Good evening, everyone.

Welcome to the Albany Common Council Cooperation.

Ah, Council Operations and Ethics Committee.

Tonight we are joined by committee members Tom Hoey, Ousuanane, and Megan Keegan.

We're also joined by our staff, our council and director of policy, Robert Winner, and our policy analyst, Carly Johnson.

We also have our common council president, Kelly Kimbrough with us.

And while he is not here for this, we are also joined by um Garrett Chaff of the CPRB, who will be here later, but he is here also right now.

Um this evening we're discussing local law J of twenty twenty-six by Councilmember Howie, which is a local law amending section thirty-four-two public notice of meetings and boards, commissions, and committees of the code of the city of Albany in relation to adjusting the requirements to notice public meetings to remain in compliance with New York State open meetings law and allow for short-term notice emergency meetings.

Councilmember Hoey, did you want to say anything on your legislation?

Yeah, I ended up yeah, I've said it a few times, but um when we came up with this law, and I believe it was originally two thousand nineteen, if I remember correctly.

Um we didn't put in for emergency uh meetings, and all of a sudden, uh this year we did have a definite need for an emergency meeting.

And um, you know, again, I I bring up that the council's always willing to make things work, and uh that's why we're here tonight to see if we can get this um passed to allow for emergency meetings to take place under certain guidelines.

Excellent.

Do any council members have any questions on this?

It's a pretty straightforward piece of legislation.

Um councilmember Keegan.

No, I was just raising my hand to make a motion.

Excellent.

Go ahead.

Um, I would like to move that local law J be moved out of committee with a positive recommendation.

Second.

Uh moved by Councilmember Keegan, seconded by Councilmember Anane.

I will take away Councilmember Hoey's normal role as he is the sponsor.

Um all in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

That is unanimous.

Thank you so much.

Uh move uh motion.

Motion to adjourn by Councilmember Hoey and a second.

By Councilmember Anane.

Excellent.

Thank you so much.

All in favor.

All in favor.

Aye.

It's unanimous.

Good evening, everyone.

Welcome to Caucus.

Um, if our policy analysts could call the roll.

Adams.

Anani.

Fallorin.

Brody is absent.

Farrell.

Here.

Flynn is currently absent.

Hoey.

Present.

Johnson.

Jones.

Keegan.

Lumpkin.

Powell.

Here.

Robinson.

Williamson is absent.

Zamer.

Here.

That is eight present.

We're also joined by Council President Callie Kimbrough, Deputy City Clerk Demetra Brown, Senior Assistant Corporation Council, Martha Mahoney, Council and Director of Policy, uh, Robert Winner, and policy analyst Carly Johnson.

Excellent.

Thank you so much.

So we will run through the agenda quickly, and then we will we have a guest that will welcome up.

Next, we have local law M of twenty twenty-six from Councilmember Ballorin, that will go to human rights, human resources.

And next we have from Councilmember Hoey, local law N of twenty twenty-six, that will go to finance.

Next, we will be amending local law I of twenty twenty-six from Count Councilmember Keegan, but just an amendment, it will have to age.

Um following uh from Councilmember Howie, local law J of 2026 that did pass through council operations and ethics with a positive recommendation this evening, so we will be voting on that.

We do not have any ordinances today, so that is a quiet section.

Um in resolutions introduced from Councilmember Anane.

We have resolution 6062 26R, which recognizes June 19th as Juneteenth Independence Day.

Um we all agreed to be co-sponsors on that at the last at caucus.

Is that everybody still is good for that?

If I could get hands to show, yes.

Um next, councilmember Adams resolution 6262 26R, a resolution of the Common Council declaring the week of June 15th to be Black Restaurant Week, and we were all going to be co-sponsors on that.

I just want to verify we're all still looking forward to that.

Yes.

Um from Councilmember Zamer, resolution 6262 26R.

Uh that will go a resolution reappointing Daniel Day Kirk Davidoff as a member of the Sustainability Advisory Committee.

That will go to planning.

Also from Councilmember Zamer, resolution 63, 6226R, a resolution reappointing Andre Lake as a member of the Sustainability Advisory Committee, that will go to planning.

Um next from Councilmember Adams, resolution 6426, 64 to 62 26R, um, which will honoring the life and legacy of Madeline Seal and renaming a portion of Ramo Street in her honor, that will go to General Services from Councilmember Johnson, resolution 6562 26R, a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Reverend James Smith Sr.

and renaming a portion of Franklin in his honor, that will go to General Services from Councilmember Robinson, resolution 6662 26R resolution honoring the life and legacy of Days Dobbs and renaming a portion of Thornton Street in her honor, which will also go to General Services.

We have two resolutions via majority consent from Councilmember Howie, resolution 6762 26R, um, which will appoint James Cheney as a member of the CPRB.

I'm gonna ask you to speak on that in just a second, Councilmember Howie, after we finish up the agenda.

Um from Councilmember Anane, resolution 6862 26R, a resolution of the Common Council demanding the Capital District Apartments LLC to negotiate in good faith with the Thurlow Terrace Tenant Union.

Um we will be introducing those by majority consent.

We will be taking um James Cheney's out of order as he is here, and um that is our agenda this evening.

I will turn it over to Councilmember Howie who will introduce Mr.

Cheney.

Sure.

Uh thank you, uh President Pro Temp.

Um yes, James Cheney uh came before the public safety committee and uh passed out unanimously from the committee to be appointed.

Um that was some weeks ago.

They have done a full background check on them.

Um the HR department, and it's come back very good.

And um we did have a shortage of members at the CPRB meeting on Thursday.

I that's why I asked for an MC on this.

I think it's important.

Um of the members um Lillian Garland needs to be um trained uh to be able to um work on the CPRB because they have to go through certain training before they can start.

So I figured let's try to get James in and Lillian in so when we meet in July that we'll have a full C it's not gonna be full, but we're gonna have seven members out of the nine um that day.

