particularly interested in the
right
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like to call to order the city Caucus
meeting for Monday February 13 2023
we have 26 items for original
consideration if the clerk would could
please read item number one item number
one for final consideration a resolution
declaring that the amendment of chapter
264 Article 2 and chapter 264 attachment
2 schedule C
use regulations for non-residential
districts of the code of the city of
Schenectady relating to banquet
facilities private clubs or lodges will
not have a significant impact on the
environment discussed and committed with
the objection and on consent item number
two item number two for final
consideration a resolution declaring
that the amendment of chapter 264 the
zoning of the administrative code of the
city of Schenectady to oh overlay
historic district to the existing C4
downtown mixed-use district of 308 State
Street sbl
39.71-3-15.11 is a type 2 seek Seeker
action with no significant impact on the
environment discussed in committee with
the objective on consent item number
three item number three for final
consideration an ordinance to amend
chapter 183 Article 2 of the code of the
city of Schenectady discussed and
committee with an objection on consent
item number four item number four for
original consideration a resolution
calling for a public hearing
four amendments to chapter 161 of this
Schenectady city code regarding the
collection of white goods discussed in
committee without objection on consent
item number five item number five for
final consideration an ordinance to
amend chapters 264 Article 2 and chapter
264 attachment to schedule C youth
regulations for non-residential
districts of the code of the city of
Schenectady relating to banquet
facilities and private clubs or lodges
discussed and committed with objection
on consent item number six item number
six or final consideration an ordinance
amending chapter 264 zoning of the
administrative code of the city of
Schenectady to add oh overlay historic
district to to the existing C4 downtown
mixed-use district of 308 State Street
discussed in committee with objection on
consent item number seven item number
seven for original consideration a
resolution authorizing the revision of
fees related to public assembly
inspections pursuant to the Schenectady
city code subsection 204e discussed in
committee without objection on consent
item number eight item number eight for
original consideration a resolution
appropriating American Rescue plan act
funds for sidewalk improvements discuss
the committee without objection and on
consent item number nine item number
nine for original consideration a
resolution authorized the mayor or his
Destiny to apply for budget for and
expend funds pursuant to the New York
State health care and mental hygiene
worker bonus program discussed in
committee without objection and on
consent item number 10 item number 10
for original consideration a resolution
authorizing a budget reappropriation
within the 2023 general fund budget
discussed and committed with the
objection and on consent item number
eleven item number eleven for original
consideration a resolution authorizing a
reappropriation to the 2023 capital
budget discuss in committee without
objection on consent item number 12.
for original
consideration a resolution authorizing a
five-day public comment period for the
allocation of two hundred thousand in
cdbg CV funds for the small business
assistance program discussing committee
without objection on consent item number
13. item number 13 for original
consideration a resolution authorizing
the mayor of his designee to enter into
an agreement with Bethesda house for a
hundred thousand dollars for
neighborhood stabilization rent rehab
program discussing committee with the
objection and on consent item number 14.
for original
consideration a resolution authorizing
the mayor or his designee to enter into
an agreement with the Schenectady
Guyanese Community Center for fifty
thousand dollars discussed in committee
without objection and on consent item
number 15. item number 15 for original
consideration a resolution appropriate
in an American Rescue plan act funds for
grout Park improvements discussed in
committee without objection on consent
item number 16 item number 16 for
original consideration and resolution
appropriate American Rescue plan act
funds for Simon's Park improvements
discussed in committee with objection on
consent item number 17. item number 17
for original consideration a resolution
declaring support for the New York State
Clean Slate Act
roll call by Mr palamini
item number 18. item number 18 for
original consideration a resolution
amending resolution
2022-214 to apply a one-year time frame
to the Aquatic Center and Miracle on
Craig Street to scare Financial
commitments to meet their respective
project costs discussed in committee
with objection and on consent item
number 19. item number 19 for original
consideration a resolution authorizing
the mayor or his designee to enter into
an option agreement with the capital
region land bank or Society for various
properties on and around Summit Avenue
discussed and committed with objection
on consent item number 20. item number
twenty for original consideration a
resolution authorizing the sale of 808
Stanley Street for twenty eight thousand
five hundred dollars discussed in
committee without objection on consent
item number 21 item number 21 for
original consideration a resolution
authorizing the mayor or to execute an
agreement with CT mail Associates to investigate the
feasibility of physically establishing
the paper Street known as Revere Avenue
discussed in committee with objection on
consent item number 22 item number 22
for original consideration a resolution
authorizing the settlement of a claim by
Maritza Brown discussed in committee
without objection on consent item number
23. item number 23 for original
consideration a resolution authorizing
settlement of a claim by Niagara Monarch
power Corporation doing business as
National Grid discussed in committee
with the objection on consent item
number 24. item number 24 for original
consideration a resolution authorized in
settlement of a claim by Robert DeLuca
discussed in committee with objection on
consent item number 25 item number 25
for original consideration a resolution
recognizing Black History Month 2023
this item would be taken out of order
and presented by council member Farley
item number 26. item number 26 for
original consideration and resolution
recognizing the NAACP Founders Day
discussed and committee with objection
on consent if there's nothing more to
come before the city council caucus I
ask for a motion to adjourn moved by
Miss Patrick second by Mr mood of Aaron
all in favor
we are adjourned I'd like to call the
city council meeting to order for Monday
February 13 2023.
