trustees Archives - Ramblin' with Roger

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.

Election Days

Albany mayor

Many voters in New York State have election days in May and June. On May 20, there will be the Annual Budget Vote and School Board Election in most geographies. The polling places may or may not be at the location of the general election.

In the city of Albany, there is also the Albany Public Library budget and selection of two library trustees. You’ll find a lot of information here. “The proposed 2025-2026 tax levy of $8,257,997 reflects a 5% increase over last year’s operating budget tax levy. The increase is under this year’s New York State tax cap for APL.” Yes, I’m supporting the budget. There were a few years in the past decade when no increase was requested, and I thought it was shortsighted at the time.

The five candidates, listed in ballot order, are:
(1) Aidan Hennessey of Grand St., 12202
(2) Christina Wiggins of State St., 12203
(3) Shaniqua Jackson of Patroon Creek Blvd., 12206
(4) Michele Greenblatt of South Main Ave., 12208
(5) Rachael Vonada of Mountainview Ave., 12208

The trustee forum can be watched using the above link. I attended the May 6 event and have my preferences.

I’ve seen the earlier printed material for Christina Wiggins when she was running for both the Common Council (the city council) and the library trustee. Even though she didn’t make it on the Common Council ballot, I thought the move showed incredible hubris. Moreover, her “No to the property tax increase” – does she mean the school district, the library, or both? – I disagree with.

Michele Greenblatt’s recent Facebook posts display a mixed bag on freedom of expression.

This leaves three. Rachael Vonada had the most support in the room. A library insider is a fan, so YES. Aiden Hennessey’s responses were fine, but Shaniqua Jackson’s seemed more thoughtful, so I’ll likely vote for her.

Albany mayor

Someone asked me in October 2024 about my assessment of candidates for Albany’s next mayor. At the time, Corey Ellis had not entered the race, but he has since.

I wrote that by March, I’d know who I supported in the Democratic primary, tantamount to an election. One person I know well is strong on the “outsider.” I have read that he is “in the pocket of out-of-state, right-wing capital.” But I’ve also heard that this characterization was a smear campaign by one of his opponents, the one I don’t particularly like, so I don’t know what to think.

To date, none of them have filled out a Ballotpedia survey.

Here’s a WRGB debate from April 30. One of my acquaintances rightly complained about the mayoral candidates’ answers about parking downtown. “One chided about getting parking tickets while they live within a mile, another said we can’t grow the city without more parking.” But studies find that, compared to other cities, real estate eaten up by parking vehicles in Albany is not out of the ordinary. I still haven’t decided.

I know even less about other races, such as the city auditor contest. So, I’m open to persuasion. That primary election is Tuesday, June 24.

Ready, Set, Library

National Library Week Soiree April 10

From the ALA press release: “National Library Week (April 7-13, 2024) is a time to celebrate our nation’s libraries, library workers’ contributions and promote library use and support. The theme for National Library Week 2024 is ‘Ready, Set, Library,’ illustrating the idea that in our always-online world, libraries give us a green light to something truly special: a place to connect with others, learn new skills, and focus on what matters most. “

Long before there was an online world, libraries were a special place for me. So much so that when, separately, two people tried to encourage me to run for one of the three Open Seats on the Albany Public Library Board of Trustees, I had to pause a moment before saying no.

How did I find a way to resist the temptation? This was a very ego-gratifying ask. The role is important. I am well qualified. (Why am I uncomfortable writing a sentence about myself that is demonstrably true? I’ll ask my shrink as soon as I get one.)

I said no because I had to reread something I wrote three months ago, Saying NO and being OK. Just because I published it doesn’t mean I had internalized it.

I’ve looked at the markers. A pile of medical reimbursements I could have submitted three months ago is still growing. I get notifications from Ancestry about my genealogy that I haven’t checked all of 2024. The number of completed blog posts in my reserve pile is constantly shrinking.

Already doing library stuff

Some of the issues are library-related. I’m on the Friends and Foundation of the Albany Public Library board and have a project that’s become a bit of an albatross.

More pressingly, three of us have been finding speakers for the book reviews, and the author talks every Tuesday at 2 p.m. Usually, the person who books them takes care of details, such as checking their technological needs and introducing the speaker. But one of us has recently been in the hospital and is still in rehabilitation. This means more work on the engagement day and finding speakers for future talks.

(Maybe it was a too-subtle hint. I’m actively looking for folks who would like to do book reviews, and author talks in July or later.)

BTW, here’s the April schedule for the 2 pm Tuesday talks at the Washington Avenue branch:

April 2 | Special Program | Donna Liquori, freelance writer & editor, writes the Bibliofiles column for the Albany Times Union; she will discuss the culture of reading.

April 9 | Book Review | American Visions: The United States: 1800-1860 by Edward L. Ayers. Reviewer: John Rowen, former president, Friends of APL.

April 16 | Author Talk | Katherine Harbour, who is inspired by world mythology & folklore, discusses & reads from her Young Adult novel, The Dark Fable: Magic . . . Mayhem . . . Murder.

April 23 | Book Review | Freedom’s Dominion: A Saga of White Resistance to Federal Power by Jefferson Cowie. Reviewer: Erasmus Schneider, PhD, retired cancer researcher, interested in current affairs & history.

April 30 | Book Review | New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson. Reviewer: Mark Lowery, MS, assistant director, Office of Climate Change, NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation.

More NLW stuff

The FFAPL is having a National Library Week Soiree on Wednesday, April 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the Delaware Avenue branch of the Albany Public Library. The event costs $30. Here’s the NLW Kelly FFAPL flyer.

Jack Kelly, journalist, historian, and author of God Save Benedict Arnold: The True Story of America’s Most Hated Man, will give a short talk on a fresh perspective on the reasons for Arnold’s momentous change of heart.

Dinner is to be catered by Mamoun’s Falafel, including meat and vegan options. Wine, coffee, and dessert included. Tickets are available online now.