So I'm hoping that you know everybody will support me on this MC and uh support uh Mr.

James and he's here now uh for any questions that any member of the council has for him.

Thank you.

Thank you so much for coming in, Mr.

Ting.

We appreciate it.

Do any council members have any questions for Mr.

Cheney?

Councilmember Keegan.

I just wanted to thank you for coming in to meet with us this evening and making the time and also just wanted to commend you for being willing to uh serve your city in this capacity.

It's not an easy job on the CPRB.

Um, and I'm sure that you will do it well.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any other if um any other questions?

Uh Mr.

We obviously have seen plenty about you, but I'm sure the public would love to hear about you.

We so appreciate your willingness to serve.

It is as Councilmember Keegan said, one of the most important boards that we have.

And it's also not always one of the most exciting ones because it's a lot of work with it.

So we deeply appreciate your willingness to serve on it.

So if you don't mind telling us a little bit about yourself and your background, we'd appreciate it.

Initially, uh good evening, everyone.

My name is James, James Cheney.

I initially was born in Albany, New York, to move away and come back and be here.

Uh the run of almost 24 years now.

Uh I've worked in Albany City School District.

I have obtained different um awards, such as the school related professional of the year for 2024.

I've also got another award, which was the National Education Association Award for New York State, and represented New York State and Kentucky as of last year.

I also beyond teaching, have done special ed genet in the athletics, spent a large amount of time in the school district from elementary to high school, and I deliberate every day all day long as a ISS uh teacher in school detention teacher over at uh Albany High.

Excellent.

Thank you so much.

It sounds like you've got great experience to bring to the board.

And I will say, as a parent of three Albany High grads, I appreciate the Nest Sweatshirt.

Thank you.

Um we love our Falcons Nest.

Well, with no other questions, we really appreciate your willingness to serve, and we'll be taking this out of order, so we'll have the opportunity to vote on it early in our meeting.

And um, you're welcome to stay, and um, but also you do not have to.

Yes, thank you so much.

Thank you.

Do any members have anything else this evening?

Councilmember Hoey.

Yeah, thank you.

Um President Pro Temp.

Um, I went to the uh police graduation on Friday, and it was it was spectacular.

We have 15 new officers.

Um, and what made me feel really good was uh one of the officers, uh Tanya Rodriguez, actually rode around the 15th ward with me.

Um every once in a while I get the opportunity to bring a cadet around and show them you know what's going on in my neighborhood and stuff.

And uh Intanya was voted or I I guess achieved the top recruit honors for this class.

And um, I did bring it up that we might want to um they did a video showing the whole starting the class and ending, it's like a 10-12 minute video.

So I'd like to, if we can work it out with the police department, maybe do a public safety right after Cork is one meeting and show you this video because seeing what they go through in training, it gives you a whole different perspective of uh of the the work that they're doing and the work of our trainers.

And uh you know, if we want a good police force that part of the community, that this is how they're working on it now.

It's during the training that we we instill into these recruits how important it is that they're they're part of the community and uh you know protecting and serving us.

So uh we'll work that out and I'll let everybody know as when I get that worked out.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

And I will now turn it over to common council president Kimbrough, who uh we've had some question on ICE activity in the city from members, and while we do not have a full update on that yet, we've as I noted in our last um caucus, the administration is working on some more proactive things, so we look forward to that and appreciate their willingness to do that.

Um but council president Kimbrough did connect with Chief Cox on it, and he's going to provide a quick update.

Yeah, so just uh had a conversation with Chief Cox about uh the department's interactions with with ICE and Border Patrol, and he said there's there's basically none.

The thing is we don't participate in civil enforcement, which is what uh they do, if that's how they're removing folks, so we have no connection to them.

The only news or indication of their activity is through social media, and that's typically uh community members spotting ice and saying, hey, they're here doing this or doing that, and the stuff they did at the school a while back.

That's you know, citizens reporting out, and that and that's how the police are finding out.

Uh, ice is basically steering clear, they don't they don't tell the department anything, there are no interactions, no connections whatsoever because we we just don't tolerate, we don't participate in their activity.

So according to chief, there's been nothing.

Um I mean, they they house the folks they grab in their own spaces, and um, so Albany P has nothing whatsoever to do with that.

Um so that that's the update that that we're not involved and we're not uh participating.

Um, if there is nothing else, we can take a few minutes to stretch our legs before the meeting begins at seven.

Okay, the time's now seven PM.

Let's get started.

Okay, welcome to the Monday, June fifteenth meeting of the Albany Common Council.

Uh Madam Clerk, please call the role.

Adams Anani present.

Brody.

Harold.

Here.

Here.

Hoy.

Present.

Johnson.

Jones.

Keegan.

Here.

Lumpkin.

Present.

Powell.

Here.

Robinson.

Williamson.

Zamer.

Here.

Eleven present.

Thank you.

Okay, again, welcome.

Uh join me uh for the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a moment of silence.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

One nation under God.

Thank you.

Please be seated.

Okay.

Uh Miss Ferrell, recommend you.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I notice resolution sixty-seven, sixty-two, twenty-six R and resolution sixty-eight twenty-six sorry, sixty-eight, sixty-two, twenty-six R and ask them to be introduced via majority consent.

Second.

Second.

Okay.

All in favor?

Aye.

Okay.

Motion passes.

Okay.

We start with Mr.

Howie.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I am I notice resolution.

6762 26R and ask for its passage via roll call vote.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Please read the resolution.

6762 26R sponsored by Councilmember Howie.

A resolution of the Common Council appointing James Cheney as a member of the community police review board.

Discussion, Mr.

Howie.

Thank you, Ms.

President.

James Cheney appeared before the public uh safety committee and was unanimously uh approved to be uh put on the CPRB.

That was some weeks ago, and uh we just got back the um the human resources uh background check and he came back uh perfectly clear and um we feel that it was important to get him on the CPRB as soon as possible.

