City Council

Samanta R. Mykoo From: noreply@civicplus.com Sent: Monday, October 25, 2021 5:01 PM To: Mayors Office; Samanta R. Mykoo Subject: Online Form Submittal: Department Contact Form Department Contact Form Department to Contact City Clerk's Office First Name Kelly Last Name Toomey Address 1: City Troy State NY Zip Code Email Telephone Comments Jamaica Miles expressed at the last Schenectady School Board meeting exactly how a civil protest can be done, lets note by STUDENTS during a pandemic, in a respectful manner, no bull-horn, no stopping of traffic, no yelling at people who are trying to enjoy themselves and unlike Jamaica no one arrested. Jamaica should take notes. How is it then we have this same elected official, Jamaica Miles who can NOT display the same maturity at high-school students? Then has the audacity to reference her own vile way, her actions with Martin Luther King. Her All of Us member Mikayla Foster states at a City hall Meeting threatening those elected officials in office. The city council should be seriously look into removing Jamaica Miles from the school board as she does not represent the core values of Schenectady Highschool, or respect for people in general. Press should stop giving All of Us press time and attention for her disturbing actions. 1 Keep up to date Receive important updates from the City of Schenectady Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. 2 Samanta R. Mykoo From: davidgiacalone Sent: Monday, November 01, 2021 11:55 AM To: Samanta R. Mykoo Subject: Agenda item on Statue of Liberty CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. To CITY COUNCIL, via City Clerk Samanta R. Mykoo City Council President John Mootooveren, and Council Members Karen Zalewski‐Wildzunas, John Polimeni, Marion Porterfield, and Carmel Patrick Re: Statue of Liberty agenda item I am writing to thank Council members for placing this item for discussion on today’s Committees Meeting Agenda. As, I said last week, in written and oral statements, Schenectady’s treatment of our Liberty replica statue — both its placement in a demeaning location and the secretive process that put it there — has turned a source of Civic Pride into embarrassment for the entire community. As the “law-making and governing body of the city,” and in its legislative role monitoring the execution of its laws and resolutions, City Council has both the authority and responsibility to correct this problem and turn shame into pride. Mayor McCarthy’s failure to bring the Council and public into the process in which he abandoned the fully‐approved Comprehensive Plan for Gateway Plaza and the expansion of Liberty Park, and his refusal for three years to explain his decision to exile Lady Liberty, should remove any reluctance the Council might have to step forward now and assert its authority. I want to point out the (insulting) weakness of the two reasons recently stated by the Mayor for the choice of such a low‐rent location for Liberty:  The Mayor argues that In its prior location, the statue had been urinated on. Yes, and it was the overgrowth of vegetation and misbehavior of park denizens that was the primary motive in re‐designing Liberty Park. The result is an open, visible, lighted, and safe central sculpture space that is perfect for the re‐installation of Lady Liberty at Her Park. 1  Also, if the Mayor truly feared continued urination on Lady Liberty, he would not have deprived the statue of lighting the past two years as it stands on a corner with virtually no pedestrian traffic.  The Mayor also asserts that the Location is In Line with other Statues that are or are planned for Erie Boulevard. But, the current other monument, Edison and Steinmetz, has plaques, education messages, lighting all night, plus, space and seating for visitors, and was dedicated in a large, special ceremony. Its treatment underscores the Mayor’s disrespect for Lady Liberty. Oh, and Edison and Steinmetz do not have a scarred and ugly railroad bridge in their background. You can find more about the treatment of other Liberty replicas in NYS in the posting at https://tinyurl.com/LibertySisters . I’m also supplying a photo collage showing those other sites. And, additional discussion, images and links relating to Respecting our Lady Liberty at tinyurl.com/RespectLL . Thank you for taking up this topic in public, and considering my views. David Giacalone 2 Samanta R. Mykoo From: Chad Putman Sent: Monday, November 08, 2021 6:58 PM To: Samanta R. Mykoo; Gary McCarthy; Marion Porterfield; John Mootooveren; Carmel Patrick Cc: Carl Williams; Damonni Farley; Chad Putman Subject: Cade Blue Navigation Center / Shelter CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Hon Mayor and City Council members Chad Putman, 225 Kings Rd, Schenectady, NY 12304 ‐ Schenectady City Council Nov 8, 2021. I’m excited about the outcome of the 2021 local election cycle and I’m thrilled to see three Working Family Party, endorsed candidates win seats on this council. I look forward to working with the new City Council and I thank you all for your service. In the short term, brief update on my advocacy efforts for a Code Blue Navigation Center/Shelter in the City. As advised by the mayor I have presented the pilot project to the Schenectady County Legislature and next steps are under review. I want to thank County Legislator Michelle Ostrelich for her leadership and also Omar McGill who I know will be a champion on this issue when he takes his seat in 2022. Considering the current make up of the city council and the incoming members I anticipate the pilot project will largely fall on the County Legislature. However I believe it’s imperative the mayor and the 2022 city council plan to make significant investment in a sustainable homeless navigation center/program in 2022 – 2025. Largely pulling from the 50 Million+(city) and 30 Million+(county) has and will receive from the American Rescue Plan (Federal COVID Relief funds) Baseline services offered by the Shelters of Saratoga/Navigation Center: 1. Open when temps are below 32 degrees 2. Acts as a warming station 3. Mon‐Friday 10am – 2pm – Representative from local service organizations are on hand to offer services (MH, SUD, Benefits, Insurance, Transportation, Job, Housing, etc) 4. Free meals (donated by local churches and restaurants) 5. Navigation Center transitions to the Code Blue shelter overnight hosting 30‐35 guests per night Additional ASK: 1  1. Schenectady’s Code Blue Navigation/Shelter would be open regardless of temperature 2. Additional support services available after hours (evenings and wkends) to support persons struggling with a Substance Use Disorder and/or Mental Health crisis 3. No one is turned away – alternative (local) shelter is provided if safety of others is a concern It’s a smart investment for our community, elected officials and tax payers. Thank you. 2