Election Scores: 12th Ward

Walkable Albany's Candidate Scores are now available! Below is the candidate from the 12th Ward who responded to our questionnaire, Edward Hyde Clarke. The questionnaires contained a variety of issues, in several categories:

1. Beg Buttons
2. Washington Park
3. Pedestrian Safety
4. Car Dependency
5. Development

Below we will share the candidate's scores in each category and overall, along with answers to longer-form questions. This page shows the candidates for the 12th Ward Common Council seat; other offices are listed on separate pages. Here are the overall scores for the 12th Ward.

Edward Hyde Clarke—84.35 (B rating)

Below are the detailed responses.

Edward Hyde Clarke—Overall Score 84.35

1. Beg Buttons score: 93.33
2. Washington Park score: 91.43
3. Pedestrian Safety score: 86.67
4. Car Dependency score: 66.67
5. Development score: 88

How will you improve snow clearance from sidewalks?

High traffic sidewalks and crosswalks should be cleared by the City. In general, sidewalks come down to the property owners. I think that the focus needs to be at the neighborhood level. Each neighborhood association should seek a list of property owners who have difficulty clearing sidewalks and at the same time find volunteers who may be willing to help our elderly neighbors or those who may have a disability that make clearing sidewalks difficult. I do not think penalties work. I think we just need to work together to be better neighbors. Another option may be to create actual opportunities for our students to be paid to help clear certain sidewalks or for certain homeowners.

Do you support the Lark Street Redesign study? Why do you think projects like this are valuable to the city?

I support any project or study that looks to enhance our streetscape and support multiple modes of transportation. Residents are only going to walk or ride their bike if they feel safe doing so. The more we can do to connect our neighborhoods and uptown/downtown, the more we can support all of our local businesses.

Do you support the Albany Skyway park? Why do you think projects like this are valuable to the city?

I do support the Albany Skyway Park because it will actually connect our residents to the waterfront. The waterfront is a great asset that is underutilized because it is not readily accessible. Again, it is all about connecting our residents to our natural resources without having to get in a car.

As a general matter, do you share the belief that one of the keys to Albany’s financial success is additional development?

Development and redevelopment is part of the financial success and overall health of the City of Albany. As the President of the Upper Washington Avenue Neighborhood Association, I have tried to strike a balance between protecting our existing neighborhoods and encouraging new development and new business. The development also need to encourage pedestrian safety. Projects in my neighborhood have not had enough focus on pedestrian safety. We had a proposed Stewarts across from an existing gas station with full access turns from Washington and Colvin Ave. Then we have a proposed mixed use development on Colvin Ave, which approved an egress into Westland Hills Park. Yes, we need additional development. But we also need additional development that does not increase traffic on busy streets, additional development that offers services to the existing neighbors, and additional development that is sustainable. I am fortunate to live in walking distance to my grocery store and gym and restaurants. That is why I love living in the City and I hope we can create that same opportunity for all residents.

Would you support more aggressive code enforcement to ensure absentee property owners cannot prevent development and contribute to blight?

I do support aggressive code enforcement. Abandoned properties impact everyone around them. Residents do not want to live next to the property, businesses do not want to start, and pedestrians do not feel safe walking by abandoned properties. As a municipal attorney, I have worked with the Greater Mohawk Valley Land Bank to obtain title to abandoned properties utilizing Article 19A of the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law. I support the City of Albany utilizing Article 19A to force compliance with the code and ultimately allow the City to obtain title to abandoned properties.

Choose your top five priorities from a list:

1. First priority: Support and attract businesses
2. Second priority: Reduce gun crimes
3. Third priority: Improve pedestrian safety
4. Fourth priority: Increase police accountability
5. Fifth priority: Improve public transit