Tag: city of Albany school district

Yikes! I’m going to need an absentee ballot!

library and school votes in ALB and statewide

I was going to be away starting on Tuesday, May 19, for the day. But I thought I could vote for the Albany school board, the library board, the school budget, and the library budget first thing in the morning, i.e., 7 a.m. But yikes! Because my travel plans changed, I’m going to need an absentee ballot! What is that process?

I need to go to the City School District of Albany headquarters, 1 Academy Park, Albany, NY, United States, 12207. This is the building northwest of Albany City Hall, south of Elk Street. And I need to go when the building is open, weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Not incidentally, New York State voters: you should check to see if there are budget and or board votes on May 19.

My next issue is deciding who to vote for in the library trustees races. Other than Sarah Macinski, I still don’t yet know which three of the nine candidates to select. I was impressed with them as a collective. I’ve asked people whose judgment I trust, and they were in similar straits. This is actually a good problem to have.   I’m voting for both budgets and both school propositions.  There will be a ZOOM candidate debate for the school board on May 18 at 6 pm, but I will have to have voted by then. 

I ALWAYS vote, dammit!

If you are voting at the polls in Albany on May 19, go to page 10 of this document for the location.

My wife said that she’s impressed by my commitment to voting. I probably said something like, “The franchise has not been available to everyone, and I’m certainly not throwing away my opportunity.” It’s also true that I believe local races are often more significant than larger races, yet participation rates are generally pathetic.  It’s simple math: other people’s apathy gives my vote more impact.

ICE discussion Thursday, May 14

Off topic, except for the venue:

Come join the NYCLU Capital Region community for an annual meeting on Thursday, May 14, at 5:30 pm in the Large Auditorium at the Albany Public Library Main Branch, 161 Washington Avenue, Albany.

The Topic is Constitutional Rights & Immigration

Led by Lauren DesRosiers, Assistant Professor and Director of the Immigration Law Clinic at the Edward P. Swyer Justice Center at Albany Law School, alongside Diego H. Alcalá Laboy, Assistant Professor at Albany Law School, this session is designed to help participants understand their rights in encounters with law enforcement or immigration officials. Topics include stops and seizures, customs and border protection, protesting and filming, as well as practical tips for being prepared in a range of scenarios.

Refreshments will be provided.  Free and open to the public.
RSVP here:

Albany PL Trustee Candidates Forum May 5

May 19 voting locations may differ from the general election

Swiped from here about the Albany Public Library: “The Trustee Candidates Forum is a moderated Q&A with the candidates running for Library Trustee.” It will be held on Tuesday, May 5, at 6 p.m., in the large auditorium at the Washington Avenue branch, 161 Washington Avenue.

“The questions and answers are prepared in advance, and the forum is moderated by a current trustee. The purpose of the forum is to give candidates a chance to share their views on libraries with the community, and for the community to hear the candidates out in preparation for the Library Budget Vote and Trustee Election on May 19.”

“Nine candidates will be on the May 19 ballot vying for three seats on the APL Board of Trustees. The following library trustee candidates submitted valid nominating petitions to the City School District of Albany and will appear on the ballot in this order, which is determined at random by the district:

1. Kathryn Bamberger
2. Lori Kochanski
3. Matthew Reed
4. Jenna Kersten
5. Smriti Sinha
6. Kayli McTague
7. Sarah Macinski (incumbent)
8. Kenneth Louzier
9. Leslie Dykeman

“This year, there are three open trustee seats: two full five-year terms and one partial one-year term. The two candidates who receive the highest number of votes are elected to the five-year terms, and the third highest vote-getter is elected to the one-year term.”

“This event also includes a brief Community Report & Budget Information session with APL Executive Director Andrea Nicolay.”

Here are the current and proposed library budgets.

Exercising the franchise

I will say there is one candidate I’m definitely voting for on May 19 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and two who are likely, but I will wait until the forum to decide for sure. I’m very excited that there are so many candidates. 

Also, I’m voting YES on the library budget. The increase is due in part to the usual demands on a system. Also, in some years past, before the current library director took over, the budget was NOT submitted to the public. The upside was that the previous year’s budget was automatically passed at the same level. But the downside was that the income didn’t keep pace with expenses.  

I’m voting YES on the school budget and the two propositions.

There are three candidates for two slots on the school board:

Tabitha Wilson (incumbent)

Quinn Lee, who is involved in public health

Serena White Lake, an attorney at Albany Law School

The three candidates will debate virtually on Monday, May 18, at 6 pm; the link should be available on the school district website in a few days.

If you are looking for where to vote, which is likely DIFFERENT from where you vote in primary and general elections, go here.

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