ALBANY
6TH WARD
Q&A

Center Square

Seven days per week! I have not owned a vehicle for years so walking, bicycling, and public transportation are my primary ways of getting around. As a result, I understand firsthand some of the issues facing walkability in our community. For example, I often notice narrow, uneven, and even entirely missing sidewalks, unpainted crosswalks, broken “beg buttons” and speeding/distracted drivers. These are major safety concerns, particularly for vulnerable populations like our youth and people with disabilities.

I frequently use a bicycle to run errands and get between places. Unfortunately, riding a bicycle in many parts of Albany can be unsafe. There are very few protected/buffered/multi-use lanes, and what does exist often doesn’t connect to provide safe pathways from Point A to Point B. It is vital that the City invests in complete streets that allow everyone who lives and works here to safely get around.

Public transportation is integral to my day-to-day life. The CDTA system provides reliable, affordable transportation that countless local residents like myself depend on every day. Still, some challenges persist. We need more frequent service to provide a truly robust system of public transportation for the Capital Region. We also need better stop accommodations and navigation resources for visitors from out-of-town looking to visit Albany’s many local shops and restaurants. The Capital Region could also use better transportation between cities so that local residents can go back-and-forth between areas like Troy, Albany, and Saratoga Springs without taking hours or requiring a car.

Saving lives requires taking action. It is vital that Albany increase funding for infrastructure improvements like protected bike lanes, daylighted intersections, as well as basic quality of life improvements like re-painted crosswalks and improved lighting. As Common Councilmember, I will be a fierce advocate for these much-needed investments and ongoing community conversations with local residents.

Yes, I wholeheartedly support the use of funds from school zone speed camera tickets for traffic calming infrastructure around schools. The City needs to invest in significant improvements around our schools and hospitals – core community hubs that people of all backgrounds and abilities need to be able to access safely. Raised crosswalks, median barriers, narrowed curbs, and other infrastructure investments are necessary in the long term. In the short term, we should invest in more crossing guards and “bike buses,” enhanced traffic enforcement, and more quick-build solutions to save lives today.

Yes, I firmly support Senator Fahy’s proposal. As Common Councilmember, I would advocate for the City and State to look into opening the entire 1,000+ acres of public land in the City of Albany to more mixed uses. Getting more creative with public land could go a long way to addressing our affordable housing crisis, in addition to generating more economic activity in neighborhoods currently dominated by parking lots for commuters. Besides the obvious benefits to the City, it would also give State workers more food options at lunch and give State agencies more potential employees.

The future of Albany’s riverfront should be one that is lively and empowers families, businesses, and green spaces to thrive in harmony. I am an advocate for the transformation of I-787 into a community grid that connects divided communities and supports economic, environmental, and social justice.

As Common Councilmember, I will advocate for the City to dedicate at least $2 million per year to implementing complete streets projects suggested in the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, with input regarding prioritization from the City’s new Active Transportation Planning Commission.

While overall traffic crashes have been declining since their pandemic highs, the number of pedestrian deaths on our roadways remains alarmingly high. Supporting the implementation of complete streets principles in Albany is key to finally making our streets safe for all our neighbors, of all abilities. As Common Councilmember, I will prioritize meeting directly with City Engineer Howard Goebel and learning more about his priorities and the department’s needs, as both they and I find our footing in City government.

Yes, completely. Located in the 6th Ward, Washington Park is a sea of green that is cherished within and outside of the City of Albany. It’s where I have spent a lot of my time over the last decade, and I care deeply and personally about its future. Far too many of our friends and neighbors have been hit by a car when trying to enjoy this precious gem of public space in peace. While the City has demonstrated a willingness to take quick action by opening the south lake road to pedestrians, permanent changes are long overdue. I will work tirelessly to make sure all pieces of the Washington Park Complete Streets Study are funded and finished by 2030.

Yes. Quick-build projects are critical to saving lives and getting immediate results. However, quick-build projects don’t just save lives quickly – they also allow the City to implement changes on a temporary or “trial” basis and study the results before funding more permanent changes to the streetscape. This process can be critical to ensuring progress, particularly in cases where funding isn’t yet available for permanent street redesign.

Reducing emissions from transportation requires all hands on deck, including support for public transportation from the State and Federal government. The City can do its part by making streets safe for pedestrians and building out a bicycle network that gives local residents safe alternatives to driving today. As Common Councilmember, I will advocate for the policies and investments that help make this future a reality.

