A Weekend Of Violence On Lark Street Prompts Local Business Owner To Speak Up and Take Action
The problems on Lark Street in Albany are nothing new, but after a slew of violence over the weekend resulting to closing of one business another Lark Street business owner is speaking up.
Lark Street was a place that I spent a good chunk of my early 20s at. Going from bar to bar and enjoying the various festivals and events that went on in that community are very fond memories for me.
As a resident of the City of Albany I am growing more and more concerned with the state of the city and the safety of the people in it. I live here with my children, and we frequent Albany places of business all the time.
This past weekend saw multiple violent incidents take place that have resulted in the shutdown of Cafe Hollywood, a Lark Street institution. Prior to that shooting a bullet hit Bitchin' Donuts which is right new New Scotland Spirits Tasting Room. I had the owner of New Scotland Spirits, Jesse Sommer, join me to talk about the growing concerns that he has as not only a business owner, but as a Lark Street resident.
Listen to his full interview
Jesse told me that there's a reason that he put his business on Lark Street. Those same fond memories I have from my youth he has, too. He wants this community to thrive and get back to those days of Lark Street from the late 90s and early 2000s.
He said that Lark Street can get back to that, and it starts with you and me to help get it there.
Jesse has also been documenting the recent incidents happening on Lark Street over the the New Scotland Spirits Instagram page, where he plans to hold a press conference at 6pm tonight, November 25, 2024. He will hold that press conference outside of the now closed cafe Hollywood.
We have a beautiful city here in Albany and I think that if we all work together we can make sure that it is beautiful for my children, and your children and the rest of the future residents of the Capital Region.
The Godfather Mansion in New York
Gallery Credit: Karolyi