We had a the meeting on Thursday had to be canceled because we did not have a quorum.

So having Mr.

Cheney on board will help us uh prevent this from happening in the future, and I do hope all the members will support his appointment.

Thank you, Mr.

Flynn.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

I just want to say I've known James for probably over 20, 25 years.

He's been involved in the community for years with our youth.

He's been an advocate, he's been a mentor, he's been a motivator.

He's he's a great fit for this community, please for George.

So thank you.

Thanks, James.

Ms.

Farrell, please.

Um I would like to do two things.

Number one, I would love to thank Mr.

Cheney for his willingness to serve.

Um, as I had said earlier, it is a very important board, and we appreciate his willingness to serve on it, especially someone of his caliber.

And secondly, um I would also like to note we didn't actually move to take the resolution out of order.

We just introduced it, so we probably should do that before we actually pass the resolution.

So that would be the motion.

Can I get a second?

Second.

All in favor?

Nine.

Okay, any opposed?

No.

Okay.

Motion passes.

Now that was your comment.

Any further discussion on Mr.

Cheney?

Seeing none.

Uh Madam Clay, please call a roll.

Adams.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Anani.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Ballorin.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Farrell.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Flynn.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Hoey?

Yes.

Johnson.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Keegan.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Lumpkin.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Powell.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Robinson.

Yes.

Zamer.

Yes.

Co-sponsor, please.

Twelve votes.

Okay.

Twelve members.

The motion passes.

Um, I believe we might be taking the other resolution out of order to.

That's correct.

I'll go to I'll go to Mr.

Anani next.

Um, I but I move that we take resolution 68-62 26R out of order.

Okay, second.

Second, Mr.

Howie, all in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Motion passes.

Mr.

Anani.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I notice resolution 68-62-26.

And ask for us, passage on a roll call, they are.

Thank you, Mr.

Nani.

Uh Madam Clerk, please read the resolution.

68-6226R, sponsored by Council Member Anani.

A resolution of the Common Council demanding Capital District Apartments LLC negotiate in good faith with the Thurlow Terrace Tenant Union.

Discussion.

Mr.

Anani.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um again.

Uh the Federal Terrace Union has been expressing a lack of safe and decent housing due to heat and high water failures.

There's been numerous attempts to reach out to management to address these concerns, but has fell flat.

It is our hope that with this legislation, this resolution passing that Thurlow, the Capitol District Department's LLC can negotiate in good faith and continue to support their tenants.

These are tenants who are seniors who are supposed to be living their glory the golden days.

But unfortunately, because of conditions being so terrible at Thurlow Terrace, they are pleading with the common council and pleading with anyone that will listen to get these matters addressed.

They spoke passionately at our last meeting, and many of us, all of us heard them loud and clear.

And we want to show our support and stand in solidarity with the tenants at Thurlow Terrace.

Today it's Thurlow Terrace, but it could be another senior housing building.

And I believe that it's important that we send a clear message that we support our seniors, and we support our tenants to make sure that they have good living conditions.

I want to thank them for coming for the second time, and just want to thank them for uh their advocacy, and it's not easy.

I know many tenants wish they could be here, but I was afraid of retaliation.

Uh, but I just want to thank them because when you speak up uh, and it might be a small group, but don't underestimate what a small group can do.

Uh, we've seen all throughout history.

So again, I want to thank the the Thorlo Terrorist Tenants Union for their actions of requesting the Capitol District Apartment LC negotiating good faith with the thermal terrorist tenants.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Anani.

Mr.

Johnson.

Thank you.

So I don't even know what to say.

I just say I just feel like um our seniors are being um are the most vulnerable in this housing crisis.

Um like you're you're not the first group that we heard from, and um it's painful um to hear about um some of your um conditions, and I would just ask if someone could um leave me a contact number to get in contact with thoroughlow thoroughlow um terrorists because I thought I was supposed to get a um contact number, I didn't, and so I apologize for me um not um showing up.

But um I will follow up, I will support this.

Um it's wrong.

Um once again, through the housing committee, we're gonna do everything that we can do to support you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Robinson.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

And again, I support this resolution uh 100%.

Um again, I I have stand with United Tenets when they um really did some advocacy for other um um seniors that in the same are position that you are in, you know what I'm saying, just fighting for your basic rights, and um as I said to them, I say to you, just stay in the fight.

Um, and you know, I I thank you know I'm saying my colleague, you know what I'm saying, for putting this um piece of legislation forward, you know, um, you know, urging you know saying the um uh the realtor or to just to take a look at it and try to meet your needs.

Um don't be discouraged, um, stay in the fight, no, you know be the loudest voice in the room, and you know you have the you have the support of the common council.

Thank you, Mr.

Robinson.

Mr.

Flynn.

Yeah, I'm 100 100% on board with this, but I was hoping we'd be able to uh listen to the public before before the the vote personally.

But uh I am 100% on board with this.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh Mr.

Ballarin.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I want to thank Councilmember Anani for for putting this resolution forward and uh always being a strong advocate and ally of uh tenants in our city and in his uh in his ward.

I also want to thank uh United Tenants and all the different organizations have been helping different uh buildings uh organize and and structure and uh put themselves in a situation where they have a a more united voice and a more uh direct sense of uh community and direct sense of uh fight for negotiations.

Uh and most of all, I want to thank the residents of this building uh and the tenants who it is not easy to come and speak against your landlord.

It is not easy to come and risk your housing, your stability, your place of residence, uh, and you all have done it months and months uh and that is courageous.

Uh and I don't think that uh you get enough credit for that because when when you are on the other side of being uh uh when you are a vulnerable tenant uh in a bad situation, it is not easy to stand up for yourselves uh knowing that there could be retaliation and knowing that uh there could be even a uh attempt to remove.

So uh thank you all for for your work.

Thank you all for your courage, uh, because uh that's what's needed to move the needle, is for people to stand up and say, this is wrong, this is not acceptable, and we're not gonna take it anymore.

