Corey Ellis 2009

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New Thinking About Downtown Development

Yesterday the Convention Center Authority announced that it's going forward with purchasing land at the proposed convention center site.  We need to consider alternative options for downtown development. The original feasibility study for the convention center was done in 2001 and a lot has changed in the eight years since then.  We owe it to the people of Albany to rethink this project before committing hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to it. We are going to have to live with this decision for at least 20 years - we need to get it right. You don't get a second chance with projects of this scale. 

Here is my statement from yesterday on this issue.

“Today we learned of plans to begin purchasing land in downtown Albany to build a convention center.  We need to rethink this plan if we are going to revitalize our downtown and increase our tax base.  The convention center will only be open an estimated 40% of the time*, we need a downtown that is thriving 100% of the time.

 “This convention center will use up the last large developable piece of land in downtown.  By developing it with a taxpayer-subsidized convention center we are missing a huge opportunity to increase our tax base and lessen the tax burden on our taxpayers.  We should be looking at other potential uses for this land that will attract downtown residential and retail development and increase the city’s tax base.” 

*According to a July 11, 2007 Times Union article, an Albany Convention Center would likely be vacant 60% of the time. http://archives.timesunion.com/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=6467572

A Sad Night in Albany...

Last night, 3 people were shot in Albany.  One of them was a teenager.  My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families.

The events shed light on how far we must go as a city to make sure that no parent must hear that their child's life was ended prematurely by senseless acts of violence.

Right now, as the State Senate leadership is locked in a power struggle, funding has stalled for critical programs to get guns off of our streets.  I've worked for over a year on bringing these programs to fruition - and I'm anxiously waiting for the Senate to convene and approve these critical measures.

Moreoever, we need to aggressively pursue rebuilding our neighborhoods, creating after-school programs, and fighting poverty right here at home.  As a community organizer, youth worker, and mentor, I've seen first hand how violence affects families here in Albany.  But I've also seen that change is possible, and believe that we have reason to hope. 

We must do more, and we can't afford to wait.  By investing in our future, we can make our communities stronger and safer, and ensure that we have no more nights like this one.

-Corey

The Common Council Should Come Clean...

As the Times-Union reported, there have been multiple drafts of the parking ticket report.  I'm running for Mayor because we need to renew Albany, and that means making government accessible and transparent for all.

Of course, the parts of the report that were missing from the 2nd draft were critical of certain city officials.  It's infuriating, but hardly surprising.  The Jennings' administration has made handshake deals and coverups the norm.

We deserve better.  And we need new leadership.  Today, I wrote a letter to my colleagues on the Common Council urging them to release the original report, in its entirety, on the website.  I believe the public can judge for themselves what's valuable.

Here is the letter:

Members of the Albany Common Council:

Serious questions have been raised due to the shifting reports on no-fine parking tickets.  On one hand, we must seriously examine the mismanagement and truthfulness of several city officials in regards to their knowledge of the no-fine system.  On the other, it looks as if we may be witnessing a cover-up that is equal to the original crime.

 

In government, we are charged with ensuring that we conduct ourselves fairly and transparently. The original report paints an unpleasant picture of Albany politics.  Nonetheless, it is critical that this report is made available to the public.  I am extremely concerned about recent attempts to redact portions of the original report. I emphatically reject any attempt to hide the testimony regarding parking tickets from public view.

 

Albany is better than backroom deals, secret meetings, and censored reports.  Today, I am calling on the Common Council to publish the original report, in its entirety, on its website.  This will remove any appearance of impropriety.  I urge you to join me in this call and reject any closed door meetings on the issue.  We must offer ensure that our government offers the transparency Albany deserves.  

Sincerely,

Councilmember Corey Ellis

My Statement on the Landfill

Welcome to my blog. 

Here, I'll give you a personal look into my candidacy to renew Albany.

Just yesterday, we learned the DEC is ready to approve the expansion of the Rapp Road landfill, which is just another example of the Jennings administration's failure to think long term and lead effectively.

Here is my statement:

Corey Ellis Trashes Jennings on Landfill 

Albany Common Councilmember and Mayoral candidate Corey Ellis released the following statement regarding the proposed expansion of the Rapp Road landfill in Albany:

“The proposed expansion, the fifth since 1990, is just another example of why our city needs new direction and better management.  The mayor promised that the latest expansion would be our last, and once again he’s breaking his promise.  Before we continue down the road of habitual expansion, I am calling for a comprehensive audit of the Rapp Road landfill by a truly independent body, and for a comprehensive plan to deal with our city’s waste that both respects our environment and accounts for the future.  Mayor Jennings has been in office for 16 years, and he has continually failed to offer either an audit or a real plan.  It’s time for a new direction.”