and I asked Pastor Brad Jones to offer
the invocation
let us pray
Lord God I may not be as dumb as I look
and and we may not be as smart as we
think we are but but regardless we look
to you for wisdom for the the business of the city
wisdom for doing what is right and just
in your sight
so Lord I do pray your wisdom and
guidance
for the mayor of Schenectady for the
city council of Schenectady and for all
who are in positions of authority and
responsibility for the care and the the
working of the city
so that every decision made and
considered
would accomplish what is best
for the people you love the people of
this city
so that the people
can live lives that are are
able to to work well and and to be in in
safe keeping
to to have peace in our streets
we pray for First Responders for fire
department for the police for those who
work in in hospitals for the ambulance
uh drivers and EMTs Lord we just pray
that you would give them wisdom and
discernment to do their work well
Lord we pray that you would you would
govern this city
and for those entrusted with the
governance of the people of this this
great City we pray that you would grant
them that that wisdom and discernment
needed for this we ask all this in Jesus
name amen amen amen
students from the seat Center to lead us
in the Pledge of Allegiance
one nation under God indivisible with
liberty and justice for all thank you
if the clerk would please complete the
Roll Call
Mr motivaran
Mr Toro here Mr Farley
Mr Williams
Miss Patrick Mr polymini Miss
Porterfield here
item number 26 will be taken out of
order and presented by council member
Farley
it's a resolution to recognize Black
History Month
before please
floor is yours thank you
this time I'd like to call up Mr Dennis
Richards
someone switches I'd like you uh to
receive and accept this uh Resolute to
recognizing Black History Month for 2023
whereas each February we acknowledge the
struggles adversity strength and history
of Black American Experience in the
United States
this year's theme is black resistance
recognizes African-Americans resistance
to Historic and ongoing oppression in
all forms and has pursuit of
self-determination and equality whereas
Black History Month first originated as
a part of an initiative by writer and
educator Dr Carter G Woodson who
launched a negro history week in 1926
Wilson chose February for reasons of for
tradition and reform as commonly said
that Wilson selected February to
Encompass the birthdays of two Americans
who played a prominent role in shaping
black history namely Abraham Lincoln and
Frederick Douglass whose birthdays are
the 12th and 14th
whereas Black History Month remains a
powerful symbolic celebration a time for
acknowledgment reflection and
inspiration despite an inequitable
social system
African Americans have found ways to
survive advance and Thrive black
Americans have struggled to protect
their physical intellectual
autonomy through Innovation lobbying
litigation and legislation helping each
other as a community these efforts have
fueled and their perseverance and hope
for our future
black resistance strategies have served
as a model for every other social
movement in our country
our nation has benefited from those
efforts by progressing towards a more
Equitable Society even though we still
have a very far way to go
African-American spirituals gospel folk
music hip-hop rap have all been used to
express struggle and hope and calls for
solidarity to face racial oppression
music has been used to illustrate
societal ills and as a motivation for
strength against harassment bringing
attention to oppression black artists
writers photographers and musicians who
have participated in the Black Arts
Movement the Harlem Renaissance the
Chicago Black Renaissance or the
soundtrack individual representation to
resistance movements
these individuals these individuals
created art that supported the
resistance movements but also provided a
space for black people to express love
and joy
whereas during Black History Month
throughout the year we reflect on more
than 400 years of black history in
America
communities across the country paying
tribute to generations of African
Americans who struggled with diversity
to fully achieve life liberty and the
pursuit of happiness in American society
black history is American history
and now therefore be resolved down
Schenectady city council our Mayor Gary
R McCarthy do hereby pause in their
deliberations to recognize the month of
February of 2023 Black History Month
black resistance in the city of
Schenectady
why this is so so relevant today for a
couple reasons but Mr Richards is a
Youth Development excuse me Mr Farley
yes you have to move the resolution oh
I'm surprised I got excited I can't wait
to talk about this young man all right
excuse me my I'll entertain a motion no would you like to move the resolution
I would like to move the resolution may
I have a second second by Mr Williams all in
favor
aye yay okay all right congratulations
again
I'm please please again I'm very sorry I
get excited anytime I get to talk about
extraordinary young people in our
community
um and Mr Richards is a Youth
Development coordinator for the
African-American history records project
he also serves as an interview of those
who hold these records of schenectady's
African-American history his primary job
is teaching the youth team skills
necessary to become effective Warriors
recorders and Liaisons of History
um I had the absolute pleasure of of
attending one of the events uh that Mr
Richards and his team of people are to
produce
um and it was an amazing time it was
something where I heard voices from all
walks of life speak up against
resistance and speak out against
oppression and you sir have created not
only a platform for that to happen but
have inspired so many others to lift our
voice so it is with a great great honor
that I asked you to receive this
resolution on our behalf okay
thank you
usually we don't do this but I'm going
to ask you all to stand for this young
man who has done such a beautiful job in
our community
would you like to say a couple words for
you
[Applause]
uh first and foremost I want to thank
councilman Farley for considering me for
this resolution and also the rest of the
council
um to talk to them
um
I want to give a special shout out and
thank you to members of my team uh
Kareem to Ray starrkea King and William
Rivas who have helped me along my way
through this journey through poetry and
African-American historic records
project
um what we do is we like Damani said we
give uh we give people a space to share
their voice and speak about the things
that they are resisting against
um I believe myself I am my very
existence is a resistance to the
