Your decision to endorse Jerry Jennings over Corey Ellis in the Albany Democratic mayoral primary seems to have been made on the basis of the mayor's experience alone. That certainly factors in, but that does not necessarily mean that he is the right person to be mayor.

The editorial states that Mr. Jennings "should also consider some of the key issues Mr. Ellis raises." Mr. Ellis has made his stance on those issues very clear, even before running for mayor. Why has the mayor not considered them before? Wouldn't it stand to reason that Mr. Ellis would be the best candidate to deal with his key issues?

I question some of the points made in favor of Mr. Jennings, including the implication that he was behind the funding for the Park South restoration, as well as the city's movement toward improving its abandoned building problem.

The Park South restoration was made possible by the hard work of community organizations and legislators. And it was Mr. Ellis who first proposed to assess all the abandoned buildings in the city. He has a solid plan of restoration and homeowner incentives to improve those abandoned buildings and lots that have created a blight in certain parts of the city. The mayor's answer is to paint them over until a better solution is found.

The editorial states that Mr. Jennings has alienated the school district, yet expects him "to continue cultivating" his relationship with it. You expect him to improve that relationship because he has made efforts to mend the bridges during the election year? Why didn't he make this a priority throughout his years as mayor?

The editorial also states that crime and violent crime are down overall, while failing to mention that murder and forcible rape are up. The fact that there have been six police chiefs since Mr. Jennings has been mayor would point to an inability to appoint competent officials.

The editorial concludes, "So, yes, Mr. Jennings, another four years. Four years that we hope will see a greater sense of urgency. Consider it -- as all politicians should -- a last chance for a legacy." That the Times Union editorial board does not believe Mayor Jennings has cemented his legacy is bordering on ignorance. He has proven that he does not work with a "sense of urgency," that he does not take enforcing the codes and regulations of this city seriously. There is no changing his legacy now, not after 16 years.

Dominick Calsolaro Jr.

An Albany city attorney quietly removed files from police headquarters last week related to a scandal in which dozens of officers had used the department to secretly purchase federally regulated machine guns.

On Wednesday afternoon, the attorney, Jeffrey Jamison, an assistant corporation counsel who worked closely with former police Chief James W. Tuffey, initially denied removing any files from police headquarters.

''I can't say either way,'' Jamison said. ''I can't recall specifically any file. ... I don't specifically remember any file or grabbing anything. There was no one thing. There wasn't like a file or something like that.''

James Tuffey has taken a security job with BBL Construction Services in the wake of his abrupt resignation last week as Albany police chief, according to people familiar with his hiring.

Tuffey is a close friend of Donald Led Duke, BBL's owner. Led Duke's company is the most prominent construction company in the city, and Led Duke is a close friend of and major political contributor to Mayor Jerry Jennings.

Led Duke responded angrily Wednesday when asked about Tuffey's hiring. He declined to confirm the move.

''What the (expletive) difference would it make if we did? That's nobody's business,'' Led Duke said. He noted that BBL hired 30 to 40 people on Tuesday and questioned why the Times Union was inquiring only about the employment of Tuffey.

''It's nobody's business what we do,'' Led Duke said. ''Leave the guy alone. He's out of the public eye now.''

Tuffey retired from the police force last week after he was instructed by a close associate of Jennings that he would be forced out of the job if he didn't resign, according to people with knowledge of the matter. His departure came as a group of unidentified police officers had written a letter to the mayor and other public officials complaining about the chief's alleged remark that last year's murder of a college student was ''not just some spook.''

Tuffey and Led Duke grew up in Albany and have known each other for years. Tuffey could not be reached for comment.

''He made one (expletive) mistake and you guys (expletive) pounded him,'' Led Duke said. Asked if he was referring to the alleged racial remark, Led Duke said: ''I don't know what the guy might have said.''

Jennings said he ''didn't know'' that Tuffey had taken a job with BBL.

''He's a private citizen,'' Jennings said. Asked about their relationship in the wake of Tuffey's resignation, Jennings said: ''I talked to him a couple times. We're fine. We're friends.''

“As a 10-year-old girl, I would listen to my grandmother discuss issues, and she made a lasting impression on me,” Senator Gillibrand said in a speech after her appointment was announced. “What I admired so much about her was her passion. I thought, ‘Someday I may serve, someday I may be part of this.’

Councilmembers Denounce Spike in Violent Crime

Ellis, Calsolaro, Smith Blame Lack of Leadership, Action for Wave of Gun-related incidents

Standing in front of an Arbor Hill police station the City closed four years ago, Common Councilmembers Corey Ellis, Barbara Smith and Dominick Calsolaro condemned Mayor Jennings’ lack of action on public safety, saying mismanagement has contributed to a spate of recent killings and other violent crimes in Albany.

The Councilmembers cited at least six gun-related crimes in Albany over the past month, including three deaths.

“Ten years ago, Mayor Jennings stood in this spot and pledged that he would come here every week and walk with residents himself until the streets were safe,” said Ellis. “Instead, he closed the station and allowed this neighborhood to sink deeper into neglect, violence and despair.”

Calsolaro blamed a lack of focus on gun violence prevention for a recent spike in violent crimes, one of which happened in his neighborhood on Friday, September 4. “I was awakened at 11 PM by a police officer knocking on my door, asking if I had seen someone running or riding a bike through the field near my house. I later learned they were looking for an armed perpetrator who had threatened the victim with a shotgun.”

Fourth Ward Common Council member Barbara Smith who represents Arbor Hill and North Albany stated, "Last December after a year's work the city's Gun Violence Task Force provided excellent recommendations to the city including the need to establish a Gun Violence Prevention Implementation Team to carry on the work of the Task Force. It is now September and the Implementation Team has yet to meet, although the Common Council has selected its appointments to the Team. Like the need for community policing, we also need a visible group of stakeholders working together to implement the Task Force's recommendations and to come up with real solutions for one of the city's most pressing problems: street level violence and making sure that every Albany resident feels safe where they live."

Ellis, Calsolaro and Smith agreed that the leadership vacuum left by Chief James Tuffey’s sudden retirement last week could make Albany less safe.

“Right now, it’s not clear who is running the Albany Police Department, and that’s a problem,” Calsolaro said. “Yet again, this is a failure of leadership from an Administration that has now seen six police chiefs in 16 years, and it’s time for leadership in the Police Department and in City Hall that will face problems head on.”

“We need to attack these issues, not hide from them,” Ellis said. “Three months ago, when I called for Chief Tuffey’s resignation, the Mayor dismissed the idea, saying he runs this city. The problem is, he’s running it into the ground.”

Smith called for the immediate implementation of the Gun Violence Task Force’s recommendations and pledged to work with her Common Council colleagues to oversee the process of hiring a new police chief.

Ellis, Calsolaro and Smith also called on the Mayor to present an interim leadership plan for the Albany Police Department that demonstrates a clear leadership structure and gives citizens confidence that the Department will be able to effectively address gun violence and other pressing public safety issues during the search for a new chief