Press Release

CANA celebrates 30 years of promoting Albany ’s neighborhoods

Albany, New York, September 8, 2006 :  The Council of Albany Neighborhood Associations (CANA) will celebrate 30 years of activism as the “voice of Albany’s neighborhoods” on Wednesday, October 4 with a public reception at 6 PM and dinner at 7 PM The University Club of Albany, 141 Washington Avenue.  

B. J. Costello, president of the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association, will address the gathering on “The Changing Role of Neighborhood Associations”.  Mr. Costello is a partner in the law firm of Hinman, Straub P.C.  Neighborhood and city leaders past and present will be on hand to swap stories of CANA’s history of pursing the vitality, well being and growth of Albany by strengthening its varied neighborhoods.  

CANA is a federation of more than 20 neighborhood groups joined to address citywide issues and create a quality environment for all of Albany ’s people.  The Association was formed in 1976 when neighborhood associations working in the Coalition for Effective Code Enforcement, aided by the Neighborhood Resource Center, agreed to join together to deal with other quality of life issues throughout Albany.  

CANA has since promoted a more open city budgetary process and a more effective code enforcement system, advocated for public comment before Common Council meetings, supported establishment of a comprehensive historic preservation ordinance and requested curbing for Washington Park roads to prevent erosion.  Recently, CANA published Guiding Principles for Conducting a Successful Comprehensive Plan to influence Albany ’s citywide planning process.

  CANA meets the first Wednesday of the month (except July and August) at 7 PM at the Albany Public Library on Washington Avenue .  All meetings are open to the public. 

 To learn more about CANA contact Harold Rubin at 434-0855.  Reservation information for the Anniversary Celebration is at: https://members.tripod.com/councilalbanyna/invitation.htm

 The cost of the dinner is $25