The Honor of Tradition –
The Privilege to Serve
Become a New York State Trooper
Apply: joinstatepolice.ny.gov or
Text JoinNYSP to (518) 240-3959
Starting salary: $57,297 After 1 year: $81,056
The New York State Police is an Equal Opportunity Employer
ALBANY, NY – Today, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan urged residents and workers to avoid the area around the New York State Capitol and Empire State Plaza on Friday, May 1 in anticipation of an unpermitted rally set to take place in the immediate vicinity.
To view the video, please visit the City’s Facebook page.
To download the video, please visit https://drive.google.com/open?id=1r7lHYpTAG0oP-3W26KRfdPYiFj6IiaTv
Residents and workers should avoid Washington Avenue, State Street, and Madison Avenue between Swan Street and Eagle Street and adjacent areas, including Academy Park. The Albany Police Department has been working with CDTA to adjust bus routes on Friday, May 1 to ensure the safety of their riders and transit workers.
In a video message, Mayor Sheehan made a plea to those planning on attending the rally that they not compromise their own safety, or the safety of first responders, health professionals, and City residents.
“Most of our residents and local workers are already working from home, but to those still coming Downtown, I encourage you to avoid the area around the Capitol,” said Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan. “All of us want to see businesses re-open and get back to normal, but I urge those who are coming to Albany to remember we are a City that has three hospitals treating COVID-19 patients, we have healthcare workers, police officers, fire fighters, and sanitation workers on the front lines each day, and we have residents who want to be safe. Please stay in your car and be respectful and mindful of those who live in this community, because while we understand your frustration, we hope you understand that our residents deserve to be safe as well.”
###
By appointment only, no walk-ins.
Please call 518-465-4771, ext 3506 to schedule an appointment.
Testing is provided through Whitney Young Health’s mobile health unit, Whitney on Wheels (WOW).
VOLUNTEER NEEDS AND ROLES
AVillage…, Inc.
From Tom McPheeters, COO
(518) 433-0679
AVillage with community partners has created a new website, 518Mutual-Aid.com, which has been up and running for about a week. The website has three sections:
The 518Mutual-Aid.com is a neighborhood-grown product designed to focus on residents of the South End of Albany, but because it is on the web it is attracting requests from all over the region — some 80 as of April 15.
Most of the requests are for food, toiletries and cleaning supplies, but there are some that require more complex actions.
As the demand grows, we need more volunteers to follow up on requests for help. The volunteers (or volunteer teams) would:
Do It For Yourself — and For Others: A DYI Mask Maker’s Guide
Below are YouTube guides for making cloth masks that are within most people’s competence — whether or not you are an accomplished sewer.
Now that masks are advised for everybody, there are not enough to go around, and people who are likely to need them most may be last in line. Read below how you can help.
But remember, these masks are just part of being smart about this virus. A handy reminder is attached below.
Be warned, however, that elastic bands are in very short supply in the Albany area. Consider making cloth ties rather than risking shopping in too many stores.
Help Our Neighbors: One thing we know for sure is that many people in the South End have the “pre-existing conditions” that are causing so many deaths from COVID-19. The reasons are not hard to see — poverty, poor housing conditions, lack of access to healthy food, medical services that often start and end with the emergency room. Add on top of that the South End’s heavy air pollution, which has been well documented by the DEC, and you have a toxic brew.
As Chris Churchill noted in a recent column, perhaps it takes a crisis like this to get people to realize the obvious. He quotes state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi of the Bronx: “This has put a spotlight on every area that we fail in… The foundation was already cracked, and this is crumbling it.”
As it happens, we know many of the people in the South End who do have medical conditions that make them vulnerable to the virus should they contract it. This is because of several health surveys conducted by The Radix Center in partnership with AVillage at Ezra Prentice and Creighton Storey Homes, and because of Trinity Alliance’s WALC program, which works with individuals and families at risk and assists them in dealing with their health problems and related issues.
By all means, make masks for yourself and your family. And please consider making more masks for people who need them. Contributions can be sent to AVillage’s office at 3 Lincoln Square. The office is staffed Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and other times by appointment. Please call our office at (518) 451-9849, or email avillageworks@gmail.com.
Walk-Up COVID-19 Test Sites to Open in Albany’s South End, Arbor Hill, and West End Neighborhoods
Albany County Department of Health and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center to Open Walk-Up Sites at Capital South Campus Center, Bleecker Terrace Apartments, and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center
Stay Home. Be Kind. Save Lives.