So thank you for that.

Uh and thank you again for my council member and for this body that has been time and time again supportive uh of uh of uh protecting all of our residents uh including our most vulnerable.

Thank you.

Thank you, Ms.

Bell and Ms.

Farrell.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I'd like to thank my colleague, Councilmember Anane, for bringing this forward and reiterate the thanks to United Tenants and to every single person that's come in and spoke.

Um it is not an easy thing, but it's so important, and we really appreciate the advocacy and um and this legislation.

We're hoping that it will help move the needle.

Thank you.

Any further discussion?

Seeing none.

Madam Clerk, please call the role.

Adams.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Anani.

Yes.

Ballorin.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Farrell.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Glenn.

Yes, co-sponsor.

Hoy.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Johnson.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Keegan.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Lumpkin.

Yes, co-sponsored, please.

Pal.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Robinson.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Zamer.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Twelve.

Thank you.

The motion passes.

Okay, back on to our regular scheduled meeting activity.

So we're on to public comment.

Um speakers will have five minutes to speak on any subject of their choice.

Uh when you sit give us your name and address.

Please direct any comments uh to the chair or to the to me uh when we're doing this.

Uh council members aren't allowed or don't respond during this period of time.

We have a time that follows the public comment where where uh council members can speak if they so choose.

So, with that, will you please call the first speaker?

Canyon Ryan.

Hello, my name is Kenyon Ryan, and I'm the executive director at United Tenants of Albany.

I live at 25 North Pine in Ward 13.

Um thank you all for passing that resolution with so much support.

That's really exciting.

And I know that the tenants really appreciate it too.

Um I want to talk uh kind of about tenant unions and code enforcement because this has come up a couple times with um some council members who don't seem to understand why a tenant union would form in a building if there's not a lot of code violations on the property.

Um a tenant union is a source of collective power, and it's meant to address atomized concerns that are often siloed into individual guilt and bring people together so that they can commensurate but also address those issues rather than sort of you know feel the pressure on themselves as though this is all their fault.

Uh too often low-income tenants live in substandard conditions and resign themselves to poor habitability since they themselves identify as or are identified as poor.

It's often felt that we're getting what we pay for.

I've lived in eight apartments in the last ten years uh since I moved to Albany.

My first apartment was a room with strangers and ended in a gendered assault uh by the main leaseholder against my trans partner.

I then lived in an apartment where the landlord uh brought prospective tenants to view the property weekly for the final seven months of the lease.

I then had an apartment where migraines left me practically on bed rest due to lead poisoning that was only identified when the two-year-old child two floors below me had blood tests that showed that the child was getting lead poisoned.

Uh the landlord didn't identify us when we signed the lease of this, which is illegal, and also failed to remediate the issue, which is also pretty illegal.

Um my next apartment had a roof rat infestation.

Um I could go on because I've I've been around.

Uh, and generally, actually, I would say that I'm pretty lucky when it comes to renting in Albany.

Uh today I talked to an unemployed immigrant couple with three children, a brand new newborn, very tiny cute baby.

Um the building next door to their home was demolished, and since then their rental has been slowly falling apart.

The foundation is totally shot, the roof is disconnecting from the walls, and every step is met with a mighty creak, and they're scared to live there.

And they said, Can we call code enforcement?

I said you could, but there's things to consider.

So we wonder why don't tenants with poor conditions just call code enforcement.

Uh, in my situation, uh, I didn't call because I was paying $400 for each home that I was renting for the first four years that I lived in Albany, and uh my income was not sufficient to the extent that I could just move if my landlord didn't renew my lease.

And we didn't have good cause at the time, so there really was the opportunity for my landlord to see me calling code enforcement as uh trying to pick a bite with them and just not renew my lease, uh, especially because more than 45% of tenants in Albany are month to month.

Um, you know, and actually, right before we passed good cause in the city of Albany in 2024, I was uh my lease was non-renewed, uh and so I had to move and I pulled my back and I have these chronic issues since then.

Um in fact it still hurts right now.

Uh so you know, was my lease not renewed because I was asking for a functional stove for six months, or how over the winter my apartment can get above 68 degrees.

Uh no, the landlord didn't have to give a reason because we didn't have good cause at the time.

And uh when I asked why you aren't renewing, they said we want to go a different direction with the unit.

It was like a breakup text.

Um and that immigrant household that I spoke with today, uh, you know, they fear the building getting shut down.

Because I said, Yeah, you can call code enforcement, but if they see how decrepit the conditions are that your family's living in, they're gonna shut it down.

Uh and you know, that's not good.

That's five people that are now made homeless.

And I didn't ask, because it's none of my business what their immigration status is.

They just told me they were immigrants, but I also imagine that they fear the possibility that the landlord would call ICE once he sees that code enforcement um has has deemed his building either unsafe, unfit, thus demanding much repair, or having open code violations.

So when a tenant union props up in your neighborhood, rather than call code enforcement and then inquire with the tenants questioning them, well, why aren't you calling code enforcement?

Um, and when the tenants invite you to their tenant union launch, and that's how you respond to them and say there's only three open code violations on their property.

Uh, I recommend that you instead meet with your constituents rather than call code enforcement, uh, stand with the union if it's being launched and support the tenants uh as much as you can.

And I know actually everybody in this room has done exactly that, so this is not targeted at any of you, it's not targeted at anybody in particular.

Um it sort of is, but I just want to say uh it's really important that the council stands with tenants, and what you've done today is a really good demonstration of that, and I know that you all really have led the way in terms of fighting for and standing up with tenants, and we really really appreciate it.

Uh, and I hope that this continues and this is a really great sign with the new council to um near unanimously or all unanimously uh co-sponsor this resolution.

So thank you so much.

I know that the tenants had thrilled really appreciate it, and um, yeah, we're gonna keep fighting and uh appreciate you standing with us all the whole way.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, please call the next speaker.

Judy Dodie.

