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From YouTube: Legislative Public Hearing - August, 29 2023
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A
A
A
E
D
24Th
president,
all
right,
we
have
Quorum.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
The
governing
law
direction.
We
hold
the
public
hearing
prior
to
the
passage
of
certain
legislation.
In
addition,
our
rules
prohibit
members
of
the
public
and
questioning
legislators
prohibits
us
from
questioning
you.
Speakers
are
called
and
you
order.
Their
names
appear
on
the
sign
up
sheet.
Speakers
are
permitted
three
minutes
tonight
to
express
their
views
on
the
relevant
topics.
F
Hello
I
am
offering
public
comment
on
behalf
of
Capitol
District
tobacco-free
communities,
a
program
funded
by
the
New
York
State
Department
of
Health
to
promote
tobacco-free
living
in
Albany,
Schenectady
and
Rensselaer
counties.
Our
program
has
three
primary
goals:
one
to
reduce
tobacco
use
overall,
two
prevent
youth
initiation
and
three
protect
people
from
exposure
to
second-hand
smoke.
My
comments
are
focused
on
the
benefits
of
prohibiting
smoking
and
vaping
of
both
tobacco
and
cannabis.
F
On
Albany
County
property,
we've
worked
with
more
than
20
Capital
District
municipalities
to
make
their
property
smoke
and
vape
free,
and
we
applaud
the
county
effort
to
expand
their
current
policy
to
include
e-cigarettes
cannabis,
smokeless
tobacco
and
all
County
Properties
local
lodgy
States
in
its
states,
its
intent
as
follows.
The
Albany
County
Legislature,
finds
that
each
year
forty
one
thousand
people
die
prematurely
from
exposure
to
second-hand
smoke.
According
to
the
U.S
Surgeon
General,
there
is
no
safe
level
of
secondhand
smoke.
F
Exposure
e-cigarette
aerosol
can
also
contain
harmful
and
potentially
harmful
substances,
including
nicotine,
ultrafine
particles,
flavoring,
chemicals,
volatile
organic
compounds
and
heavy
metals.
County
employees
and
visitors
to
Albany,
County,
buildings
or
Vehicles
should
be
able
to
work
and
seek
services
without
being
exposed
to
second-hand
smoke
or
e-cigarette
papers.
Aerosols
and
smells
end
quote.
There
is
no
safe
level
of
second-hand
smoke.
Exposure
commercial
tobacco
smoke
contains
hundreds
of
harmful
chemicals.
There
are
more
than
seven
thousand
chemicals
in
tobacco
smoke,
including
hundreds
of
chemicals
that
are
toxic
and
about
70
that
cause
cancer.
F
Even
brief
exposure
can
cause
serious
health
problems.
Secondhand
smoke
can
cause
coronary
heart
disease,
stroke
and
lung
cancer
in
adults
who
do
not
smoke.
Local
Logie
creates
a
perimeter
of
25
feet
from
the
entrance
that
prohibits
smoking.
Perimeter
policies
are
not
effective.
Perimeter
policies
put
the
onus
on
individuals
to
use
their
judgment
of
distance,
which
can
vary
from
person
to
person.
Perimeter
policies
do
not
keep
smoke
in
aerosols
from
drifting
into
the
buffer
zone
and
perimeter
policies
are
much
more
difficult
to
effectively
communicate
and
enforce.
F
Creating
smoke-free
properties
is
the
only
way
to
prevent
exposure,
smoke
and
vape
free
policies
that
restrict
the
use
of
all
products
which
can
be
smoked
and
all
products
that
can
be
Vaped
are
the
most
beneficial
to
Public
Health
to
Environmental
Protection,
and
also
help
to
firmly
establish
a
tobacco-free
Norm.
The
inclusion
of
smokeless
tobacco
in
the
new
policy
language
provides
significant
protections
for
maintenance
workers
and
the
environment.
Smokeless
tobacco
is
harmful
to
users
and
smokeless
tobacco
brine
products
contain
at
least
24
carcinogenic
chemicals,
creating
a
health
and
safety
risk
for
maintenance
staff.
F
There
are
no
safe
forms
of,
or
levels
of
tobacco
use.
There
are
significant
benefits
to
prohibiting
the
smoking
and
vaping
of
tobacco
and
cannabis
on
All
County
property.
