Albany Common Council and Finance Assessment and Taxation Committee Meeting - April 6, 2026

The Albany Common Council held a full meeting on April 6, 2026, preceded by a Finance Assessment and Taxation Committee meeting and a caucus. The evening included two public hearings, public comment, and legislative action on several ordinances and resolutions. Key topics included a lease for a health clinic at the West Hill Community Center, a controversial inclusionary zoning ordinance, a public safety bill targeting illegal street racing, and discussion of the city's fiscal crisis.

Finance Committee Meeting (6:00 PM)

Discussion Item: Lease for Black Nurses Coalition at 520 Livingston Avenue

• Dr. Brenda Robinson, founder and CEO of the Black Nurses Coalition (doing business as New York Level Up), presented her organization's mission to eliminate health care disparities and improve outcomes for Black, brown, underserved, and low-income populations. She described her clinic at 692 North Pearl Street and her plans to open a primary care clinic within the West Hill Community Center (Albany West). The clinic will offer appointments, on-site lab draws, and behavioral health services. Dr. Robinson emphasized the importance of walkability and a "one-stop shop" model.
• Council members expressed strong support, commending Dr. Robinson's work during COVID-19 vaccine education and distribution, and her role in building trust in healthcare within the community. Councilmember Ballerin noted she is a "personal superhero." Council President Kimbrough called her a "trusted voice."
• Councilmember Brody welcomed annual reporting and offered future council partnership; Councilmember Farrell noted the project fulfills the council's ARPA-era vision for community centers to host services that did not receive direct grants.
• Councilmember Keegan noted the committee had received and reviewed a written request from the Black Nurses Coalition.

Vote: Motion to move Ordinance 6326 out of committee favorably. All in favor. (Unanimous)

Caucus (Pre-Meeting)

• Councilmember Howey introduced Local Law G of 2026, a revised version of the Office of Violence Prevention legislation, noting it includes amendments approved by the mayor's office and provides flexibility for implementation.
• Councilmember Powell introduced Local Law E of 2026, which authorizes APD to investigate and penalize unlawful speed contests, sideshows, and races.
• Councilmember Farrell reported on city finances: the administration is working with state partners for state budget aid; department heads are identifying cost savings; answers are being prioritized from a list of over 80 council questions.
• Councilmember Farrell announced she is nominating former council staff member Alyssa Kamara for Tulip Queen.

Common Council Meeting (7:00 PM)

Public Hearings

Ordinance 43126 – Sunshine School Zoning Change (No speakers)

Ordinance 53126 – Inclusionary Zoning Amendments

• Eliza Smith (Albany resident): Spoke against the ordinance, arguing it legalizes "bribes" for developers to bypass affordable housing requirements at $50,000 per unit, which would displace core populations. She urged a veto, citing a 2023 Pew study showing that rent stabilization and affordable housing reduce homelessness.
• Andy Kyer (PhD student in sociology, UAlbany): Urged the council to vote no, citing Albany's housing audit showing half of tenants are rent-burdened, over 2,000 eviction filings last year, and the city's history of redlining and displacement during the Nelson Rockefeller era. He argued that the governor's $200 million downtown strategy, without strong inclusionary zoning, risks subsidizing luxury housing, not affordable units. He noted 70% of white families own homes versus 20% of Black families.
• Ian Butler (U.S. Air Force veteran, Albany resident): Opposed the bill, calling it "implicit redlining" that would concentrate affordable units in already marginalized neighborhoods. He argued that supply-side housing economics does not work and criticized developers for seeking tax abatements and grant funding while resisting affordability mandates. He said the $400 million in state investment should be used to rehabilitate vacant properties.
• Aidan Renda (Pine Hills resident, young professional): Opposed rolling back protections, arguing the state's investment creates a huge incentive to build, but without inclusionary zoning, there is no incentive to fight segregation. He warned that weakening the law now would push back integration by a generation.
• Canyon Ryan (Executive Director, United Tenants of Albany): Opposed the legislation but thanked Councilmember Ballorin for his efforts. He stated that inclusionary zoning's impact is small but critical, and called on the council to address root causes of poverty. He cited that fair market rent has increased 66% for one-bedroom apartments since 2020 while incomes rose only 17%. He noted Albany is consistently top five in eviction filings per capita. He urged the council to support the Housing Access Voucher Program and the Rent Emergency Stabilization for Tenants Act.
• Maria Markowitz (48-year Albany resident, housing advocate): Spoke against the bill, saying it stops short of economic integration. She noted 10 organizations signed an opposition letter (Housing for All, United Tenants of Albany, Community Development Alliance of the Capital District, CONG, Citizen Action of New York, Working Families Party – Capital District, Albany Justice Coalition, and others). She said a $200,000 buyout is akin to one unit of affordable housing, not the four units that would be built under set-asides.
• Councilmember Adams questioned the efficacy of inclusionary zoning given low unit production (roughly 80 units from 1,200 built in four years) and argued that buyout funds would go to first-time homebuyer assistance, eviction prevention, and repair funds for current tenants, which could have a broader reach.