Now is the time to act. Climate change is the greatest existential threat of our time and climate action is necessary at every level of government. We have learned far too much in recent years about the drastic impact even “minor” air pollution can have on the health and wellbeing of young people. If we want Albany’s children to breathe cleaner air and live healthier lives, we don’t need more studies – we need action. As Common Councilmember, I will advocate for the City to put real investments behind the implementation of these plans so that Albany can realize its potential as a thriving, walkable, liveable city for all.

Everyone deserves to feel safe getting from one place to another. Unfortunately, for decades, downtown Albany has been treated first as a destination for drivers, and second as a home for thousands of people of all ages, colors, and creeds. However, Governor Hochul’s recently announced $400 million investment in Albany and the potential to reshape the riverfront could mark a major turning point for the future of our City. I will be an advocate for some of that funding to go toward improving community connections with Empire State Plaza and walkability improvements around the State Capitol Complex. The whole region does better when Albany’s downtown is thriving.

Albany is home to a fantastic, modern public transportation system that deserves increased investment. CDTA’s bus network provides comprehensive coverage of the Capital Region, and their mobile app makes it convenient to navigate and pay. That said, I would love to see CDTA adopt some of the features I’ve noticed on other great transit services, like a seamless “swipe to pay” system, improved shelters, and easier navigation for visitors who aren’t used to the system. Albany can build on its strong infrastructure and previous successes with increased investments and collaboration with community residents and stakeholders.

The 6th Ward and the Center Square neighborhood is at the heart of the City of Albany, including the historic Washington Park and some of the most walkable, dynamic neighborhoods in the Capital District. As Common Councilmember, I will advocate for the expansion of livable, pedestrian-friendly, sustainable communities through the implementation of policies that promote mixed land use, compact development, open space protection, and historic preservation. I will prioritize increasing community engagement in infrastructure planning, enhancing accessibility for people with disabilities, implementing traffic calming measures, and investing in complete streets, pedestrian sidewalks, and dedicated bike lanes. I will work directly with local advocates to engage them in the planning process, including Capital Streets, Albany Bicycle Coalition, and Walkable Albany.

Park South

I walk every day—to work, to the grocery store, and to various events and meetings. I share a car with my fiancé, so I rely heavily on walking to where I need to go. I love living in a city where this is possible, but I’ve noticed some challenges. Some crosswalks are faded in some key spots, and others are too long and may even cross two streets (such as the intersection of Madison Ave and Willett/Henry Johnson Boulevard. There is also the issue of fast drivers who do not always yield to pedestrians. This is especially problematic for the elderly, children, and the disabled. As a registered nurse who has worked for several years in the Albany Med Emergency Room, I have seen and treated a high number of traumas arising from motor vehicles vs. pedestrians.

The sidewalks are in poor condition in several areas. They are cracked, uneven, or broken in some spots, which makes walking dangerous, especially for the elderly and people using strollers or wheelchairs. It is even dangerous for busy people who are not always paying attention to every step they take (yes, I have fallen a few times). In the winter, the problem is worse. The ice builds up on sidewalks and isn’t consistently removed or enforced. I know of two elderly neighbors who were seriously injured this past winter. One experienced a head injury and was treated for a brain bleed. She required several weeks of rehab before she could come home. This is not acceptable.

I used to have a bike and used it for getting around the city. Unfortunately, it was stolen and I’m hoping to replace it soon (I am very sad about this). I love to use the CDPHP Cycle bike-share program, which is incredibly convenient and saves a lot of time when my schedule is jam-packed. I love the addition of the bike lanes and having that extra layer of safety and protection. I know that not every area of the city has this much needed protection, however. This must be a priority.

Personally, I would also like to see more bike racks, as bike theft is a real concern—as I’ve experienced first hand.

We need to make serious improvements to the infrastructure, accessibility, and safety if we want to transition more people from cars to bikes.

I don’t use public transit very often myself, but I have in the past when I worked at Albany Med, where there was a great transit pass program for employees. Also, I walk to work and to most places that I need to go. However, there are new commuter benefits available to state workers, so I may take advantage of that.

While I don’t ride the bus regularly, many of my friends and neighbors do, and I have heard a lot about their experiences. One issue that hear about frequently is reliability. Buses sometimes arrive early and do not wait, or they’re late, which makes commuting unpredictable and frustrating. That issue can really impact people getting to work, appointments, or school and can be a major deterrent.