Local
governments
have
a
special
responsibility
to
make
public
services
and
programs
accessible
to
all
members
of
the
community,
including
those
with
health
conditions
that
can
be
exacerbated
by
exposure
to
second-hand
smoke
and
e-cigarette
emissions.
F
Over
the
years,
our
office
has
fielded
many
calls
from
City
residents
whose
access
to
public
services
was
impeded
by
the
presence
of
second-hand
smoke
near
City
buildings
and
entryways
cdtfc
can
provide
information
and
technical
assistance
on
policy
implementation,
including
Community
Education,
to
maximize
compliance
and
free
custom
signage
to
help
communicate
the
policy.
Prominent
signage
is
the
primary
way
to
communicate
the
policy
and
it
creates
an
expectation
of
all
employees
and
visitors
that
they
refrain
from
smoking
while
on
County
property.
F
Local
municipalities
can
also
get
support
from
the
public
health
law
Center,
which
is
contracted
by
the
New
York
State
Department
of
Health
to
provide
law
and
policy
expertise
related
to
commercial
Tobacco
Control.
All
these
services
are
funded
by
the
state
of
New
York
tobacco
control
program
and
are
free
to
local
governments.
Thank
you.
G
G
As
my
colleague
said,
the
intent
of
local
law
G
is
very
clear
and
a
goal
that
we
really
support
and
that's
making
all
County
services
and
resources
more
more
accessible
by
preventing
exposure
to
harmful
second-hand
smoke
and
aerosols,
and
as
someone
who
has
for
years,
fielded
calls
from
people
throughout
the
Capital
District
who
are
concerned
or
have
been
concerned
about
their
own
exposure
to
second-hand
smoke
and
aerosols
on
public
property.
G
You
ask
five
different
people,
what
25
foot
feet
from
an
entrances
and
you're
likely
to
get
two
or
three
different
answers,
and
maybe
even
five
boundaries
that
require
interpretation
that
are
subject
to
interpretation
are
make
individual
compliance
with
those
boundaries
somewhat
subjective,
but
there's
an
even
bigger
concern,
and
that
is
that
an
outdoor
settings
smoke
and
aerosols
can
travel
much
farther
than
25
feet.
I
have
a
neighbor
who
smokes
on
his
deck,
which
is
in
the
back
of
my
house,
and
he's
at
least
75
feet
away.
G
I
keep
the
windows
to
the
to
towards
his
deck
close,
but
his
smoke
regularly
comes
into
my
house
via
my
side
windows,
and
the
same
is
true
for
Neighbors
on
either
side.
So
buffer
zones
for
smoking
and
vaping
simply
aren't
effective
at
really
preventing
unwanted
exposure
to
secondhand
smoke
and
aerosols.
There's
no
policy.
That's
going
to
be
a
hundred
percent,
making
an
entire
property
smoking
vape
free,
which
would
include
parking,
lots
and
sitting
areas.
G
Lunch
areas
lawn
areas,
that's
the
best
way
to
maximize
the
public
health
benefits
of
having
a
smoke
and
vapory
policy,
and
it's
also
easier
to
communicate
because
saying
this
is
a
smoke
and
vape
free
property
period
makes
it
easier
for
people
to
understand.
It
makes
it
easier
for
people
to
comply
when
you
have
a
building
that
has
a
front
door
that
goes
right
out
into
the
public
Street.
That's
where
the
additional
perimeter
policy
can
be
helpful.
G
It
may
be
property
over
which
the
county
doesn't
own
it
or
have
authority.
But
if
it's
possible
to
extend
to
have
a
25
or
a
perimeter
policy
from
an
entryway
in
addition
to
property,
that
can
sometimes
be
a
really
helpful
thing
to
do.
G
I'm
glad
to
see
that
the
law
requires
posting
signage,
as
my
colleague
said,
we
provide
signage
at
no
cost
to
the
county.
In
fact,
any
of
the
tools
or
implementation
assistance
we
provide
is
also
free
of
charge.
Thank
you
for
allowing
me
this
time.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
A
D
H
Thank
you
very
much.
My
name
is
Allegra
Shore
I'm,
president
of
the
Coalition
of
medication,
assisted
treatment
providers
and
Advocates
known
as
compa
we're
the
Statewide
Association
representing
opiate
treatment
programs.
Those
are
the
methadone
programs
and
medication,
assisted
treatment
programs
for
New
York
State.
