Hudson Mohawk Magazine

On May 13th, the CDC announced a new guideline that said that people who have been vaccinated do not need to wear masks or practice social distancing indoors or out. Businesses who have struggled to enforce mask mandates for the last year, scrambled to adjust. Moses Nagel reports on how local supermarkets and the people who have worked there throughout the pandemic are dealing with these changes.

Troy landlord and voting rights advocate Emily Menn is running to represent District 4 on Troy's City Council. Menn spoke with HMM correspondent Corinne Carey about why she's running, some of the issues her district is facing, and what she's doing when she's not out campaigning. An edited version of this interview aired on the Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

On the weekend of May 22-23, Nature Lab hosted its first event. Water Justice Fellows Shansanique Pollack and Genesis Cooper tested water samples from various locations along the Hudson River under the guidance of Sebastian Pillitteri, Community Science Coordinator at Riverkeeper. HMM's Sina Basila Hickey learned about the testing process which helps the community better understand the health of the Hudson River.

Photo by Catherine Rafferty

Rhea Drysdale is a small business owner, a member of Reimagine Troy working group and a person who saw a gap in services provided by the city and county related to fire relief. In this interview with Hudson Mohawk Magazine producer Elizabeth Press, Rhea talks about what she has been providing for people affected by the fires and how that work may be slowed down by the move to encrypt all police communications within the next month.

Scott Desnoyers's son committed suicide shortly after his medication was cut off when he missed a monthly $20 payment to a state health care program. He is organizing a car protest at Assemblymember Woerner's office in Saratoga Springs on June 5th to demand that she support enact of NY Health, a state single-payer proposal that has widespread support in the legislature but which has been blocked by the leadership especially in the State Senate. With Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Radio Network.

The creation of the Bitcoin money system uses an enormous amount of electricity and has a major negative climate impact. Yvonne Taylor of Seneca Lake Guardian discusses the proposal to convert the Greenridge coal plant, which has been closed for 7 years and recently became a peaker plant, to operate on fracked gas fuel time for a Bitcoin company. With Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Radio Network.

Today, on the Hudson Mohawk Magazine,

We begin with Paul Smart’s coverage of Albany’s plans to demolish the Lincoln Towers, three city-owned high-rise apartments in the South End of Albany.

Then, we head to a military-themed restaurant where Masha Miller interviews co-owner of Mess Hall, Noelle Hardy

Later on, Willie Terry brings us part 7 of a roundtable discussion on "Policing the Black Community: Help or Social Control,” featuring panelists David Walker, Leon VanDyke, Carlo Dufflar, and Angel Martinez.

After that, we hear part two of Andrea Cunliffe’s coverage of the press conference to urge the Rensselaer Board of Elections to add more early voting sites

Finally, singer, filmmaker, and activist Taina Asili talks about her return to live performance post-pandemic, as well as her new song and music video, “The Struggle Carries On.”

Andrea Cunliffe, reporting for Hudson Mohawk Magazine, from a press conference on on May 25, 2021 in Troy NY urging the Rensselaer County Board of Elections to add more early voting sites and one particularly in the heart of downtown Troy. Gathered leaders represented the League of Women Voters, NAACP, New York Civil Liberties Union, Troy Coalition of Black Leaders, and the Justice Center of Rensselaer County. This is part two of a two part series.

When the pandemic hit, Taina Asili, like many others, had to clear her calendar of in-person events. On June 2, 2021, Taina will return to the live stage for a free event by Pops Up at the Empire Plaza. She is also celebrating the release of a new song and music video that was commissioned by Troy City Music Hall, which you'll hear at the very beginning of this interview.

To see the music video for "The Struggle Carries On,” visit the Troy Music Hall YouTube page

Find more information about Taina Asili at www.TainaAsili.com

Just in time for Memorial Day, Hudson Mohawk Magazine correspondent Masha Miller spoke with Noelle Hardy–the co-owner of Mess Hall, a military-themed eatery in Averill Park. Menu, directions and more at www.messhall518.com