To anyone who has read my intuitiveness on this site the past year or so, plainly know that I am no fan of the progressive political movement which has begun to take over the city of Albany. However, I am here to say that I’m one hundred percent behind the thinking when it comes to the Park South plan currently under negotiation. Let’s get one thing straight right up front people. When you mention the company Columbia Development, you just might as well call them BBL, because for one thing, it’s just easier to type, and the other because they’re the same entity. Anything with the name Columbia Development attached to it will inevitably lead to a blue on white sign that says BBL at the construction site. They share the same office building up on Washington Avenue Extension, and one hand does not go anywhere without the other. Although there are plenty of other contractors that are capable of undertaking a project such as this — and I will give you a list of them if you ask — it always seems that the blue and white sign will appear on anything of significance built in Albany. Now it appears that the officers of BBL are doing what they do best in negotiations; that is being a Bully (you could probably get verification on this from Dan McCoy.) From the story that I read this morning in the paper they are leading with a ”take it or leave it attitude.” How in god’s name can the board of the Park South Neighborhood Association take a vote that ends up 7-5 on one proposal and 11-1 on another. There is no way that a seven story parking structure is needed along Myrtle Avenue. Sure, it looks all fine in the architect’s rendering, but I can’t wait to see what it will look like hovering over the neighborhood. It will be like driving through a tunnel. The garage has nothing to do with the needs of the people, but only for the needs of the employees of Albany Med, and the profiteering doctors who will inhabit the medical offices. (Oh, I forgot they are planning to add a few shops along the street just to show that they are neighbor friendly.) While we are going to get another government here in the city January 1, it should be up to them to be the ones who will approve, disapprove or make any changes to this project before it gets completely shoved down everyone’s throat. And to you Ms. 10th Ward councilwoman, forget about warring with the Planning Commissioner. He’s probably not going to be there anyway after the new year, so you will probably be dealing with one of Kathy’s appointees. The time to act is now. You Leah, and the Common Council have the responsibility to make this right; not only for the residents of Park South, but for all the citizens of Albany.……….Woof. We’ve all taken that train ride down those tracks going into the City. And we all know just exactly where that curve in the tracks are. Totally inexcusable.……….I guess the fans of the Yankees and the Red Sox can hate each other all they want, but I guess the general manager’s of those two teams don’t. Yanks get another Red Sox cast off who will probably end up on the DL for half of next season just like the last cast off. Geez.