We
represent
hospitals
as
well
as
freestanding
programs.
There
are
over
44
000
New
Yorkers,
currently
receiving
treatment
for
opiate
use
disorder
in
Our
member
programs.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
share
our
concerns
regarding
local
law
number
F
tonight.
H
Kompa
respectfully
opposes
this
proposed
law.
Methadone
has
a
lot
of
stigma.
It's
an
extremely
effective
treatment,
it's
been
around
for
close
to
50
years
and
it
saves
lives,
but
the
stigma
is
widespread
and
that's
nothing
new.
This
has
gone
on
for
decades,
but
what
is
new
is
the
scope
of
death
and
Devastation
that
the
opioid
epidemic
has
caused
and
continues
to
cause
in
our
communities.
H
So
I
truly
understand
the
fear
that
people
fear
when
they
hear
the
methadone
program
may
be
opening
in
their
Community,
but
I'm
here
to
tell
you
that,
with
a
good
provider
operating
a
methadone
program,
those
fears
really
are
unfounded.
There's
lots
of
studies
that
show
the
methadone
saves
lives
that
they
really
operate
like
a
regular
doctor's
programs.
H
People
are
not
aware
the
people
come
and
go
and
are
receiving
treatment
in
a
good,
Methadone,
Program
quietly
and
there's
a
you
said,
show
the
crime
gets
reduced,
so
at
the
end
of
the
day,
these
really
are
unfounded.
When
a
member
comes
to
us
and
says
they
want
to
open
a
methadone
program,
one
of
the
first
things
we
tell
them
is
well.
H
You
need
to
go
to
the
community
and
get
some
allies
work
with
the
community,
because
you
can't
open
a
methadone
program
like
sort
of
sneaking
in
in
the
middle
of
the
night,
because
you
need
to
work
with
the
community
at
the
end
of
the
day,
you're
going
to
be
part
of
that
neighborhood,
and
so
you
can't
just
sort
of
think
you're
going
to
sneak
in,
because
you've
got
to
work
with
the
churches.
You
got
to
work
with
the
stores,
so
you
have
to
be
part
of
the
fabric
of
the
community.
H
So
that's
that's
our
advice
to
anybody
who
wants
to
operate
a
good
program,
and
so
that's
what
we
encourage.
People
to
do
so,
it's
it's
how
you
become
successful,
so
our
concern
with
this
particular
law
is
that
the
one
of
the
big
procedures
is
that
this
is
already
actually,
in
effect,
that
Oasis
has
actually
put
in
that
very
knowledge
by
in
their
licensure
program.
H
They
advise
us
to
make
sure
that
we
contact
the
local
government
unit
now,
I
think
one
of
the
things
that
happens
is
that
that
process
happens,
but
I
know
this
particular
law
talks
about
notifying
beyond
that
local
government
unit.
Well,
one
of
the
things
that
we're
concerned
about
is
there's
certainly
enlightened
officials.
That
may
happen
that,
certainly
in
a
city
like
a
county
like
Albany,
those
people
may
be
notified,
but
there's
also
lots
of
counties
that
could
hear
this
law
take
this
up,
and
this
could
have
a
cascading
effect
Beyond
this
particular
County.
H
So
that's
one
of
our
big
concerns
that
this
would
really
end
up
with
a
war
and
would
end
up
a
locking
treatment
and
people
would
end
up
not
getting
the
treatment
that
they
really
need.
So
I
hope,
you'll
consider
those
kind
of
considerations.
We.
We
really
appreciate
your
your
thoughts
on
this
and
your
consideration.
Thank
you
very
much
for
your
time.
I
Theoretical
members
of
the
Albany
County
Legislature
for
those
of
you
who
do
not
know
me,
my
name
is
Tim
Lane
and
I
am
an
elected
member
of
the
men
names
village
board.
I
am
a
trustee
and
a
long-standing
member
of
the
community
for
full
disclosure,
Allison
McLean
Lane
is
my
spouse,
so
I,
don't
want
to.
You
know,
have
any
misconception
that
I'm
here.
Otherwise,
please
know
that
this
law
will
not
prevent
a
facility
from
opening.
I
You
may
have
likely
been
told
this
will
result
in
a
moratorium
or
where
it
will
absolutely
not.
