3:38 Montgomery County Executive Matt Ossenfort delivered his eighth State of the County address this week. As WAMC’s Southern Adirondack Bureau Chief Lucas Willard reports, the Republican reflected on the sacrifices made over the last year.
Ossenfort in his address reflected on those lost to COVID-19 – including former Amsterdam firefighter Dave Swart. The Dave behind the name of the Dave’s Dawgs food truck, Swart died of the virus in early April.
Ossenfort recalled watching the funeral procession alongside the county’s Director of Public and Mental Health, Sara Boerenko.
“The procession was kept private to mitigate the spread of the virus, but many attended, staying in their vehicles for the procession to pass by the Church Street location of Dave’s Dawgs. I was there, people were lined in that parking lot to watch. I was with Sara. Both of us were crying.
4:58
Troy has begun public meetings of its Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative. Tonight, city residents will have the chance to share their thoughts in a public forum. As WAMC’s Southern Adirondack Bureau Chief Lucas Willard reports, a coalition of the city’s Black leaders offered recommendations this week.
Like other municipalities in New York, under Executive Order 203, Troy is due to submit a report to the state on April 1st on police reform at the risk of losing state funding.
Troy Mayor Patrick Madden, a Democrat, announced at the start of Monday’s meeting that he wants to continue the dialogue on police reform after April 1.
3:34
Frustration over New York’s coronavirus vaccine rollout continues to dominate discussion at the municipal level. WAMC’s Southern Adirondack Bureau Chief Lucas Willard reports on Tuesday night’s city council meeting in Saratoga Springs…
There are limited places to receive a vaccine in Saratoga County. No pharmacies in the county have available vaccine. And the closest mass vaccination sites for those in New York’s Group 1B are in neighboring counties – like the state vaccination site that opened last week at the University at Albany, and SUNY Schenectady, which will host a vaccination site beginning January 25th.
Hospital workers and other frontline health professionals in group 1A have received vaccine in the hospital setting. Doses were also distributed to nursing homes. The county s public health department has been able to distribute its share of vaccine to authoritzed first responders, educators, public transit, front-facing grocery store workers, and so
3:09
Matt McCabe, a pillar of the Saratoga Springs music community and a former city councilor, recently died after battling COVID-19. As WAMC’s Southern Adirondack Bureau Chief Lucas Willard reports, a tribute is being planned in his honor.
Matt McCabe’s Saratoga Guitar stores have been a longtime staple of the Saratoga business community. Deann Devitt, President of the Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association, said news of McCabe’s death this week was a shock.
“It was at first very shocking and heartbreaking. Of course Matt was just a huge pillar of knowledge and selflessness in this community. It was a complete shock to all of us,” said Devitt.
4:22
The new year brings changes to the leadership at Saratoga County, and as WAMC’s Southern Adirondack Bureau Chief Lucas Willard reports, the moves are highlighting divides within county government.
The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors held its organizational meeting for 2021 on Wednesday.
With a new year came the selection of a new county board chair, with a weighted majority of supervisors choosing Moreau Supervisor Todd Kusnierz, a Republican.
“Quite frankly, I think the Board of Supervisors were looking for someone who would effectively lead the county and I think that’s why my name was put forward,” said Kusnierz.