McCoy delivers State of County address
ALBANY, N.Y. » Albany County Executive Dan McCoy delivered his ninth State of the County Address, Thursday evening, as well as the first of his third term and of the new decade.
In outlining county finances, he also provided updates on items such as the County’s ongoing lawsuit targeting the pharmaceutical industry, and unveiled a range of new policy initiatives focused on public health, mental health, economic development, social justice and more.
Building on successful congregate dining programs for seniors, County Executive McCoy announced a taskforce to address social isolation among all segments of Albany County. Another new initiative that was unveiled will address the disproportionately high rates of addiction among veterans that will utilize the County’s Mobile Crisis Team to respond to emergencies.
“Between our continued commitments to fiscal responsibility, the Department of Health’s national accreditation, increased funding for indigent legal services, our opioid lawsuit, and more, we’ve come a long way since just a year ago. However, there is still more we need to do to lift up the most vulnerable of our society, including our children, our seniors and those who have served our country,” McCoy stated.
“We know that on average, seventeen veterans die each day by suicide, and suicide rates are highest among vets with opioid abuse disorders. We also know that social isolation can be just as lethal as cigarettes or obesity. These types of issues are those that county government can and should be focused on solving and will be among our priorities,” McCoy added.
As part of the State of the County Address, McCoy also announced the implementation of two new reports that serve as important guides to help chart the path forward for two of Albany County’s leading priorities. The Equity Agenda, a partnership with the SUNY Center for Human Services, details a vision for Albany County’s workforce and community at large that promotes equity, social justice, diversity and inclusion in all levels of decision-making and the Albany County community.
Additionally, the Strategic Economic Development Plan, commissioned with the highly regarded Camoin Associates and the Bergman Group, identifies the gaps that currently exist within the economic development environment and calls for a realignment of resources and a shared vision for long-term economic growth.
The blueprint also details a workforce development pipeline that focuses on Albany County’s key growth sectors, including cybersecurity, clean energy, and transportation, and a new marketing strategy to attract more residents to these industries from outside the Capital Region.