This
is
a
matter
of
government
transparency,
New,
York,
state
mental
health
law,
section
32
stipulates
that
application
applicants
for
proposed
substance,
abuse
disorder
treatments
be
reviewed
by
the
local
government
unit,
as
you
just
heard,
do
not
be
misled.
I
That
does
not
refer
to
local
boards
or
government
officials
that
refers
to
the
Albany
County
Department
of
Mental
Health
in
the
case,
in
the
case
of
Albany
County
ldu,
being
the
Albany
County
departmental
Health
they're
required
to
review
the
applicant
and
approve
the
substance
use
disorder
treatment
facility
before
it
is
submitted
to
Oasis
for
licensing
City
councils,
town
and
Village
boards
may
not
address
these
matters
on
the
zoning
level.
Oasis
inform
the
village
board
ourselves
that
they
are.
I
They
do
not
engage
in
this
municipalities
have
no
say
in
the
licensing
or
approval
and
what
we
found
in
this
process
being
undertaken
by
them
that
it
is
lacks
and
flawed
to
a
great
degree.
In
addition,
it
leaves
local
officials
like
us
and
you
out
of
the
loop.
This
law
will
only
require
that
the
all
that
the
Albany
County
Department
of
Mental
Health
notify
local
officials,
town,
let
town
city
Village,
as
elected
officials
of
a
proposed
submission.
I
I
I
feel
that
it's
necessary
to
let
you
know,
give
you
synopsis
of
the
occurrences
which
led
us
here
this
evening
in
March,
while
Gathering
signatures,
Allison
was
advised
by
constituent
that
a
methadone
clinic
was
going
to
open
in
what
had
been
the
Price
Chopper
Plaza
at
444
Broadway,
this
constituents
home
and
her
name,
and
that
of
her
neighbors
buds,
the
plaza
and
due
to
media
coverage
and
the
alarming
stories
and
issues
in
the
Albany
City
have
communion
Nuevo.
She
and
her
neighbors
were
not
unreasonably.
I
You
know
concerned
as
a
result
of
that
being
in
the
member
of
the
village
board,
I
was
taken
aback
that
I
was
not
notified
and
it
was
not
made
aware
that
this
had
been
brought
up
to
at
the
village
board
and
I
brought
up
at
the
next
bill
was
board
meeting
on
April
3rd
I
learned
that,
although
the
mayor
and
one
of
the
other
board
members
were
aware
the
rest
because
they
had
been
notified
by
the
building
inspector,
the
one,
the
one
member
as
he
was
the
liaison
time.
I
Well,
you
have
copies
of
my
statements
and
I
just
wanted
to
you
know
let
you
know
that
we
want
you
to
consider
that
this
is
a
matter
of
just
transparency.
That's
all
this
is
nothing
more.
Thank
you.
God
bless.
You.
A
B
B
B
A
good
example
of
this
is
Camino
Nuevo.
So
we
talk
about
stigma
attached
with
this
and
there's
been
stigma
for
decades.
What
causes
this
stigma?
Perhaps
it's
a
situation
that
we
see
at
Camino
Nuevo,
where
the
number
of
persons
to
be
seen
has
exploded
past
what
was
originally
called
for
and
they
can't
handle
it,
and
you
have
people
on
the
street
and
you
have
needles
on
the
street
and
it's
a
bad
situation.
It's
a
bad
situation.
The
assemblyman
McDonald
wrote
a
letter
to
Oasis
pleading
with
them
to
move
Camino
Nuevo,
that's
a
problem.
B
The
people
of
Camino
Nuevo
had
no
say
in
having
that
put
in
their
neighborhood.
That's
not
right.
Everyone
should
have
a
say
as
to
what's
going
into
their
neighborhood.
That's
all
that
this
law
calls
for
local
L7
will
require
a
close
analysis
of
these
patient
demographics.
Here's
another
problem:
The
Limited
otp's,
outside
Albany,
County
exasperate.
The
challenges
that
localized
7
aims
to
address.
B
And
boy
time
goes
by,
doesn't
it
so
let
me
so
in
closing.
Let
me
say
this:
you
know,
as
we
consider
this
crisis
vast
ramifications,
we
can't
Overlook
the
resident's
rights
and
voices
now
I
want
to
ask
everybody.
That's
coming
up
here
to
oppose
the
law.
I,
ask
you
this
question
and
it's:
why
should
the
rights
of
a
recovering
addict
supersede
a
homeowner's
rights?
