A NEW YEAR BRINGS NOTHING NEW

A NEW YEAR BRINGS NOTHING NEW

Consider these Times Union reports in today's edition:

* 1)  Neighborhood groups ask for a plan (pB3)

* 2)  Council position changes hands (pB10)

The first report informs us that:

a) CANA will vote today urging the city to adopt a City Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

Why didn't CANA do this during the 2005 City election campaign when there was a chance of getting some immediate action?

Why didn't CANA support Lonerangeralbany's call for a Moratorium on all zoning changes and use/area variances pending adoption of a City Comprehensive Land Use Master Plan and Revised Zoning Code based on

 participation, advice and consent of neighborhood residents?

Why doesn't CANA adopt this resolution tonight?

b) A Master Plan would be useful in averting the rezoning of 3.5 acres on Holland Ave as "Highway Commercial" to allow construction of a Walgreens Big Box Store.  The rezoning was approved at the Dec 19, 2005 by the Common Council.

c) Council President Shawn Morris  opposed the rezoning and welcomes the idea of a citywide master plan.

Had CANA pressed for and the Council enacted the 15 month Moratorium in 2005 as advocated by Lonerangeralbany - the rezoning could not have occurred.

Shawn Morris opposed the rezoning? Then why was she the sponsor of the rezoning legislation? Why didn't she withdraw the legislation as advocated by Lonerangeralbany early in last year's city election campaign?

The Holland Avenue rezoning a classic example of spot zoning. A big box store should not have been approved on an already congested emergency vehicle routeway to Albany Med Center. The Big Box store will undersell established neighborhood pharmacies on Delaware Ave, New Scotland Ave and at Crestwood Plaza putting them out of business. Smart growth? No-dumb move! Shawn Morris and the Common Council rate a big ZERO on this one.

The rezoning measure was passed at the last Council meeting in 2005 (Dec 19) with a number of lame duck members voting in favor. Why didn't they hold off the vote until the present Council took office, as Lonerangeralbany called for?

Answer, Shawn Morris and the Council Members conspired to pass the rezoning at the very end of 2005, and get the incoming Council off the hook.

Sure, Shawn Morris voted against the rezoning, along with several others, but they knew the votes were there to pass the legislation on Dec 19.

As sponsor, Morris could have withdrawn the legislation and there would have been no vote!

WHAT CAN BE DONE NOW?

1. When CANA meets tonight, it can adopt two resolutions that have some teeth:

First: Call on the Common Council to immediately enact a 15 month Moratorium on any further rezonings and commercial use/area variance grants pending enactment of a City Comprehensive Land Use Plan and Revised City Zoning Code with the participation, advice and consent of neighborhood residents.

Second: Call on the newly seated CommonCouncil to vote to rescind the Dec 19, 2005 vote of the Council  approving the "Highway Commercial" rezoning on Holland Ave for the purpose of building a big box store. Reason for revote? See above arguments re: spot zoning at it's worst.

Third: The Times Union should hold to a higher standard in reporting "stories" relating to activities of the Common Council with regard to land use planning and other matters.

The Second TU story?  Council position changes hand

We are told that Carolyn McLaughlin was elected Majority Leader of the Council by a 15-0 vote, replacing  James Sano.

We are told that Sano represents the" predominantly  white and affluent neighborhood around New Scotland Avenue", while "McLauglin's ward along South Pearl Street is one of the city's poorest neighborhoods where about two-thirds of residents are black."

Why is the Times Union playing the race card? Don't we have enough racial tension in the City of Albany as it is?

Why didn't the Times Union add a few more facts to their racial profiling observation?  Like, which of the two wards has the higher rates of social services recipients and illegitimate, teen age births? Like, which ward pays the taxes that supports the other ward? And like, which ward spawns the bank robbers, stick up and graffiti artists who are invading the other ward?

Affluent ward, my backside. I drove down the New Scotland Avenue corridor, after reading this story (and reviewing my city property tax bill), dodging numerous pot holes (aggravated by excessive road salt dumping),  and a second -rate snow removal effort , and observed a deteriorating housing stock and graffiti in abundance.

Incidently, McLauglin was one of the returning Council Members who voted FOR the Holland Avenue "Highway Commercial "rezoning.

With a Common Council led by the duo Morris and McLaughlin are the residents of  the few remaining "affluent neighborhoods" in the City of Albany safe?

A New Year brings nothing new. Just some of the same tired old faces, wearing different hats and titles.

Mayor Jennings and his new Police Chief Tuffey have their work cut out for them.

The biggest challenge facing the Common Council is to rise above being an ineffectual, dysfunctional, obstructionist body; and work with the Mayor and Police Chief to make the streets of Albany safe, to disarm the criminals and gangs, to restore order, and discipline in the failing city schools and create safe learning environments in a k-8 neighborhood school system.

Yes, Albany needs a Comprehensive Land Use Master Plan and Revised Zoning Code.

Even more importantly, Albany needs a City Emergency/Disaster Plan that anticipates and prepares for the kinds of natural and man made disasters, or terrorist attacks that are sure to befall us in the days ahead.

Set aside the partrisan political power struggle within the Democratic Party and work with the Mayor and Police Chief and City Schools for the benefit of all the residents of Albany.

As for the Times Union: be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Improve the content , depth and objectivity of your "stories". Stop playing the race card and promote racial and political harmony instead. Tell it as it is, not as you see it or wish it to be.

A Happy, Healthy Productive New Year to all.  Lonerangeralbany will have more to say in 2006 as events and circumstances require.

                                                                                       J P Sullivan