establishments that bind us by different identities and I do my best to
help people share their experiences as
well so I'm very thankful to receive
this resolution from the city and I look
forward to seeing everybody's faces at
our next open mic on February 24th at
Electric City Barn
thank you
and as for approval of the minutes for
January 23 2023
motion by Mr Williams
second
by Mr Farley all in favor
aye
the clerk could please read any
Communications and petitions
Communications presented to city council
for Monday February 13 2023 under
official there were none under General
from Camille sassanowski two emails
dated January January 23rd and February
10th asking each of the council members
to look out for the well-being of
citizens of Schenectady urging them to
vote against the Clean Slate Act
from Reverend Nicole Dees Jean Simone an
email encouraging council members to
support the Clean Slate act to help
people gain access to employment housing
education and other Essentials as they
start start over and re-enter public
life after incarceration
from David jackaloni an email and letter
addressing the arpa funds for sidewalk
improvements and the creative Outdoor
Advertising presentation he asked that
the funds for the sidewalk Improvement
not be approved without getting real
numbers and cogent explanations because
it will cost the city much more than
expected and had questions to be
thoughtfully considered before the start
of the negotiation for the creative
outdoor advertisings
for Martin Allen Greenberg an email in
support of the Clean Slate act there are
a variety of safeguards in the
legislation to ensure that the
community's safety is maintained and
that the benefits outweigh any
disadvantages
under petitions there were none thank
you Cloudland council members for any
committee reports
this time we'll have privilege of the
floor related to the legislative agenda
so anything that's on the legislative
agendas when people will be able to have
the opportunity to speak we ask I have
two people who they're signed up to
speak and I ask that um no one speak on
anything that's not on the legislative
agenda first person is Claudia Kavanaugh
good evening
tonight you're going to be voting on The
Clean Slate bill that's being
proposed in legislature
I hope that you consider the employers
and Property Owners when you're doing
this in reading about your clean slate
act I didn't read the categories where
you were not going to add you know I
could understand like small pot offense
or something like that but you have some
very serious people who were
incarcerated and they've been paroled or
in trying to get their lives back
together that's fine
but I do think that in order to have a
society where people you know have
informed consent
if I have property and I want to know
who I'm running my property to
and I'm not the only one who feels that
way
and it's not being mean to anyone or but
you you when you make decisions in life
you have to live with your decisions
even if they do mean incarceration and
you are
you know freed later or whatever the
society needs to know especially
employers and people that are renting
property to you need to know that
I don't think it's wrong at all and I
just wanted to also ask
with all the other problems in this city
would not one eighth grader in this
entire city passing a standardized math
test
this is what you're going to concentrate
on trying to pass the Clean Slate you're
gonna really you should be working with
the city's uh the school district to see
what you could do to help these kids
a couple of you on this panel always
talk about marginalized people what's
more marginalized and not being able to
pass a math test in eighth grade
so something's very wrong
I I think you're you're you're
Focus needs to be someplace else
something that will improve and and pro
benefit the entire city if you have a
whole population of children who can't
write a cogent essay who can't do
standardized math
you're going to turn you're turning out
an entire generation of marginalized
people whatever that means
and I think that maybe you should
um just kind of put out there what you
will allow and what you won't allow in
your proposal for This Clean Slate bill
because I think that the society you owe
it to people owe it to society to know
who they're dealing with employers need
to know
I I just hope that at some point that
you guys get past and I'm so tired of
every single time I read an article
about the city council it's black people
white black I have never in my life
heard so much about race in my life as I
have since this Council I I got to tell
you I was born and raised in this town
think about something that benefits the
entire city
and that's an educated population
thank you
Anthony Alexander
I'm about to date everybody
um
can I let you saying about the children
but it ain't up to it's a community
raised to help raise these kids because
when I grew up there was somebody that
gave me a hand up to help me
we got away from that because we got
stuck in our own self it's raising about
thinking about ourselves and still
thinking about these babies
I'm a parent of seven but I raised more
than seven of differations different
nationalities because that's how my
grandmother raised me
I give a damn about the people I give a
damn about these kids I don't been to
prison
and I'm in a situation now I'm in that
catch 22. if I get an apartment
where I'm at they pay the substantial
amount of money but DSS only gives 378
to get a place to live
that still leaves me home as if I get a
job
see my point so is it for the people to
be to get their own place out of the
1500 that you're giving so I want y'all
give seven eight hundred dollars to that
person so they get a one a bedroom until
then get on their feet
but like she said I agree with it ever
since I've been up here it's more races
up here and I'm from the south Florida
where it's racing but since I've been
here this race dividing we're supposed
to be Unified
that's where it supposed to be we all
here for a common cause guess what I
mean it means some of this stuff for a
clean stretch for clean slate amend some
of this stuff you ain't got to agree
with everything but some of the stuff
okay one step at a time
let's get the foot in the door tell all
of us to have a chance to get a job so
we ain't got to worry about if I get a
job I'm homeless the next day
enjoy
thank you
I have no one else signed up to speak so
I declare the public comment on the
legislative agenda closed
we have one item for roll call
item number 12.
but the clerk would please read
item number 12 for original
consideration a resolution authorizing
nope it's not 12. that's all no
item number 17 item number 17.