B
It's
not
right,
and
this
isn't
about
diminishing
one
over
the
other.
It's
about
a
balanced
approach,
my
time's
up
and
by
voting
yes,
the
people
in
this
body.
You
have
a
responsibility
to
vote
Yes
on
this
and
to
ensure
a
path
forward.
That's
inclusive,
compassionate
and
effective.
It's
a
vote
to
empower
constituents
and
demonstrate
compassion,
supporting
a
community-backed
solution
and
show
commitment
to
the
people
that
you
represent,
not
the
lobbyists
in
this
group.
Thank
you.
J
J
J
However,
should
this
resolution
pass,
it
would
take
a
considerable
additional
burden
on
an
already
challenging
process,
thus
hindering
us
from
moving
forward
within
a
reasonable
timeline,
be
clear.
If
this
resolution
passes,
we
will
be
forced
to
stay
and
remain
on
the
present
location
on
Central
Avenue
and
will
no
longer
pursue
relocation.
Thank
you
for
your
time.
A
K
Thank
you.
My
name
is
Colin
McNamara
I'm,
the
deputy
director
of
the
Center
for
Law
and
Justice
here
in
Albany,
New
York
I
rise
today
to
speak
in
opposition
to
local
law.
F.
This
bill
is
onerous.
It
is
unnecessary,
it
is
discriminatory
and
it
will
only
have
the
effect
of
making
it
harder
to
open
substance
abuse
disorder
clinics
in
Albany
County.
At
a
time
when
we
desperately
need
more
I'd
like
to
begin
by
establishing
what
I
hope
will
be
a
basic
area
of
common
agreement
for
everyone
in
this
room.
K
Substance
use
disorder.
Clinics
are
health
care
providers.
Just
like
dentist
office,
orthopedic
clinics,
dialysis
centers.
They
provide
a
Health
Care
Service,
they
are
Health,
Care
Providers
full
stop,
and
yet
this
law
would
not
require
that
we
notify
a
massive
list
of
government
officials
via
certified
mail
within
10
days.
Whenever
we
want
to
open
a
new
dentist
office,
it
would
not
require
that
we
leave
open
a
mandatory
60-day
airing
of
the
Grievances
public
comment
period.
K
K
K
K
It
throws
unnecessary
hurdles
in
the
way
of
opening
new
clinics
to
treat
a
devastating
health
condition
that
is
ravaging
not
only
Albany
County,
not
only
New
York
state,
but
the
United
States
as
a
whole.
The
intention
behind
this
bill
is
obvious
to
make
it
harder
to
open
new
substance,
use
disorder,
clinics
in
areas
that
deem
them
undesirable
on
attractive
or
dangerous,
but
I
would
say
to
all
the
members
of
this
body
if
you
think
for
a
second,
that
your
constituents
are
not
in
need
of
a
substance,
use
disorder,
treatment
center.
You
are
dead
wrong.
K
According
to
statistics,
from
the
Department
of
Health
and
Human
Services
25
of
Americans,
that's
one
in
four
between
the
ages
of
18
and
25
have
a
substance,
use
disorder.
This
cuts
across
all
racial
and
ethnic
backgrounds.
It
even
cuts
across
class
backgrounds.
You
need
a
substance,
use
disorder
clinic
just
in
much
as
much
in
Loudonville
as
you
do
in
the
South
End.
You
need
it
just
as
much
in
late
them
as
you
do
in
Arbor
Hill.
We
need
more
Health
Care,
not
less.
K
K
L
Good
evening
my
name
is
Chris
acini
I'm,
a
person
in
long-term
recovery
and
the
director
of
policy
for
friends,
recovery,
New,
York,
I'm,
a
personal
recovery
and
currently
always
subject
to
change
a
husband,
a
taxpayer,
a
homeowner,
a
professional,
a
proud
dog
dad
and
mostly
a
Survivor.
My
15-year
battle
with
my
disease
culminated
five
years
ago
when
I
was
found
unconscious
and
barely
breathing.
As
things
look
particularly
dire.
L
My
family
reached
out
to
friends,
or
my
parents
reached
out
to
friends
and
family
some
traveling
from
as
far
as
California
to
say,
their
potential
goodbyes
I
ended
up
in
a
medically
induced
coma
for
16
days.
