In the tranquil city of Saratoga Springs, where political scandals are often few and far between, a recent controversy has taken center stage. The issue revolves around the final report of the Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness and the recommendations it contains.
What was initially expected to be a straightforward process has raised questions and concerns, leaving the residents of Saratoga Springs puzzled about the true intentions of their elected officials.
The task force, which convened for its final meeting on July 20th, recommended a single and somewhat startling course of action: select an agency through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process and leave everything else in the agency's hands. This approach raised eyebrows, as it effectively placed the fate of the city's response to homelessness in the hands of an unknown agency.
However, what came next is where the situation took a turn for the bizarre. In a surprising twist, the Mayor's Communications Coordinator, Jessie House, took on the role of drafting the final Task Force report. The mayor assured the public that the report would be ready within a week, thanks to an outline already prepared for the recommendations.
But when 11 days later the Mayor pushed back the release date, citing a desire to maximize audience engagement in September, concerns began to mount. The mayor's actions became even more perplexing when he misled the public in media interviews, suggesting that the Task Force had yet to submit its final report, and that the report would be presented to the City Council in early September. It's worth noting that the mayor's communications coordinator was tasked with writing the report, further fueling skepticism about the accuracy of his statements.
One has to wonder why the mayor was eager to create an impression that it was the Task Force who would be sending their findings, potentially stalling the release of critical information. The lack of transparency in this process is certainly cause for concern.
At the City Council meeting on September 19th, the mayor changed his tune once more, stating that his staff would get a draft of the report to the Task Force for review, despite the Task Force having ceased its meetings on July 20th. This leads one to question why the mayor did not simply integrate the Task Force's recommendations into the pre-existing outline his staff had prepared, a seemingly straightforward task.
The primary recommendations from the Task Force, as recorded in the July 20th meeting minutes, suggested a location on Lake Avenue for a homeless shelter. However, when it came to funding and building, the situation grew murkier. The Task Force found it impossible to draft an RFP for building and design and difficult to do so for funding. The mayor had committed to securing funding through meetings with state and local officials and the city's grant consultant firm.
Yet, the final recommendation was to only issue an RFP for the selection of an agency and to let the agency determine the funding and building aspects. This recommendation is a significant departure from the initial call for a year-round, permanent, low-barrier homeless shelter.
The Task Force also previously recommended a 1,000-foot buffer between homeless shelters and schools, which was approved on August 1st. Additionally, the Task Force proposed creating an RFP to sell Williams Street and use the proceeds to build a new shelter. It's worth noting that Lindsey Conners, a Task Force member and RISE associate director, had cautioned the Task Force against voting to sell Williams Street, as RISE was already in talks with the city to use the building. It appears her warning has borne fruit, as RISE is set to use the building starting November 1st, provided a revised lease is signed.
The key concern now centers around the content of the draft RFP. Surprisingly, the draft RFP for the agency was co-authored by Hannah Hurley, a member of the Capital District chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, and co-leader of their housing committee. Her role in shaping this crucial document raises questions, especially since the RFP's content seems to oppose the Task Force's previous recommendation for a year-round, low-barrier homeless shelter.
What's more, the RFP states that an "emergency shelter," a term not commonly used in the Task Force's prior discussions. The mayor insists that an emergency shelter would not be subject to the 1,000-foot buffer requirement, which further muddies the waters. This shift in terminology raises concerns that the mayor's office is leaving the door open to house migrants in Saratoga, aligning with a broader trend in upstate New York.
The involvement of the Capital District Democratic Socialists of America in drafting this RFP, and the sudden media tour by Hannah Hurley, further deepen the suspicion. Is the DSA leader now effectively speaking for the Task Force?
The plot thickens as residents are urged to be vigilant about potential attempts to circumvent the Wicks law. Task Force members have questioned whether they have to follow Wicks law, with Tony Izzo confirming that they indeed do. Even if a contractor provides services at no cost, the law still applies.
The new lease with RISE, which is yet to be signed or voted on by the City Council, has also raised eyebrows. Concerns have been voiced about inconsistencies between the lease and the proposal initially requested and awarded. These concerns extend to a change in RISE's mission statement, the requirement for RISE to stay open 24 hours, and the provision of services, as opposed to merely leasing office space. The lease appears to imply a broader commitment on RISE's part, prompting questions about whether they fully understood the terms.
With the deadline for RISE to "move in" on November 1st, the council's pending vote on the lease rewrite, and the mayor's disassociation from the lease process due to the city's commission form of government, many questions remain unanswered.
In Saratoga Springs, where transparency and accountability have long been cherished, these unfolding events are a departure from the norm. The citizens of Saratoga Springs have every right to demand clarity and full disclosure regarding the Task Force's recommendations, the RFP, and the RISE lease. The need for transparency in local government has never been more apparent.
Comments