There are definitely strengths, however. It is affordable and the CDTA is working on expanding access through microtransit and bike-share programs. We need to rely on improving frequency, reliability, and real time tracking so riders aren’t left out in the cold (literally and figuratively).

Working in the Albany Med ER (a level 1 trauma center) shed a lot of light on this situation for me. This is heart breaking and not acceptable. Everyone deserves to feel safe when they are walking, biking, or using a wheelchair in their own neighborhood. We need to treat traffic violence as a public health and equity issue.

We need to take bold steps to avoid more lives from being lost. Ideally, the number of annual deaths and serious injuries would be zero. We need to collect better data and categorize these events better so that it is more accessible and easy to quantify. We need to identify which streets are the most dangerous and redesign the streets and intersections. We can do this by adding more traffic-calming measures like speed bumps, raised crosswalks, and protected bike lanes. The speed limit reductions were a good decision that will save lives (I’m interested to see the data for this year). We also need to prioritize sidewalk repairs and making crosswalks more visible. I have observed that some traffic lights are now giving pedestrians a head start, and we need to make this a standard for the rest of the city. Hoboken New Jersey is actually the perfect example of a place that has reported zero traffic deaths since 2017 because of their comprehensive Vision Zero Initiative. This should be incentive to us enough!

I will push for a citywide Vision Zero commitment. I will push for regular reporting, community input, and accountability to make sure that we are doing everything we can to protect all road users (especially those who are most vulnerable).

Yes, I support this. From a pragmatic point of view, if the goal of the speed cameras is to reduce speeding and protect children, then it makes sense to reinvest that money directly into that purpose. Like many other issues, we need to think more holistically about safety in school zones. As I stated in a previous answer, we need raised crosswalks and curb bump-outs to shorten the distance of crosswalks. We also need better enforcement of no parking zones near crosswalks and street corners because this can be a significant barrier to clear sight lines at intersections. If drivers have a difficult time seeing children (and all pedestrians), then it would make sense that it is more likely for an injury or death to occur.

This concept is known as daylighting and gives drivers much more time to reach, which saves lives. One method some cities have used for preventing people from parking in these areas is by using planters or flexible bollards. This visually and physically blocks drivers from parking in these areas. This strategy is relatively low-cost and high-impact, which is a win-win for everyone.

Yes, I fully support this initiative because it will transform a portion of the campus into a vibrant area that includes housing, retail, and commercial spaces and integrating it when the surrounding neighborhoods and reducing reliance on surface parking lots.

To further promote affordable and transit-oriented development in Albany, I propose that we establish transit-oriented development overlay districts along existing and proposed transit corridors. This will encourage higher density, mixed-use developments that prioritizes walkability and reduces parking requirements. In addition to the other benefits, this approach aligns with Albany’s plan to foster sustainable urban growth. For instance, making Lark street more walkable and transit-oriented will have a direct positive impact on our local businesses, and thus our community. It will also increase the happiness of the neighborhood because less people will need to rely on cars. More parking and better transit will also bring more people to the area. Let’s face it, a ton of people say that they don’t stop on lark street because they can not find parking.

We also need to collaborate with state and federal initiatives to maximize our gains and resources. For instance, Governor Hochul wants to repurpose state-owned sites for affordable housing near transit hubs. We also need more public-private partnerships and better community engagement and planning. By making sure that developments reflects the needs and wants of the community, the projects will ultimately be more successful (and accepted).

My vision is to reconnect the people of Albany (and our visitors) to the Hudson River. We can do this by transforming I-787 into a space that prioritizes pedestrians, public access, environmental sustainability, and economic development. I-787 is a physical and a psychological barrier that separates neighborhoods from their river front. We need to remove this barrier and connect the surrounding communities with green space, recreation, and the opportunities that would unfold. I am very much looking forward to seeing the final plans as we narrow down the options. Of course we need to balance traffic needs, but we also need to reclaim our public land. We could convert parts of the highway to a boulevard or removing the elevated portions completely. Essentially, it would be like a normal street. Other cities such as Rochester and San Francisco have done this successfully. This needs to be a vibrant and inclusive destination where people can gather, walk, bike, and enjoy the beauty of our river. This is good for Albany and we need bold leadership to make this happen. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We can look at examples like when Portland removed the Harbor Drive highway and replaced it with a riverfront park. At the local level, I would work with your organization to plan future land use (Streets, parks, housing, zoning, community engagement, etc. We might not be responsible for tearing down the roads, but we can certainly transform the area around it!

