What’s Left In Albany
With the move to working full time I needed to cut the show down to an hour. I also had a strong interest to refocus on local issues and politics in a way no other outlet had down before by providing consistent radical commentary. I devote half of the episodes to interviewing or spotlighting anyone doing activism or a community project. The 30 episodes are over a year and a half and two things lead to its much shorter run; soon into starting interviews I get the urge after 5 years of podcasting and doing radio to be doing the organizing and not talking about them anymore. The other is the lack of progress or development with the station I was working with as I produced the show, as I was now managing it. However, leadership didn’t have the same vision, goals, or priorities as I did so I found I had to move on.
Ep 1: Buildings and Renting June 2022
BLM (and bugs) in Court; the Landlord lobby changes its name; Development in the Warehouse district; an effort to bridge tenants and good landlords
Ep 2: More Buildings and Beyond Renting June 2022
Snafu in Inclusionary zoning: Non-profit development is really complex; South End Grocery saga begins ; Community investment trust started, county fights over control of the downtown parking crater.
EP 3: Union Bust and City Issues 10/18/2022
The regional Amazon union fails; Walkability news, Homeless eviction in Saratoga, A Landlord gets fined, setback for the police review board’s budget
EP4: Election Night Convo w/Collin Thomas 11/1/2022
Me and fellow eco-socialist do election watch duty and vent about The Dems.
EP5: Interview with Berkshires DSA leader 11/22/22
Referred over by Colin; I chat with a new leftist and their radical organizing in the next region over
EP6: Interview with Janet Carmosky: Earthshot Gallery 12/13/22
A chat with person of interest running a social space/art gallery in Center Square.
EP7: Urban Developments and Asks 1/4/23
Urban Development news; from the Central warehouse, an ‘affordable’ block, and Albany Academy; plus bus and pedestrian items;
EP8: Albany Walkabout, Tax policy Talk 1/24/23
More on the bus station, downtown development, short term rentals and taxe policy, plus covering plans for foreign wind Industry at the Port
EP9: The Regional Satanic Temple 1/31/23
I’m joined by leaders of the local chapter of the Satanic temple, part secularist civic organization, part mutual aid group, part religion for legal reasons.
Ep10: Chipping at a mind tunnel 2/21/23
Side issue show: I discuss how Brains are not computers and jab at other dehumanizing social metaphors
Ep11: Downtown Transit Options 3/21/23
Updates on items from last urbanist episode; speed humps being put in; successful train service to VT restored
Ep 12: Inclusionary zoning reform; Downtown and uptown changes 4/2023
Inclusionary zoning drama; postcovid downtown retail success, Uptown special housing project and NIMBY response
Ep 13: Education or Housing, but not Jobs 5/16/23
Proposal for HVCC campus to replace housing projects in Lincoln Park, I discuss Job Guarantees as ideal policy vs lack of universal higher education.
Ep 14: I-787, Leadership=talking, and Dying Malls 6/2023
Various Stories: NY is getting Smoked: 787 Reconstruction study begins, A Leadership Study about talkers, Two Area Malls in Trouble, responding in different ways.
EP 15: Vacant Property Merry-Go-Round 6/27/23
An Opinion piece and various discussion regarding Vacant properties; Land Back court ruling
EP 16: The 787 Redesign and Consulting the Hood. 7/11/23
Albany Riverfront Collaborative visit to discuss their outreach efforts, the design process, and overlaps with social justice.
EP 17: Local Regulators and Social problems
Two stories from opposite ends of the class divide: The Methadone clinic which is overburden by anti addict bias, and a suburban farm stand owned by an heiress burdened by unfriendly town government.
EP 18: Scott Ritter; World Saving Writer
Nuke and Arms control activist Scott Ritter joins the program to talk about current projects and his message and cause.
EP 19: The Return of Sam FIen (and the 2 Lefts show)
Progressive County Legislator Sam talks about free transit and housing counsel; housing policy show divides in thinking.
EP 20: Enter The Machine pt1
Start of a reading from Mayor Corning Biography; detailing the rise of the political Machine of Albany.
EP 21: Butterflies in the South End
Mother Daughter Team shares what they’ve done with a vacant lot and personal ecological projects
EP22: The Local Toastmasters
Interview with organizers of public speaking club with a long history and still growing
EP23: Enter the Machine Part 2
Continued Reading of Corning Bio About Albany’s machine politics, its workings and conservatism.
EP24: Enter the Machine Part 3
3rd and last reading from Corning Biography and exploration of the political machine, how it lasted and how it echos around us.
EP25: Food Mirage in the South End
Covering the troubles at the South End Grocery and its spillover to the Black Cultural Center
EP26: Housing Rights in Process
Sit down with Canyon Ryan, of United Tenants of Albany as we talk about the current state of Reform and organizing.
EP27: More Questions than Answers about Nonprofits
South End Grocery is a bust; I read and comment on TU coverage and muse about nonprofits in general. The incompetence is staggering but also endemic as I prepare to leave Grand St Arts.
EP28: Albany Stories Wrap up
Final Followup on the Bus Station, 787 Traffic study supports take down; also County honest salary listing law
EP29: What To Do About Albany?
An old story to summarize how poorly Albany addresses social ills and lack of community; A Case for a commuter tax
EP30: What’s Wrong with Capitalism: What’s ‘Left’ to Do
I End the Program with a Double Length ‘Postscript 3 Lefts’ Episode: I give a Marxist breakdown of capitalism and its contradictions; then I discuss 3 potential projects for overcoming them. I look toward the future.
