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Albany has an illustrious history, its city streets have been graced by likes of great Americans such Herman Melville, Teddy Roosevelt, and our often forgotten hometown hero Henry Johnson.

Following his acts of heroism in the Argonne Forest during World War I, single-handedly fighting off a German raid, France awarded Sgt. Johnson with one of their country’s highest military decorations offered at the time in 1918. After decades of fighting for recognition, Johnson received a Purple Heart in 1996 and, finally, in 2015, he posthumously received a Medal of Honor. In 2023, the U.S. Army renamed an entire base after him.

For its part, the city of Albany has shown its appreciation for this hero by naming a street after him and dedicating a park space with a bust of Johnson; however, I think more should be done to enshrine his memory. Previously, I contacted the city to propose the idea of having a short parade in his honor, starting at his park, then traveling south down Clinton Avenue, and ending at the Skyway. In my letter, I mentioned how naming the Skyway after him could be another way to show the city’s reverence for this great hero.

Visitors and residents alike seldom go to the small park with the bust and the boulevard has been notoriously blighted for decades. Naming the new and highly visible Skyway after him could refresh and revitalize his memory in a whole new way that was never done before.

Published May 12, 2025

The Times Union’s welcome coverage of Albany’s belated efforts to deal with its high levels of lead poisoning noted that lead contamination from antiquated water pipes and old, flaking paint has poisoned generations of children. It noted that damage from lead poisoning is irreversible. And that lead stunts children’s growth and potential, which in turn can contribute to keeping neighborhoods mired in poverty.

What is buried deeper than the lead pipes being described is another potential result of the damage done by this neurotoxin — violence. A column by a Minnesota doctor just days after the Times Union's coverage stated that “lead not only impacts learning and memory, but it can also impact a person’s mood, which can include depression and anxiety, as well as violence and aggressive behavior.” This is not new information. Mother Jones reported in 2016 that “America’s real criminal element is lead.” A 2019 study of lead exposure concluded that “higher childhood blood lead level was associated with greater psychopathology across the life course and difficult adult personality traits.” Young people and others are being blamed for actions rooted not in their character but in physical damage from societal neglect.

Whatever the cost of finally abating Albany’s lead problem is, letting it continue will be far more costly, in dollars, health, and safety.

The writer is a Senior Staff Attorney at the New York State Defenders Association.

Published May 12, 2025

No child should suffer from lead poisoning, which harms growth and intellect. The Times Union’s recent reporting about a law that is slated to take effect “later this year,” and which will require owners of older buildings to have inspections every three years seems to me to be unconscionable foot-dragging on this vital public health matter. How many children will be hurt before the inspections and necessary remediations take place, assuming the law is even enforced? Resources should be directed immediately to inspect all units and to take action as needed. Are there any American Rescue Funds that could finance this? Could we train volunteers to help with testing? For vulnerable children who will be irreparably harmed, there is no time to waste.

Published May 12, 2025

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Here are my two cents on the revitalization of downtown Albany:

Published May 12, 2025

Planning boards use specific criteria to evaluate proposed projects, but politics is not among them. The Colonie Planning Board must ignore the noise and approve, or send the application back for modification and resubmission, the proposed Tesla dealership, which would replace a vacant building with a state-of-the-art facility. The board's decision must be based solely on the application's merit. As a non-Tesla electric vehicle owner, I applaud any attempt to move away from fossil fuels.

The writer is a retired UPS driver.

Published May 12, 2025

The Capital Region benefits from one of the best regional airports in the Northeast. The Albany........

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