Judy Doshe.

Good evening.

My name is Judy Darchet.

I live in the ninth ward.

I watched with great frustration a recent meeting of the finance committee where more than 45 minutes was uh spent debating proposed local law I, which would make it clear that when there are transfers from uh the debt reserve fund, it needs to come before the common council that that counts as part of a um 4%.

Consistent with the amendments we made maybe three or four years ago, I forget when.

Says an expenditure from such reserve fund, this deals all with debt reserve, may only be made by an appropriation pursuant to a resolution of the governing board, this body of the municipal corporation, and only for the payment of principal and interest on bonds issued by such municipal corporation.

What happened in December should have come before this body, not because of the Charter Amendment, but because of municipal law in addition to the Charter Amendment.

Because, oh, you'd be impacting the authority of the elected officials on the E.

What happened in December violated the authority of this body to approve that transfer pursuant to municipal law.

In other words, projecting we're going to ignore the law even if you pass it.

Which isn't surprising because we have municipal law 6H that this administration and the treasurer in particular and the ENA board ignored.

Why you guys have to spend all this time, 45 minutes talking about something that you already have the authority for, and for the administration to basically say they're going to ignore.

And if you already paid off the debt, then you're obviously going to be using the funds to cover some other purchases.

Personally, I've seen this before, where the law is ignored and this body is ignored.

You pass resolutions and they go and they do, you know, their own thing.

And I'm not blaming this administration.

This happened last year, happened while I was on the common council, and it's very frustrating.

I think you should be passing a resolution declaring what happened in December, unlawful, illegal, null, and void, and tell people that this is your authority, and you don't need them to be telling you all these arguments about why it's not your authority.

Thank you for listening.

Sean Scully.

Good evening.

Today I come here mostly just to say thank you.

I've heard two three press now for seven years or so.

About the same for the people who stand behind me who work with us to make what we have.

Do we have our problems?

I was having an appointment over the computer and the doctor saying well wow that that's a nice place you would I said yeah and then he said but is that the place I sent you twice in like a relatively short amount of time to get blood straw because you were bitten by two separate people and I said yeah that's it that's it.

One time it was a resident one time it was someone who wanted to come in but we've had everything from things stolen we've all had that to facing verbal assault that's you get used to that almost but when it came to a more serious physical assault that I had somebody said to me I got up and someone said now you've got to do something and I knew I was thinking about doing something with the tenants association for a couple of months I guess I was just wearing unless there was the chance that was presented to me.

And I'm still back then because we have to help the people who behind them the volunteers would not be able to help us to be able to help give packages and stuff to different people.

We'd not be able to stand at the door keep people when they are down when we people at the building and now we have again thank you we should have that and we also have to thank you especially the volunteers the ones on the other side of the room the ones who also back at two thorough too and I'm just hoping that with the help given us well which carbonation I I don't have one and guys doesn't have to guess to do you got two thorough tears.

Well if that's the case I'm proud to serve him and help the people behind him who are the pleasure I'll be able to get our building not only looking like with the doctor floor on his computer outside but also inside too that's what we have the course Herman Johnson.

Herman Johnson Chair my name is Herman Johnson I'm from the Thurlow Tourist as well but my coming here as was the that it had compromised that the union will be there.

Anyone uh I was coming down to say thank you to the United tenants that supported us all this time.

And uh thank you for the show under democracy still works just as grind slowly, but it does grind.

So I I'm not here to make any noise about anything else because we go what we've gone through has been talked about.

So I'm here to say just thank you all for what you've done.

Thank you.

Thank you, sir.

Chris Sue.

Hi, I'm Chris Sue.

I live in Albany, and I volunteer with United Tenants of Albany, and I'm a member of Capitol District DSA.

Um I was asked to read out this letter from Judy.

Um, so I'll read it as written.

So see the government officials attending as well as absent from this meeting.

My name is Judy Bratt.

I've been a tenant at Thurlow Terrace Apartment since 1998.

My concerns at Thurlow Terrace apartments since the sale of the building are as follows.

One, the safety and security of the building is seriously compromised.

Two, the active illegal drug use and sales by tenants, both within the building and on the property.

This in turn compromises the safety and security of the building.

The main entrance door that is supposed to be locked 24-7 is frequently broken, so anyone can walk in.

It usually is not repaired for days.

There's almost daily theft of packages.

I personally need to purchase ring cameras from my door and inside my apartment, and I need to pay monthly for cloud storage.

When I told the rental manager that I purchased cameras, he said, and I quote, I encourage everybody to get cameras for their apartments just to be sure not to put hole just be sure not to put holes in the walls.

This is instead of actively addressing the problem.

I need to buy cameras after I've had a hundred dollars stolen right out of my safe.

I've also had food routinely uh gone missing and wash clothes disappear.

It got to be so bad that I expected to find something more missing upon returning from appointments, and even while I was only downstairs attending to my wash.

This has occurred particularly over the past year, during which time I had no aid or visitors.

I also had somebody knock on my door at 2 30 in the morning several times a week until I got the door camera.

Soon after I installed it on my door, it recorded a non-tenant attempting to knock at 2 30 in the morning.

When he raised his hand to knock, he saw the camera and quickly left.

I have no more knocks at 2 30 AM.

Someone recently staff was hired while still wearing angle monitor after being released from prison.

He was given an apartment at Thurlow Terrace as well as master keys to the apartments.

I pern personally witnessed him entering an ap the apartment across the hall unauthorized without knocking.

When I confronted him on it, he he exited the apartment immediately and said, Oh, I'm only sweeping the hallway.

As far as illegal drug use and sales, I w in this as recently as last Monday, a tenant purchasing drugs outside the main door at 7 a.m.

I was threatened by a drug dealer who entered the building to make a sale on two separate occasions.

As I was attempting to enter my apartment.

Staff has told me in person and has given me names of tenants that staff is aware of, actively using and selling illegal drugs within the building.

Nothing is done and the building is no longer safe to live in.

I write this because as a longstanding tenant who is physically disabled, my personal safety is at risk.

I ask that you do whatever you can to help resolve these issues.

Respectfully submitted respectfully submitted Judy Bratt apartment sentiment 7N.

I do want to thank the city council members for passing this resolution in support of the tenants.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk?

Yes.

Regina Bellser.

I'm Regina Bellser.

I'm a tenant at Thurlow Terrace and have been for going on 15 years.

You know, I was born and raised in Albany, but I've lived all over the country.

And I've lived in all kinds and sorts of buildings, including down in the city, all like that.

And I can tell you, I have never seen the kind of abuses that tenants have been subjected to, as they have in our building.

Is that a person purchased a building with the expectation that they will, you know, get their profit, but they will maintain and improve.

They don't want stable long-term tenants.

They want an endless succession of low-life operators coming in who don't be evicted tomorrow without much problem because they either don't pay their rent or they do things that are ease, easy to uh get them out on.

They like that kind of tenant because they get that monthly paycheck, you know, the HUD enabled paycheck, which pays for my rent too.

But I'm a long-term tenant type, and a lot of the long-term tenants have had to leave Thurlow Terrace because of intimidation, outright abuse, physical assaults which have our ongoing in that building, and the horror of it is when you look for some organization or agency within the city or county, or even the state, to address what is by any definition elder abuse, somehow it's in somebody else's ballywack, but not theirs.

This isn't this is an ongoing problem, and there is no good faith effort to meet us where we are.

We're considered chump, you know, the the peons born to uh fill the pockets of these people and interchangeable, and when you go and get another one, and you know it's very difficult.

I never would have truly understood it when I was younger, but when you're up there like 78, 80 years old, and you want to leave a building like this, and you don't have a pile of money, it's very difficult to do.

You have to get on a waiting list, could could be about a year or more, except for somewhere else that you can afford, and uh you know, you there's really no help, and it just goes on and on, and then all the time they know that you can be abused and little things, little pranks pulled on you.

Um a very good friend of mine, and this is not untypical, has had no exaggeration, about 85% of her worldly goods stolen from that place.

Now, no diamonds here, nothing like that.

The things of daily living, clothes, cooking utensils.

This is all part of an intimidation campaign by uh by one of the uh employees that we have complained and complained and complained about.

And this complaint has gone on for years about this individual.

And no, there's no help for us anywhere because we don't have a voting block.

You know, we don't know somebody.

You know, when I first moved in there, it was a decent building, it really was.

Um it was kept up within reason and the common sense, you know, the transactions of everyday life were done in a positive way for the most part.

But ever since these folks bought the building.

Thank you.

Your time is up.

Pardon me?

You your time is expired.

Okay.

Thank you for your comment.

Please call the next speaker.

That's it.

Okay, that would be the end of us receiving public comment from the public.

Um we'll uh start with members if you want to make comment.

Mr.

Flynn.

I just want to say um that I'm looking at social media right now, and today is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and it's um it's fitting that you came today to talk about the elder abuse of people, and I feel that the state and the county and the city can do better for our elder.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Flynn.

Mr.

Johnson again.

I want to say thank you for coming down here and um speaking up, and as I listen as I put things together as I um go back.

Um I'll just think about um the pilots that are connected to these buildings.

When these pilots are allowed to expire, um the rents just go crazy.

You know, um, life as you know it in the building is is never the same.

So, you know, um I'm sitting here and I'm wondering, you know, if on some some level that this was done, you know, um uh um by design because I just think about the people from Livingston, um, the old Livingston um uh school middle school that came in.

I think about um bleaker terrorists, I think about um the people from Hudson Ave, you know, and a lot of that is the um the elders and the seniors.

So um we're we're gonna have to have difficult um conversations about this subject because a lot to expect um an elder to be able to um be prepared for the changes that come that they're hit with, you know.

Um to imagine living in a building for 30 years and then all of a sudden um your life just changes, you know, as you know it as far as your living conditions.

So again, thank you for coming down here and speaking to um um what you're experiencing, but please know that we we are um actively um trying to come up with solutions and um hopefully we don't allow the um pilots to put our renters in the um situations that um we have been facing the last several years.

Thank you.

Any further seeing none?

We'll move right along.

Um looking for reports of standing committees, Miss Keegan.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, the finance assessment and taxation committee met on June 10th to discuss local law I, which was passed out of committee with a positive recommendation as amended, as well as various other uh matters related to the city budget.

We also have meetings scheduled out for July 1st, July 15th, July 29th, August 12th, and August 19th.

Thank you.

Uh Ms.

Farrow for minutes.

Um thank you, Mr.

President.

I will I notice the minutes from June 1st, 2026, and ask for their approval.

Second, second, Mr.

Howie, all in favor.

And then I also have a report of a standing committee.

Okay.

Um this evening, um, the council operations and ethics committee met to discuss local law J from Councilmember Howie.

It was moved unanimously through the committee with a positive recommendation.

We expect to vote on it this evening.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh any further meet uh committees, no?

Okay.

Okay, moving along consideration of local laws.

Um Ms.

Brody.

Ms.

Farrell.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

On behalf of Councilmember Brody, I notice local law L of 2026 and ask for its introduction.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, please read the local law.

L of 2026, sponsored by Councilmember Brody, a local law amending Chapter 99 website financial data of the code of the City of Albany by updating the existing financial reporting requirements applying to the city auditor and adding new requirements applying to the treasurer and department of administrative services.

Thank you, Ms.

Farrell.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

That will go to finance.

Okay, thank you.

Next, uh Mr.

Ballarin.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I asked that uh local law M of 99 be introduced.

Thank you.

Uh Madam Clerk, uh it's local law M.

Local Local Law M 2020 of 2026, sponsored by Councilmember Ballarin.

A local law amending part 36 Commission of Human Rights of Chapter 30 42, Departments and Commissions of the Code of the City of Albany in the relation relations to designating an end of term date for commission members.

