Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan held her 11th State of the City Address, centering her remarks on the theme, People, Projects, Results, encapsulating many of the important improvements her administration is making in every neighborhood across the city.
The Mayor’s remarks highlighted the transformational investments occurring because of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act. These improvements include Habitat for Humanity’s efforts to build 100 new affordable homes in Albany’s most historically underserved neighborhoods, renovating the significantly outdated Albany South Recreation Center, and helping the city launch the Join Albany recruitment campaign to reduce vacancies in public service positions.
Mayor Sheehan shared how expanded public safety investments, including a new Crime Analysis Center, helped reduce crime. Over the last year, Albany has seen a 26% reduction in confirmed shots fired, 27% reduction in shooting incidents, 26% reduction in shooting victims, 20% reduction in burglaries, 80% reduction in vehicular homicides, 34% reduction in motor vehicle thefts, and 138 illegal guns recovered.
Mayor Sheehan also unveiled a first-of-its-kind street treatment partnership with Albany County – a program designed to bring health professionals to the corridors experiencing elevated instances of individuals in crisis.
The Mayor emphasized how the future is bright for Albany. The city is slated to be home to a brand-new New York State laboratory, a new railroad bridge to replace a 100+-year-old span that connects the northeast corridor to Chicago and points west, and a key manufacturing hub for offshore wind turbines.
Watch Mayor’s Sheehan’s full address here.
