Jennings: The City of Albany is open for business.

Speaking of downtown Albany, Mayor Jerry Jennings said “We have an inventory of every building that’s down there.”  See what else he said.

CRIBA thanks everyone for attending the Stacy Mitchell event

Stacy Mitchell addresses the group at Carmine's Restaurant (Credit: Anthony Cresswell)

CRIBA is off to a great start, and we owe it all to you.  The response from the Stacy Mitchell breakfast last Friday was great.  65 people attended to hear Stacy speak about how we as residents, owners, employees, and activists can work towards substantive change.  We thank everyone for attending, especially Mayor Jerry Jennings, who gave an impromptu speech, excerpts of which are here.

To Carmine, Armand and the wonderful staff at Carmine’s Restaurant, we say thank you for rising so early and so high for the event.  To Paul and Pat from Talk 1300, we say thank you for spreading the word and broadcasting live that morning.  To CRIBA’s founding board, we say thank you for your support, in all its different forms.  And to Stacy Mitchell, we say thank you for writing Big Box Swindle and for being such a strong voice for true change.

Following the event, we took Stacy to WRGB Channel 6 in Schenectady where she was interview by Liz Bishop on the noon news broadcast.  Stacy’s segment immediatley followed news of the federal government’s $700 billion bailout of the mortgage industry.  It was a perfect juxtaposition of the rationale for doing business with local vendors and the current economic crisis.

Albany Mayor Jennings Addressing the Group

“I know the importance of small local business.”

“The City of Albany is open for business.  If anyone wants to sit with me, sit with our economic development people, we’re open…we do need more retail…we want to diversify even further.”

“I need retail to support the residential.”

“Don’t be shy.  Call us up.”

Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings just arrived.

He’ll be doing his weekly radio show from here.  He and Paul Vendenburgh wasted no time in busting each other’s chops.  Juile Chapman from Capital News 9 also stopped in for breakfast and to soak up the event.