ALBANY, NY – On Wednesday, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy and County Health Commissioner Dr. Elizabeth Whalen announced the opening of three walk-up COVID-19 test sites in Albany’s South End, Arbor Hill, and West End neighborhoods.
Walk-up sites will be available at the following times and locations:
Thursday, April 16: Capital South Campus Center (20 Warren Street) from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Friday, April 17: Whitney Young Health Center (920 Lark Drive) from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Friday, April 17: Bleecker Terrace Apartments (North Manning Boulevard) from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
All sites will be available on a walk-up basis, however an appointment is required. To make an appointment, please call (518) 465-4771.
“It is crucial that we are bringing tests to our entire community, especially given the disproportionate impact COVID-19 is having on our historically underserved communities,” said Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan. “I applaud County Executive Daniel McCoy and County Health Commissioner Dr. Elizabeth Whalen for working with the Whitney Young Health Center to open these three walk-up testing sites in our South End, Arbor Hill, and West End neighborhoods.”
###
New York has been hit hard by the current global crisis. In partnership with Governor Cuomo, Headspace wants to be here for you — to help you find some time and space as you weather this storm.
From Buffalo to Long Island, Albany to the Lower East Side, this special NY collection of meditation, sleep, and movement exercises are here to support you through stressful and challenging times. Helping you — and your fellow New Yorkers — stay strong and be kind to yourselves, with a New York state of mind.
Permit Application Submitted, Public Meeting Postponed due to COVID-19
March 25, 2020
Global submitted its permit renewal modification application in mid-March. The documents are online and available for download and review.
The documents will also be available at the Albany Public Library, Albany Housing Authority and Global Partners Community Outreach Office, however, due to the current shelter-in-place order, those organizations have temporarily closed their offices. We will distribute the documents as soon as we are able.
Our Public Meeting on the permit, scheduled for April 9 has been postponed due to COVID-19. We will Follow up and send an update when it’s been rescheduled. Our priority is the health and safety of our employees, customers and communities. We hope everyone in New York remains safe and healthy.
We understand that this can be a confusing and challenging time for many as we all navigate our way through this pandemic. So we want you to know that the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York is still here for our community. We will have to close our doors and work from home, per the Governor of the State of New York’s request, effective Monday, March 23, 2020 at 9:00 a.m., however, our work will still continue, and we will all be reachable by phone.
We can be reached at the local and toll free numbers for the following offices: Albany, Amsterdam, Canton, Plattsburgh and Saratoga Springs.
We are taking the extraordinary step of maintaining phone access because we know that our legal services are essential to the low income community’s response to COVID-19 issues.
We ask that you please assist us in publicizing this change in services and our “Did you know?” legal updates broadly on your websites and on your social media channels so that clients, as well as the private bar, know that we are to help. We also have a new web page, LASNNY COVID-19 “What you should know” , that will be updated regularly.
Support staff will be working remotely to manage new intakes or requests for assistance, and to put clients in touch with intake specialists and case handlers. We will also continue to make referrals for callers who we cannot assist.
Again, we are posting legal information about the response to COVID-19 on our website for anyone to review and reference, www.lasnny.org, and we ask that you direct people in need of our services to our website.
The community we serve is particularly vulnerable to the economic impact of this pandemic and Legal Aid must continue to play its important role during and after the crises.
Stay home, stay safe, and flatten the curve.
Sincerely,
Lillian M Moy
FREE OR LOW-COST INTERNET SERVICE AND OTHER RELATED RESOURCES (DEVICES AND CONTENT) THAT CAN ASSIST HUD-ASSISTED RESIDENTS DURING THE COVID-19 CRISIS*
I. National Locator Tool for Low-Cost Internet Service Offers: everyoneon.org/find-offers.
A. COVID-19 Updates to Specific Low-Cost Internet Service Offers. Featured below is a list of the major ISPs, their low-cost offers, and specific updates to their offers made in response to the Federal Communication Commission’s “Keep Americans Connected” pledge which was designed to help all Americans stay connected to the Internet during the COVID-19 crisis.
B. The Lifeline program provides a subsidy to HUD-assisted residents for phone and/or Internet service. Annual recertification requirements have been postponed for 60 days by the FCC.
C. For updates to these offers: See the Federal Communications Commission’s “Keep Americans Connected” page.
II. LOW-COST DEVICES:
III. LEARNING CONTENT
For more, visit: commonsensemedia.org or commonsense.org/education
*This information does not constitute an endorsement by HUD.