An important lesson we have learned from this is that a plan is only as good as our commitment to act on it. As a registered nurse, I am used to setting plans and acting on them. In life or death situations, we don’t have the luxury of not acting, even when implementation is difficult. I will push for SPECIFIC funding and timelines and also demand accountability from the city. It’s easy for a city not to act on a plan when there is no accountability for not doing it.

I will advocate for including bike and pedestrian infrastructure in every street repair or paving project. There is nothing I hate more than missing an opportunity. We also need to be better about updating the public on progress so residents can see what is being done. I will also build strong coalitions because we are stronger together. This keeps pressure on the city to make the plan happen.

I will support investments that calm traffic, improve sidewalks and crossings, and expand bike protections. Although I will be a representative of the 6th ward, it is also important to me that there is equity in these investments so that they improve these key components in all neighborhoods (not just those with the loudest voices). I’m hopeful that the restructuring will improve intradepartment and interdepartment communication which will streamline projects.

Yes, I do. I believe that this project dramatically improves safety in multiple intersections, and safety is always a top priority for me. Not only does it improve safety, it also makes our park more walkable, which a park should always be.

As the people reading this questionnaire already know, government projects can take quite a lot of time. As a Registered Nurse, I understand how critical it is to act quickly to save lives. Quick-build infrastructure fixes are low-cost and can be installed quickly for this very purpose. I would advocate that fund be set aside for these quick-build fixes so that the interventions are not delayed while trying to figure out where the money is coming from. A second alternative would be allocating a certain portion of the DGS budget to this use. It is important to note that this money is needed to cover supplies and staff time.

Common sense says that if more people transition to walking, biking, and public transit; then emissions would go down as a direct byproduct of that. That is why it is so important to expand and prioritize public transit and incentive walking and biking by investing in infrastructure to make it more appealing and convenient. We also need to transition to electric-powered public transit. The county is currently adding EV infrastructure throughout Albany county and I would support this efforts. Car-share programs are also an effective strategy.

The reality is that if we want these interventions to work, then we must make it easy for people not to drive. I would work with organizations such as Walkable Albany and Capital Streets to make this happen.

Like any challenges associated with turning plan into action, we need accountability and better organization. Accountability centers around ensuring that there are regular updates about the status of a project so that we are not all left in the dark. Organization is also key. I find that with a lot of government projects, there is often confusion about who is supposed to do what and who is going to pay for it. Assigning staff and dedicating funding makes it very clear who is supposed to do the work. I will build relationships with the city departments so that I can encourage better cross-department collaboration and coordination. We need to evolve from the days of working in silos. I understand this too well because the units in a hospital often exist as silos when patient care and staff morale would be greatly improved if this were not the case. As a nurse who served on multiple professional committees and was a union leader, I have experience bringing departments together to serve a common purpose.

The biggest problem for me is lack of safety and a lack of equity. Streets need to be redesigned or modified to treat people and cars with equal priority (that is what I mean by equity). Our sidewalks also need to be safe. I touched upon most of these issues already, but we need to enforce our laws so that there is accountability for drivers that endanger people and homeowners who do not clear their sidewalks. Safety is safety and that is always paramount.

A wonderful experience for me is when transportation is convenient, frequent, and on time. I also like for there to be real-time tracking so that I am not left guessing when the bus or another form of transit will arrive.

Appropriate temperatures and a safe environment is also important for me. Please see my answers above for interventions targeted at this.

Making a place more livable lies in community and convenience. We need green gathering spaces so that people can gather and relax in the places that they love. These spaces (And the community as a whole) should be designed based upon the needs and wants of the community itself. Making transportation options inclusive is vital. This often affects the very young as much as it does the very old as car alternatives are often the transportation method that is relied on.

6th Ward (Washington Park, Center Square, Hudson/Park, Park South combined area)

Daily! Living in this square mile for 2 decades, I've walked in Washington Park and all the 6th Ward streets at all times of day, days of the week, and seasons, and for purposes ranging from commuting, running errands, exercising, to enjoying neighborhood shopping/dining, and all of this with neighbors. The access I have on foot to so much is one of the main reasons I moved here 20 years ago and will keep me here for a long time.

