Albany Today

Albany Mayor Marge Atkinson, City Administrator Beth Pollard, School District Superintendent Marla Stephenson, Polic Chief Mike McQuiston, and Fire Chief Marc McGinn will give talks on issues of public concern this coming Wednesday, May 27th, 11:30am – 1:30pm, at Six Degrees on Solano.

The State of the City Luncheon is sponsored by the Albany Chamber of Commerce. Click here to view details.

The Albany Unified School District decided to sell a $10 million bond to construct a new swimming pool at a meeting Tuesday.

The pool bond was approved by Albany voters in Feb. 2008. The district had postponed its issuance because of the volatility of the financial markets and budget uncertainties. David Glasser, President of Board of Education, said it is a good time to sell the bond right now. Read the rest of this entry »

Election workers at polling places in Albany and elsewhere say turnout has been very light today in the state’s special election. However, the results of the election will have a big impact on California residents. Read the rest of this entry »

The City of Albany and its Sustainability Committee are sponsoring the first annual Green Albany Day on Sunday, May 17, 2009 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Veterans’ Building in Memorial Park. Along with hands-on activities for children, 30 informational booths and six environmental workshops, the event will feature the unveiling of Albany’s draft Climate Action plan. Read the rest of this entry »

By Barbara Grady-Ayer

Even as the days count down to the May 19 election that will decide whether California schools must endure yet further spending cuts, the Albany school district has set up a tentative plan for how it would restore programs should it be able to reallocate money to meet priorities in the wake of a drastic reduction to its budget Read the rest of this entry »

Oscar Rodriguez, a custodian at Albany Unified School District, went to attend a Board of Education meeting last Tuesday. It was the first time he ever attended a School Board meeting, after working for the District for 22 years. As the District is laying off dozens of employees and taking other drastic measures to deal with budget problems, people like Rodriguez are starting to feel that they need to pay close attention to what decisions district officials are making.

“We want to know about what’s happening, ” Rodriguez said. “It’s getting tough.” Read the rest of this entry »

Hate to dump your old computer or TV on the sidewalk? Albany residents could now call (510) 528-4052 to schedule a free pickup of your e-waste. Read the rest of this entry »

The controversy in the Albany Unified School District over school time took another turn last week. The District decided to freeze a recent Board resolution on the issue after negotiations with the Albany Teachers’ Association.

“It’s a compromise,” said Board President David Glasser. “We decided that it’s in the best interest of the district after we weighed alternatives. ” Read the rest of this entry »

Peggy  McQuaid, President of the Albany Community Foundation, wrote the following message calling for help with the Mental Health Program at the Albany High School:

The Albany Community Foundation and the Albany Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Council will be holding a yard sale on Saturday, May 2 at 1604 Marin Ave. Albany from 9:00 – 2:00.  This sale is unique because all of the proceeds will go to towards stipends for the mental health interns at Albany High School.  Last school year, mental health interns helped 145 Albany High School students.  The need is great. Read the rest of this entry »

Albany Mayor Marge Atkinson and Vice Mayor Joanne Wile wrote the following letter responding to the commentary Albany’s public funds should not be used on a disappearing waterfront published on Albany Today earlier this week.

“Both of us, along with all the members of the City Council, have supported a visioning process, so that we can hear everyone’s ideas, including those who think we should do nothing.”

Dear Readers of Albany Today:

We are glad to see that Albany’s “Voices to Vision” community visioning process with Fern Tiger Associates is already generating ideas.  We respect Mr. Barnes and Mr. Blanchard, the authors of the latest opinion piece in Albany Today, about this planning process.  We hope that they will participate in the community meetings in their neighborhoods and express their ideas. Read the rest of this entry »