Thank you.

Ms.

Farrell.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

That will go to the human rights human resources committee.

Okay.

Thank you.

Okay, next, uh Mr.

Howie.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I notice local law N of 2026 and ask for its introduction.

And um, if any members want to be co-sponsors, uh please let uh either Carly or Bobby know.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Please read the law.

Local law N of 2026, sponsored by Councilmember Hoey, a local law amending Article 7, no, I'm sorry, 12 veterans exemption of chapter 3 33 taxation of the code of the city of Albany by adding section 30 333-107 point two to provide for an additional exemption for the primary residents of disabled veterans.

Thank you.

Ms.

Farrell.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

That will go to finance.

Thank you.

Uh Mr.

Johnson.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I notice uh local law H of 2026 and I asked for it to be read and uh voted on.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Local local law H of 2026, sponsored by Councilmember Johnson, a local law amending chapters 42 departments and commissions, 48 equal opportunity protections and 187 fair housing of the code of the city of Albany in relation to the adding protections against housing discrimination and increasing the enforcement of fair housing violations.

Thank you.

Discussion, Mr.

Johnson.

Thank you.

Um I just feel like our residents, um, our tenants shouldn't have to wait for the state to enact um fines on landlords that are aren't being responsible.

Um there's opportunities for um the city to hold um landlords accountable, and that hasn't been happening, and so we're hoping that uh this piece of this resolution will lead us in that direction where there could be some accountability um behalf of the um renter when um the landlord is not meeting their expectations.

So I hope everyone would um support it and thank you.

Thank you.

Any further discussion, Ms.

Farrell.

I I just wanted to thank um councilmember Johnson and Councilmember Keegan for this legislation.

I think it's incredibly important and I look forward to uh co-sponsoring it.

Thank you, Ms.

Keegan Amanda Ahrens.

Can you please stand up?

Councilmember Johnson and I could take a lot of credit for this legislation, but we owe it all to our fair housing officer who is with us this evening.

I I couldn't be more grateful that you really thought about the issues that you face every day at work and the ways that we as a city can better advocate for tenants and better support the work that you do.

Um, because without you this bill wouldn't be here and we wouldn't be voting on it this evening.

So I just wanted to take an opportunity to recognize you and recognize all of the hard work that you have done in your office.

So thank you.

Madam Clerk, oh any further discussion.

I wouldn't say that she she was very informative during the committee meeting.

She her knowledge was incredible.

Her research with Buffalo was amazing.

So uh you know she is a great asset to the city of Albany.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Flynn.

Madam Clerk, please call the role.

Adams.

Yes.

Anani.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Valoran.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Farrell, yes, co-sponsor, please.

Flynn.

Yes, co-sponsor.

Hoy.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Johnson.

Yes.

Keegan.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Lumpkin.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

How?

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Robinson.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Zamer.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

The motion passes.

Thank you, Mr.

Johnson.

Um, Mr.

Howie.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, I notice local law J of 2026 and ask for its uh passage via roll call vote.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Please read the local law.

Local law J of 2026, sponsored by Councilmember Howie.

A local law amending section 34-2 public notice of meetings and boards of commissions and committee committees of the code of the city of Albany in relation to adjusting the requirements to notice public meetings to remain in compliance with the state of New York open meeting law and allow for short notice emergency meetings.

Okay, discussion, Mr.

Howie.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, as I've stated uh in several meetings, uh this is an important uh amendment to the law that we passed back in 2019.

Um we didn't think about that there might be emergency meetings needed.

Uh this just came up this year, and uh the council is fast to react and make sure that um that we're allowed to operate under emergency conditions.

So I hope my colleagues will support this.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Hoey.

Further discussion?

Okay, seeing none, madam clerk, please call the roll.

Adams.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Ballorin, yes, co-sponsor, please.

Farrell, yes, co-sponsor, please.

Flynn.

Yes, co-sponsor.

Hoey.

Yes.

Johnson.

Yes.

Keegan.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Lumpkin.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Powell.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Robinson.

Yes.

Zamer.

Yes, co-sponsor, please.

Twelve.

Thank you.

The motion passes.

Okay, next, uh, there are no ordinances.

So on to resolutions.

Mr.

President, um, just a quick note.

Um, we're supposed to amend local law I it's not on the agenda.

It was removed from the active calendar, and we did note it in um, but it is on the agenda, but it it's just not on the active calendar.

It's mine.

Ms.

Keegan.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I would like to notice local law I and request that it be amended to include the word fiscal in subsection D, paragraph B, as discussed in our meeting on June 10th.

Thank you.

Can I get a second?

Second.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Any abstentions?

No.

Motion passes.

Um legislation is amended.

Okay.

Now we're on to resolution.

Resolutions are held.

Local laws are held as our res our um sorry, as our ordinances.

Okay.

Starting with resolutions, uh, Mr.

Anani.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I notice resolution 6062.26R.

An axe for his introduction of passage on the roll call they are.

Thank you.

Madam Clug, please read the resolution.

6062 26R, sponsored by Councilmember Anani, a resolution of the Common Council ref recognizing June 19, 2026 as a Juneteenth Independence Day in recognition of June 19th, 1865, the date of which on which in which news of the end of the several slavery reached those enslaved in the southwestern states.

Thank you.

Discussion, Mr.

Anani.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

It's an honor to continue to introduce this resolution, a day that marks the end of slavery in our country, and honor the resilience and strength and contribution of African Americans throughout our nation.

Juneteenth reminds us that freedom, justice, and opportunity are valuable and worth protecting and advancing for every member of our community.

Is to recertify on how far we have come while acknowledging the challenges that remain.

And recommend ourselves to building a more inclusive and equitable future.

As you celebrate today, let us honor those who came before us and cherish the freedom we enjoy and continue working to create opportunities not just for the generation but also for future generations.

