Prepare for the deafening silence of the community relations coordinator or whatever that is…. There is no reasonable explanation for these failures other than people who’s political agendas don’t square Wight the reality of our streets and businesses. Need to vote the incompetent out of office.

For reasons unclear to me, this Mayor has decided that the Historic Center Square neighborhood is undeserving of attention and investment. She seems more focused on Pearl Street and the corridor she personally travels from her home to her workplace at City Hall. This has done immense damage to the neighborhood. Instead of encouraging the Renaissance the neighborhood enjoyed in 2004-2009, she ignored the blight reflected in the deterioration of the Knickerbocker Apartments. The Lark Renewal Plan is laughable. Essentially it will repave the street and add some string lights (putting aside the laudable lead water pipe replacement). At a time when we should be considering reducing traffic, encouraging pedestrian only zones, we will instead enjoy a freshly blacktopped stage for motorcycles stunts, belching trucks, and cruising cars with thumping bass.

The drugs these people use fall under a class D felony in NY. Open container drinking is illegal in NY. Public intoxication is illegal in NY. Round these people up and book them. Even of they are instantly released on bail, keep booking them and keep writing tickets until they get the point that they are no longer welcome in our neighborhood. It’s time to take back our neighborhood we all have an obligation to prevent further failure.

I appreciate the frustration but doubt that approach will accomplish anything lasting. And, who is more deserving of punishment: a lobbyist leaving a three-martini lunch at the Fort Orange Club to jump in their Audi, or the homeless guy smoking and drinking on the corner? I understand that a moral failing exists in both circumstances, but one is way more likely to be “punished”.

There are things that could be done short of criminalizing self destructive behaviors. Place safe receptacles for sharps in discrete areas. Vastly increase the number of trash receptacles and the frequency with which they are emptied. 24-hour foot and bike patrols by police, not to smash heads, but to show attention to the needs and safety of residents, patrons, and business owners. And, finally, most importantly, regular inspections of rental units and strict adherence to building codes.

This combined with federal and state initiatives to lower rents, improve the stock of housing, provide universal health care including mental health and elderly care, would provide the real fix. Yeah, it’s not gonna happen…

Kathy's agenda is her neighborhood and gentrification of the Ten Broexk neighborhood. If you havent noticed the Clinton Street Collective construction is under way and full steam ahead. The entirety of her administration is a joke. Her treaurer sits on the Lark St board and continues year after year to quietly support her agenda while offering no real solutions to the issues or any value to the street. The BID is tasked with keeping the street safe and clean; where is that money and those resources going? Tax money is given back to the street for these purposes but it surely isnt being used for those purposes. Its gross neglect.

APD has zero presence on Lark Street unless there’s an active assault or shooting that pulls resources from center or south stations.

They do not have any real foot patrol that would normally address the quality of life issues were all suffering through. 2 officers I haven’t seen in years with shifts that don’t overlap and they are assigned to different sides of the same street? Perfect plausible deniability to collectively ignore a growing problem that city leadership and APD are actively ignoring and allowing to worsen.

Do we have to beg for basic municipal services? Simply assigning an effective APD foot patrol team covering the entire street and actually being a COMMUNITY RESOURCE would be a start, no?

And now comments are being filtered and moderated. Fantastic

We all agree on the issues that need addressing. The solution shouldnt be put upon us , sadly I believe it has been .
Policing is sorely lacking in Albany, and it will be until we hire moee recuits. Why dont we see the county Sheriffs here is a question I have until then.
I really do think we all need to show up at the next ACC meeting (Common Council) so that we can at least be heard , we introduce ourselves , we take a stand together, exchange ideas ,and start to find solutions together in a plan - like a campaign to involve as many home owners as possible , to do even the smallest of things like sweeping the side-walk in front of our own homes with pride , making absentee landlords insist their tenants are responsible for doing the same, or have the city get one of those sidewalk sweepers . A renewal in the neighborhood association ( without fees!) to a real crime watch - complete with signage , flyers , promotion , is desperatly needed-- I suggest all neighbors get together to do this,as I see on the NEXT DOOR app. That certain communitiescare really being tageted by brazen theft as well.
Another isssue, the garbage for my street
( Madison) is pizza boxes, and small black plastic bags from the Empire News Stand - again the open container drinkers just littering. I would like to see the restaurants especially Dinos, must have their garbage moved DAILY, instead of having it piled infront as an ugly eyesore .
Thank you all , I look forward to meeting you.

