Ricard’s vote deserves Cohoes’ condemnation

The article “New law protects hairstyle rights,” Nov. 10, reported that the Albany County Legislature passed a law that “adds protections for residents who wear turbans or head wraps.” This would protect employees from discrimination in the workplace.

Unfortunately, this law was not unanimously passed. Nine Republicans thought that this law would be, as the article stated, “injecting itself into a private business’ grooming practices.”

In the era after former President Donald Trump, Republicans have voted consistently to take away individual freedoms from minority groups.

Shockingly, Bill Ricard, a Democrat who represents Albany County’s 17th Legislative District in Cohoes, voted with the Republicans.

This vote by Republicans and Ricard, had it gone their way, would have allowed employers in the county to discriminate based on culturally significant attire.

Ricard chose not to add “protections for residents who wear turbans or head wraps” because a comment was made about privilege regarding private-school institutions such as Christian Brothers Academy.

Ricard’s vote is not representative of Cohoes. During COVID-19, we saw many Black, brown and Asian folks open up their storefronts in Cohoes. Now, a person can walk down Remsen Street, get a cup of coffee at Cafe con Mel (a Latina and Asian all-women-owned coffee shop) and get something sweet to eat at a Black-owned bakery called Nelly’s Sweet Treats.

Thanks to the leadership of Mayor Bill Keeler, Cohoes has changed for the better. The Albany County Democratic Committee should condemn Ricard’s recent vote to discriminate. Cohoesiers should be appalled by this vote and demand the resignation of someone who seems stuck in the city’s racist and ugly past. Joe Ritchie

Cohoes