Prepared by the Community & Supportive Services Division, Office of Public Housing Investments, 3.17.2020
BNC “PHONE BUDDY” TELE-HEALTH WELLNESS PROGRAM
BNC FREE TELE-HEALTH WELLNESS VISITS and more for our seniors/disabled/others.
CALL 518-596-0936
www.blacknursescoatition.org
The City of Albany Website has links for updates, closings, resources, and department information.
They can be found by clicking HERE.
To minimize the potential spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and out of an abundance of caution, effective immediately, all Albany Housing Authority offices are closed to walk-in traffic until further notice.
While we recognize the inconvenience this may cause, we take our commitment to the safety of this community very seriously. These measures have been taken in a concerted effort to protect our clients, residents and staff.
Please place any documents in the drop box found inside the 200 South Pearl Street entrance lobby.
Rent payments (Check or Money Order) may be placed in the drop box located outside of the building, to right of the 200 South Pearl Street entrance. Please make sure your name and address is written clearly on your payment
While our doors may be closed during this time, our phones lines remain open. Below is a list of services available online and via phone:
To reach a staff member directly, please call (518) 641-7500 and use option “2” for the spell by name directory. Fax numbers for staff and their e-mail addresses will be available on their voicemail should they be on another call. Please remember that our staff will be handling an unusually high volume of calls at this time and leaving only one message is encouraged.
Documents for the following departments can be faxed to:
Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) and Applications/Move-Ins-(518) 641-7548
Public Housing- (518) 641-7549
Managers and all other employee fax numbers will be available on their voicemail.
Appointments, Inspections, and Work Orders:
If you or any person you live with has been experiencing symptoms of acute respiratory illness, a fever (100.4 F or 37.8 C or higher), has recently traveled out of the Capital Region, or has any reason to believe you may have been personally exposed to an acute respiratory illness or around people who are ill, please let us know immediately. This information will be kept confidential in our office and is for preventative purposes only.
We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we work through this together.
Amid ongoing concerns about COVID-19 (Coronavirus), circumstances beyond our control have forced our normal business practices to change, effective immediately non-essential staff’s contact with the public will be by appointment only through Friday March 20, 2020. For all other matters our staff will be available to assist you via phone, fax, and e-mail. The Albany Housing Authority (AHA) is closely monitoring the latest reports from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the NYS Department of Health. The health and safety of our residents and employees is our top priority.
Below is a list of services available online and via phone:
We encourage you to use our website from home, 24/7 at www.albanyhousing.org to make payments, apply for housing, and view Section 8 Landlord payments. We’ve made a number of enhancements that make it easier than ever to manage these tasks digitally.
We continue to offer customer support by calling 518-641-7500 (Option 1) 24/7. Using this phone number you can check your rent balance and your status on the waiting list.
Please report any maintenance issues using the maintenance line 518-447-0047 24/7.
To reach a staff member directly, please call (518) 641-7500 and use option “2” for the spell by name directory. Fax numbers for staff and their e-mail addresses will be available on their voicemail should they be on another call. Please remember that our staff will be handling an unusually high volume of calls at this time and leaving only one message is encouraged.
Documents for the following departments can be faxed to:
Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) and Applications/Move-Ins-(518) 641-7548
Public Housing- (518) 641-7549
Managers and all other employee fax numbers will be available on their voicemail.
Appointments, Inspections, and Work Orders:
If you or any person you live with has been experiencing symptoms of acute respiratory illness, a fever (100.4 F or 37.8 C or higher), has recently traveled out of the Capital Region, or has any reason to believe you may have been personally exposed to an acute respiratory illness or around people who are ill, please let us know immediately. This information will be kept confidential in our office and is for preventative purposes only.
Emergency Work Orders-Will be addressed as soon as possible. Emergency protocols will be used.
Annual and Non-Emergency Inspections- Have been cancelled until further notice- We will continue to perform inspections for move-ins.
Section 8 Voucher Holders living in units not owned by AHA and Landlord’s may still request an inspection if the unit contains conditions that are life threatening or unsanitary. Call (518) 641-7497 for emergency inspections only.
We’ve augmented daily cleaning procedures with the use of disinfectant products on high-touch surfaces and working to keep hand sanitizer readily available for all staff. We are also working diligently to educate office and front line staff on best practices recommended by the CDC. This includes proper hand-washing, especially after handling cash and documents as well as implementing a temporary “no hand shake” policy. As always, we are still committed to providing exceptional customer service.
Share Facts About COVID-19 (Coronavirus-19 DISEASE)
Know the facts about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and help stop the spread of rumors.