for original
consideration a resolution to clear and
support the New York State Clean Slate
Act
need a motion
Mr Mr bear in second
Mr Williams any discussion
okay if the clerk could please call the
roll
Mr motiveran yeah
Mr Toro
no Mr Farley yes
Mr Williams
I thought it was important to build upon
how this meeting started and
highlighting the important message of
wisdom and discernment truly I felt
moved to say a few words and I wanted to
highlight that it's important to not
allow our fears to be at the detriment
of others who have already paid their cost for the transgressions
and I would like to be very clear that
it's not taking what they did to end up
at their current predicament or stance
in life lightly that's to understand
that there was a cost
that the expectation to be eligible for
this legislative item is to be paid in
full with continued service
so for me I wanted to point out a
situation that happened with with an
individual that just came to the rail
where it's an assumption was made about
me and what I'm not doing and that's
specifically why we're here
I have the opportunity to respond or
provide more context but how often do
individuals
who we are highlighting to address have
the opportunity to have a similar
conversation where they can truly speak
to what they've done and how
rehabilitative they are
more times than not that that
opportunity is not given
and as individuals that are advocating
for the betterment of all individuals in
this community
if we hear of a process or procedure
that is not effective we're not working
it is our responsibility it is Our
obligation to take a moment to pause
deliberate and understand what can we do
to improve the functionality of
something that is already in place
so I'm proud to say that I'm in support
of this
and I look forward to the efforts that
us as a council can continue to do to
address the needs of this community
yes
thank you Miss Patrick
Mr palamini
where's the Clean Slate for the victims
and their families
there is none
it continues forever
even acts that are so-called minor
stick with the individuals for the rest
of their lives
families have been destroyed
because of actions of others
individuals have had their lives turned
upside down and destroyed
because of action actions of others
there's no clean slate for those
individuals
there's no making something a little
easier for them
those people have had their lives turned
upside down
forever
and it's impacted them in ways that
cannot be measured
this just doesn't make sense
how can we look those individuals in the
eye and say
yeah we're going to give Clean Slate for
people that impacted you
I just don't see it
I vote no
it's Porterfield
Kavanaugh brought up a few points about
what's in the legislation and and I
encourage you all to read it because
there are some stipulations in them that
tell you who and cannot who and
um with individuals this will not impact
and cannot benefit if you from it so sex
offenders are not covered under this I
just want to make that clear and also if
someone
um is working with a vulnerable
population they can still have access
children and older adults they can still
have access to people's uh criminal
background so I just wanted to and also
law enforcement still has access to this
so we just want to make sure that we
we're understanding this is not just a
carte blanche in everybody and it
applies to everyone regardless that is
not the case I also want to point out
the fact that several months ago we this
Council approved funding for a housing
in the city where ex-offenders formerly
incarcerated people could live and the
majority of the people on the that irons
Council now were on this Council then
and voted in favor of that so it just I
find a little puzzling that we're
allowing some people to benefit and then
when it comes to maybe another for
whatever reason
um
I'm not sure the difference in in folks
Minds that we're going to vote
differently so
um in addition to that we I believe that
we need to give people another chance
and there's there are things put in
place that you have to serve your time
and then wait three years after all time
is served and everything is done if you
had a misdemeanor and then seven years
if you've had a felony so that gives you
enough and nothing and you cannot within
that time
have had another offense and been
interaction with the law enforcement so
there are systems in place there are
things put in place it's not just you
know you could just get it and you don't
have to
um I'm going to use the word prove that
you um are ready to contribute to
society and that you've you know you're
sorry for what you did and you're
willing to continue to move forward and
contribute to society so with that I
vote Yes
so motion passes four to three
[Applause]
thank you
I'd ask for approval of the legislative
agenda
moved by Mr mood of Aaron second by Mr
Williams all in favor
this time we'll have privilege of the
floor regarding General City business
I have eight people signed up to speak
first person is Leonard dimassi
thank you
[Music]
hello everybody I'm here to speak about
the swimming pool
um when I read in the paper it's like
doubled in costs it's 10 million plus
I'm asking on the council president or
anybody on the council
what is going to be done with the
existing swimming pool
there's no plan for the existing
swimming pool
you're not going to tear it up you're
not gonna you're just going to leave it
there you're gonna
what what's going to be done with the
existing swimming pool so there are
plans for the 16 pool but at this point
in time you'll we just hear your
comments and we can answer your response
to you later but not at this moment
well it's hard to speak about a subject
matter that I can't the paper doesn't
discuss either
so I'm going to say if you have the
existing swimming pool
you already have the bathrooms close by
you have the picnic areas right there
you have the Pavilion there I would fix
a filtration system and I think
everybody's smart enough on this Council
that they can handle a geese problem
with all the rest of the money
I would say look at the casino
and see if you can get some way to
operate like you have at the golf course
a concession from Memorial Day to Labor
Day
and if it's not viable tear it down
and if you're going to keep the park
Administration Building
empty tear it down make it a green area
that's what a Park's for
Greenery we always talk about the
environment
actually cut down a SWAT the land it was
good to knock down the stadium it was
never going to be used David's sake
against long gone there's nobody that's
Savvy or smart in our community we can
do a project like he did
so let it go back to Forever Wild
it's like you know Schenectady is not a
rich city when you get all this money
you gotta can't think you're rich
spend it wisely get the most out of it
if you start doing projects and you
don't even have to and you're going to
leave the old swimming pool there it's
going to cause the taxpayers more money
down the line
so I think of all of you you know you're
smart people use your brains and get the
most for your money and don't have any
costs out occur further down the line
that's all I have to say thank you
Reverend Nicole John Simone
good evening
first I want to thank members from the
council for attending the NAACP
community prayer tonight which was at
practice theater thank you for your
support of that event we will also be
having a black history program at The
Bridge Church on the 26th that starts at
2 p.m and you are all invited to attend
