Albany City Council

Albany issues — a chance to unload, and learn

Written November 24th, 2013 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 2 responses.

If you are among those who grumble about the city government in Albany, a chance to talk to city officials face to face, without the formality of a public meeting, is close at hand. An open house is coming up at City Hall on Monday, Dec. 2, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany City Council, Albany city government

After bond defeat, a prudent council action

Written November 7th, 2013 by Hasso Hering

Comments: no responses.

Some voters in Albany will think the majority of the city council is tone deaf. The people vote on a $20.3 million bond issue for a new police station and downtown fire station, and by Tuesday night 5,048 of them, a majority of those voting, have said no. Twenty-four hours later, five council members (only Rich Kellum dissents […]

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: Albany City Council, bond issue election, downtown fire station, property acquisition

Albany on pot dispensaries: Wait and see

Written November 6th, 2013 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 4 responses.

Albany won’t jump into trying to prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries once they become legal under state law next spring, at least not right away. The city council Wednesday went along with advice it got from City Attorney Jim Delapoer to wait until legal questions about what cities can do under a new state law are […]

Posted in: News
Tags: Albany City Council, marijuana dispensaries

Building issue won’t go away

Written November 5th, 2013 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 3 responses.

The defeat of Albany’s bond issue to build new police and fire stations is a setback, no question about that. With financing costs relatively low and some money on hand from the Pepsi settlement, this was a good time to get this solved, but a majority did not see it that way. The explanation may […]

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: Albany City Council, Albany police and fire bond, election outcome

Protecting Albany airport from — what?

Written November 5th, 2013 by Hasso Hering

Comments: one response.

The city of Albany is having a new fence put up at the city airport because, well, the government says it must. And that requirement raises a question: Is it necessary? The placement of the fence along the airport’s southeastern boundary prompted a discussion before the city […]

Posted in: Commentary
Tags: airport security, Albany Airport, Albany City Council, Federal Aviation Administraton

North Albany Road work delay likely (with update)

Written November 4th, 2013 by Hasso Hering

Comments: no responses.

Engineers and builders have been constructing roads for centuries. But now the process has become so complicated that road projects are facing long delays and higher costs. Take just one local example, the long-planned reconstruction of a section of North Albany Road, the busy link to a fast-growing part of the city of Albany. The reconstruction […]

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany City Council, flood control, North Albany Road, road reconstruction

Albany bond update: Hasty Freez spared!

Written November 2nd, 2013 by Hasso Hering

Comments: no responses.

The good news: Hasty Freez, Albany’s venerable burger, ice cream and shake emporium at the corner of Seventh and Lyon, can stay where it is under the current plan for building a new fire station in place of the old Station 11 downtown. On Wednesday (Nov. 6) the city council will vote on authorizing the […]

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany bond issue, Albany City Council, Fire Station 11, Hasty Freez