Common Council Meeting Mon 11/7

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Two important events on the Common Council Agenda tonight. First they are considering a resolution to support our 1st amendment rights and second they are discussing SNUG, a 5 point anti-violence program in the city. Here's more info:

The Albany Common Council is working on their recommendations for the city's 2012 budget. Funding for SNUG is being favorably discussed. If you would like to show your support of the council designating funding for SNUG in the budget, you may do so by attending Monday's public hearing on the budget which will start at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. You may also sign up to speak, but just your presence will make a difference.

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Here is the Common Council's resolution:

Council Members Konev, Calsolaro, Golby, Fahey, O’Brien and Smith introduced the following:

Resolution Number 86.111.11R (As amended prior to introduction)

RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY WITH OCCUPY ALBANY

WHEREAS the“Occupy Albany” Movement, in solidarity with the “Occupy Wall Street” Movement has been peacefully demonstrating in the City of Albany’s Academy Park since Friday, October 21st; and

WHEREAS, over 150 additional "Occupy" protests have taken root across the Country, from large demonstrations in Boston and San Francisco, to dozens of smaller ones in between, with many more being planned every hour, including a large-scale "Occupy Colleges" movement on college campuses across the United States. 1731 cities have some “Occupy” presence; and

WHEREAS, the "Occupy" demonstrations are a rapidly growing movement with the shared goal of urging U.S. residents to peaceably assemble and occupy public space as a public forum that is concerned with addressing critical issues about the nation’s economic crisis, consolidation of wealth and power, and the ability of residents to meaningfully participate in the democratic process; and

WHEREAS, the causes and consequences of the economic crisis are eroding the very social contract guaranteed by the United States Constitution; namely, the ability of Americans to come together and form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense of, promote the general welfare of, and secure the blessings of liberty for all, allowing every American to strive for and share in the prosperity of our nation through cooperation and hard work; and

WHEREAS, residents of the City of Albany like residents across the Capital Region and the United States, are reeling from a continuing economic crisis that threatens our fiscal stability and our quality of life; and

WHEREAS, in the City of Albany, 24.7% population lives in poverty; 31.4% of children and 12.8% of seniors live in poverty; The statistics are worse for minorities: 30.5% African Americans and 35% Hispanics live in poverty in the City of Albany; and

WHEREAS, our economic system can only be called broken when one considers that currently, over 25 million Americans who seek work are unemployed; more than 50 million Americans are forced to live without health insurance; and, even using our current poverty measure that is widely recognized to be inadequate and outdated, more than 1 in 5 American children are growing up poor in households that lack access to resources that provide basic survival needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter; and

WHEREAS, the fiscal impact of the continuing economic crisis is disastrous to education, public services, infrastructure and essential safety-net services that have historically made America successful, with school class sizes growing while teachers are laid off and forcing Cities and States to make sobering choices that just a few years ago would have been unthinkable, such as how to cut hours and services from public safety provision, delaying or neglecting to maintain essential physical infrastructure including roads, sewers, and water and power delivery; and cutting services provided by our libraries, recreation, and park facilities; and

WHEREAS, one of the largest problems causing our economy to continue to flounder is the foreclosure crisis, with some banks continuing the use of flawed, and in some cases fraudulent, procedures to flood the housing market with foreclosures, such as the recent revelations of widespread foreclosure mismanagement by mortgage servicers who fail to properly document the seizure and sale of homes, in some cases foreclosing without the legal authority to do so, prompting the 50-state Attorney General investigation of foreclosure practices; and

WHEREAS, some “Occupy Albany” movement participants have participated in an action opposing the expiration of the surcharge on the New York’s wealthiest (millionaire’s tax, set to expire on December 31st, which means $5 billion less in revenue) and in another action urging for banks to renegotiate mortgages and put a freeze on foreclosures.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Common Council of the City of Albany hereby stands in support of the unity inspired by this historic movement and understands the frustration of those involved over the current economic situation and the sense of unfairness it has created.

TO: Nala Woodard, City Clerk

FROM: Anton Konev, Council Member

RE: Request for Common Council Legislation
Supporting Memorandum

DATE: October 26, 2011

RESOLUTION NUMBER 86.111.11R

RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY WITH OCCUPY ALBANY

GENERAL PURPOSE OF LEGISLATION: To express Common Council support of Occupy Albany Movement

NECESSITY FOR LEGISLATION AND ANY CHANGE TO EXISTING LAW: To officially express the opinion of the Common Council.

FISCAL IMPACT: None.