Public Comment

• Susan Rizzo (Albany County Comptroller): Advocated for reinstating a city controller position (eliminated by charter change post-2009), arguing it would provide checks and balances on city finances.
• Carl Yurich (Lennox Avenue resident): Said the 2026 budget crisis was foreseeable, stating he had warned of the potential for "fiscal collapse" in three prior council appearances since October 2025. He criticized the administration for losing three months and called for immediate release of financial data to inform difficult decisions (e.g., potential tax increases of 7-13% or staffing cuts of 50-150 positions).
• Maureen McCauley (Albany resident): Listed "four steps to the death of a city" and cited specific budget anomalies, including unrealistic revenue projections, a $60,000 salary increase for a position, and creation of a minority whip position for a council with no minority.
• Marlin Anderson (former mayoral candidate, Albany resident): Criticized the inclusionary zoning buyout as "trusting the fox in the henhouse" and urged a full debate on any proposed youth curfew, calling for nuanced solutions.
• Stefan Ivanov (Vice Chair, Albany Community Policing Advisory Committee, ACPAC): Announced ACPAC's plan to conduct a citywide survey on police-community relations, seeking $10,000 in council funding. He noted the last such survey was 20 years ago. He also invited council members to a public forum on APD technology on April 30.
• Keith Irish (lifelong Albany resident, 9th Ward): Criticized the city's budgeting, noting top-heavy staffing and bonding. He urged a "no" vote on the reappointment of Donald Hyman to the PEG Access Board, arguing the appointment process should have used a call for applications. He also complained about pothole repairs.
• Tamika Freeman (homeowner, 55 Peter Schuyler Court East): Requested assistance with trash and debris on a hillside near her home, asking for a fence to catch litter and for the appropriate city department to contact her.
• Khir Islam (President, Universal Concepts): Encouraged the council to focus on prevention work, noting his organization provides safe houses and supports youth on probation. He urged amplifying positive prevention.
• Minister Justin Barnes (306 First Street, community activist): Expressed interest in participating in any anti-gang initiative and offered his experience.

Discussion Items

Local Law E of 2026 – Unlawful Speed Contests (Street Racing)

• Councilmember Powell: Described the bill as creating harsher penalties for drivers, flaggers, and spectators, and allowing seizure of vehicles involved in racing on Washington Avenue Extension and throughout the city. She thanked Chief Cox and District Attorney Lee Kinlin for collaboration.
• Councilmember Hoey: Supported the legislation, noting some race cars are worth over $100,000 and that seizure would be a major deterrent.
• Councilmember Farrell: Expressed support, noting she initially thought this was about "bone-headed teenagers" but learned it involves organized, professional operations using flatbed trucks to bring in cars.

Ordinance 53126 – Inclusionary Zoning (Procedural Resolution)

• Councilmember Ballorin introduced Resolution 254126R (lead agency/SEQRA negative declaration), explaining it was part of the process required after the zoning amendment is finalized. The actual inclusionary zoning vote will occur at the next meeting. The resolution passed 13-0.

Key Outcomes

• Ordinance 6326 (Lease for Black Nurses Coalition): Passed unanimously (12-0, Councilmember Robinson recused). The lease authorizes a portion of 520 Livingston Avenue for a primary care clinic.
• Local Law E of 2026 (Street Racing Penalties): Passed unanimously (13-0). Authorizes investigations, vehicle seizures, and harsher penalties for illegal speed contests.
• Ordinance 43126 (Sunshine School Zoning Change): Passed unanimously (13-0). Changes zoning from Land Conservation to Mixed Use Neighborhood Edge for 164 Delaware Avenue.
• Local Law G of 2026 (Office of Violence Prevention): Added to agenda by majority consent (12-1) and introduced; will go to the Public Safety Committee.
• Resolution reappointing Donald Hyman to PEG Access Board: Passed 12-1. (Councilmember Robinson voted no.)
• Resolution reappointing Thomas Mueller to Commission on Human Rights: Passed unanimously (13-0).
• Resolution appointing Paul Collins Hackett ("Batman") to Commission on Human Rights: Passed 12-0 with one abstention.
• Several commemorative resolutions passed by voice vote: Autism Awareness Month, Minority Cancer Awareness Month, Arab American Heritage Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day, and the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Scenic Byway nomination.
• Finance Committee: Expected to meet April 15; possible cancellation of April 22 meeting if state budget and city financial data are not available. Council continues to prioritize questions for the administration.