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Record of Proceedings

Albany Common Council Meeting Summary - March 16, 2026

Common Council — Monday, March 16, 2026
BodyAlbany, New York
SessionCommon Council
DateMonday, March 16, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:00:29
Transcript — Verbatim
3:18

Good evening, everyone.

3:19

If everyone could, if all members could sit down and we'll go through the agenda.

3:34

Just a quick note before I go through the agenda, and everyone's mailboxes is the financial disclosure statement.

3:41

Just make sure you fill that out.

5:04

Um we have resolution 1632 26R from Councilmember Zamer.

5:11

That will go to planning because we do not fully have the Peg ad hoc board together.

5:18

Um so that is the a resolution reappointing Donald Hyman to the public to the bag peg board.

5:26

Next um from councilmember Adams, we have resolution 1732 26R.

5:32

We'll be voting on that tonight.

5:33

That is a resolution in support of the Sunshine School and the CECRA review, um, so that does not have to have a full environmental review.

5:44

Next we have from Councilmember Lumpkin resolution 1832 26R.

5:49

That is a resolution commemorating the centennial black history observance and celebrating the 91st anniversary of the NWCP Albany branch.

5:58

We'll actually be taking that out of order.

6:01

Um so that will take up right after the um member comments for the initial public comment period.

6:13

So we'll have public comment, member comments on public comment, should there be any, and then we will go into that resolution, take that out of order.

6:24

And I believe that we are all co-sponsors on that, so that will just be a voice vote.

6:29

Um, and then we'll have an opportunity for an official presentation, and we'll invite people to take a picture.

6:36

Next, we have resolution 1932 26R from Councilmember Hoey.

6:42

Um that will go to the finance committee, and in resolutions held from councilmember Zamer, resolution 1431 26R.

6:55

Um that is that passed through the planning committee, and that's something we will be voting on.

7:11

Do a quick note that um council president Kimbrough is not able to be here tonight.

7:20

He's a little under the weather.

7:22

Um, so I'll be taking over up there.

7:25

Councilmember Ballorin will be doing the president potem position, and we'll shift things through that way.

7:32

Um councilmember Flynn.

7:35

I was just wondering if we're gonna do uh miscellaneous like we did last week or two weeks ago about the public comment after common councilmember speak like today.

7:46

We will it is in the agenda.

7:48

Um just a quick note to as councilmember Robinson did note that it is something that can lengthen meetings a bit.

7:58

So if especially for something the resolution that we're about to have, if there are other opportunities to speak on it, please wait for those opportunities.

8:08

But it is an opportunity for members to speak um when they feel it necessary.

8:14

So we will be doing that, and then we'll be doing the NAACP resolution.

8:19

Anything else?

8:21

Councilmember Holy.

8:23

Thank you, uh President Pro Temp.

8:26

Um I just want to real fast just to tell everybody um because I know there was a question brought up about the trip to Baltimore for the anti-violence, and uh I was one of the people to attend, um, and several other council members did go.

8:44

Um this was all self-funded.

8:46

I had to take a vacation day off work.

8:49

I had to pay, I actually flew down because I couldn't afford to be more than one day away from home because I had some responsibilities at home.

8:57

So I ended up having to pay for my own airfare, and I did a lot of walking.

9:02

It was like seven miles wherever I could save money by taking rapid transit.

9:06

I did, I got to walk around the city.

9:09

But I just want to make sure everybody knows that this just wasn't a junket um that we just all went on a trip.

9:16

Everybody had a you know come up, either drive themselves or fly or take a train to get down there.

9:22

Um it was you know, trying to go back over it and try to remember every detail for me.

9:29

It's gonna be difficult getting up there in years, but um I'll be glad to, you know, I got impressions, and that's my main thing from that trip was the impressions of safety and how people are moving forward.

9:42

So looking forward to discussions on it.

9:45

Um, but uh to be able to do a report.

9:48

I'm not gonna be able to do um to actually put down every hour what I was doing.

9:54

So I just wanted to pass that along to our council members.

9:57

Thank you.

9:58

Councilmember Robinson.

10:00

And I just like to um piggyback off my colleague because there's a lot of um uh conversation going back and forth on Facebook.