um I want to say this uh first I want to
say thank you for passing to have a
resolution to support the Clean Slate
Act
you know one of the hardest things
I've ever had to do was forgive the
person who killed my mother's youngest
sister
her name was Patricia Ann Bowens my
favorite
who was shot and killed in Philadelphia
um and I had to come to terms with the
fact that the person who killed my aunt
deserved forgiveness
and that's something I dealt with
um
as a Christian it's something I also
dealt with mentally emotionally in a
whole lot of different ways and our
prison system is supposed to be a
rehabilitation system at least that's
what they say and at some point that's
got to work we gotta trust it and we got
to give people Second Chances
uh one thing that I do
appreciate about that legislation is
that people do have to
you know wait three years or seven years
to prove that you know they are willing
to be um productive citizens in society
and um so I I think that I appreciate
you guys seeing the positive impacts
that it could have and then
um the person has left but that comment
about the education
2.3 million New Yorkers are going to be
impacted if this legislation is passed
and be able to have a fresh start and a
good number of those 2.3 are parents
how much better could a child do in
school if their parent could get a job
if their parent could come out of being
incarcerated and actually fully be
their parent
you know so you got to look at the
positives of this and stop acting like
these kids aren't dealing with the
situations that their parents are
dealing with in regards to incarceration
and so it's
and having been a teacher as well
um I was an educator that was my first
degree before theology
so I was a teacher
how many
children were so excited
when their parents were able to go home
but did not realize the stress that
their parents had to deal with because
they couldn't get a job
that's a reality
for a lot of these children you wonder
why these children can't succeed is
because they're stressing about things
they don't need to stress about
and that includes having parents that
cannot get jobs because they've been
incarcerated and this is the last thing
I want to say
um
there are certain crimes
no there are certain things that when
they were in my community were a crime
but when they went to other communities
they became a sickness
I think about the number of people that
are going to come out of prison who went
to jail for having a nickel bag or for
selling weed and they're going to come
out and find smoke shops smell it
smelling marijuana and making lots of
money off of marijuana while they still
have to have a record
so when marijuana and opioids were a
problem in my community it was a crime
but as soon as it went to other
communities it became a sickness
people have a right to be free
thank you
[Applause]
Rebecca palova Rebecca
thank you
um
20 years ago I took in three kids
whose parents
whose family life would have been very
different
if this had been afforded to them
it's been a tough
20 years
a really tough 20 years
because all they really wanted were
their biological parents
I moved up to Schenectady 10 years ago
as a single parent of four
and it wasn't
an easy Journey
but I will say
that in my time here the greatest
support that I had within the school
district
was Damani Farley
I
for any one of my children
and especially my most challenging who's
22
and
I pray every day
that she
stays out of trouble
but she'd be a lot worse off
if it hadn't been for countless
late nights and weekends
when I could
call the money and ask him to support me
with my daughter
when I say
she wasn't easy
I love her with every
bone in my body every piece of my being
but she
has had to overcome a lot of struggles
and it
offends me
the degree to which
the newspaper slander that is currently
out there
on the Integrity of someone who
has unmatchable hours in this community
with not just my child but so many
others
and that's all all I've got
[Applause]
thank you
Sean Young
uh good evening I'd also like to thank
the council the mighty Farley
specifically for the resolution of Black
History Month that young brother that
I've seen him grow a lot in these years
and he was
as deserving of that award as anyone I
could think of so I want to thank you
for that I also I want to thank you for
the resolution for passing the
resolution Around clean slate
um I believe that that piece of
legislation is uh
is a step in the right direction of
addressing some historic
um some issues that have lasted
throughout history I heard a couple
things while I I was sitting down
listening I was supposed to sign up for
the other time to speak but I didn't but
you know a couple people got up here and
said that they never heard so much about
race I find that interesting that they
never heard some that never heard so
much about race and then the correlation
with having the most people of color
sitting in our city council ever now
races all of a sudden an issue that is
being brought to the Forefront is
because it's not something that has been
talked about before because the people
that are representing minions Community
who have been out without a voice are
now here
education is important our kids
Reverend Nikki already spoke to that
like having people having family that
can support their kids that can live in
good neighborhoods that can good good
jobs that's important to our kids
um sanity to their safety their
well-being and for them to get education
the district has to do a lot better as
well but it's important to have our
parents at home
and I also want to address the fact that
we talked about victims and victims and like how does something last forever
do you know that most people that
incarcerated are victims themselves
they have suffered through something
they were the kids in broken homes
okay they were the kids or the teenagers
or the adults who were who were
who suffered through violence some of
the indicators some of the indicators of
violence and incarceration alone the
shame and more violence
where do we see that more than anywhere
but then some of the most impoverished
communities in our city
so I want you to to think about that and the fact that this goes on forever
we want a community
that's good for everyone
we want a community that holds people
accountable
holds the individual accountable holds
the institutions accountable holds
Society accountable when it's been wrong
we always we look back we are
celebrating Black History Month today
and we're acknowledging history
how has that history impacted our
community we know how it's impacted our community
and this is this legislation is doing
something about it it is a step in the
right direction for the betterment of
the entire Community we want people to
have good jobs that's Economic
Development right we want people to be
homeowners
right that's Public Safety we want
people to be in their families doing
what they're supposed to do for their
kids for for the other family members
that's a community
and I am almost you know as sick and
tired as everyone else where we're in a
situation where we ignore history
where we want to just say keep punishing
them keep punishing them keep punishing
them and so we can get the same thing
over and over and over again
recidivism rates 40 plus percent right
now right people are being left out of
opportunity there are there's tons of
jobs right now employers are telling we
have jobs for people we can't feel we
need people in those jobs give them the
opportunity this is not about making
anyone unsafe
