Vacant Buildings Editorial


By DIA, Section News
Posted on Tue Oct 16, 2007 at 04:35:27 AM EST

The Times Union weighs in with their editorial on the vacant buildings issue.
So Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings wants $5 million in state money to either tear down or fix up the rash of some 870 abandoned buildings across the city?

Good for him, because nothing -- not building a convention center, certainly, or attracting development downtown and in more attractive neighborhoods, or keeping taxes and spending under control -- is as urgent in Albany as stamping out blight, and preventing the spread of all the problems that come with it.
I agree with this being one of the top priorities for the city. However, I don't agree that we have to beg for $5 million from the state to make it happen. Sure, that would be a nice perk. However, we pay a lot of money every year in salaries to a lot of city employees and for some reason we can't get any of this done. As pointed out in the TU editorial, the current city administration does not currently do what needs to be done. And $5 million ain't gonna change that.
"I call. I write. I call. I write. I call, call, call, call, call," Pansy Robinson of Third Street told Times Union reporters Kate Gurnett and Tim O'Brien. It took Ms. Robinson more than 10 years to prevail upon the city to rip down a long-abandoned house next to her that she says had become a crack den.
Now, if Jennings was telling the truth when recently quoted, I agree with him 100%.
"I am not happy with the code enforcement and the way it's going," he[Jennings] said.
Perfect. Now, there is one person who can make that happen. Mayor Jennings. We can't go asking Governor Spitzer to start going door to door enforcing code. It is pretty sad when after 15 years the mayor is saying he is not happy with how he is doing his job. I wonder if we get a good candidate for Mayor, Jerry will vote for that candidate due to his own dissatisfaction with the current administration?

< Third Part of Times Union Article | 2008 Albany Budget >

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Vacant Buildings Editorial | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)
Times-Useless, where have you been? (none / 0) (#1)
by Roscoe on Tue Oct 16, 2007 at 01:18:18 PM EST
Not a bad editorial from a crappy rag; not nearly as foppish as usual.  The problem with our sole remaining newspaper is that on those infrequent occasions when it publishes something of community value, it runs out of steam real quick. No stamina, no vision, no nuttin. Zero.  Let's see if they have the courage to continue to act like a newspaper, for as long as it takes to get the job done.  Relentless investigative reporting, in depth, without any adgenda but the truth.  Belay the faux-liberal angst, throw every political news release into the trash.  Run a paper, damnit!

Otherwise, DIA, it's up to us chickens to get the job done, and I have NO doubt that we can.

Here one for you (none / 0) (#2)
by albarbor on Sat Oct 20, 2007 at 01:33:10 PM EST
There are nearly 870 abandoned buildings in Albany and 2000 public housing units. I forget we don't have money for that we need it for APD overtime and the golf course.

Vacant Buildings Editorial | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)
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