10:08

It's all about taxpayers' money was spent on this trip.

10:12

It was no taxpayers' money spent on this trip.

10:14

We paid for it out of our own pocket.

10:18

Um, and I think part of the hope is that a lot of the questions that were asked would actually be discussed at the meeting.

10:27

Um just keeping in mind that um a lot of different things on um, are having a lot of have a lot of different responsibilities and making sure that we are able to gauge things, and sometimes it's hard to ask members to come up with an itemized thing of all the details of their trip.

10:56

Um it is the hope that members will talk about that in more detail at that meeting.

11:03

So many of those answers will probably or many of those questions will likely be answered at the meeting itself.

11:11

Does anybody else have anything?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████54%
Racial Equity███████████████████23%
Public Safety██████████████17%
Mental Health Awareness███3%
Affordable Housing███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Albany Common Council Meeting Summary - March 16, 2026

The Albany Common Council met on Monday, March 16, 2026, at 7:00 PM. Fourteen members were present, one absent. The meeting included public comments, passage of resolutions commemorating the NAACP and addressing environmental review and capital resources, introduction of local laws targeting drag racing and violence prevention, and other business.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Deborah Brown (NAACP Albany Branch President) thanked the council for honoring the NAACP’s 91st anniversary and the centennial of Black History observance. She noted the NAACP is an all-volunteer organization founded in 1935 by Dr. Fletcher Brown and continues to fight for equity, access, and against discrimination.
  • Danielle Gillespie (County Legislator, 12th District) urged support for Local Law E of 2026, which addresses drag racing and sideshows along Washington Avenue Extension. She cited decades of quality-of-life and safety concerns, including younger participants and growing crowds.
  • Anaya A. (new Albany resident) recounted mistreatment at the IPH Safe Haven facility at 26 South Swan Street, including theft of a passport and other belongings, sexual assault, and retaliation after speaking at a prior meeting. She stated she provided police reports and medical records to the clerk and asked for action on facility conditions and violence prevention.
  • Helen Gleason (Livingston Avenue resident) requested the council research and clarify fire code rules for placards on vacant buildings, arguing they incentivize trespassing and drug use rather than promote safety. She cited the fire chief’s statement at a recent committee meeting.
  • Marlon Anderson was the final speaker; no details provided.

Discussion Items

NAACP & Black History Observance Resolution (Resolution 18.32.26R)

The council took the resolution out of order. Councilmember Lumpkin presented it, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the National Observance of Black History and the 91st anniversary of the NAACP Albany Branch. Councilmembers Johnson, Anani, and Ballerin spoke in support, praising the NAACP’s volunteer leadership and its historic and ongoing role in civil rights. The resolution passed by voice vote, and a photo was taken with NAACP members.

Local Laws Introduced

  • Local Law E (2026) — Introduced by Councilmember Powell. Amends Chapter 359 (Vehicles and Traffic) to establish authority to investigate and penalize unlawful speed contests, sideshows, and races. Referred to the Public Safety Committee.
  • Local Law F (2026) — Introduced by Councilmember Hoey. Establishes an Office of Violence Prevention and amends Chapter 183 (Equity Agenda) regarding the Violence Prevention Task Force. Referred to the Public Safety Committee.

Committee Reports

  • Planning Committee (Councilmember Zamer) — Two ordinances reported favorably: one related to the Sunshine School on Delaware Avenue and one reauthorizing the Capital Resource Corporation (CRC). Next meeting on March 18 to discuss inclusionary housing legislation.
  • Public Safety Committee (Councilmember Hoey) — Will meet on March 25 before caucus to discuss Local Laws E and F.

Miscellaneous Comments

  • Councilmember Johnson questioned why new legislation is needed to address drag racing, stating expectations should be placed on the Albany Police Department (APD) to enforce existing laws. He cited a prior dirt bike initiative that yielded limited results until the sheriff intervened.
  • Councilmember Powell responded that discussions with the district attorney and police chief have taken place, and the legislation is intended to give APD and the DA additional tools. Further debate will occur at the March 25 committee meeting.

