State Politics

On Thursday, Shawn Peebles (26) and Travis Webb (22), two young black men, were found not guilty in their trial for Robbery in Albany. I must confess to being out of the courtroom for most of the evidentiary segment but I was in the room for the testimony of the “victim” and, I must say…it didn’t take much more than that and the closing arguments from Attorneys Thomas Gabriels and Matt Alpern to convince me that these charges were simply untrue.

Shawn Peebles, which was all of 5’2,” had been at his home on Third Street playing video games and cooking fish sticks. (I can’t say much for his taste in snacks!) Travis Webb, a gangly youngin’ who had held a job at McDonalds for two years, had a girlfriend but still shopped for toilet paper at his Mom’s house hanging with Peebles when a knock came on the door…with the game blasting, the prosecution attempted to convince the jury that the delay in opening the door was not because the fish stick cooking, video playing “kids” didn’t hear the knock…but, the DA supposed, something more sinister.

On Thursday night, the Albany Planning Board approved the Site Plan for the Honest Weight Food Co-op located at 100 Watervliet Avenue in Albany. Board members sat nervously in the audience and Mr. Hershberg presented the plan for a 30,700 square foot supermarket and a 156 space accessory parking lot.

The demolition of the structure currently at the site has also been approved but both it and the site plan are subject to certain requirements which include additional “nods” regarding traffic patterning and landscaping of the lot.

The Citizens Police Review Board held court on Washington Avenue on Thursday and played host to a rather interesting case. While the names of the officers and complainants normally remain confidential and I don’t report them, this case was a little bit different as it was the case of Kim Roche.

Ya see, Ms. Roche was riding around on a December 18^th, over in the Brevator area. (She admitted to me she drives a little fast…and she talks like she drives!) Anyway, an Albany Police Officer pulled her over when she turned left after the left turn arrow had switched to just a green light. As she told the Times Union Advocate, the officer’s first calming words to the pulled over motorist were “I’m not going to give you a ticket.”

While in the middle of the Citizens Police Review Board meeting, I got some sad news. Nebraska Brace, former third ward councilman and Albany Legend, had died. One of the few goals I had when I first moved to Albany was to meet Nebraska. Ya see, I read everything I could get my hands on while working in Community Action and all paths led me to Nebraska….who wouldn’t be intrigued?

I met Nebraska Brace as he sat on a throne-like chair at the door of Michaels during the nominating meeting of the Albany Democrats. No need for formalities…I stuck out my hand to the man in the Cowboy hat and in my best Texan, I introduced myself as “being very honored to meet him.” I’d like to say he felt the same but I’m quite sure he thought I was a strange woman who had found her way into Michaels and felt the need to babble.

I won’t pretend that I know anything more about Nebraska Brace than anyone reading this article…I am not part of his history and I don’t plan on hijacking it. When I ask people about this legend, they tell me first, “he was in the movie Ironweed.” Perhaps they think that this gives me some common ground. Honestly, I didn’t watch Ironweed until I moved to Albany but this weekend I think I’ll check out the bum by the name of “Andy” in that movie.

Brace was born January 3, 1929 and I was told that Nebraska was an aide to State Senator Howard Nolan who was one of Mayor Jennings staunchest supporters in his first run in 1993. Senator Nolan left office in Mike Hoblock took the office in 1995. From there Nebraska beat out 67 candidates for a job at the Albany Housing Authority…he swears it was not a “political” assist but that he’d be gone if he didn’t live up to expectations. In his more senior years Nebraska also loaned his famous smile to Walmart as he worked as a greeter.

While Nebraska Brace leaves a large family of children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and countless nieces and nephews, his biological legacy dwarfs next to the hundreds of men and women he has mentored in our community. Of all the people I’ve encountered in my Albany journey, Mr. Brace invoked an admirable memory in each and every one of them.

There were many paths taken in the history of Albany for which Nebraska Brace can lay claim as trailblazer but not many, I’m sure, can hold a candle to one of his last political battles. In the summer of 2011, Brace joined several other former elected officials to pinpoint and extract the most damaging “influence” in the minority community’s future…Wanda Willingham.

Perhaps the most powerful of Nebraska Brace’s political accomplishments was also one of his last.

(I’ll update as memorial information becomes available…I’d love to hear more about Nebraska Brace if you’d care to share.)