Boyd Dorough

Criminal Justice / Public Safety

The city of Albany should adopt ''hot spots policing'', which has been successful in reducing crime in high-crime areas. Learn more

The failure of the city’s leadership to address the documented increase in both violent and property crimes since 2011 is alone sufficient reason to replace those elected officials who have been in office during that period. Learn more

The city commission’s failure to fully staff the Albany Police Department is nonfeasance.  Public safety must be the paramount concern for local government.[1]  A large number of officers on patrol are recent graduates of the police academy, and most have less than 5 years’ experience.  These positions are essential to public safety, as these are the officers who respond to crimes, intervene to protect victims of assault, and arrest offenders.  News reports that 26 entry-level positions were vacant in April 2018[2] and that the department lost 17 officers that same year[3] confirm the city commission has neglected its primary responsibility to the citizens of this community. Learn more

The city should reassess the structure of the police department, to assure optimal utilization of resources.  It is imperative that police presence be dramatically increased throughout the city, even if this involves reassigning officers who are currently in administrative positions.  Additionally, consideration should be given to merging and/or repurposing divisions, such as the Albany-Dougherty Drug Unit and the Gang Task Force. Learn more

The mayor and city commission should revisit ''community policing'', particularly in impoverished neighborhoods.  This approach, which brings officers together with the community in which they are stationed, has been successful in reducing crime and tensions between citizens and law enforcement in many neighborhoods.  The city of Albany should have precincts in both East Albany and South Albany, which would be the base of operations for officers in those areas. Learn more

Properties which are dilapidated or are known to present a threat to public safety should receive priority for demolition. Learn more

What is to be done?  Crime is a consequence and companion of poverty.  Job creation and economic opportunity must be a priority for the mayor and city commissioners.  Likewise, the city should provide and promote recreation and cultural outlets for its youth.  The city’s immediate priority, however, must be public safety. Learn more

Economy

Community leaders currently have an opportunity to distinguish Albany as a prospect for industrial and high-tech employment,[46] by investing heavily in solar power. Learn more

The city and county commissions must support the community’s larger employers.  Albany’s manufacturing base, though diminished, remains strong.  The local Procter & Gamble (P&G) plant, which manufactures Bounty paper towels and Charmin toilet paper, was the state’s Manufacturer of the Year for 2019. This award was ''based on a range of criteria, including its economic impact, community involvement and corporate responsibility, and commitment to workforce development and excellence''.  P&G employs more than 500 people and ''has a $300 million net impact on the Albany economy''. Learn more

Education

The volume of recyclables collected in Albany is negligible.  The city, county, and school board should establish programs to educate students as to the importance of recycling.  The city should install recycling bins in public places, and increase the number of drop-off sites.  The city should also encourage a private collector to offer curbside recycling.  Citizens who pay for this service would pay a reduced fee to the city. Learn more

FAB, should it be retained, could also be commissioned to supervise individuals performing community service.  These individuals could be required to clean up trash and litter, from parks, along major corridors, and illegal dumping sites.  Other cities offer part-time summer employment for at-risk youth.  City beautification is one assignment which would be appropriate for these students, should the city adopt such a program. Learn more

Environment / Energy

This site proposes ambitious plans to address crime, create jobs, improve the environment, provide affordable, quality housing, while reducing blight, modernizing and upgrading the city’s infrastructure, and improving the quality of life for all of Albany’s citizens.  If elected, I will confront, rather than ignore, the challenges we face. Learn more

The transit service should likewise transition to hybrid buses.  Federal and state funds are available to assist with the purchase of energy-efficient buses which, unlike passenger vehicles, continue to be more expensive than traditional buses. Learn more

Transition to solar power is the linchpin of the Green Initiative.  Solar could, within a decade, feasibly become Albany’s central energy source.  The city’s residents would reap the benefits from this investment for generations. Learn more

The Green Initiative is a bold program which, if adopted and implemented, would establish Albany as a unique city in the Southeast United States.  Greenhouse gas emissions would be dramatically reduced, and the city would realize savings from reduced fuel consumption and lower maintenance costs.  Citizens would, upon completion of the proposed solar farms, pay only a fraction of the cost they currently pay for electricity.  The demand for clean energy will also channel industrial prospects to Albany. Learn more