In my personal experience, a major concern while walking in our neighborhood as been snow/ice removal in winter. I don't need to beat the proverbial dead horse here, but the 24/25 winter sidewalk conditions were some of the worst in recent memory. While free salt after the last storm was a great service for the City to provide, I think this winter reminded us of a few things: 1) there is still a wide lack of understanding regarding whose responsibility it is to clear sidewalks, 2) there are enforcement mechanisms in place such as SeeClickFix and DGS clearing at the owner's expense along with escalating fines. The good news is both points are addressable through owner/landlord education and DGS enforcement. We just have to work with the City to action on both.

Increasingly, ATVs generally and motorized scooters and bikes being ridden on sidewalks is a concern. I am looking forward to seeing how Ordinance 24.81.24 will be operationalized on Albany's streets with support from APD, Traffic Engineering, and hopefully Walkable Albany! This piece of legislation was a great first step, and now Council Members and other electeds need to be following through to understand how enforcement of this ordinance is actually playing out on our streets.

I do not as I have long term spine issues that negate my ability to do so, but my very healthy husband regularly commutes to his office on bike from our home on Willett to Madison and Quail. In speaking regularly with him about this experience, he has noted that the speed of vehicles on Madison seems very high if the light at New Scotland is green and drivers may be thinking they can "make the light". This can create very scary roadsharing situations for bikers, and he's noticed that perhaps as a result, a lot of people use the Washington Park sidewalk along Madison and just avoid the road entirely. While arguably safer for the biker, this can be a hazard for pedestrians, especially those walking with children, mobility aids, or strollers. This is not a unique problem, however - many roads in Albany are scary for bikers, who then use the sidewalks, who then create issues for pedestrians. We can't just enforce no bikes on sidewalks if we don't create safer conditions for bikes to be on the roads.

I have my CDTA Navigator card but have ended up walking everywhere within a mile distance and therefore haven't ridden the bus in years. I used to take the 10 or 12 twice daily while commuting from S Lake and Western to the County offices downtown and do miss those days!

I am thrilled that we're on a better trajectory already this year, and it seems to be directly related to both lowering the City-wide speed limit to 25 MPH and also installing speed trap cameras to enforce the 20 MPH school zone speed limit.

While reducing speed is one way to address this issue, it's not the only one. We have seen the encouraging impacts of speed bumps installed and slowing down traffic on State and Hamilton Streets - I'd like to work with Traffic Engineering to see what other locations would be suitable to install more of these. Another suggestion is to switch the road paint around these bumps from white to reflective yellow to increase their impact. I've heard from numerous neighbors who live within earshot of them that cars bottoming out on them is fairly frequent.

Western/Washington and Madison are also corridors that would be ripe for consideration to install protected bike lanes. As major commuting corridors (reflected by the bus lines that also highly leverage these corridors), it's time for the City to consider making cycling these corridors as safe and convenient as possible. With continuous advances in car technology (driverless vehicles, car access subscription services, ride sharing such as Lyft and Uber, etc.), there is increasing likelihood that we can reduce the overall number of motor vehicles on the streets at any one time, and especially parked. If we can continue to encourage safe biking, we will be taking one more action to accelerate this trend.

YES! While there are quite a few ways to reinvest these funds, I spoke at length about this question with family and friends of mine who work in schools in Albany and beyond and one consistent suggest that arose was hiring more crossing guards. There are numerous traffic and public health studies that point to the efficacy of crossing guards in reducing traffic incidents. A more qualitative aspect of investing in crossing guards is the need for school-age children to know there are adults who will look out for them in between school and home, and for the neighbors surrounding schools to know some is looking out for these students who is associated with the school once they leave the building. Using Hackett Middle School as an example, a greater number of engaged crossing guards would be a win win for densely populated neighborhoods like the 6th Ward.

Yes. And as soon as it's built, I want my aging parents to move in!

Regarding affordable and transit-oriented development in the 6th Ward and in Albany generally, we need to prioritize this specifically for seniors. We should not live in a place where aging in place is impossible. Inclusionary zoning only addressed income levels, but it fell short in addressing senior-specific needs which are often more expensive than traditional renovationss or new housing. The need for elevators, wider doorways, curbless entries, etc. are specific design considerations that are usually not a priority unless incented or mandated by Albany. As Albany continues to evolve our affordable housing plans, I'd prioritize the ability for that conversation to include seniors who have specific built environment needs and are disproportionately more dependent on public transportation.

