view was from one and only one of the four cameras in this room, which had been mislocated since the video equipment was replaced.

No close-ups, no switching between the four cameras, no information on each member superimposed across the lower part of the screen.

It was almost as if the very old equipment was never replaced, except when I operated that failing equipment.

I knew how to operate it within the limitations of that old and old aging and dying equipment.

The new system was specced out to have all four cameras be able to provide close-ups of each of you when speaking, as well as indicate who you are and at least the area of the city you represent.

One mislocated camera showing a wonderful shot of the ceiling and lighting is not the current system, is not what the current system is supposed to be capable of doing.

I think it has since been corrected for a recent committee meeting, but still was still one camera, but still was only using one camera with no information other than the name of the committee and the date of it.

All these mistakes make you look like you don't care and are not interested in providing the citizens you represent the best possible coverage of what they elected you to be doing.

Those are excellent examples of what coverage of government meetings, hearings, and similar should be like here in the capital of New York State.

Beyond that, where is the coverage of other agencies' meetings, such as but not limited to the Planning Board, Board of Zoning Appeals, Historic Resource Commission, Water Board, Housing Authority, Port Authority, the Peg Access Oversight Board, and of course mayoral events, such as yesterday's poorly timed, poorly planned, and poorly promoted event, that it was not that it was even being held.

Why this wait a minute?

Why this was held at noon when most residents would not be able to be able to attend.

These types of events should not be held before 5 30 p.m.

Why did the notice that it was even being held not go out less than a day before?

I saw someone's postings of several photos of the event, counted about 50 or so attendees, which included a few of you, and several people that work in City Hall, and ill-placed commercial news station cameras blocking the view of many in the back.

I was not able to see any camera present from Channel Albany, and wonder if they were even informed.

Because of a lack of proper funding from the franchise fee, not a tax in the city budget, lack of proper staffing due to lack of funding, lack of actual caring trained staff in the production studio in this building and their and this in these chambers and around the city and other sorry and around other city locations.

The residents of Albany are not getting what they want and need to be informed and educated on what their government does for them and the citizens that want to express their freedom of press free speech issues.

Next Saturday is the annual St.

Patrick's Day Parade, which has not been recorded since I last recorded it many years ago.

I will probably not, it will probably not get recorded again.

As you can look for me near the reviewing stand area, since I will not be able to watch the parade on television.

Thank you for your time tonight in listening and soon doing something about these issues.

Thank you, Mr.

Irish.

And with that, that closes our public comment period.

Okay, um, on the agenda, um we had uh implemented some changes when we started this new council and allowing uh members to respond to public comment.

Umas before we waited until later in the meeting.

So what I'm saying now is if any member wants to respond briefly to any of the public comment, you have a right to do so.

Mr.

Johnson I just want to say thank you to the people that came and spoke about um the rent control and the issues of the um South End.

I think that um a lot of times we're forgotten, and I feel like this whole process, you know, we did some good things standing up, um, setting um a precedent or requirement um in far as uh inclusionary um our expectations and um just to see you know uh and I'm just speaking from me um right now as the um representative of the South End.

I feel like we caved in to um the developers right when the big pot of gold is getting ready to be presented to the city, and um it's it's troublesome um for me because um the things that you um speak about we all see on a daily basis, and um it's hard when you see uh people being pushed out of areas that they spent their whole life in.

And you and you know, just I always speak from my own personal experience as a renter, um where you know my rent goes up and nothing changes in my um apartment, and to uh be faced with declarations of um market rate and square footage, you know, my apartment didn't change.

I've been living there for 10 years, and um I'm faced with someone telling me due to the expenses of the building, you know, um our rent each month is supposed to address the rent of um you know the expenses of the building, and it's just a uh playing field that is really unequal.

Um is set up against um and when my argument is my argument is for people who pay their rent on time that are good tenants that uh face this situation.

And um I just um feel like my hands are tied.

I'm the chair of the housing committee, and you know, um haven't seemed to be able to come up with an approach that can um address the needs and that you spoke of.

So um I was very disappointed um to see um the changes.

Uh I've um been resistant and and tried to be an advocate, and I thought that uh it was a um opportunity, at least if we were gonna um and and I want to say this as I um say uh share my sentiments.

I thank you for um being open to the um increase in terms of the $50,000, but it's still problematic because it's gonna push people away from areas that they um are used to and familiar with, and it's constantly um catering to people that we don't know who they are.