I don’t know who or what a community relations coordinator is but they aren’t doing their job either. Anyone who can help won’t and we’ve been left to just fend for ourselves. So sad. I’ll be at the next meeting if I’m not working but I am told when these issues are raised they are ignored there as well.

I live in the neighbourhood and avoid lark street myself. I’m tired of being screamed at, watching people use drugs, drink, expose themselves and harass all of us.I won’t bring my elderly or younger relatives there. What’s there to see but a depressed capital city block that no one seems to care about. Where are the police? Certainly all over during events that draw large out of town guests. I’m shocked at the lack of care by our elected officials. The lack of communication between the city and those of us constantly complaining. We are told to complain here but nothing happens and no one responds. Makes many of us wonder if it’s time to give up and move to a community that cares about its residents, not one where I can’t take my dog out for a walk because of the needles all over the parks!

I have called the police on three different ovcassions in the last 2 weeks for incidents of harrassment (two occassions) and public/indecent exposure. The latter was the fellow John who spends most of his time (seemingly with permission) in front of stacks smoking spitting and often yelling at people if he is in that frame of mind. Last Friday he walked across the street, and peed right on Lark St on the new therapy office - and not the first time he has peed out on Lark Street. Police officers did not respond to any of these calls and while I know they are busy, our neighborhood is being allowed to deteriorate. Business owners seem to care less and less about what is happening outside their doors - who wants to go into a business with trash cans overflowing with trash, litter on the ground, people spitting and smoking (who are not paying customers) - so shame on businesses too for not doing their part to maintain a level of safety for people coming onto the street.

I have emailed channel 10 and asked them to do a story at least 3 times with links to threads like these and also get no response. I believe it’s a conspiracy to make us all leave so they can do whatever they want to the area. Prob want to erect a huge statue is the red menace.

To the red menace

https://www.albanyny.gov/189/Albany-Common-Council

Next meeting is August 7 following meeting is the 21st and you can sign up to speak at the form on this page.

I think the TV stations won't be equipped to do decent coverage but the Times Union might be able to spend some time on it. Chris Churchill might be someone to reach out to.

What about the piles of human feces left under my doorstep several times a week? Or the 10+ packages I’ve had stolen this year? Something has to give. We are all being held hostage by these people whom our leaders tell us to ignore because “they are victims of addiction”

Wheres gabriella romero? My guess is marching in a starbucks unionization parade somewhere while her neighborhood is a burning dumpster fire.

GR has actually introduced an ordinance that would impose steeper fines for repeat trash QOL offenders. It is going to committee this month. You can look it up. 17.42.23. There are higher fees for LLCs, thank god.

It basically does what all of you have been begging for which is funny given how villanized she is on here

Listen , let's not get overly " political" - one thing we dont want to do ailenate anyone- we need everyone who'll listen and show concern.

They are victims of their own poor decisions. Yes we should provide support, yes their poor decisions probably stem from their own victimhood of neglect etc… but putting their failures on other people who pay their taxes, go to work, obey the law isn’t right either. Two wrongs don’t make a right.

But wait there's more..I want to remind everyone that our "leaders" quietly gave themselves a nice big pay raise last year! It was very sneaky and on the DL. Highest paid legislature of any other state Even though New York is losing residents more than any other state. Thats brazen and if that doesn't make you want to leave the state, nothing will

Anyone besides me surprised that no one has looked at this?

The first step towards recovery is admitting you have a problem.
Nobody has admitted anything and they are too cowardly to defend inaction.

Thank you for using this application to report issues to the City of Albany.

Community Relations....great non-Response!

We certainly understand the concern regarding this matter. The City has made APD and St. Catherine’s Pathways Program representatives aware of your request. St Catherine’s Pathways Program has a mission to offer assistance in connecting these individuals to resources if they are willing to accept the services.

That doesn't solve the issue. Arrest illegal drug use

Occupy Albany protesters arrested for being in a park after dark. Do the same here.

Thank you for using this application to report an issue to the City of Albany. For issues of this nature, please dial (518) 438-4000 immediately when the noise incident is in progress. Choose South Station if you are closer to downtown, and choose Center Station if you are closer to uptown. This will allow the Albany Police Department to better serve you by dispatching officers to address the situation. If this is an emergency, please dial 9-1-1.

Nothing actually happened except some city worker clicking buttons.

Thank you for using this application to report an issue to the City of Albany. For issues of this nature, please dial (518) 438-4000 immediately when the noise incident is in progress. Choose South Station if you are closer to downtown, and choose Center Station if you are closer to uptown. This will allow the Albany Police Department to better serve you by dispatching officers to address the situation. If this is an emergency, please dial 9-1-1.