Ultimately,
spending
23
days
in
the
ICU
when
I
awoke
I,
was
completely
disoriented,
suffered
from
extreme
memory
loss
with
an
inability
to
remove
my
limbs
and
not
able
to
recognize
my
parents
or
friends.
L
It
took
me
months
before
I
could
speak
in
complete
sentences
or
walk
in
a
straight
line
after
about
six
months,
I,
slowly
back
or
slowly,
integrated
back
into
a
daily
routine.
Only
to
have
a
reoccurrence
and
ending
up
back
in
the
hospital
and
having
to
start
all
over.
My
story
is
in
unique,
special
or
different
I'm.
Just
lucky,
I
am
lucky:
I
had
access
to
the
services
I
needed,
so
I
could
start.
L
For
the
proposed
location
or
facility,
punitive
legislation
requiring
providers
to
notify
the
community
at
large
creates
unnecessary
barriers
reflects
a
destructive
patients
which
will
exacerbate,
or
will
exasperate
exacerbate
disparities
in
treatment
access
and
sets
a
dangerous
precedent
pending
a
legislative,
a
roadmap
that
will
reverberated
around
the
state
for
other
localities
to
follow
this
legislation
is
a
deterrent
and
will
see
and
will
be
seen
as
such
by
providers
to
address
this
crisis
stage
to
expand
the
treatment
offerings,
removing
unnecessary
barriers.
So
people
can
access
life-saving
treatment
for
substance
use
disorder.
L
Every
one
of
you
has
family
friends
and
constituents
who
have
either
used
substance
use
disorder.
Services
are
currently
using
services
for
sud
or
will
need
services
for
sud.
Don't
turn
your
back
on
them.
Support
them,
ensure
they
have
access
to
the
services
they
need,
so
they
can
live
the
life
they
deserve.
Thank
you.
M
The
drug
war
was
a
failed
policy
that
cost
us
countless
lives.
We
know
this
now
and
we
can
do
better
I
thought
to
myself
in
2019,
thank
goodness
when
recognizing
addiction
as
a
disease
and
we're
now
meeting
individuals
impacted
with
compassion
and
support
the
same
compassion
and
support.
We
would
extend
to
anyone
suffering
from
a
chronic
illness
at
the
agency
task
force
on
overdose,
which
convened
earlier.
Today
we
heard
from
the
Department
of
Health
commissioner
McDonald,
who
showed
an
illustration
that
indicated
that,
beginning
in
2021
overdose
numbers
for
white
New
Yorkers
has
leveled
off.
M
If
the
dispensing
of
a
controlled
substance
were
the
concern,
nursing
homes
and
pharmacies
would
have
been
included,
the
level
of
notice
proposed
is
more
in
line
with
the
notice
required
of
sex
offenders
than
it
is
any
medical
service
required
for
an
ADA
protected
class.
This
proposal
is
stigma
at
its
absolute
worst,
because
now
we
know
better.
It
is
our
responsibility
to
do
better.
C
Good
evening,
I
want
to
First
speak
to
you
as
a
Albany
County
resident
I've,
been
here
for
45
46
years
and
during
my
time
when
I
first
moved
to
Albany
I
was
a
graduate
student.
I
lived
on
Clinton
Avenue
and
in
my
neighborhood
a
couple
blocks
away.
I
was
Hospitality,
House
I'm,
not
sure
when
they
moved
to
that
location,
but
it
was
a
neighbor
I
lived
on
McCarty
Avenue
for
a
period
of
time
and
the
Albany
addiction
care
campus
was
directly
across
the
street
from
my
house.
C
So
I
know
what
it's
like
to
be
a
neighbor
of
an
addiction
program.
I
also
know
what
it's
like
to
work
in
one.
My
first
job
out
of
graduate
school
was
working
for
Catholic
Charities
in
Amsterdam,
New
York,
and
in
that
experience,
I
had
multiple
occasions
where
my
job
really
was
to
advocate
for
new
services
and
additional
Services.
We
had
a
two-person
outpatient
program
which
wasn't
enough.
C
C
I
would
say
to
all
of
you
that
on
some
level,
a
good
part
of
your
job
is
already
done.
You
have
appointed
a
a
person
to
be
the
head
of
your
mental
hygiene
Department,
which
is
local
governmental
unit.
