Albany politicians look to 2025 mayoral campaign timesunion.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from timesunion.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
5:11
Chief Eric Hawkins, speaking during a virtual common council session Wednesday night, defended Albany police actions that cleared protestors from their encampment outside South Station last week.
The dramatic scene that unfolded at South Station has drawn sharp criticism from activists and some city officials. Civil rights leaders say the clash where some police officers were seen covering their badge numbers after giving protestors 15 minutes to vacate eroded trust. So overall, there were three goals that were outlined at the very outset with this operation. We needed to clear that roadway, we needed to do so in a way that avoided injuries to protestors or officers. And we needed to create a safe space and a lawful space for people to exercise their First Amendment rights. And we accomplished all three of those.
6:09
In April, the early days of the pandemic, the Center for Law and Justice in Albany published a 15-page report on structural racism and public safety in the city. Among other things, the report called upon city leaders to acknowledge the existence of structural racism in the police department. A month later, there were nationwide protests over similar issues following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody.
Executive Director Dr. Alice Green said the report served as a follow-up to the organization’s 2019 Albany Community Policing Survey, which she claimed was all but ignored by government officials.
I think the issues that we raised are very difficult ones, racism, structural racism in particular, is very difficult for people to understand and to figure out how to deal with it. And I think trust is another issue. I think maybe law enforcement are deceiving themselves. But I think they believe, really do, that most people in the community trust them. An
Democratic field appears clear for Sheehan s re-election
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1of3Buy PhotoAlbany Mayor Kathy Sheehan talks to the media after a fire caused a manhole cover to blow off on Maiden Lane Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020 in Albany, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)Lori Van Buren/Albany Times UnionShow MoreShow Less
2of3Buy PhotoMayor Kathy Sheehan announces plans to build an open-air theater in Lincoln Park on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, during a press conference at Lincoln Park in Albany, N.Y. The city plans to spend $2 million to make improvements in Lincoln Park, including construction of an amphitheater and fitness equipment. (Will Waldron/Times Union)Will Waldron/Albany Times UnionShow MoreShow Less
3:25
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan is running for re-election, saying the challenges of 2020 have led her to seek a third term.
The city s first female mayor made it official in campaign kickoff video released Monday night. As challenging as these times are, I m optimistic for our future. We ve come together in ways that would have been almost unimaginable seven years ago. And I want to continue that work. I m asking for your support and your vote in 2021.
The Democrat took office as Albany s 75th mayor in 2014. During a 2017 debate, the former city treasurer said she supports term limits and thinks two terms is the right amount, but she did not commit to that limit outright: