ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -100 days is how long the nightlife economy council has to write up an interim report. The topic? How to bring fun back to Albany. It’s the result of Mayor Dorcey Applyrs’ first executive order.
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“The benefit of having a xennial, a 44-year-old mayor, is that she understands nightlife is a critical component of Albany’s economy and Lark Street is ground zero in that regard,” said Jesse Sommer. He’s the owner of New Scotland Spirits and added that the solution to fun will be more than just telling people to come out and have a great time. “The nightlife is downstream of addressing those larger Albany issues. Unhousedness, drug addiction, mental illness. We need to start tackling the problems on the street level.”
A few buildings down, NEWS10’s Anthony Krolikowski met Dustin. Currently unhoused, he told Krolikowski that he’s been in and out of homelessness and working on getting a place of his own.
Dorcey Applyrs sworn-in as Albany mayor
“I always feel safe. I know some people don’t, I understand that. There’s certain problems that the city does have. Lot of people that are down and out and I understand that,” described Dustin. “On the flip side though, I’ve bared witness to how foolish a lot of these homeless folks can act. So it’s a 50-50.”
Helping advise the council and implement any programs is 6th Ward Member Deirdre Brodie. She said it’s important for the council to be brutally honest with the current administration. “I think the moniker, ‘As Lark Street goes, the city goes,’ is actually quite true. And it’s no surprise that anybody who lives here or works here or owns a business here knows Lark Street has seen better days.”…