PLEASE NOTE the September 24th meeting has to be rescheduled. Please keep an eye out for the new date.

ABAAT would like to extend a special thank you to the victims and their families, elected officials and department heads who joined us last night to discuss the Myrtle Avenue Fire. We had a wonderful discussion and Identified the following points to begin addressing the issue.

• Increase communication between the County and the City to ensure everyone is on the same page
• NIXLE notifications for fires and building demolitions
• Boarding of County seized building. On the back of the building, the day of lock out and on the front of the building after 3 failed lockups
• Protocol to ensure the Mayor’s office provides the same amount of exposure/airtime to any multi-family fire not prohibited by law

Thank you to the following Elected Officials, Department Heads and staff:

• City of Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan
• City Fire Chief Joseph Gregory
• City Buildings & Regulatory Compliance Director Rick LaJoy
• City Police South Station Commander Jim Gallagher
• Assemblymember John McDonald III
• Senator Neil Breslin
• County Exec. Director of Policy & Research Mike McLaughlin
• City Neighborhood Stabilization Coordinator Sam Wells

Wednesday, September 11, 2019 | Albany Fire Department Headquarters

PLEASE NOTE this event has to be rescheduled. Please keep an eye out for the new date.

VENUE CHANGE to Albany Fire Department, 26 Broad Street, Albany. Behind the fire department

Thank you to everyone who donated to the victims of the fire on Myrtle Avenue. Your item and monetary donations mean a lot to the families. A Block at a Time was able to provide basic needs items to 10 of the 11 families in the homes that were demolished by Sunday evening (48 hours). We will continue to provide items as they need them. The families have what they need right now but will continue to need support until they are resettled/

From Dannielle Hille:
I just want to let every donor who dropped items off to me personally or those I picked items up from, that I ensured your donation went to the families and if your donation was for a specific member I personally gave it to them. The families want you all to know they are grateful for your generosity and support.

Donation information for Myrtle Avenue Fire Victims (as of 08-30-2019).

To donate items on the list, or for more information contact Dannielle Hille dannielle@abaat.org

Monetary donations accepted by AVillage… Inc. website, www.avillageworks.org. That link on the upper right leads you to a PayPal button but you can also donate with a credit or debit card. Starting Monday cash and checks can be dropped off at the AVillage…, Inc. office at 3 Lincoln Sq., Albany ONLY. Please put “Myrtle Avenue Fire Victims” in the memo.

PLEASE NOTE, we cannot accept furniture donations at this time. We will put the word out once we can.

We will keep info up-to-date on A Block at a Time’s Facebook (facebook.com/abaat518) and website

A Block at a Time will be collecting additional hygiene and baby supplies on Wednesday, 8/28 from 4:30 to 6 PM

We are still in need of: Hygiene, baby wipes and diapers, underwear, socks, toilet paper and clear plastic bins.

CLARIFICATION:
Cash and check donation can be dropped off to the AVillage…, Inc. offices at 3 Lincoln Square, Albany ONLY

Attached is an updated donation list. We will need hygiene items on an ongoing basis to make sure the families have them. We will also need an ongoing supply of wipes and diapers.

PLEASE NOTE: We are not able to accept furniture donations at this time. We will send out a call once we can.

Thank you EVERYONE for your help. The families really appreciate it.

Here is an updated Needs List