So um I understand that you know um it's a lot of change going on in Albany, but I'm I'm always gonna be an advocate for the people that are here now, and I just again want to say thank you for coming because without your voice, really it's just me and a couple of others that are advocating against um some of these changes, and you know, um in this situation, you know, um I just respectfully um disagree with um some of the changes and I understand that we had a time where you know um things are out of our control, but I have to be um I have to support your voice, and I wanted to say thank you.

Um, and also I think that this is a good taste to um give us a chance to respond to um their public comments because a lot of times at the end of the meeting when miscellaneous came, they were gone.

So thank you for that um change because it was it was needed.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Howie.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, yeah, I was sitting here when um the lady from the West Hill was talking about seniors being forced out of their homes.

And uh at our last meeting last the two weeks ago, we did pass legislation local law B, which makes it easier for um for the elderly in our our city to apply for um discounted taxes, like it lowers the taxes.

Can't think of the word right now, but uh exemptions.

So um up to you can make up to 68,000 uh dollars, and you can get almost 50 percent off both your school tax and your uh property tax for the city.

And you know, I I think the best thing for elderly people to do is to reach out to their uh to their council members for their ward or for anybody.

Anybody wants to reach out to me, I'll be glad to help them.

There's a certain period where you can apply for the exemption.

Um we're pretty much up to that deadline, but we've got a little bit of leadway there.

And uh when I was talking to Trey Kingston, the assessor, he said 109 people that applied last year for the exemption haven't done it yet this year.

So there is relief out there for the elderly that we're not pushing people out at the end of their lives or their homes, and we'll try to help them keep their homes by you know lowering that tax burden and especially the school tax is very burdensome, and you know, there's also the star uh program to help with that.

So I know it's not everything that that you were looking for, but it is something that just to make people aware of.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Hoy.

And just this is meant to be a quick connection, share a little bit of information, and then we can we can meet with people offline.

Ms.

Keegan.

I I just wanted to sort of quickly respond to um Miss Marcus and her questions about the reinvestment of our cannabis revenue and our opiate funds, um, which were um supposed to be designated.

Um they are specifically allocated in the budget to neighborhood and community services.

So our opiate settlement funds go directly to support the grant fund that allows for the Albany Navigates team to operate and directly funds our um cares uh street workers, street outreach workers, um, and the cannabis revenue is designated um directly to the housing team currently in the budget structure, just to provide that clarification.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Keegan.

Okay.

We'll move on to the next section of our agenda.

Councilmember Williams has his hand up.

Oh, Mr.

Williamson Williamson.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I appreciate it.

I just want to um respond to Mr.

Board about the uh situation was going on uh around the country.

I agree with you 100%.

Um I was sharing, you know, the other day with my wife was going on and my kids and my grandkids, and I don't know if people take it serious.

Um, but I do take it serious, and you know, I I definitely uh feel your heart, you know.

I I definitely do, you know.

I hope everybody here really takes it serious about the situation was going on in the country, you know, because you never know.

You you never know uh what's going on, and we in some traffic times on today.

I just wanted to um spot that.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you, Mr.

Williamson.

Um okay, we're on to this anyone on to uh approval of minutes from a previous meeting.

Um, Ms.

Farrell.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I offer the February 19th, 2026 minutes for approval.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye minutes pass.

Okay.

Next uh reports of standing committees.

None.

Oh Mr.

Ballard.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

The uh uh committee human uh human resources and human rights met this uh evening, and uh we passed um move forward with local law D.

Uh and it's before you today and passed with unanimous consent.

Thank you, sir.

Mr.

Anani.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

Law building and codes met on March 3rd, um, 530 uh to make introduction, particularly with uh building up codes and regulatory compliance uh department.

We met with their leadership, and also we discuss um legislation, particularly as related to um uh tobacco products, etc.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any further?

Okay, moving on to consideration of local laws.

Uh Mr.

Ballorin.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I asked that local law D be uh read and voted on today.

Madam Clerk, please read the law.

A local law amending Article 37 of the code of the city of Albany in relation to the Department of Administrative Services and the Office of Cultural Affairs.

Discussion, Mr.

Ballorin.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

This basically moves the Office of Culture Affairs from our administrative services to be directly under the uh the mayor's office.

The goal is to have a more uh direct interaction with the office as well as it's part of the bringing more vibrant activities uh to the city.

Uh again, it just passed committee this evening with unanimous consent.

Thank you, Mr.

Ballarin.

Any further discussion?

Mr.

Anani.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

I fully support uh this legislation and um just wanna thank Cultural Affairs for all the great work that they have done, the previous executive director.

Um they have done a phenomenal job, particularly with live at five and other um activities, particularly across our city, and the future is bright.

We want to turn the lights back on, and we're really excited uh to see what the future holds, particularly and what was produced with this new office under the mayor's office.