seven years for someone with a felony
that gets off parole or probation three
years for a misdemeanor after probation
that's a long time
they paid their dues give them the
opportunity thank you thank you
[Applause]
Kelly Williams
uh good evening everybody it's actually
been a long long time since I've
actually attended one of these forgot
how fun they were
I haven't said that uh the reason I'm
here I have a lot going on health issues
things like that is we all have various
things but I too was troubled last week
when I read a couple articles popped up
on the phone and the it was almost like
one was written by Fox News the other
one CNN you know two different stories
but a lot of different the same message
uh an incorrect message and then just
message was being sent the one article
pointed out to me because it started
with the word Schenectady failed
and I read the rest of the article and I
started thinking about
Schenectady family especially when it
came to the school district
four years ago our daughter went into
seventh grade in the school
and within the first week we never saw
her again
not the daughter we sent
because of the conditions the things
that were happening The Bullying the
constant badgering the aggressive nature
the Blind Eye
the staff with their hands tied
I spent three quarters of that that year
seeking parent and parent conferencing
seeking mediation
seeking any and everything possible
but when I sat there at the end of the third quarter right course towards
the end of it
in the morning the day after my daughter
was attacked
that I'm in there right there bottom
basement school I see three security
four teachers a principal and two
guidance counselors
and there was yet another person new to
the whole situation presenting
aggression towards my daughter
I made the mistake thinking this was
their
playing field they'll take care of this
and in front of me my daughter was
attacked
that's where Schenectady failed
I literally had to pull her out of
school and said there's no way you could
ever even make me believe that my
daughters you can guarantee my
daughter's safety
principal agreed with me immediately no
argument
then funny enough the solution to
continue the education was to send her
to Washington Irving where all the
people that were her attacking her were
currently at
I was beside myself
to say I was upset angry
I I'm pretty sure most of us here are
parents
uh nobody here would want any of their
children to go through it either today
in the past in the future
so
because of everything you know we're
looking at the same school I'm looking
at what homeschooling would would do how
it would rearrange the family
and that was going to be stress within
itself I didn't know how I was going to
be able to continue efficiently the
education of my daughter
eighth grade came a lot of speculation
no one's really getting back in touch
with me uh it took me almost all the
fourth quarter just to get a tutor to
help her finish her seventh grade year
to be able to meet at a public library
closer to us I'm going to need you to
summarize sir I'll be very quick then
what happened was
Mr Farley came into the picture
Mr Farley his team his his culture
brokers
they came to the picture they came to
our house they spoke with us they spoke
with the teachers they spoke with the
principal they put in place to allow her
to feel safe again
to allow her to continue in Prosper in
her education to have the plans to have
the goals that she has now
the very insinuation
of any impropriety of this man that has
given more than I would say most I have
ever seen
is not only inappropriate it is
downright disgusting
and I wanted to make sure that this
experience was put into the minds for
anyone that has anything to think about
it or make decisions in the future
this man is a blessing to the community
there are pillars in the community when
you take down the pillar you're weak in
the community
I need you to thank you
[Applause]
Robert Sanders
good evening
Madam president council members
it's been a while
I came here to address you
um over just by what everybody's
addressing you about it's the city and
its problems and if anyone believed
inequality it's been me I worked in the
public defender's office 15 years
I'm a disabled person
I'm a lobbyist for Fathers and Families
of New York State I want everybody to
have equality and it's a problem today
and uh
you know what you just passed I agree
with 100 because you know everybody
should start at the same starting point
an end at the same ending point
but what I'm here to say is you know
Schenectady the city of Schenectady the
county I'll put it in the county too you
know we got to have the same
distribution level and what I'm getting
at is our children
and probably Mr Farley knows is better
is they're our main goal here and the
city I said this council member mood of
Aaron and the president
we should have uh Children and Families
board here or a committee why we don't I
don't know
I mean I've asked for it and as
lobbyists
up in Albany you know why don't we have
this we see where our problems stem from
the group
and the gentleman that just spoke he's
telling you about his little girl
okay you people are passing these well
we're going to get 50 000 but that's the
house this that this that I want money I
want to go back to Greg Fisher my
president I want to say my city is going
to give Fathers and Families of New York
State money Schenectady
okay but you know what now I know you
know this is new for you actually we've
been around for a while
but I want to do that but you know our
children are our future I said this 30
years ago
okay but you know what you're not doing
that you're not really looking at that
no I had people say well you should go
to the county
well you know what
I hate to say the county really isn't
taking the lead and when I talk to the
council I know the council's listening
and I know right here in the city of
Schenectady the city of Schenectady is
actually going to do something and
they're not really looking at me and
listening to me I know you don't want to
hear from me
but this is something like you got you
know you got a city review board on the
police you got all kinds of committees
this is something that needs to happen
because you know if you've got a pins
problem if you've got CPS we're eating
Woodlawn or you got a problem on the
hill or you got it over in Bellevue with
sex offenders I ran for counsel I know
where they're at okay
you know why you need to do this because
you guys you're running next year this
year
you know why you need to know this even
if it's the county that does it because
you know why even the county legislators
there's district one in District Two
they're running in this area but like I
said fat me okay they're going to go to
every city council
in all of New York because our children
and it's just not guys it's women it's
grandmothers it's everybody
so it's it's like your dad you know I
knew your dad well he was a good man
great man
you know and it's everybody
this is what comes first our children
are coming first and so they should be
you know something that's on the city
council's agenda and I want to speak to
the mayor about this I've seen him cut
out a little early but this this is an
important item and I got a lot more
talks about I know the timer just went
off I don't want to take up too much of
your time but this is something that
really should be I don't know how the
president runs her schedule or anything
like that
but this is something that really needs
to be addressed and come next year you
