Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan

Do you have a vaccine appointment at the Washington Avenue Armory but live more than walking distance away? Be sure to read below about how to find handicap accessible and overflow parking, and the Capital District Transportation Authority - CDTA shuttle

I'm back with this week’s City of Albany COVID update. Fewer COVID cases in Albany County and the Capital Region Remembering the 500,000 lives lost to this pandemic More info on appointments at the Washington Ave. Armory Vaccination Site that can be accessed via https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov or 833-697-4829... Encouraging residents to pre-register for vaccinations through https://Alb.518C19.com - made possible through a partnership with the City of Albany, Daniel McCoy - Albany County Executive and Alliance for Better Health Reminder that masking, social distancing, washing your hands are the most effective way to stop the spread. We will get through this together. #MaskUpOrShutDown

Today, is Luther Dean ‘Ticky’ Burden Day in the City of Albany in honor of Ticky's birthday. Ticky moved to Albany at age 7, and went on to become arguably the greatest basketball player ever produced in Albany. His dedication to basketball and his mentors during his years at Giffen Memorial Elementary School, William S Hackett Middle School Trinity Alliance of the Capital Region and Philip Schuyler High School, prepared him to win medals, break records, and excel as a player at The University of Utah, for the US Men's National Basketball Team, the Pan-Am Games, the Virginia Squires, and the New York Knicks. After his basketball career he went on to be a mentor to future basketball greats like Chris Paul. It was a pleasure to attend a virtual celebration in his honor today along with his family and friends.

Statement from Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan: These serious accusations warrant an independent and transparent investigation. Sexual harassment cannot be tolerated, especially in the workplace, and those who have and may come forward deserve to be heard.

Happy Dominican Republic Independence Day to all of our neighbors and friends celebrating!

Today is a historic day for our entire nation. Congratulations to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris! Let’s get to work and build back better, together.

City of Albany Policing Reform and Reinvention Collaborative Meeting

We continue to grieve the tremendous loss of life our nation has experienced over this past year, however this is an opportunity to come together virtually and remember the 400,000 who have succumbed to COVID-19. My heart goes out to each of families who mourn the loss of a loved one due to this pandemic and hope the national tribute will help bring them a small bit of solace during this time of sorrow.

The City of Albany continues to work with its federal, state, and local intelligence and law enforcement partners to monitor threats of violence. At this time, there are no known credible threats to the City of Albany. However, intelligence can change rapidly and the City of Albany urges residents to sign up for Nixle and follow the Albany Police Department on all social media platforms to remain informed of any and all updates. Given the collective threats to capital cities ...across the country, the City of Albany is urging all residents and visitors to avoid the area around the NYS Capitol in Downtown Albany on Inauguration Day, Wednesday, January 20. Albany City Hall will be closed to the public and City Hall employees on Wednesday, January 20 to avoid potential parking and crowd issues. Individuals are instead encouraged to visit www.albanyny.gov or call (518) 434-5100 to reach the relevant City Department. The City of Albany remains committed to being fully prepared to keep its residents safe, and will continue to implement its multi-agency preparations thanks to the efforts of the Albany Police Department, Albany Fire Department, and City of Albany Department of General Services. To sign up for Nixle alerts, please text your ZIP Code to 888-777 or visit https://local.nixle.com/albany-police-department To follow the Albany Police Department on social media, please visit https://www.facebook.com/AlbanyNYPolice, https://twitter.com/albanypolice, https://nextdoor.com//ny/albany/albany-police-department-4/

I wholeheartedly agree with Governor Andrew Cuomo that the federal government must provide New York State with its fair share of COVID fiscal relief as soon as possible. Governor Cuomo continues to make the case that we are treated like no other state, and it is beyond time for the federal government to act. Our residents and business cannot and should not bear the burden of the outgoing federal administration’s failures.

