In His Honor
The University at Albany ruffles feathers by celebrating the accomplishments of Jerry Jennings
Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings re ceived the University at Albany’s Medallion of the University during the winter commencement this past Sunday. Anton Konev, a local resident and recent unsuccessful candidate for the Albany County Legislature, held a protest of about a dozen students, activists and residents during a Saturday night gala honoring Jennings.
Konev said that giving a sitting politician an award of such a nature is a conflict of interest, especially since the honorary committee that decided to give Jennings the award includes the Times Union, a publication that covers Jennings on a regular basis.
“In the past, this kind of award was given to distinguished journalists, or writers, past presidents, or distinguished activists—never a sitting local politician,” said Konev. “When state resources are used to give a sitting politician an award like this, it is a conflict of interest because it is just doing public relations for a sitting politician.” The honorary committee also included Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-Greenport), State Sen. Joseph Bruno (R-Brunswick) and the Albany Parking Authority.
“As Mayor,” read the invitation for the UAlbany gala honoring Jennings, “Jerry Jennings has presided over an unprecedented reduction in crime and meaningful increases in quality of life for all of Albany.”
Konev said that as a resident of the Albany who has personally experienced a recent rise of crime in the city—he has been both attacked and robbed in the last few years—he is insulted that the university would overlook statistics that contradict the claim that Jennings has significantly reduced crime. Konev noted that, according to the federal Unified Crime Reporting Program, Albany’s average rate of crime per 10,000 people in 2005 was nearly triple that of the national average.
Konev said Jennings was incorrectly cited for reducing crime in the area around the university. “He was credited with establishing Operation Safe Corridor, which really is a sham. Why should students and residents of Albany be able to only walk down certain streets to feel safe? Shouldn’t we feel safe in general in that part of the city? There shouldn’t be redesignated street locations where students should feel safe. It is such a PR sham!”
The invitation to Jennings gala said Jennings has shown “unparalleled dedication to children.” Konev fiercely disagreed and pointed to what he called the Albany City School District’s shaky record and what he said are “neighborhoods that have been neglected for the longest time, preteenagers who are going into gangs and crime, all because there are no youth services.”
In the end, Konev said he found the timing of the award interesting, with Jennings openly considering a run to fill the seat of U.S. Rep. Michael McNulty (D-Green Island) next year.
“The timing is very odd,” said Konev, “to give Jennings an award right now versus somewhere at the end of his career as a mayor.”
—David King
dking@metroland.net |