When
you
hire
that
person,
you
hired
a
person
who
had
to
understand
mental
health
addiction
developmental
disabilities
had
to
be
able
to
understand
what
are
the
community's
needs
had
to
be
able
to
understand
some
of
the
challenges
of
placement
and
location
of
programs.
C
Knowing
that
and
I
never
experienced
a
situation
where
everybody
was
in
favor
of
the
program
and
probably
the
more
people.
You
asked
the
more
you're
inviting
people
who
really
don't
understand
the
services
or
don't
understand
the
the
the
the
challenges
of
locating
a
service
in
an
area
like
Albany
County.
C
So
you
have
already
on
your
team,
a
person
who
can
tell
you
here's
what
we
need
to
do
kind,
so
I
would
suggest
to
you
that
it
is
not
necessary
for
you
to
put
in
place
something
that
would
essentially
do
his
job
for
him,
that
you
have
the
ability
to
trust.
What
he's
doing
what
he's
saying
and
what
he's
proposing
and
I
would
encourage
you
to
oppose
this.
This
proposed
bill
as
as
something
that's
unnecessary.
E
E
I
was
at
a
grand
opening
of
a
men's
facility
that
the
Acca,
the
addictions,
Care
Center
of
Albany,
opened
yesterday
in
North
Troy,
and
it
was
attended
by
commissioner
Cunningham
of
Oasis,
the
mayor
of
Troy
and
the
mental
health
director
of
Rensselaer
County
and
myself,
and
several
other
people
that
were
very
much
in
favor
of
this
Endeavor
to
help
the
addiction
community
and
I
was
glad
to
be
there.
I
also
heard
that
this
local
law
so
I
read
I
was
somebody
sent
me.
E
The
law
I
read
on
it
and
I
decided
to
speak
today.
I
would
say
participant
in
a
program
on
Second
Avenue
in
Albany
many
years
ago,
run
by
Peter,
Young
and
Reverend
Peter,
Young
and
sister
Phyllis
for
addiction
and
I.
Don't
think
that
I
was
a
threat
to
the
neighborhood
I,
don't
think
I
was
a
threat
to
the
children
in
Hoffman,
Park
and
I.
Don't
think
I'm
a
threat
to
my
neighbors.
Now.
E
Actually,
people,
probably
like
me,
a
little
bit.
They
elected
me
a
few
times,
and
so
we
get
asked
as
legislators.
Many
things
you
know
get
some
silly
things.
You
know.
Why
did
they
I
don't
know
plow
Western
Avenue?
They
didn't
plow,
my
little
dead,
end
Street,
yet
Etc,
and
sometimes
we
get
asked
to
advocate
for
somebody
for
a
job
or
something
like
that,
and
it
comes
to
be
like
a
little
bit
of
a
moral
conundrum.
E
E
Even
ask
of
you
guys
your
legislators,
guys
and
women,
folks
that
when
you
vote
on
this
local
law,
you
vote
with
Integrity
with
your
heart
and
with
what
you
know
is
right,
whether
you
know
if
your
mother
pretend
your
mother's
looking
over
your
shoulder,
if
you
didn't
like
your
mother,
pretend
you're
your
priest
or
your
Rabbi
and
do
the
right
thing
I'm
opposed
to
this.
Obviously,
it's
nothing
more
than
a
not
in
my
backyard
directive.
So
thank
you
for
listening.
N
N
We
worked
our
asses
off
for
weeks
to
make
sure
that
she
had
an
appointment
the
day
that
she
got
out
and
let's
call
him
John
who
got
his
mat
down
in
Albany,
because
that
was
the
only
place
he
could
access
his
medication
within
a
two-hour
drive.
So
he
got
up
at
5am,
said
goodbye
to
his
daughter
and
drove
down
to
Albany
every
single
day
and
I
still
think
about.
N
I
need
you
to
understand
the
real,
concrete
consequences
that
any
barriers
to
expanding
treatment
are
going
to
have.
They
are
worried
about
their
property
values.
I
am
worried
about
my
friends
lives
right
now.
People
are
overdosing
every
single
day
on
the
streets
of
Albany
because
they
cannot
access
treatment.
There
are
already
needles
and
empty
heroin
bags.
Littered
All,
Over
Albany
I
have
friends
who
work
in
stewards
all
over
the
capital,
region,
friends
and
EMS
in
Albany,
and
they
deal
with
it
every
single
day.
People
are
already
dying.
You
are
very
lucky.
