Excitement is in the air with the kick-off of the new school year! Wishing students, parents and teachers success throughout the new year.New Albany Police Chief. Congrats to new Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins!  I was impressed to hear from chief Hawkins Friday morning, especially by his commitment to working with the police force and the community which will serve him well.  I’m particularly pleased to hear enthusiasm for LEAD. I'm looking forward to working with Chief Hawkins and welcome him to the city! 

VW Settlement to be used for Electric Transit Buses & more Electrification!  I was thrilled to join the DEC announcement this week that more than 60% of funds from the $128 million in VW settlement will be dedicated to electrifying transit buses in NYS. Investing a fleet of electric buses and other transit will enable regional transit authorities to realize significant cost-savings and re-invest in connecting more individuals to opportunities.  I’m proud to have been an early and vocal advocate for this major investment in reducing our carbon emissions and I appreciate the responsiveness to requests for prioritizing these funds!  

Wadsworth Labs. I continue to monitor the planned relocation of the state health labs. The Times Union published a story this week noting that the new labs are attracting attention from construction firms around the county. I will remain an advocate for locating the labs within the City of Albany near Albany Medical Center so that Albany can remain an urban scientific hub.  

New Market in West Hill. I joined other local elected officials and community members this week to mark the planned opening of a new fresh market in Albany’s West Hill neighborhood.  The new business was made possible by Albany’s Small Business Facade Improvement grant program. Congrats to owner Dileep Rathore on this new venture that I hope will breathe new life into West Hill!

Community Reacts to Walgreens Closure in South End.  I remain deeply concerned about the planned closure of the Rite Aid (now owned by Walgreens) in Albany’s South End on S. Pearl St. The neighborhood has grown to depend on this store for access to groceries, medicine, and other basic goods.  I signed onto to a letter from local officials to Walgreens asking them to reconsider the closing of the location due to the serious difficulty many of the residents in access to another store.

Community UpdatesStyrofoam-Free Eateries in the Capital Region. Styrofoam packaging has long-term negative consequences for our environment. Polystyrene materials like Styrofoam are not biodegradable and, when placed in a landfill, may never fully decompose. Linked here are environmentally-conscious restaurants in the Capital Region that do not use any Styrofoam packaging. 

Minority and Women-Owned Business Forum.  On October 3rd and 4th at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center New York State will be hosting a Minority and Woman-Owned Business Forum. The forum will include more than $100 million in project opportunities, 40 different informational sessions and 180 different exhibitors. Registration will close October 1st at midnight, onsite registration will also be available.  

 Upper Hudson Library System Expedition. Love to visit libraries? Then the Upper Hudson Library System Expedition self-guided tour is for you!  Visit as many of the system’s 36 unique libraries as you can in September, October and November as part of the 2018 Upper Hudson Library Expedition! To get your Expedition started, pick up a map at any library.  Then plan your itinerary for visiting any or all of our 36 community and neighborhood libraries! Click here for a list of libraries, how to find them, treasures to look for, and – because we know how hungry a great library visit can make you – where to eat while you’re in town!

Tour of Albany Rural Cemetery.  The Albany Rural Cemetery is home to the resting place of many figures in American history, including former President Chester A. Arthur, former Albany Mayor Erastus Corning, many famous authors and actors, important colonial figures and even a Supreme Court Justice!  As part of this year's Hudson River Valley Ramble weekend, Albany Rural Cemetery will be holding a walking tour to graves reflecting the area's Dutch heritage on September 15th from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The tour will include some of the Cemetery's oldest and most historic points of interests such as the Dutch Reformed lot with headstones dating back to the early 18th century. There will be refreshments and more in the Chapel as well. Cost is $15 per person.

As always, for the latest news or for upcoming events, please visit my office online, on Facebook, on Twitter, or my Times Union blog. If you would like to reach my office, please feel free to send us a note, or give us a call at (518) 455-4178.

Pat