When visiting cities like Troy, Burlington, VT, Providence, RI, Philadelphia, PA or others who enjoy direct access to their waterfronts, the contrast to Albany is almost shocking. The potential for improved public health of adjacent neighborhoods, appreciation of nature, increased recreation and economic development opportunities, and overall livability of the city are enormous. While I do not foresee hundreds of millions of federal aid being available for such a project in the next four years, I think a wise strategy would be to use the remainder of our current president's term to organize a community-driven plan that brings the road back down to ground level and allows for major reclamation of the waterway for people, not cars. It will undoubtedly take 3.5+ years to get those plans together and when we (please for the love of God) have a new administration in office starting in 2029, we'd have a thoughtful plan lined up and ready to go with the necessary support from our federal partners. I realize this is a wild over-simplification of an enormously sensitive and large undertaking, but I think we need to realize that New Yorkers and specifically Albanians need to dig deep to use the power, engaged citizenry, and progressive values we already have to keep our agenda moving forward.

With all due respect to the current administration, I have not witnessed a bias toward action amongst many of the plans paid for and published over the past decade. I fully understand that plans admittedly document our best intentions, the art of the possible. However commissioning plans and raising expectations of change to then shelve them is frankly a waste of taxpayer money and a huge opportunity cost.

As an effective, responsive, and representative Common Council Member, part of my job will be to work with the new Mayor's office, executive branch departments, our local advocates and NFPs, and most importantly the residents and visitors to the 6th Ward to make sure that bias to action is reflected in daily City operations. Understanding how any plan, especially the Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan, will be funded in the annual budget is definitely within my Council Member responsibilities. Collaboration enabled by existing relationships and fostering new ones will help us all benefit from greater accountability and outcomes. After decades of experience working in and on behalf of government, I've learned that coalition building publicly and behind closed doors may take a bit longer, but is ultimately much more impactful when driving towards a common goal. In partnership with Walkable Albany, Capital Streets, and the Albany Bicycle Coalition, I would ask for your help in understanding the most impactful improvements we can prioritize as budgets likely shrink but the need does not.

I view this opportunity as bi-directional advocacy - fostering a trusting relationship with the Department to understand their goals and needs, and listening to and advocating on behalf of 6th Ward resident's and visitor's goals and needs. When I worked for Albany County Executive Mike Breslin for 6 years, my job was to liaise between the Exec's office and the departments. I made sure they had the resources and support to achieve real outcomes and advocated for them during budget season and year round. I had the pleasure of working with people who'd dedicated their entire careers to public service and approached these conversations with curiosity and respect for the work they did, which made for meaningful relationships and actually having fun while doing our jobs. Did that mean everyone in every department was a star employee? No. Did that make advocating for them sometimes difficult? Yes. Did anyone want to hear me complain about this though? No. So I focused on what we could accomplish within the context at hand.

I was also responsible for making sure the departments were hearing from the Exec and County Legislators about what constituents wanted and needed, and what voters expected of these departments. I learned the valuable lesson that every single constituent caller or letter deserved and required a prompt, thorough response. Every event the County Exec appeared at required prepping meaningful talking points that would resonate with each different audience of advocates, voters, residents, and taxpayers. It was my job to keep an ear to the ground to anticipate feedback or new priorities based on what voters were saying, and as a result I have an enormous respect for the work of organizations and coalitions like Walkable Albany, Capital Streets, and the Albany Bicycle Coalition. It's an elected official's job to listen broadly and carefully to constituents and reflect the priorities of their community and I look forward to doing this with you all.

With specific regards to Complete Streets, I think a very complex issue can be boiled down to a very simple principle - when we're considering any work to our roads, are we looking at it through this lens of Complete Streets for all first?

This strategy and subsequent skillset is literally the definition of a two-way street (I couldn't help but get that bit into this survey somehow!). I am excited to apply my directly relevant experience being that advocate, liaison, and champion all at once, which is what we need to make this Department (and all City Departments) successful.

Without hesitation, yes. In fact, I think we need to align our neighborhood for an additional $2M from the Governor's anticipated $400M investment to accomplish the entire list of improvements.