Thank you, Mr.

Anani.

Okay, with that, um Adam Clerk, please call the role.

Adams.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Anani Ballorin, yes, Brody, yes, Farrell, yes, Glenn.

Yes, Hoey, yes, Johnson, yes, Keegan.

Yes, Lumpkin.

Yes, Powell, yes, Robinson.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Williamson.

Yes, please.

Zamer, yes.

14 in the affirmative.

Motion passes.

Okay, next on to excuse me.

Uh Ms.

Farrell.

Um the rest of the local laws are held.

Thank you.

Um to ordinances introduce Mr.

Adams.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I'd like to notice ordinance 41, excuse me, 431 26, um, and acts for its introduction to be right.

Excuse me.

Madam Clerk.

In ordinance amending chapter 375 of the code of the city of Albany, unify sustainable sustainable development ordinance by changing the zoning classification of a portion of parcels currently known as 164 Delaware AV and PT 164 Delaware Ave from Land Conservation LC to mixed-use neighborhood edge, M U N E and amending the zoning map accordingly.

Ms.

Farrell.

That will go to planning.

Thank you.

Next, uh, Mr.

Bowerin.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I ask that ordinance 5.31.36 uh be valid and assigned to committee.

Madam Clerk, please.

In ordinance amending chapter 375, Unified Sustainable Development Ordinance of the Code of the City of Albany in relation to adjusting the affordable housing requirement and adding exceptions to the affordable housing requirement.

Thank you.

Ms.

Farrell.

That will go to planning.

Thank you.

All right.

Um, Mr.

Anani.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I notice ordinance 121 26 and asked first passage on the roll call.

There are thank you, madam clerk.

In ordinance amending chapter 251, parks and creep and recreation and chapter three, excuse me, and chapter 232, streets and sidewalks of the code of the city of Albany in relation to comprehensively prohibiting smoking products and a limiting their proximity to at-risk populations.

Thank you.

We're back to Mr.

Anani, right?

Yes, thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, this legislation updates our existing code to include cannabis and vaping products among other items, particularly being utilized in public spaces and other public right-of-way.

I urge my colleagues to support this common sense update.

Uh, currently, the language only applies to cigarettes and tobacco products over the last few years with the like with the legalization of cannabis and the prolification of other smoking products like vapes.

Uh people are smoking a lot of stuff.

And in many cases, in public spaces.

Um, and then so in order to protect our children and particularly uh in our sensitive spaces, particularly by hospitals and other at-risk populations from um, particularly uh becoming inhaling handling into second smoke, these new smoking products that are really hurting some of our um at-risk individuals.

Secondhand smoke, we need to update this language.

Thank you, Mr.

Nani.

Mr.

Flynn.

I just want to thank Josh for all his information and all his data updating us on it.

But again, this is about the staff also in the hospitals, not only just the patients, but the staff and all the uh employees.

Like I said, this came to Magma, my Josh bring this out to me on Manning Boulevard.

A lot of people like to smoke by the uh buses and everything, and it does get into the ventilation, it goes in the ER.

So this is a big step.

So thank you all.

Thank you, Mr.

Flynn.

Ms.

Keegan sure.

I'm happy to co-sponsor this legislation.

Um before Jack had St.

Peter's Hospital.

I had St.

Peter's Hospital.

Um and I know that their pharmacy department had reached out to both of us on several occasions as a result of having to shut down pharmacy operations as a result of people consuming tobacco products in close proximity to the hospital.

Um and I share the hospital's concerns and how that can delay necessary medical treatment to patients if the pharmacy is not able to operate um to the extent that it needs to.

I we did discuss the enforcement portion of this in our last committee meeting.

And it's important for the public to know that while this will allow us to update signage and that we have long-standing have prohibitions on smoking in public spaces, including our city sidewalks and city parks.

Um we still need to work with APD to enforce situations like areas around the hospital, um, because the APD does have to witness the conduct in order to issue any citations or ask people um to put out their tobacco products.

So that's the only other comment that I wanted to add because there's also a communication piece for all of this to work and work the way that we intended to.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Keegan.

Mr.

Johnson.

Yes.

Um first I'm gonna say I'm all for the safety of everybody, you know.

Um, but uh kind of listen to this, and at the same time, um, they're talking about putting a bus station across the street from the senior citizens on um South Pearl Street.

So I have a problem when um the word at risk um um populations, you know, um the same way people came in here and said that they were gonna we're gonna pass marijuana and the monies were gonna go to our communities.

And next thing you know, you never can get an answer.

It's funny that that conversation came up today because at six o'clock this morning, that was the conversation I was involved in.