Also want to give a plug for the Albany Community Land Trust, uh Juneteenth Freedom Day celebration, which is going to take place this Friday, June 19th, 2026, 1 p.m.

to 5 p.m.

Swimbird Park.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any further discussion?

Seeing none, we're uh you're all co-sponsored, so we'll do a voice vote.

All in favor, aye.

Motion passes.

On to the next, Mr.

Adams.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I'd like to notice resolution 61-62 26R.

Max for its introduction passing.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Please uh read the resolution.

Resolution 6162 26R, sponsored by Council Member Adams, a resolution of the Common Council of the of Albany, New York, declaring the week of June 15, 2026 to be Black Restaurant Week.

Discussion, Mr.

Adams.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, I'd like to um commend and notice the hard work of our restaurant owners here in the city of Albany these last couple of years since this resolution has been passed, um, highlighting the culture, the food culture, the contributions.

Um that has led to Albany's culture and in terms of food.

Um, with a lot of businesses, you know, coming and going these days.

I feel like it's just very important to find a week to highlight these businesses to support them in any way that we can.

Um this year, um, we're we are planning to do a panel discussion to really talk about community issues while uh we're excuse me, while we're attending some of the establishments.

So um if you have not seen um the flyers, happy to share that with you.

There's more information online to come, and um I appreciate everyone that's working on this to make Black Restaurant Week a week that stays here in the city of Albany.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any further discussion?

Well uh you're all co-sponsors, so do a voice vote.

All in favor.

Aye.

Okay, motion passes.

Next, uh council member Zamer.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I notice resolution 62.62 point 26R and ask for its introduction.

Thank you, madam clerk, please.

A resolution of spot, sorry.

Yep.

A resolution of the common council reappointing Andre Lake as a member of the sustainable sustainability committee advisory committee.

I'm sorry, that one's actually uh the one after the one before Daniel Kirk David Off.

Okay, so sorry.

Resolution 6262 26R sponsored by Council Member Zamer.

A resolution of the Common Council reappointing Daniel Kirk David Off as a member of the Sustainable Advisory Committee.

Thank you.

Uh Ms.

Farrell.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

That will go to planning.

Okay.

Next, Ms.

Zamer.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I notice resolution 6362 26R and ask for its introduction.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

A resolution of the Common Council reappointing Andre Lake as a member of the Sustainability Advisory Committee.

Thank you, Ms.

Farrell.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

That will go to planning.

Okay, next.

Uh Mr.

Adams.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I'd like to notice resolution 64, 62, 26.

64, 62, 26R.

Max for his introduction.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

A resolution of the Common Council honoring the life and legacy of Madeline Seal and re renaming a portion of Rainbow Street in her honor.

Thank you.

Ms.

Farrell.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I'll go to General Services.

Thank you.

Okay, Mr.

Johnson.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I notice resolution 65.62.26R, and I ask for his um introduction.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

A resolution of the Common Council honoring the life and legacy of Reverend James U.

Smyth Sr.

and renaming a portion of Franklin in his name.

In his honor.

Thank you, Ms.

Farrell.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

That legislation will go to General Services.

Thank you.

Mr.

Robinson.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I re I recognize resolution 66, 62 26R in acts for the introduction.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

A resolution of the Common Council honoring the life and legacy of Daisy Dobbs and renaming a portion of Thornton Street in her honor.

Ms.

Farrell.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

That will go to General Services as well.

Thank you.

Okay.

We're to the miscellaneous portion of our uh or unfinished business portion.

Any Mr.

Johnson.

I just want to say this short and sweet.

Go New York, go New York, go.

Congratulations to the Knicks.

Any further comment?

Okay.

Okay.

Mr.

Mr.

Robinson.

Please, thank you.

Um I would just like to recognize uh Mrs.

Dobbs family.

They came down today and you know with a misunderstanding.

They were, you know, I I told them that today would be the proclamation.

And um, you know, I just hope that they come back.

Um, you know, uh, and thank you again, and you know, we got you.

Uh yeah, we'll get it done.

Ms.

Zamer.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Also, really quickly, uh, piggybacking on what council member Johnson mentioned.

I also would like to uh give a lot of kudos to the administration for the watch parties they put on in the city of Albany over the the course of the series.

They were unbelievable, they exceeded expectations.

The vibes were so good, and it was really um it was something different and unusual for the city of Albany, and I hope that it continues.

So just wanted to give her her due for that.

Mr.

Flynn, uh since the ball is finished here, I've asked Carly to hopefully can put the uh DGS committee meeting June 24 to 25th, so that we can vote on it uh July 5th, hopefully.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you, Mr.

Flynn.

Ms.

Farrell.

Um I I just wanted to say extra thanks as well for the watch parties, and they're continuing on their doing them for the World Cup as well.

Not as New York centric, but also exciting.

Um I definitely commend Mayor Plears, and I'd also like to give a shout out to Keith Morales, who mayor pleaders appointed as um, he's been in events for a long time, but is now head of events and has really been doing an amazing job with coming up with new innovative ideas that I appreciate.

Mayor Plears is she's part of the whole process too, so it's really the lights are definitely coming back on.

And just um Mr.

Nani.

I'll be la I'll say a little few things, but also again just want to echo the sentiment I was shared.

Thank you, Mayor Players, for uh putting all the events together, but also want to thank the county executive uh for partnering with the city to do an event at VP Arena as well.

So I don't know who's watching, but thank you, County Executive.

Thank you, Mayor Sheer.

I said Mayor Players.

Okay, all right.

I'm sorry, one more thing, and uh Councilmember Arnani.

I don't know.

You uh you mentioned the Swinburne Juneteenth event, but there's also the African Heritage Parade starting off at um the Sunshine School on Saturday at 11 30 a.m.

And uh we'll see if we can get some more details for that so council members are aware of it if they want to be part of it.

Thank you, Mr.

Howie.

Okay, second.

All those in favor?

Hi.

Okay.

We're done.

Um,