Democracy In Albany

  Since I have had my office downtown next to the Federal building since 1990, I have seen downtown change from a ghost town to a busy vibrant downtown, the change is quite amazing if have had the chance to see it day to day.  I attribute a lot of this to that gamble/investment in the TU arena.  As you may know, the debt service is paid by hotel/motel tax in Albany County, and despite the dire warnings month after month at out Cty Leg mtgs by our hotel owners and hospitality industry of their demise if we extended it or increased it as we did to fund the CC, look around and see how many new hotels have been built in Albany and Colonie over the past couple years, I will bet a dozen at least.  And of course, unless our Albany county residents rent a room, this costs them NOTHING.  It is paid by our visitors.

  It seems to me that the history of the arena should be instructive here, in that it is a gamble, albeit a good bet, it the numbers could be reduced and the state $$ increased.

  Last but not least, why do you all keep referring to all of the other good uses for the money, knowing full well that if the money is not used for the CC, we do not get it.  We don't get to say use it to do all the other necessary and worthwhile projects because we won't get the money.  It is hard to believe that you would feel that it is better for Albany to get nothing for $0 vs. Albany getting a CC for $0, with the possible/probable economic benefits of construction and ongoing operation (and if we get SMG/Bob Belber to run it with the expertise and success they have had at the TU, we should be in good shape).

They include:

1)A moving staircase that would effortlessly bring people up and down state street -- this was suppost to save Albany, and was proudly talked about by Erastus Corning for Years.

2. A massive city-owned parking garage, that would be so cheap and available, that would forever solve Albany's parking problems, and this was talked up by Whalen for many years, and built in a scaled down version by the New Post Office.
   
3. Many unbuilt highways including the Mid-Crosstown Arterial which would have dramatically reduced congestion on 787.
   
4. Maglev trains that would go from Renselear to NYC
   
5. The massive freedom arch at Lincoln Park
   
6. The Capital Harbor
   
7. Buried 787
   
8. Gold Dome at the Capitol
   
9. 60,000-seat sports stadium at UAlbany
   
10. Many public housing projects (which where either canceled or downgraded in quality due to high costs)

Personally I think that the biggest mistake that the city made was not finishing the connector between the plaza and Rt 90 at Henry Johnson.

The plan had been to eliminate a lot of those ugly old buildings next to the plaza and tunnel under Lark street, swing under the park and exit at Henry Johnson.

So what about Albany. It looks just like Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, Charlestown, the South End. Difference is that you can live there and not be in debt to your ears. I have read about people from NYC and Boston moving to the Albany area for this reason. Many think about it but ultimatly don't due to the way things are here. I am positive that the current housing crisis will encourage people to look to Albany. It could reinvigorate the city by bringing in young people with intelligence, ideas, families.

Imagine people moving here and opening new shops, imagine retail in Albany. If and when these people come, they will come with more money and will become a political force. They will probably demand better public transit, public saftey, better schools. I know first hand that a city I once lived in Somerville, was just like Albany, it was ran by old school Irish Politicians who did nothing but line their pockets. Today it is one of the most desirable places to live in the country.

I know NYC and Boston are different the Albany due to the economies. I beg to differe though, I think that the current state of the economy gives young people looking to live in cities no other option then to look for more affordable cities, and the best area is Albany. It has the vibe of a city, amazing architecture, history, walkable streets, proximity to NYC/Bosto/Montreal.