Hybrid and electric vehicles, in addition to being environmentally friendly, are cheaper to operate and maintain.  The transition to hybrid and electric vehicles will be relatively simple.  EV charging stations should be installed at various locations throughout the city, including in the downtown area.  The accessibility of charging stations will encourage citizens to purchase electric cars. Learn more

Healthcare

The city and county must acknowledge and address obstacles to economic development, including crime, poverty, and high healthcare costs.  Our own negative perceptions of Albany is also an obstacle to economic development. There is, however, no reason to dispute or deny empirical evidence.  We will move forward only with tangible achievements.  Albany’s image and our quality of life will improve once crime, poverty and blight are reduced; once our sewer system is repaired to protect the Flint River; once our downtown is truly revitalized; once the Flint RiverQuarium and Chehaw’s Wild Animal Park are recognized for exhibitry and programming; once families prefer to live in Albany rather than the city’s environs. Learn more

A second hospital would improve the quality of life for residents of the Albany metro area.  High healthcare costs are a financial burden for individuals, businesses, and government, and competition in this market would reduce those costs.  A second hospital would also provide greater employment opportunities for those in the healthcare industry. Learn more

Housing

A disaster preparedness plan must be comprehensive, insofar as the proper response depends on the nature of the extreme weather.  There must be contingency plans for emergency housing, to include designated shelters, and an evacuation plan when most if not all of the city is expected to be impacted by the given force of nature.  It is imperative that the most vulnerable residents, including low income families and the disabled, are properly educated as to the specific plan, so that they may take the necessary precautions and secure transportation to shelters or a designated evacuation site. Learn more

Alternate uses for properties must be considered.  Community gardens could be cultivated in neighborhoods where three or four adjacent lots are cleared of residences.  The city could deed large parcels to businesses which commit to construct and operate grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods. Likewise, contiguous parcels could be offered to developers seeking to construct subsidized housing for low-income citizens.  Lots could be utilized for in-fill houses and deeded to nonprofits, such as Habitat for Humanity, and to individuals who can obtain a conventional loan to construct a residence in a distressed neighborhood. Learn more

The Land Bank would provide low-interest loans for owner-occupiers, who seek to make improvements to their residences. The Department of Housing and Urban Development provides funding to renovate and improve existing residences in disadvantaged neighborhoods through Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and the Home Partnership Program.  These programs, revenue from the sale of city-owned rental properties, and loan repayments would finance a strong and active Land Bank. Learn more

Most citizens do not appreciate the magnitude of this problem.  15% of the homes in Albany are, according to two websites, vacant, while another lists that figure as 13.48%. New residential construction in Dougherty County has slowed to a glacial pace. Thus, any responsible program must begin with an understanding that there is no demand for much of the surplus housing stock. Learn more

Infrastructure / Transportation

If I had my way, 99 percent of all SPLOST collections would be used to fix our infrastructure.[19] Learn more

Albany must prepare for the pending closure of the Oglethorpe Bridge.  The Department of Transportation (DOT) has included $16 million in its FY22 budget to replace the bridge.  Traffic will be detoured during construction, which is expected to take two years.  This will require modifications of routine traffic patterns, as most motorists crossing the river downtown do so on the Oglethorpe Bridge.  An article on the reopening of the Broad Avenue Bridge stated an average of 29,900 cars had crossed Oglethorpe Bridge during closure of that bridge, and that ''traffic counts on Broad [were] expected to return to their former levels of nearly 12,000 vehicles per day''. Learn more

A primary objective of revitalization efforts was to ''increase[] opportunities to use the river for recreation and learning experiences …''  Citizens must understand true revitalization of downtown will require protecting that section of the Flint River which flows through our community.  CSOs can impact the experience of encountering the Flint River, and recurrent incidents have been catastrophic for small businesses which lease kayaks and canoes, and sell bait and tackle.  The loss of these small, specialty businesses would deprive the community of sources of equipment necessary for visitors who wish to personally encounter the river.  Thus, separation of Albany’s combined sewer system is essential to all of those activities – recreation, entertainment, education – which make the downtown river corridor such a special place. Learn more

Legislation

The city commission should restore WG&L to its former status or consider seeking legislation to make WG&L a completely separate entity.  This would involve a long-term agreement, whereby WG&L is required to purchase all electricity generated by the city, to the limit of demand, and to pay the city a certain percentage of all revenue.  WG&L would be governed by an independent board, which would be appointed by the city commission or elected.  The members of the board would hire a general manager, with expertise in managing a utility. Learn more