FACT 1
Diseases can make anyone sick regardless of their race or ethnicity.
People of Asian descent, including Chinese Americans, are not more likely to get COVID-19 than any other American. Help stop fear by letting people know that being of Asian descent does not increase the chance of getting or spreading COVID-19.
FACT 2
Some people are at increased risk of getting COVID-19.
People who have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or people who live in or have recently been in an area with ongoing spread are at an increased risk of exposure.
FACT 3
Someone who has completed quarantine or has been released from isolation does not pose a risk of infection to other people.
For up-to-date information, visit CDC’s coronavirus disease 2019 web page.
FACT 4
You can help stop COVID-19 by knowing the signs and symptoms:
FACT 5
There are simple things you can do to help keep yourself and others healthy.
Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Stay home when you are sick. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
For more information: www.cdcgov/COVID19
PRESENTED BY: ALBANY COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE
HOSTED BY: JAMES DAVIS, JAMIL HOOD SR. & JAMIL HOOD JR.
4:00PM – 6:00PM
BRICK’S BARBER SHOP
67 CENTRAL AVE
WILL’S BARBER SHOP
113 CENTRAL AVE
444 DELAWARE AVE
FEBRUARY 28, 2020
CLEARING UP MISINFORMATION
APRIL 24, 2020
CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITY TO RESOURCES & JOBS
MAY 29, 2020
LET’S TALK ABOUT EDUCATION
MARCH 271 2020
OWNERSHIP IN OUR COMMUNITY
JUNE 26, 2020
PREVENTING VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY
QUESTIONS? PLEASE CONTACT
EVA BASS COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR- EBASS@ALBANYNY.GOV
JASMINE HIGGINS CONSTITUENT SERVICES ASSISTANT- JHIGGINS@ALBANYNY.GOV
Have a tax problem you haven’t been able to resolve with the IRS? The Taxpayer Advocate Service will assist taxpayers in person at its upcoming
Problem Solving Day
What: TAS Problem Solving Day at Albany Housing Authority
When: Friday, March 20th 2020, from 10:00AM to 2:00PM
Where: Albany Housing Authority Community Room, 200 South Pearl St. Albany, NY 12202
Partner: Albany Housing Authority
The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) will be available to assist taxpayers with tax problems they’ve been unable to resolve on their own with the IRS. Our goal is to provide personalized, step by step guidance. If your tax problem meets our criteria, we’ll assign a Case Advocate to work directly with you.
The Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent organization within the Internal Revenue Service. TAS helps taxpayers resolve tax problems, recommends changes to prevent future tax problems, and protects taxpayer rights. TAS’s services are free to taxpayers who are:
• Experiencing a financial hardship or having financial difficulties because of a tax problem;
• Trying, but haven’t been able to resolve an IRS tax problem; or
• Believing an IRS system or procedure isn’t working.
Learn more about TAS at www.TaxpayerAdvocate.irs.gov.
#WishYouWereHere
the Feed and Read Weekend Backpack Program |
| The Albany Fund for Education enhances opportunities for students to learn, grow, and succeed. Albany Fund for Education |
FEATURING: DONALD HYMAN, PENNY MEACHAM, WALTER SIMPKINS AND CLIFFORD OLIVER
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28
6:30PM – 9PM
135 South Pearl Street, Albany, New York 12202
All events are free and open to the public during February.
*** NEWS RELEASE ***
S.T.E.A.M. Garden to host Traditional Trades training workshops with
Hudson Valley Community College,
NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation
Enrollment Deadline is Thursday, February 27th
Classes in Wood Window Rehabilitation start Thursday, March 5
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Anthony Capece, Executive Director
Central Avenue Business Improvement District (CDMA, Inc.)
anthony@centralbid.com / 518-462-4300
ALBANY, NY (2/13/20) — Historic windows add authentic charm to old buildings, but they need to be maintained and modernized to stay weather-tight and operable. Even 100-year-old windows are probably structurally sound but may be painted shut, have damaged or missing putty, a cracked pane of glass or the sash cords that allow for easy opening and closing may have broken.
It’s getting harder to find people with the skills who can repair and restore old windows, but thanks to an upcoming workshop (Cohort), the number of local historic window repair specialists will soon be growing. At Albany’s S.T.E.A.M. Garden, a formerly vacant school building is providing hands-on learning opportunities for a new generation of skilled workers.
“S.T.E.A.M. stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Media – but we’re also training people in the technology from the past that remains in high demand,” said Anthony Capece, Executive Director of the Central Avenue Business Improvement District (Central BID). “Starting in March, we will be welcoming contractors, entrepreneurs, even homeowners, to learn about the traditional trade of historic window rehabilitation.”