Key Outcomes

  • Resolution 18.32.26R — Passed by voice vote (unanimous). Commemorates Black History centennial and NAACP Albany branch anniversary.
  • Resolution 17.32.26R — Passed 13-0. Declares the City of Albany lead agency for SEQR review of Ordinance 44.31.26 (Sunshine School) and declares it an unlisted action with no negative environmental impact.
  • Resolution 14.31.26R — Passed 13-0. Amends the Capital Resource Corporation certificate of incorporation to continue its authority to issue obligations for city projects.
  • Resolution 16.32.26R — Reappoints Donald Hyman to the Public, Education, and Government (PEG) Access Oversight Board; referred to Planning Committee.
  • Resolution 19.32.26R — Approves transfer of budgeted funds and changes in authorized positions in the 2026 city budget; referred to Finance Committee.
  • Ordinance 6.32.26 — Authorizes lease of a portion of 520 Livingston Avenue to the Black Nurses Coalition Incorporated; referred to Finance Committee.
  • Minutes of March 5, 2026 — Approved.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. If everyone could, if all members could sit down and we'll go through the agenda. Just a quick note before I go through the agenda, and everyone's mailboxes is the financial disclosure statement. Just make sure you fill that out. Um we have resolution 1632 26R from Councilmember Zamer. That will go to planning because we do not fully have the Peg ad hoc board together. Um so that is the a resolution reappointing Donald Hyman to the public to the bag peg board. Next um from councilmember Adams, we have resolution 1732 26R. We'll be voting on that tonight. That is a resolution in support of the Sunshine School and the CECRA review, um, so that does not have to have a full environmental review. Next we have from Councilmember Lumpkin resolution 1832 26R. That is a resolution commemorating the centennial black history observance and celebrating the 91st anniversary of the NWCP Albany branch. We'll actually be taking that out of order. Um so that will take up right after the um member comments for the initial public comment period. So we'll have public comment, member comments on public comment, should there be any, and then we will go into that resolution, take that out of order. And I believe that we are all co-sponsors on that, so that will just be a voice vote. Um, and then we'll have an opportunity for an official presentation, and we'll invite people to take a picture. Next, we have resolution 1932 26R from Councilmember Hoey. Um that will go to the finance committee, and in resolutions held from councilmember Zamer, resolution 1431 26R. Um that is that passed through the planning committee, and that's something we will be voting on. Do a quick note that um council president Kimbrough is not able to be here tonight. He's a little under the weather. Um, so I'll be taking over up there. Councilmember Ballorin will be doing the president potem position, and we'll shift things through that way. Um councilmember Flynn. I was just wondering if we're gonna do uh miscellaneous like we did last week or two weeks ago about the public comment after common councilmember speak like today. We will it is in the agenda. Um just a quick note to as councilmember Robinson did note that it is something that can lengthen meetings a bit. So if especially for something the resolution that we're about to have, if there are other opportunities to speak on it, please wait for those opportunities. But it is an opportunity for members to speak um when they feel it necessary. So we will be doing that, and then we'll be doing the NAACP resolution. Anything else? Councilmember Holy. Thank you, uh President Pro Temp. Um I just want to real fast just to tell everybody um because I know there was a question brought up about the trip to Baltimore for the anti-violence, and uh I was one of the people to attend, um, and several other council members did go. Um this was all self-funded. I had to take a vacation day off work. I had to pay, I actually flew down because I couldn't afford to be more than one day away from home because I had some responsibilities at home. So I ended up having to pay for my own airfare, and I did a lot of walking. It was like seven miles wherever I could save money by taking rapid transit. I did, I got to walk around the city. But I just want to make sure everybody knows that this just wasn't a junket um that we just all went on a trip. Everybody had a you know come up, either drive themselves or fly or take a train to get down there. Um it was you know, trying to go back over it and try to remember every detail for me. It's gonna be difficult getting up there in years, but um I'll be glad to, you know, I got impressions, and that's my main thing from that trip was the impressions of safety and how people are moving forward. So looking forward to discussions on it. Um, but uh to be able to do a report. I'm not gonna be able to do um to actually put down every hour what I was doing. So I just wanted to pass that along to our council members. Thank you.

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