I moved to this neighborhood 20 years ago because I wanted to be near the absolute gem that is Washington Park. As with any urban greenspace, it needs constant maintenance and investment to evolve to meet the changing needs of the surrounding neighborhoods and visitors. The specific improvements included in the study will not only improve our ability to safely and conveniently access the park, but will also be a necessary improvement to accommodate the new Washington Park Playground, which is anticipated to open in October of this year. Building a state-of-the-art playground will undoubtedly attract more people using all modalities of movement to this park, and I frankly think it's our responsibility to give them the safest, more efficient access possible. We cannot have a new playground without the enhancements promised in the Complete Streets Study, and now is the time to implement them.

I'll be honest- Before this questionnaire prompted me to look deeper into this methodology specifically, I was not aware of this specific style of project and project management. But upon digging in, this makes extraordinary sense and I'm grateful you're bringing this to the fore, especially now. As we are increasingly likely to experience budget cuts in the next few years, quick-build infrastructure will have to become more of a standard operating procedure of us. The nine core elements make completely logical sense, and frankly could be standards applied well beyond infrastructure-related projects.

An element of this that's particularly important for the 6th Ward Council Member will obviously be being a member of "The Team," but also having the relationships and experience to help drive all the other 8 requirements for success on behalf of the neighborhood. I'm very excited to put my 20 years of government and public/private partnership experience to work in this proven way.

I'll be specific in answering this question to the 6th Ward - the topic of EV chargers is becoming a hot button issue and we need to get our arms around it. As the most densely populated neighborhood in Albany with very few driveways, garages, or off-street parking available, residents who want to switch to EVs have very few current options to charge their cars. We've even seen people starting to run extension cords across sidewalks to run household electricity to their vehicles, which is a nightmare for anyone using the sidewalk.

Last year, we hosted the Mayor's Office of Sustainability at a Washington Park Neighborhood Association meeting and it stirred some of the most pronounced emotions and dissenting views that we'd seen in a long time. The potential installation of a few EV chargers in Washington Park sparked the most heated debate I've ever witnessed at a neighborhood association meeting.

Regardless of which side folks were on, there were two major takeaways shared by all. 1) We don't like the City just doing things without notifying, let alone engaging the neighborhood, and 2) this was not part of an overall city-wide plan, this was a one-off that was not indicative of larger improvements. Both were problematic.

With the City procuring a consultancy to develop another CAP this year, the next administration will be responsible for implementing it. As 6th Ward Council Member, I am already making sure the neighborhood is consulted in the development of an overall EV charger plan and also that the need for EV chargers in our Ward is of paramount importance due to our lack of charging opportunities otherwise.

To be totally frank, I think we have enough plans for the time being and need to start acting. We've had study and plan after study and plan paid for an then collecting dust. Our neighborhood and Albany generally deserve elected officials who insist on outcomes and advocate for the right priorities and funding to drive these outcomes. We need to get the Washington Park improvements done and then keep up the momentum for positive change.

I think a car-first bias has dictated Albany's built environment since the Plaza was built. We need to shift the collective mindset towards a broader understanding of who uses the streets - people with mobility aids, strollers, visual impairment, all ages, commuters, etc. As gas prices remain unsustainably high for most Americans, we can capitalize on the increasing demand for non-car based transit.

European train travel is astonishing. But perhaps the most innovative transit experience I've ever had was riding the cable car system, Metrocable, in Medellin, Colombia. The stations were immaculately clean and safe, the cable cars themselves were comfortable and very user friendly. But what absolutely blew my mind was the fact that a city with the world's highest murder rate just a few years ago made major public investments in mass transit that prioritized the needs of the most marginalized neighborhoods to promote economic mobility and social integration after decades of violence and civil war. It was an intense reminder that in comparison, the challenges we have in Albany are miniscule and therefore totally surmountable with the right community engagement and elected officials.

The 6th Ward in particular has work to do on our sidewalks to address the needs of residents who want to or need to age in place, and for people with all abilities. Similarly, I'd add in anyone using a stroller. Our community cannot be one for just able-bodied 20-50 year olds. A combination of relentless advocacy for the Complete Streets improvements to Washington Park and ongoing improvements to snow/ice removal are not necessarily the sexiest ideas but in my opinion they're some of the most critical for our neighborhood to retain the diversity of residents and visitors of which we are rightfully so proud.