Policing Collaborative - Public Input Session #2

The Albany Community Development Agency (ACDA) needs your input to help frame the goals and priorities for how its upcoming program funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is allocated during this program year. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, ACDA is providing an online survey to the community to provide input as to what the City’s priorities should be for its 2021 program year funding. A link to the survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonk...ey.com/r/KXDP2PR The survey will remain open until Monday, December 14, 2020 Survey available in Spanish: https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/5DDBMP8 Survey available Simplified Chinese: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/57MN8PR Survey available in Traditional Chinese: https://zh.surveymonkey.com/r/5VJZJFX Survey available in Arabic: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5YN3FZY Survey available in Pashto: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/52B82FY

After hearing from the community, the Working Group Chairs have revised the meeting format. Meetings will now be livestreamed and all comments will be public. To sign up to speak during the public comment period please visit the following link to complete the form: https://bit.ly/3oCJ0jd. Sign-up for each meeting will be close at 7:15pm on the night of the meeting. Requests received after that time may be moved to the next meeting. Community members also have the option to... submit anonymous written comment about desired reforms by emailing [email protected] or by calling or texting (518) 618-2268. We are grateful for your willingness to make your voice heard as we reimagine policing in our community. See more

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of my main priorities has been ensuring local small businesses across Albany have the City’s support to adapt in the face of unprecedented uncertainty. Today Capitalize Albany Corporation announced that more than $500,000 in grant funding has been awarded to support 60 City of #Albany small businesses that have been impacted By COVID-19 helping provide these businesses with the resources necessary to not only survive but hopefully thrive in this challenging environment. For more information: https://bit.ly/37xgVob

The health of our employees is of paramount importance to both Chief Hawkins and me, and we wish our emergency dispatchers a speedy recovery.

The following businesses are hiring immediately. If you are interested in applying for any of these positions or would like assistance with resumes and other related services, please contact the City of Albany's Youth Opportunity Office Senior Employment Specialist, Willie Vice at 518-242-8228 or [email protected]. These services are by appointment only. Teresian House Center for the Elderly, Hannaford Supermarkets, Zones nfrastructure, Albany Community Action Partnership (ACAP), Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center, USPS Careers, Capital Dist Psychiatric Center, Lely Center New England, Price Chopper Supermarkets, Stewart's Shops, Capital Region BOCES

Many restaurants are open for business. Let's continue to #supportlocal #smallbusiness and neighbors by patronizing #Albany restaurants. Today we are highlighting Berben and Wolff's Vegan Delicatessen. Call (518) 599-5306 or visit https://berbenandwolffs.com/albany/ for menu and hours. For a complete listing of restaurants that remain open please visit: https://www.albanyny.gov//Mayor/COVID19ResourceGuide.aspx

Update from Mayor Sheehan 10/21/20 - https://mailchi.mp//city-of-albany-covid-19-update-from-ma

On Saturday, October 31 from 3- 5 p.m., #Albany is partnering with Price Chopper Supermarkets, Spectrum News Capital Region, Trader Joe's and Stanton's Feura Farm to host Halloween events in 11 City Parks. These events will provide residents with drive-through or walk-through options to show off their costume, and receive candy, a pumpkin, and a carving kit providing a socially distanced, COVID-compliant opportunity to celebrate the holiday. We want to ensure our residents have a safe opportunity to celebrate Halloween as we continue to stop the spread of COVID-19, and these events are designed to do just that. I encourage our residents to take part in these socially distanced, COVID-compliant events. While door-to-door trick-or-treating has not been banned, both Governor Cuomo and the CDC have advised that it is a high-risk activity.

Thank you to the Albany Police Department for their quick work last evening and earlier today, taking three more guns off the street. We will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners, including the New York State Police and the Albany County Sheriffs Office, to arrest those who pick up and fire a gun in the City of Albany.

Help us develop a plan for Albany’s riverfront. Join the conversation to assess the current condition of the shoreline and create strategy for restoring and enhancing the riverfront. Take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AlbanyShoreStudy Submissions will be accepted through November 30th. Learn more about the Study here: https://albanyshorelinestudy.weebly.com

We’re very excited that Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced movie theaters like the Madison Theatre can reopen at 25% capacity beginning this coming Friday. For more information on the rules around seeing a movie, please visit https://www.governor.ny.gov//governor-cuomo-announces-most

This is what libraries like the Albany NY Library mean to me. Join us tonight for #LiteraryLegendsatHome For more info: Visit literarylegends.org or text "LEGENDS" to 518-547-1005

Thank you to the Washington Park Conservancy for helping the City of Albany Department of General Services carry on this annual tradition! We’re looking forward to seeing the finished product in Spring 2021.

This is your last chance to remind President Trump who has the power: you. Visit www.my2020Census.gov now before the Census website is shutdown for good at 6am Thursday. #CensusIsPower #BeCounted

The Office of Audit and Control is conducting a Racial Bias Audit of the Albany Police Department. To share comments, email [email protected] by October 21, 2020.