ALBANY – As the Albany County Legislature prepares to begin 2022, Chairman Andrew Joyce took a moment to reflect on the Legislature’s successes of the past year before highlighting the legislative agenda going forward.

As members of the Legislature are ending the year in their communities, distributing masks and test kits to fight the rise of Omicron variant, Joyce recalled to the beginning of the year, working with public health officials to establish vaccination points of distribution and creating the Albany County Legislature’s COVID Economy Recovery Task Force’s small business grant program which provided over $500,000 in grants to struggling Albany County small businesses.

The Legislature also worked to provide additional services to the community by establishing the Legislature's Community Development Fund which directed investments in youth programming all across the County; creating and expanding the Albany County Crisis Officials Responding and Diverting (ACCORD) program; increasing voter access by making it easier and more affordable to vote by absentee ballot; and establishing Albany County as the first locality to direct every County employee be paid a living wage.

"Helping to keep Albany County residents safe during this unpredictable pandemic has been our consistent focus, and will continue to be going into 2022," Joyce said. "We can do this by focusing on the immediate threat of the virus by distributing masks and test kits, as well as promoting the vaccine. What we will also do is consider the potential long-term effects of the pandemic by continuing to focus on the job and revenue creating opportunities presented to us with our partnership with the Advance Albany County Alliance, investing in more programming for our youth, and our focus on green initiatives throughout Albany County amidst a real climate crisis.”

In 2022, the Legislature will see a continued push to make all communities in Albany County a place where residents are proud to live. This means taking a look at what can be done to help historically underserved communities. The Legislative Blight to Betterment Task Force is moving forward with strategies to make it easier for renters to become homeowners as well as providing additional support for residents interested in renovating blighted properties. At the same time, the Legislature's Health Equity and Minority Task Force continues to identify inequities across Albany County to ensure people and communities of color are receiving effective services and access to better health care, nutrition and affordable housing. A grocery store slated for the South End remains a key focus, with the Legislature's leadership and members of the Legislative Black Caucus overseeing that the project continues to move forward.

With the threat of gun violence prevalent in the communities, the Legislature plans on continuing to enhance programming for youth and young adults, as well as explore ways to reconnect young people to careers in public service. There will also a focus on targeted investments on recreational infrastructure and programming throughout Albany County. These efforts are an expansion of efforts already underway to address the gun violence which has been deemed a public health crisis not only in Albany County and New York State but throughout the country.

As the COVID pandemic continues, it is important that Albany County’s economy continues to grow and people know that establishments are open for business. The Legislature continues to support the Advance Albany County Alliance as they help businesses grow, expand, and retain a talented workforce. A new emphasis into projects both large and small and agro-tourism will help connect local producers with county residents interested in utilizing their products. This will not only promote economic growth throughout the area but highlight an industry that is a major driver in the County.

"2022 is shaping up to be another busy year for the Albany County Legislature. The people who sent us here can be sure our members and staff will continue to work hard to meet the unique challenges we are all facing. We will see our way through these collective challenges. We will do it through cooperation, continuing our existing partnerships, increasing our focus, a little bit of strength and a whole lot of heart," Joyce said.