"I am very disappointed in the fact that David Brown of the Capital District YMCA has applied for zero funds from either the state or the federal government," says Anton Konev, Albany's 11th Ward councilman. J. David Brown is the president and CEO of Capital District YMCA. "The application for federal funds to Sen. Gillibrand was last Friday. The application for Congressman Tonko is this Friday, but it is my understanding that they have no intention to submit an application for any funding."
A call has been put in to Orville Abrahams, the executive director of the Capital District YMCA Albany and North Albany branches.
"It is an unfortunate attitude that they have taken," Konev says, pointing out that when the Y met with Assemblyman Ron Canestrari, the Albany branch was not on the agenda for that meeting.
Canestrari told Metroland that Konev is correct, that the Albany branch was not discussed at the meeting. He added that the deadline for application for state support has passed. However, the assemblyman pointed out, "Even if I took legislative initiative with funds in the amount of $15,000 or $20,000 it wouldn't correct the problem. The problem is more structural, unfortunately. And I do not do legislative initiatives for the same group two years in a row. So if I could help them one year, this year, while that wouldn't even solve the problem I couldn't come back and do it next year. It would be a one-shot deal, and that wouldn't solve the problem."
No duh 188 people cancelled their membership - they feel the closure of the facility is eminent and have decided not to 'invest' in a ship destined to sink. I understand that Brown is making it a numbers game now, but in all honesty, let's go back a few years and think "why didn't the Y sound the alarm then?" It's demolition by neglect, folks. They took their eyes off the ball. The albany parking authority cannot afford the $30,000 per space cost of building a garage, and should they? People who don't live here b*tch and moan about the lack of parking, but when it comes to put their money where their mouths are they don't want to have to pay for it either. "Albany has high taxes" they moan. Well, if more people lived here the Y would have more members and less of a parking problem. This city needs to focus on attracting residents to balance the books - not giving tax breaks to companies to locate here thus reducing livability and killing service providers like the YMCA that depend on residents. Anton and Connors should be looking to develop programs that bring residents back into the city - that's the only way to save the YMCAs, main street businesses, and good schools that taxpayers are lamenting the loss of.
Posted by: Albany Resident | February 24, 2010 at 04:14 PM
I'm canceling my membership but it has nothing to do with the facility itself and everything to do with the people running it. David Brown has made no effort, he didn't even seem remotely interested, to aid in the campaign to save the Y.M.C.A. And now he's biting the hand that only wants to help. I can not in good conscience continue to be part of a group under the leadership of a man with such disdain towards others.
Posted by: Stephen F. | March 11, 2010 at 04:07 PM