know I'll be a bit a little bit more
proactive about how I do things but I
appreciate your time your patience have
a good day God bless you
thank you
[Applause]
Mark Marva Isaacs
she's she was there I guess she's gone
okay uh Janice Rouse
foreign
I wanted to talk a little bit about just
the atmosphere of the city council in
regards to you know the Clean Slate act
you know thank you for passing it four
of you who voted for it
um you know sometimes I think about this
legislation and I think about America
because you know America has been given
a clean slate act
um you know the crimes that were
committed through slavery and so forth
and so on we all realized that that was
wrong I don't think any of us would
differ from that that you know that
slavery was wrong and what has been
caused as a result of the oppression
that um people of African-American
descent had faced in this country you
passed a resolution this evening
um on black history month and the
beginning of that resolution talks about
and I'll read each February I'm gonna go
right here where it says the strength
and history of Black Americans
experiences in the United States this
year's theme is black resistance
recognizing African Americans resistance
to historical and ongoing oppression in
all forms in pursuit of
self-determination equality
when we started this when you start your
um session you do the Pledge of
Allegiance in the pursuit of happiness
you know for all Americans and you know
my mother used always told me that for
much for those that much is given much
is required
for those who need more should get more
and as a result of our historic
oppression against the people all
elected officials whether you're black
white blue green or yellow whether
you're a Republican or a Democrat or a
liberal we got to get to a place so we
need some healing in America we need to
do the right thing this is enough this
is not about Republicans Or democrats
this is about what's right we cannot
keep holding people down for their
entire life for mistakes made it does
affect all affects the children it
affects families it affects communities
I need to address their chair I need to
address the chair yes it affects
communities it affects us all in many
different facets just like the
historical oppression that has happened
in many different facets so I'm saying
to you as elected officials let's start
looking at some empathy y'all let's
start looking at what's right and stop
all of this partisan and black and white
stuff it's got to stop
we have at-risk Youth and we we know we
put that on our agenda because there are
at-risk parents there are parents that
may have made mistakes early on in life
and as a result they paid their price
they went to prison they did whatever
they had to do everybody is not bad even
though they may have made some mistakes
but we as America we want forgiveness
but we're not willing to give it and I'm
saying to you it's time as politicians
that we all voted whether I voted for
you you you it doesn't matter somebody
voted for you that's why you're here
so I'm asking you to stand up do the
right thing and next time we have a vote
and something important is this it's not
going to be four to three it's going to
be if there's seven people sitting here
it should be seven
so I thank you for your time thank you
[Applause]
now for Tompkins Alfred Tompkins
good evening everyone
thank you for
your work and
the things that you do in our community
and how you Faithfully serve in the
midst of adversity
I was thinking about this I was reading
this article last week
and about my friend
Domani Farley
we've worked together for a while
and
when I first started working for the
school district
I remember being in a number of
situations he and I where we were
out
after the hours of our work
and helping families
and and and I think of
um how we so easily reached into his
pocket and
um I know he'd be a little embarrassed
me telling you this but these are those
are some of the things that we don't get
out of that article those articles that
were written
um trying to tear down his character
I think of Damani in his work as a man
in the community as a father as a
husband
um he's had quite an impact on our
community he's had quite an impact in
the in the lives of of you've heard of
families
um Untold number of of parents and
children
it would be one thing if it was
something that I read about or I heard
about but
um many situations
we were in the midst of
and so I watched how this man worked
and
um and so from that perspective I could
see that it was an honorable guy
a guy with a testimony among people
um and his testimony of that show that
revealed that he was a person who cared
and who cared for people loved this
community
and so that that's that was exciting to
see and encouraging to for me to see
I've been a resident uh all my life here
in Schenectady very proud of Schenectady
all of its challenges and bumps and
bruises and all of that stuff raised my
family and so
my youngest child is is 36 and and as I
said we have four children
and so
um we've been at it a while and to see
someone rise up in the ranks that was
that's caring as Mr Farley was really
encouraging so thank you thank you
I have no one else signed up to speak so
I declare the public comment of City
business closed
at this time any miscellaneous business
of the council
okay seeing none
oh
go ahead Miss Patrick
missed that for a second sorry about
that I wanted to
um thank everyone for coming out tonight
um I wanted to remind folks about the
programs that we have going now five
days a week for seniors to find a
nutritious meal and some socialization
with one another and you can certainly
find that that schedule in The Gazette
on Saturdays actually I wanted to
congratulate the nine new officers who
just graduated from zone five and we'll
be joining our force and wish them the
best as they move into their roles
um
I wanted to say again that our
Schenectady shares program we had our
last official sort I thank councilwoman
detoro for working on that project with
me
um as well and this huge volunteer
committee that we've had we probably our
goal was fifteen thousand pounds of food
and personal hygiene items I think we're
going to probably be at like 19 or 20
000 pounds when we get our final figure
spent a few hours there this morning
sorting and unloading trucks and loading
trucks Etc to go to any number of food
pantries across the county with really
and the schools with a lot of good food
and good items so I'm very pleased with
how that came out and I want to tell
everybody that there'll be a phase two
I'm not sure what that will be yet but
we also will be doing this program
annually
I wanted to comment on the housing piece
that I think that we passed I think
you're talking about Cara house at
Bethesda house that I think we supported
as a council I think that's what you
were referring to and it is transitional
housing for uh recently incarcerated
folks and I think you know Bethesda
house is choosing to as part of this uh
Capital project that they have
um house folks and I think that that's
uh great and I think that's why we all
supported that that initiative I think
we heard a lot tonight
um I think as I said last time and as I
heard spoken by many people I think it's
really imperative that this city council
continue to do the work that it does on
anti-poverty anti-hunger on education on
Workforce Development
supporting the organizations like safe
house and ywca's domestic violence
supporting programs like the homes
program that allows people to purchase