D
N
We
are
here
as
folks
providing
life-saving
services
and
folks
in
long-term
recovery,
telling
you
what
we
need
you
to
do,
not
because
we
are
paid
to
be
here,
but
because
we
all
know
someone
who
has
died
from
their
addiction.
We
all
know
someone
whose
life
was
safe
because
they
were
able
to
access
treatment.
I
beg
you
to
vote,
no
one
local
law,
F,
and
thank
you
for
your
time.
O
Good
evening
my
name
is
Diana
and
I'm.
A
social
worker
and
I
live
in
the
city
of
Albany
I
oppose
this
local
law.
I
previously
worked
with
homeless
tenants
in
Albany
County.
My
clients
feared
stereotyping
and
stigma
walking
into
my
office
at
a
Housing
Organization,
where
they
knew
that
they
were
in
a
safe
space
to
receive
services.
O
Would
I
submit,
would
I
similarly
fear
for
folks
trying
to
receive
services
for
substance
abuse
disorder
is
stigma
and
shame
I
wonder
how
are
we
supposed
to
encourage
recovery
if
we
keep
promoting
fear?
What
I
believe
we
should
be
promoting
are
safer
spaces
for
addicts
to
access
recovery
services
without
the
protruding
fear
of
their
communities?
O
P
P
Good
evening
and
thank
you
for
allowing
me
to
speak
in
front
of
everyone
I'm
here
on
behalf
of
my
family,
that's
over
a
hundred
years
in
Albany
County
I'm
here
on
behalf
of
my
five
siblings,
four
taxpayers.
One
is
a
recovering,
addict
and
I'm
here
to
say
that
this
law,
if
you
read
it,
does
not
make
any
judgment
or
discriminate
against
anyone.
P
That
a
for-profit
facility
came
in
and
went
through
the
process.
According
to
you
know
the
paperwork
that
we
foiled
through
local
government
unit
review
reports
and
every
supporting
document
that
got
transmitted
on
the
behalf
of
this
facility
was
flawed.
The
support
from
the
senator
was
not
even
our
in
our
district.
It
was
from
other
some
other
district.
There
was
no
letter
or
any
support
from
the
village
whatsoever
to
support
the
application.
P
Yet
the
application
went
through
when
it
got
in
front
of
Oasis
I
understand
there
was
some
public
hearing
that
wasn't
really
public,
because
no
one
in
our
village
knew
what
hit
it.
We
didn't
know
until
after
the
fact
that
there
were
these
public
hearings
that
went
on
until
after
they
passed
it
I
even
understand
that
the
person
that
represented
the
facility,
their
consultant
also
was
an
employee
of
the
state
that
helped
get
that
push
through
Oasis.
P
We
have
all
written
letters
to
Oasis
to
appeal
the
decision
and
I
want
to
say
to
all
the
folks
here
that
are
recovering.
Congratulations
in
your
recovery.
This
is
not
a
discriminatory
thing.
I'm
here
to
support
the
tax
hundreds
of
years
of
taxpayers
and
those
folks
that
live
adjacent
to
the
facility
that
had
absolutely
no
say
literally
60
feet
from
their
house.
Now
we
are
all
for
helping
everyone.
That's
not
what
this
bill
is
this
bill.
P
This
is
a
bill
correct
this
bill
that
we're
asking
you
to
vote
on
is
simply
a
notice
to
notify
just
let
the
taxpayers
know
what's
going
on,
so
they
can
voice
an
opinion
and
follow
the
process
through.
It's
really
important,
it's
very
transparent.
It's
not
discriminating
against
anyone.
It's
not
saying
don't
find
sobriety
and
it
you
know
the
speakers
tonight.
I
just
am
taken
back
because
I
think
it's
really
upside
down
substance,
abuse
disorder,
isn't
is,
is
substance,
abuse
disorder?
Isn't
that
a
name
for
you're
an
addict
right?
P
My
brother's
an
addict,
my
brother's,
not
an
abused
addict,
my
brother's
just
a
common
addict,
that's
what
he
is
and
he's
in
recovery.
Thank
God
he's
66
years
old
now,
but
it
was
a
hard
Road.
I
lived
it
my
whole
life
watching
it,
the
ups
and
the
downs
and
all
that
no
one's
denying
anybody
getting
help.
I
know,
there's
an
epidemic
and
all
of
that
time.