The Office of Workforce Development of Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC), the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and Historic Albany Foundation are joining forces to address the growing need for skilled contractors for restoration projects. The Historic Wood Window Rehabilitation course follows the Historic Masonry – Treatments and Repair course that started in January. The Historic Window course will be held on Thursday evenings and four Saturdays from March 5 – April 25 at the S.T.E.A.M. Garden at 279 Central Avenue.
The 40-hour course will provide participants with both classroom and hands-on training in the traditional trade of historic wood window rehabilitation, including the repair of window sashes, glazing, frames and weights. Students will gain an understanding of windows used on 19th and 20th century buildings, basics in the field of historic preservation, weatherization techniques and where to market their skills. A certificate for completion of the course is awarded by HVCC and OPRHP, which is New York’s federally designated State Historic Preservation Office.
The course will be taught by Christopher Templin and Emily Majer. Templin is an architectural historian at Mesick Cohen Wilson Baker Architects in Albany with years of on-site preservation and restoration carpentry experience. Majer is the owner and operator of White Clay Kill Preservation in Tivoli, NY, and earned a Master of Science degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Massachusetts.
Tuition for the course is $850, and participants should have basic construction skills. Tuition assistance is available for CSEA employees; and from the Albany and Rensselaer County One-Stop Employment Centers; and other workforce development organizations. For more information or to enroll, visit www.hvcc.edu/workforce, email workforce@hvcc.edu or call (518) 629-4111. The enrollment deadline for the Historic Wood Window Rehabilitation class is Thursday, February 27th.
“The New York State Division for Historic Preservation heard from countless communities across the state that, while they embrace the rich history and historic character of their neighborhoods, finding contractors with the necessary training to repair older buildings was extremely difficult,” said Daniel Mackay, Deputy Commissioner for Historic Preservation. “By enhancing the skills of craftspeople in the traditional trades, we can help create quality construction jobs that provide a much need service to the next generation of historic building stewards.”
“Jobs like these can’t be outsourced or automated – and the time it takes to get on many preservation contractors’ schedules illustrates the demand,” said Capece. “At the S.T.E.A.M. Garden, we’re happy to help turn old skills into new jobs.” An additional course in Historic Preservation Carpentry is slated for the spring.
The Albany S.T.E.A.M. Garden is a regional super-hub for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Media. It provides shared work areas, meeting rooms, maker labs, and classrooms as well as rental space for special events. It welcomes entrepreneurs and co-workers for monthly, weekly or daily memberships. For more information about the S.T.E.A.M. Garden, visit www.steamgarden.org or www.centralbid.com .
###
Here are some easy to use Social media “clips” you can drop into your social media and help us spread the word.
Learn a skill a robot can’t take away! Historic Window Rehab – 40 hour course offered by HVCC and NYSOPRHP starts 3/5 at STEAM Garden, 279 Central Ave. $850 – tuition assistance is available – RSVP by 2/27. hvcc.edu/workforce 518-629-4111.
Historic windows don’t have to be a pain in the glass! Keep them in good shape – for you or a client! 40-hour class starts 3/5 at STEAM Garden, 279 Central Ave. $850 – tuition assistance is available – RSVP by 2/27. hvcc.edu/workforce 518-629-4111.
At Albany’s STEAM Garden, a former school is providing hands-on learning for a new generation of skilled workers. RSVP by 2/27 for Historic Window Rehab starting 3/5 at 279 Central Ave. $850 – tuition assistance available. hvcc.edu/workforce (518) 629-4111.
The STEAM Garden is helping turn old skills into new jobs. Window Resto classes start 3/5. RSVP by 2/27. $850 – tuition assistance is available. hvcc.edu/workforce (518) 629-4111. Preservation Carpentry classes coming soon.
Are your historic windows painted shut? Don’t despair – REPAIR! Historic Window Rehab – 40 hour course offered by HVCC and NYSOPRHP starts 3/5 at STEAM Garden, 279 Central Ave. $850 – tuition assistance is available – RSVP by 2/27. hvcc.edu/workforce 518-629-4111.
Get your historic windows ready to let the spring air in! Historic Window Rehab – 40 hour course offered by HVCC and NYSOPRHP starts 3/5 at STEAM Garden, 279 Central Ave. $850 – tuition assistance is available – RSVP by 2/27. hvcc.edu/workforce 518-629-4111.
200 South Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12202-1834