So it's great to get the answer for that.

But I just find you know, um, outside the world is so big, people have to be allowed to be able to live.

Um, I support no smoking in buildings because you know uh when you go to Vegas, you see the benefits of what's going on in New York.

But you know, um, to say that people um um the parks are are are humongous to uh restricted, I just see that being um only enforced in certain situations, and so I will not be supporting this because um there should be a space um for uh people to um smoke in in um parks.

Everybody can't walk around, everybody can't move.

So uh I will not be supporting this, and I just um look at some of the things that we um passed that have no um true um follow-up for enforcement, and it just turns out to be selectively enforced.

So for me, it's gonna be a hard no.

Thank you for my time.

Thank you, Mr.

Robinson.

Thank you.

Um at our committee meeting, this conversation was in um, it was discussed in deck.

And I definitely understand, you know, my colleagues' point of view.

And you know, as we were speaking, as we was in dialogue, the conversation came up that where technically where you can smoke cigarettes, you can smoke cannabis products.

But that you know is not the underlying issue why we voted, you know what I'm saying, to bring this um a piece of legislation out of committee favorably, because it's just a level of respect, you know.

Um, everybody don't smoke cannabis.

So even though it is in this, even though you can smoke wherever you can smoke cigarettes, you know, if I was to be with somebody and they would smoke a cigarette and I was delightful cannabis joint.

I will ask, would this you know I'm saying was it okay?

Um it's just a level of respect.

Um, and you know, I and you'll absolutely write about enforcement, but you know, it has to be some type of perimeters, and um is you know, um it is not a no-nonsense bill, it's just a bill dealing with responsibility, and I will be supporting it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Robinson.

Okay, with that, please cold goal, Adams.

Anani, yes, Ballorin, yes, Rodi, yes, Barrell, yes, co-sponsor, please.

Lynn.

Yes, Hoey, yes, Johnson.

No, Keegan, yes, Lumpkin, yes, Powell.

Yes, Robinson, yes, co-sponsor, please.

Williamson, yes.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Okay, so 12 in the affirmative, one no, one abstention.

Okay, the motion passes.

Okay, um, Miss Farrell.

The rest of the ordinances are held.

Ms.

Farrell.

Thank you, Mr.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I notice resolution 1331 26R and ask for its introduction and passage.

Thank you.

Um, Madam Court, please read the resolution.

A resolution commemorating March of 2026 as women's history month in honoring the exempt extraordinary contributions of women to the city of Albany.

Any discussion, Ms.

Farrell.

Um, I'm going to stand for this one in honor of Joyce Love, who has always done this legislation.

Um, I will not do the tremendous job that she did.

Um, but it is an absolute honor to speak tonight about women's history month.

And we're here because of the many women who are trailblazers and who came before us, like Joyce, although she we're fortunate she's still with us.

Um well, there's much to celebrate.

We have a long ways to go.

Um, when the first when the Me Too movement first came out, I was kind of shocked by it because I didn't know any woman that has not been sexually harassed, sexually assaulted, or raped.

Um, it is highly likely that every single woman in this room has had at the very least been sexually harassed, if not sexually assaulted or raped.

And um that is still happening now that is not changed.

It is something that we deal with on an everyday basis.

Um, in addition, women still do not make the same amount as men do.

There's still a pay equity issue, and I say women compare white women compared to white men because the amount changes.

Um, white women make 83 cents for every dollar paid to men.

The disparage, the amount changes even more significantly for women of color.

Latino women earn about 51 cents for every dollar a white man earns, and black women earn about 64 cents for every dollar a white man earns in our current political climate nationally, women's health is under assault with the repeal of Roe Roe v.

Wade, and people are openly talking nationally about taking back a woman's right to vote, own property, and so many other things.

It's actually part of a regular discussion in some states.

So this is something when we talk about women's history and we talk about recognizing women, we have to talk about the real difficulty and the real process that we have as women and we go through every day.

It is completely normal to have a lot of these difficulties.

We're fortunate that we rise above them.

We're fortunate to continue to have women in leadership.

I thank my colleagues for putting me in the president pro tem position.

Women is part of the conversation, women showing up.

So I want to say a huge thank you to every single member of this council who's co-sponsored this resolution, and for all of your continued support to all of the women your life, including all of the women in this chamber.

And also, you know, a big shout out to our staff.

We have amazing women on staff and um amazing women around.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Any further discussion?

Miss Keegan.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

One of my uh favorite poets of all time is Adrian Rich.

