CANA
Council of Albany Neighborhood Associations

Many of us have made a significant commitment to living in the City of Albany. Some of us have had opportunities and choices as to whether we live in the Capital District, Albany or elsewhere. We have elected to live within the City of Albany because of its quality of life, the cultural and property values, the convenience of nearby shopping, a good public transportation infrastructure and so much more. We want living within the City of Albany to be the best there is and have grown concerned that perhaps our complaints, while not as severe as in other municipalities, were not being heard by the various city departments. We also wondered if other people around the city felt as we did.

Our intention was to come up with a device to gauge where everyone’s concerns lie and to what extent they may differ from one part of the city to another. It also would establish a benchmark against which any future progress can be measured.

The survey was developed through the efforts of the Code Enforcement and Quality of Life Committee (CEQL) which represents the Council of Albany Neighborhood Associations (CANA). Committee members reflected a broad cross section of the community. Members of the committee include:

Joan Byalin Dominick Calsoloro

Pat Hancox Andrew Harvey

Bruce Hungershafer Colin McNight

Harold Rubin Marggie Skinner

Elfreda Textores Craig Waltz

David Phaff, Chairperson

The CEQL Committee attempted to identify issues of concern that affected or influenced quality of life issues. The methodology was simple. 1) List every possible issue, 2) Merge overlapping issues, 3) Group issues according to a loosely defined set of types and keep it to one side of an 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper.

While the committee reached a consensus, we realize that it was not possible to mention every single issue.

 

 

 

CANA ~ Code Enforcement & Quality of Life Committee

CEQL Survey Overview (continued)

This survey would not have been so successful without the support of a number of individuals and organizations. The following are to be commended for their efforts.

For their valued input towards the concept of the survey.

For the printing and distribution of the surveys

For allowing collection boxes in Albany stores

For allowing collection boxes in the main library and its branches

For cooperating on the distribution and collection of surveys to the elementary school grades.

For assistance in preparing the data

 

Valid sampling –

It was hoped that we would receive sufficient responses as to represent a valid statistical sampling for the community at large as well as the individual neighborhoods. While not every neighborhood was represented, most that were represented were statistically acceptable.

Tenant community

Of all dwelling units within the City of Albany, including single family, two family or multiple family dwellings, most units are occupied by tenants and it was hoped that this community at large would be well represented in the survey. Unfortunately, the tenant community was not as well represented as we would have liked.

Barometer or report card

If nothing else, this survey gives us a starting point to which future surveys can be compared. In reality, the results have indicated the valid concerns that appear across the city as well as some neighborhood-specific issues.

Resulting Action

It is hoped that with the data as it exists, the City of Albany will attempt to focus on some of these issues by working with the various neighborhood associations. For those individuals or organizations qualified to further analyze the data, we look forward to their insight and guidance in identifying the myriad of issues, seeking viable solutions to the issues and coming up with a more effective survey in the next year.

 

CANA ~ Code Enforcement & Quality of Life Committee

CEQL Survey Overview (continued)

The Albany Times Union printed 26,000 surveys that were distributed as follows:

6,000 to elementary schools

Boxes of 80 to:

5 Albany Public Library & branches

9 Stewarts Shops

Balance distributed in Saturday edition of newspaper

More than half were "qualified", which meant they included the required demographic detail and checked off no more than twelve "issues".

Most returns were mailed in. The majority came from the newspaper insert, followed by those from the Stewart’s Shops and the Albany Public Library and its branches. We found that from all the elementary schools combined, we received a very small response. This poor showing was attributable to timing of the survey so late in the school year as well as inadequate promotion and participation with the teachers.

 

In an attempt to maintain data integrity, preliminary comparisons of the issues selected were made of the "qualified" versus "unqualified" responses to ascertain whether either group showed a significant statistical difference in their choices. It was found that the difference between each group for identical issues was within five percent. This provided us with some degree of assurance that even though one group failed to provide demographics or may have checked off too many issues, their concerns were pretty much in line with the "qualified" group.

In considering the effort to compile and analyze this data please keep the following in mind:

CANA ~ Code Enforcement & Quality of Life Committee

CEQL Survey Overview (continued)

DEMOGRAPHIC DATA - in identified neighborhoods

Male 208

Female 387

Undetermined 182

Of identified surveys, most respondents indicated that they (or presumably a family member/partner) owned the dwelling that they lived in by a 5:1 ratio. We recognize that this is not indicative of the Albany population at large and it reinforces the need to reach out to the tenant community to assure adequate representation.

Some of the tallies per neighborhood were:

Own Rent

Pine Hills 93 25

Beverwyck 19 2

New Scotland/Whitehall 53 2

Arbor Hill 4 7

Delaware 63 13

 

CANA ~ Code Enforcement & Quality of Life Committee

CEQL Survey Overview (continued)

The number of neighborhoods represented totaled twenty-nine. Of the total, twenty (in Bold Type) were considered statistically acceptable and six were considered marginal.

CANA ~ Code Enforcement & Quality of Life Committee

CEQL Survey Overview (continued)

General Issue Groups

There were six general issue group categories:

Family Issues

Social Issues

Environmental Issues

Health Issues

Buildings Issues

Enforcement Issues

While not indicative of specific concerns or the intensity of such concerns, the following charts indicate the average response rate towards each of these six categories on a neighborhood basis.

Top GENERAL issues by category across city

Family - Overview