Fahy: $400M the biggest Christmas gift in decades
ALBANY – When Sen. Pat Fahy (D – Albany) heard about it, she couldn’t contain her excitement, calling the $400 million Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to invest in downtown Albany the “biggest damn Christmas present to Albany in decades.”
Reimagining and reinventing downtown Albany by reinvesting state money, most folks will tell you, couldn’t have come at a better time.
“I don’t think it’s any secret that Albany has been struggling,” Fahy said.
According to the new state senator, the struggle is more than perception, it is reality, a municipal misery compounded ever since COVID-19 kept most of the Albany workers at home, significantly limiting foot traffic into downtown businesses.
It was an urban emptiness that basketball commentator Rebecca Lobo brought to light during a national television broadcast when she quipped, “try to find something to do in Albany.”
“Sometimes you need those wake-up calls,” Fahy said. “I wasn’t offended. What she was saying is we need something here, and I didn’t want to let any good crisis go to waste. Let’s use it. So I can’t help but think that maybe that was a little bit of a wake-up call on things that we’ve been screaming about for years.”
In addition, $150 million will be used to modernize the state museum, while another $200 million is earmarked for unspecified projects in the city’s downtown.
“We have to ensure that we are doing all that we can with the new reality of what is downtown Albany,” said Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan. “We are the world headquarters for New York state government and when 50% of your largest employer’s workforce is working from home on any given day, that means that on any given day, you have 50% fewer people going to our restaurants, on the streets, and engaging in the community.”
Lending further community engagement, there are plans for a professional soccer stadium along with thousands of residential living units all around it.
“All of these things will have a huge impact not just on our city but the entire region,” said David Galin, the mayor’s chief of staff.