Um, she's an amazing second-wave feminist um and female Jewish leader here in the United States, and one of my favorite works of hers is called Diving Into the Wreck, and the poem is about women going searching through the wreckage of history, looking for a book of myths in which our names do not appear, meaning that we have been entirely erased from historical record, and there are other minority groups in this room who face that same level of oppression.

We're not unique in that structure, but I also want to point out one of the really sort of amazing things that has happened.

Um I remember this past holiday season, I was walking through the concourse with my nieces, and they were excitedly pointing at the women's suffrage imagery that's up on the wall in the concourse.

And I told them, you know, your grandmother when she married your grandfather, and this is my mother, um, in 1974, could not uh take out a mortgage, couldn't have a credit card, um, couldn't operate a business without your grandfather signing off.

Um since those changes went into effect at the federal level, women have outpaced men at almost every single level.

We're more educated than men, we own more property as um single uh homeowners than single men.

Um we've made so many strides.

Um I'm also terrified because we are at a turning point in which those strides are being completely rolled back.

Um but I also want to point out this really unique element of Albany's history that we talk about in this uh resolution.

When women were first granted the opportunity to vote in New York State, and of course, it wasn't just to vote for all times.

The men at the time decided that women had a unique perspective on children's education, so they would allow for women to vote on school boards.

Albany was one of the first places in New York State that actually organized to run women for office and to encourage women to actually vote for the first time that they were given the opportunity, and it was an amazing coalition of women.

It wasn't just wealthy white women, it was women of color, um, and it was immigrant women, and it is a fascinating story, and I'm so proud that we have that history because when we think about the women's rights movement, we often think about Seneca Falls, but Albany is also has this story that is just as impactful as Seneca Falls.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We are all co-sponsors, or you are all co-sponsors on this, so uh voice vote all in favor.

All right, good.

The motion passes moving off right along.

Uh Ms.

Zamer.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I notice resolution 1431 26R and ask for its introduction.

Thank you, Madam Port.

A resolution of the Common Council amending the City of Albany's Capital Resource Corporation Certificate of Corp Incorporation authorizing the continuation of the authority of the City of Albany's Capital Resource Corporation to issue obligations to finance projects to be undertaking to be undertaken by the corporations.

Thank you, uh Ms.

Farrell.

That will go to planning.

Thank you.

Next, uh Mr.

Bowern.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I asked uh resolution 15.31.26 all be introduced.

Thank you, Mr.

Ballard and Madam Clerk.

A resolution of the common council reappointing Thomas Muller to the member as a member of the Commission on Human Rights.

Thank you, Ms.

Farrell.

That will go to human rights, human resources, and the rest of the resolutions are held.

Thank you.

Okay.

So we'll do the resolutions.

On to um miscellaneous.

We do excuse me.

Didn't we already deal with miscellaneous?

Yeah, we're uh Mr.

Ballin for uh the commissioner deeds.

Thank you, Mr.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I offer you a list of names for Commissioner of Deeds for the term ending on December 31st, 2026, and waive the readings of the names.

Second second.

All in favor.

Motion passes.

Okay.

So with that.

Um Mr.

Mr.

Johnson and then Mr.

Robinson.

So clear um just I wanted to uh talk about the CPRB and that letter that was generated.

And one of the um questions that I had from that letter that was generated, it said that um I would like to know who was the member that requested the um program director to write that letter in regards to Paul Collins Hope, because when I saw that in the um media, I was bothered by that.

Um we asked people to come and serve on um on boards and and and work alongside of us um as elected officials and you know um I I just you know that that that comment from the program director um ever since he's been here I've just seen one situation after another, and I'm wondering how long is this um gonna keep uh continue and if someone could find out um with clarity as who was the member and was it a member from our unit or where because that shouldn't be happening like that and um you know I I felt the need to um go on record and speak about that because um nobody is perfect, but you know the effort that um Mr.

Collins Hackett put towards our sit um city he deserves to be um defended from inside this room because he's come here many times in many different um capacities and uh just you know um it just seems like a common thing that um continues to happen um to people that serve on that board, you know.

Um you get attacked, you end up being um under the attack.

So um if someone could find out uh who and what that meant what what he meant by that, um I think that's um problematic and it should be addressed.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Robinson.

Yeah, just clarification.

Um miscellaneous takes place at the end of all council meetings.

Yep, right, because I heard some colleagues in the background saying that miscellaneous already took place, and um, I know when you spoke, you spoke you know um for the respect for the residents that come to speak.

You are living are you allowing council members to briefly you know weigh in on their conversations and their concerns.

So that's two segments of uh where we get a chance to address.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anything further?

Ms.

Farrell.

Motion to adjourn.

Second second meeting adjourned.