houses
or Habitat for Humanity the support that
we give there so I think those things
are very very critical to all of our
residents that we continue doing the
work that we can to try to make sure
that we're supporting people that need
that help as much as possible
and that's all I have tonight thank you Mr Farley
okay so I'll start off by saying uh
there was no one more surprised than me
to read a headline that implied I was
making um six hundred thousand dollars a
year in
to that you know the paper who kind of
wrote the headline I guess you know it's
going to backfire on you because maybe
you don't know that my wife and I every
Sunday buy multiple copies of that paper
to clip coupons and among this new news
it seems like honey if you're watching
you can we can stop clipping coupons now
because I didn't know that we were going
to make that uh make that make that
amount of money
um I think in all seriousness you know
uh it's
a headline and we are people who are
serving in government and you know being
in the political Arena uh some things
just come with the territory uh
but I want to thank everyone who came
out tonight in support of the Clean Slate support of me
um I really appreciate that
um I also want to oddly thank those who
might have a different position on clean
State and me
specifically
because even though it might have not
been what their intention was what they
did is they opened up a very important
point of reflection for me
um sometimes doing the work you're just
doing it your head's down and there's
one foot in front of the other but I
have gotten all these emails and phone
calls of people and families who have
reached out you know how can we support
how can we make sure that we set the
record straight
um and as a young man I learned that
leadership is not about having the
answers but it's also about having the
courage to ask the right questions of
yourself and others
and the question that was answered
um when I opposed to people why they
felt the need to do that
was
just a heartwarming and very inspiring
time for me to reflect on some things I
even you know personally have forgotten
uh
so that was really a great thing for me
to quite honestly have to experience
um but it was all variations of the same
thing and that was the theme of that was
showing up
and you know I
started to think about the first parent
who reached out when we go back to 2015
where kids were walking over the bridge
and there were they were being assaulted
and it was making its way going viral
and things like that and parents were
afraid to have their kids walk home you
know we showed up
um you know I think about
you know some of the times when you know
when we were dealing with this pandemic
here
in the in our we're all afraid we didn't
know what to expect and we had to stop
kids from entering the school building
and everyone had to go learn remotely
um there were a lot of kids that that
didn't work for and they needed a place
that they could be in front of a
certified teacher so I was a part of the
collective we that created that space
for them and multiple Paws around the
city they needed us and we showed up
when it was time yeah we showed up when
it was time for uh we were dealing with
um neighboring cities and all across the
country you know where
almost you know people are feeling
burning down because there was the
outrage and the expression of crying for
justice over George Floyd's uh murder
and the lack of accountability you know
our neighboring cities were in a lot of
trouble and small business owners were
boarding up their shops here
um our police were suited in riot gear
um ready to you know engage a crowd of
people and we were very concerned
as people that lived in the community
and so is our leaders
um I was a part of that Collective we
that stood in a breach there that made
sure that leadership understanding that
people's voices needed to be heard
and we could do it
without causing harm to people in
property and businesses that lived here
I was able to do that so once again we
showed up
um I just want to say that
so no
those words won't tear me down
and they won't tear us apart
because people who take that position
they can't fathom they can't even begin
to imagine what it is that holds me up
and holds us together
that is forged in love our
responsibility to one another and that
is reinforced by Time and Time and Time
Again by showing up
so I just want to say thank you for
every everyone who's come out and said
nice things
um it was a pleasant thing to hear or
how we've impacted people's life in a
positive way and we're going to continue
to do that and we're just going to
continue to show up
[Applause]
thank you
okay
[Applause]
you can take about the dinner afterwards
so I just want to thank everyone also
for coming out tonight speaking to
whatever your position was on the things
that were on our agenda tonight or
anything that impacted City business
altogether
um so thank you for coming out and
always voicing your opinion it's
important for us to hear from you not
only when there's things that are
challenging but also there's things that
you think that we could do things better
or ways to improve things or you could
even come and say hey you did something
right we're not opposed to that either
so um as I remind you this is Black
History Month and there will be a
program at um
as the Christian Bridge Christian Center
on the 26th at 2 p.m everyone's invited
to come out and it should be very
um very informative we're actually
um honoring Educators in the in the
Schenectady school system and the
Schenectady school district from we're
calling them Trailblazers so people like
the very first president actually or
African-American person that was um was
hired by the school district so come out
it's a wonderful history lesson and
you'll maybe somebody we could see some
of your former teachers or at least hear
something about them so we invite you
all to be there
I do also want to offer my condolences
to the family of Mr palamini and Mrs um
Patrick for the their loss and their
families
and finally I just want to address
something that was said today it said a
lot about the you know they're
constantly hearing about race and race
and races as it relates to this Council
I just want to bring up the fact that we
don't write those articles we don't have
control of what people say it's clear
there is where a difference there's
races different races here but that's
not what we should be focusing on
and what anyone should be focusing on
we are here to do a job for all of you
regardless you don't have to look like
me I'm here to serve you and I believe
that all of us
I want to believe that all of us feel
the same way so
um please if you could help us in that
and when people start talking about it
in a very divided way about race talk
about us as a council of elected people
as Miss Rouse said
you somebody elected all of us so we're
all sitting here and we want to serve
you
um the city so keep that in mind and
let's work together and let's not only
let
um
the US
honoring people of color during one
month but throughout the year and let's
honor all of us all the time we have
other you know opportunities pup
so I just wanted to say publicly that we
really have to work together and let's
do that and I believe it's possible
let's put things behind us that have
happened and let's move forward
thank you for your time
and that with that I'll ask for a motion
to adjourn moved by Miss Patrick
second by Mr
Farley all in favor
we're adjourned thank you have a good
night