On Tuesday, May 7, at the Washington Avenue branch of the Albany Public Library, I attended an event introducing the 2024 APL trustee candidates, who will be up for election on Tuesday, May 21.
I was relieved. When I declined to run myself, I worried that there wouldn’t be enough candidates to run for the three slots. It turned out that TWELVE people got enough signatures to get on the ballot.
- Daniel Schneider, 12208
- Zachary Cunningham, 12208
- Carlos Velasquez, 12210
- Paige Allen, 12210
- Jennifer Marlow, 12208
- Bradford Lachut, 12203
- Kirsten Broschinsky, 12203
- Paul Collins-Hackett, 12202
- Marsha Lazarus, 12208
- Tia Anderson, 12203
- Mary A. Rosch, 12208
- Daniel Plaat, 12210
Eleven of the twelve, all except Velasquez, were present. All of the candidates available loved their library and would bring specific skills to the job.
My picks
I won’t tell you who to vote for, but I will note who I am selecting. Kirsten Broschinsky has served with me on the Friends and Foundation of the Albany Public Library Board before being selected to fill the unexpired term of a person on the APL Trustees board.
Mary A. Rosch has worked on the FFAPL gala and other activities. She has been a speaker at the Tuesday book talks and will be again in August. At the event, she noted that she was involved in other community activities. She said she would willingly give up many of them if she were elected, suggesting she understands the scope of work.
My third vote will go to… I don’t know yet. I have eliminated three. Of the remaining, one lives on my street, and one reads my blog (which would NEVER affect my decision). Most have compelling narratives.
However, I enthusiastically support the $7,864,740 budget, which “reflects a two percent increase in the annual total tax levy.” As APL Executive Director Andrea Nicolay notes, “The increase supports our staff and core services, and positions us to leverage partnerships and grant opportunities. We are mindful that, these days, public libraries and civil liberties are under attack. We strive for excellence, and we don’t take community support for granted.”
School daze
The library vote coincides with the City School District of Albany budget. The board has “unanimously approved a $326.2 million budget proposal for the 2024-25 school year. The proposal includes no tax-levy increase for the second year in a row and the fourth time in the last nine years…
“Voters also will be asked to consider three additional school-related propositions, none of which would have any additional tax impact.”
The term of board member Hassan I. Elminyawi expires this spring. The Board of Education clerk told me he is running unopposed for reelection.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. on May 21. Please note that the voting locations do NOT necessarily correspond to those where one votes in the primary and general elections, and at least two venues have changed since the last school/library vote. Mail-in ballots are also available.
School board and school budget votes will be voted upon throughout New York State on that date.