Dorcey Applyrs

Financial woes for cities in New York's capital region are mounting. WAMC's Capital Region Bureau Chief Grant Ashley joined Lucas Willard on Midday Magazine to discuss financial struggles and downgraded credit ratings on the S&P Global Scale in Albany and Schenectady.

The Albany mayor's announcements came on the heels of holiday weekend violence that killed one person and injured another four, and one year after the city’s Independence Day celebrations were marred by violence that left one person dead and nine injured.

Albany's budget woes have been a major topic of conversation since Mayor Dorcey Applyrs announced earlier this year that the city faces a deficit of nearly $20 million for fiscal year 2025 and more than $20 million for fiscal year 2026.

Earlier this month, it was announced that the city’s deficit for the 2025 fiscal year had increased from $15 million to $19.6 million.

Mayor Dorcey Applyrs said the 2025 deficit is actually $19.6 million, and that poor budget management oversight by former Mayor Kathy Sheehan's administration and unbudgeted expenses contributed to the deficit.

Albany Mayor Dorcey Applyrs marked her first 100 days in office Monday by discussing a survey her administration conducted with city residents. WAMC's Sajina Shrestha joined Midday Magazine to talk about what Applyrs has in store for the city and how she plans on paying for her initiatives, given the city's budget deficit.

The Albany Common Council is set to consider a legislative amendment that would ease the city's affordable housing requirements for new construction.

While Mayor Dorcey Applyrs has made her second appointment to the city’s Community Police Review Board, the oversight committee is still looking to recruit more members.

Applyrs, the city’s former chief auditor, told reporters that she was unaware of the budget deficit until just before she became mayor. Applyrs says the city has a roughly $15 million structural deficit for FY 2025 and expects a $22 million deficit for FY 2026.

The move comes after multiple review board members have resigned in recent months. It has only held a single meeting so far this year due to a lack of quorum.