Dozens of veterans spoke out against Democratic legislators proposing to stall Solider On’s housing project, which spurred a last-minute amendment to clear a procedural step. Controversy was swirling over the homeless veteran housing proposal even before the Albany County Legislature’s Monday, July 14, meeting started. Democrats had signaled that the majority was planning to table the resolution to designate the legislature as lead agency for the State Environmental Quality Review evaluation, but following caucuses before and after the public comment portion of the meeting, the majority eventually drafted an amendment receiving unanimous support. The only major change to the resolution was requiring the Shaker Heritage Society to be listed as an interested party and included in the process. John Downing, president and CEO of Solider On, said the Massachusetts-based non-profit organization has already worked with 567 veterans from the area. “We’re not looking for parades. We are not looking for you to stand up and applaud for veterans. We’re looking for you to support and develop housing for veterans,” said Downing. “This project takes on meaning because it integrates veterans from this community back into the community.” Lead agency designation for SEQR is typically not controversial because it only allows for the review process to begin. The resolution does not equate to approving the project. Before the meeting, the Majority’s Office said “further fact-finding” was required before proceeding with the SEQR process because the project had not been “fully explained.” “Due to the potential impact on the environment, especially wetlands, and its potential impact on the Historic Watervliet Shaker site … a SEQRA Type I action is required,” said the Majority’s Office in a statement. “This means a complicated process that must be completed with the utmost of care, integrity and will require experts and resources the County may or may not possess.” The SEQR evaluation identifies any potential environmental impact, along with how those impacts could be addressed or mitigated. James Scalise, an engineer with Solider On, said the organization is proposing to adaptively reuse the former Ann Lee Nursing Home in Colonie. The proposal includes building 72 units with supportive services and administrative offices, with the possibility of an additional 100 units on adjacent county-owned land. The property is located next to the Shaker Heritage Society. Legislator Patrice Schwarz Lockart, R-Colonie, chided Democrats before the meeting for planning to table the resolution, which has received widespread support from local officials. “I hope our veterans come out in force to express their outrage at such treatment,” Lockart said in a prepared statement. Veterans and supporters rallied outside before the legislature’s meeting and vowed to fight for the housing project. “We are not going to be diverted,” Downing said during the rally. “We are going to help stop the insanity that veterans are a commodity to be shuffled and moved from place to place.” Legislature Chairman Shawn Morse interjected after the first speaker during public comment and said that legislators were not opposed to the project. “I can tell you in the month we’ve had these dialogues, there has not been one member of this legislature against the Solider On project,” Morse said. “I think this is more of a lack of communication than anything else.” Morse’s remarks did not stop veterans from sharing their stories about how Solider On has helped them and why the facility is needed. Several credited Solider On with saving their life. Tom Griswold, commander of Sheehy Palmer VFW Post in Albany, said when veterans are returning from a war that is ongoing, they can’t delay decisions and urged the legislature to move the project forward. “If you delay, people get hurt, people get killed,” said Griswold.
He said if the resolution did not get approved, the veterans would be back next month.
Jake Ashby, a former county employee and two-time combat veteran, questioned how any legislator could consider delaying the project. “I’ve come to help the legislature and those people that aren’t really being forthcoming in wanting to do the right thing,” said Ashby as he reached into a plastic bag. “This is a box of enemas and that’s Metamucil.” Legislator Gary Domalewicz, D-Albany, said that all of the questions fellow members had were answered and urged for the SEQR process to move forward. “I’m very excited that we came to an agreement tonight,” Domalewicz said after the majority’s second caucus, which is when the amendment was crafted. “I strongly believe Solider On will work very good with the Shaker Society. They both will have many common areas, and I think that it’d be a win-win.” Starlyn D’Angelo, executive director of the Shaker Heritage Society, said the organization fully supports the Solider On project. She said the group wants to have a voice in the project so it benefits the historic site along with veterans. “It may seem a little bit incompatible to have veterans housed at the site,” D’Angelo said, “but in fact the Shakers did take in veterans and soldiers on a regular basis.”