August 28, 2023
The Community Digest is TIMBER’s newsletter on recent news and upcoming events in Troy and the broader Capital Region. This month’s Community Digest is brought to you by Troy Bike Rescue, a collective of cycling enthusiasts operating a volunteer-run bicycle resource space in North Central Troy.
TROY
Troy’s August vacancy list shows 65 openings, up from 63 in July.
Troy authorized the issuance of $15.6m serial bonds to finance the cost of the city’s water treatment plant. The determination to bond flows downstream of issues identified during Troy’s lead service line replacement program.
Troy and Watervliet passed resolutions in support of a Local Government Efficiency grant application to study the feasibility of a consolidated code enforcement agreement across four municipalities.
On August 24, Governor Hochul announced $35.6m in short-term market-rate financing and a $3m WIIA grant to replace transmission mains.
The Civil Service Commission established and modified several positions largely pertaining to housing and public utilities.
$3m in ARPA funds were allocated to the 1 Monument Square project.
Troy authorized the issuance of $1.5m in serial bonds to purchase the Masonic Temple on Water Plant Road.
Dylan Turek was appointed as the new Commissioner of Planning and Community Development. Turek replaces Steve Strichman, who stepped down for a role with the Schenectady Metroplex in June.
To address the city’s challenges around procuring sodium fluorosilicate, the city has accepted $50k to study fluoridation alternatives.
Vanderhyden Estate residents have requested a 25-mile-per-hour speed limit in their neighborhood. If implemented, the neighborhood would be the first to take advantage of a 2022 state law granting municipalities more control over traffic.
The Troy Industrial Development Authority and Capital Resource Corporation met to discuss - among other things - open meetings law compliance, local discretion over PILOTs, and the rigor of pro forma scrutiny in the past and going forward.
Having already spent months going in circles with engineers, staff, consultants, lawyers, and other experts, Troy now looks to the clergy to resolve whatever is going on with Harbour Point.
CHARTIS’ HEALTH EQUITY SURVEY
The New York State Department of Health requires Trinity Health and St. Peter’s Health Partners (SPHP) to conduct a Health Equity Assessment prior to moving forward with plans to close the Burdett Birth Center. Trinity is paying Chartis to complete this assessment. Chartis’ parent company - Audax - specializes in middle-market private debt and equity. The center conducting the study, the Chartis Center for Health Equity & Belonging, was publicly established last month.
Chartis may or may not use your survey information as part of the report they will send to NYSDOH — except Question 10. Your statement therein, which is limited to 250 words, must be submitted to NYSDOH. We advise members of the community who choose to fill out the Chartis survey to do the following:
(1) Be explicit in your responses about the seriousness of the Burdett Birth Center closure and the impact it will have on you and on the following communities. Be sure to share if you identify as any of the following:
Women and LGBTQIA+ people;
Racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants;
People with low incomes and those who are enrolled in Medicaid or are uninsured;
People with disabilities; and
Rural residents.
(2) Advise Trinity Health/SPHP to host a forum to meaningfully engage with the public impacted by the proposed closure.
(3) Please fill out Question 10! Trinity must submit your response to this question (in its entirety!) to NYSDOH as part of the Health Equity Impact Assessment.
Although the link to the written version of the survey appears to have closed early, the audio survey is still available online.
Thank you for your continued support of the Burdett Birth Center.
AROUND THE HORN
86.1% of UPS Teamsters voted to ratify a 5-year collective bargaining agreement with the United Parcel Service. A complete summary of the contract’s major changes and improvements is available here.
Libraries in Troy, Waterford, and Watervliet received money for roof repairs and other improvements under New York State’s Library Construction Fund.
Watervliet officials shared their approach to infrastructure maintenance with the Troy Record earlier this month. “When you pave your roads and you do the infrastructure improvements, there’s your better impact for the residents,” LaCivita said. “You’re able to drive over roads that aren’t bumpy. It makes our equipment maintain roads better from a plowing perspective, from a street sweeper perspective.”
Employees throughout the Saint Peter’s Health Partners system have been filing ULPs pertaining to coercive rules, retaliation, and unilateral changes to contracts.
The New York Power Authority received an A1 bond rating this month.
The future of South End Grocery is uncertain following the news of the nonprofit’s loan defaults. Fortunately, Troy’s nonprofit grocery stores are looking really, really normal.
On August 8, DEC held two in-person sessions for public comments regarding the Dunn Landfill in Rensselaer, a 99-acre dump abutting a public school. Today is the last day to submit written comments to DEC.
APWU Local 390 has filed a flurry of ULPs against USPS regarding bad faith bargaining, retaliation, and refusal to furnish information.
A recent NLRB decision (Cemex Construction Materials Pacific) creates a new framework to speed up elections and automatically recognize union representation when employers interfere with organizing by engaging in unfair labor practices. This is the latest in a long string of board decisions expanding the rights of organizing workers.
ON THE HORIZON
DEC will host a virtual Capital Region community air monitoring meeting on September 6 beginning at 6pm.
Also on September 6, 65 workers at Crane Stationery in Cohoes will vote over whether to certify USW as their bargaining unit representative.
The Michael L. Burns Labor Day Parade will be led by Grand Marshal Bill Ritchie on September 8 beginning around 5pm.
On September 14, the New York League of Conservation Voters will host a public forum for Troy’s mayoral candidates at the Arts Center of the Capital Region.
Also on September 14, Citizen Action will honor Ivette Alfonso, Tina Lieberman-Cohen, and New York State Legislative Workers United at the Jim Perry Progressive Leadership Awards in Albany.
On September 21, United Tenants of Albany will celebrate its 50th anniversary at the Albany Labor Temple.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
The New York State Coalition Against Sexual Assault is hiring a Communications Director and Public Policy Director.
The Office of Senator Gillibrand is hiring a Regional Assistant.
NYSNA is hiring a Program Representative.
NYSUT is hiring a Project Organizer.
In Our Own Voices is hiring a Community Engagement Specialist.
Empire Justice Center is hiring an Education Debt Staff Attorney.
Troy is hiring.
If there are stories, events, job openings, or meetings that you’d like to see included in future Community Digests, please reach out to greg@timbercorp.org. If you enjoyed this digest but didn’t receive it directly, you can sign up for future newsletters below.
