Skip to main content

Author: Aidan Cahill

Two Injured and One Dead in Plane and Car Crashes at the Saratoga County Airport 

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Featured, News.

Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department Deputies block Geyser Road while investigating a car crash (Aidan Cahill)
According to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, a Saratoga County Office of Emergency Services pickup truck struck a Jeep SUV while responding to the plane crash (Aidan Cahill)
A Piper PA25, similar to the one seen here, reportedly nosed over during a fatal accident resulting in the pilot’s death (public domain photo).

This story has been updated to reflect information released by New York State Police after the story went to print.

Two people were injured and one person is dead after a plane crash and car accident at the Saratoga County Airport. 

The plane crash occurred on May 26, 2026 at 1:47 p.m. on the runway of Saratoga County Airport while the car accident occurred at 1:55 p.m. at the entrance to the airport at the intersection of Geyser and Greenfield Roads.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) preliminary incident notice, the plane crash occurred during takeoff when a towed glider pitched up causing the towing aircraft to “nose over” and strike the runway.  The crash caused both the aircraft and grass near the accident to catch fire. The glider it was towing detached from the aircraft shortly before the crash and successfully landed nearby without injury to the pilot, according to New York State Police.

The aircraft was identified by both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and FAA as a single engine, single seat Piper PA-25 registered to a local glider club. According to registration information, the aircraft was first manufactured in 1969 and was most recently certified in 2012. 

The pilot of the aircraft, has been identified by New York State Police as James R. Stewart, 58, of Caroga Lake. Stewart was transported to Saratoga Hospital with severe burns. He was later transferred to Albany Medical Center where he succumbed to his injured on later that evening.

The NTSB is currently investigating the incident and will release a preliminary report within the next 30 days. 

According to NTSB data, this model of aircraft has been involved in 116 accidents since 1962. Of these, 30 resulted in fatal injuries, 10 resulted in serious injuries, 21 resulted in minor injuries and 53 resulted in no injuries. The remaining two incidents had incomplete data. The most recent incident listed by NTSB involving the model occurred in February in 2025 in Honduras. 

The plane crash led to a car accident directly outside the airport. According to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, a Saratoga County Office of Emergency Services Ford 150 pickup truck responding to the plane crash struck a white Jeep Grand Cherokee, causing the Jeep to roll over.

At the time of the crash, the Jeep was traveling eastbound on Geyser Road while the truck was traveling northbound on Greenfield Avenue.

The driver of the truck was transported to Albany Medical Center while the driver of the Jeep was transported to Saratoga Hospital. Both drivers were transported by Malta-Stillwater EMS with non-life-threatening injuries. The accident is being investigated by the Sheriff’s Collision Reconstruction Unit. 

This is the second fatal plane crash near in Saratoga County in less than a year. In October 2025 a Mooney M20E crashed just after takeoff after suffering an engine failure, according to an NTSB preliminary report. 

Prior to October, Saratoga County hadn’t experienced a fatal plane crash since 2014 when a pilot crashed in Gansevoort while attempting to pick up a towable banner, according to the NTSB. The last non-fatal accident occurred in 2023 when a student and instructor were forced to make an emergency landing in a field after running out of fuel. 

School Board Election results: Voters Pass all Budgets in Saratoga County.

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Education, Uncategorized.

Note: in the May 22 edition of the paper, Saratoga TODAY ran a graphic on the front page showing that budget resolutions in Galway failed. This was meant to reflect that voters in Galway rejected a capital budget proposal for the purchase of an electric bus as it was the only such proposal in Saratoga County to be rejected by voters. The graphic does not reflect all budget proposals on the ballot in Galway such as those that dealt with the operational budget and other capital expenses, which were passed by wide margins. We apologize for any confusion caused by the graphic.

Voters in Saratoga County have once again gone to the polls and cast their votes, this time to approve budgets for Saratoga County’s 12 school districts.

While voters overwhelmingly approved all budgets, the decision to purchase electric buses turned out to be somewhat more controversial, with Ballston Spa approving a measure to purchase a bus by less than 100 votes and Galway rejecting the proposal outright.

From buses to libraries, here is a snapshot of School elections in Saratoga County.

Saratoga Springs.

Saratoga Springs overwhelmingly passed its two resolutions on the ballot. The first of these resolutions was the budget which totaled $166,095,679 and increased the tax levy by 3.85%. It funded programs such as girls wrestling and upgrades to facilities. This measure was passed by a vote of 1526 to 509.

The second measure was a ballot initiative which would have the school district issue $2,413,000 in bonds to purchase eight 70 passenger buses, five 30 passenger buses and three SUVs with state aid reimbursing 40% of the cost. This measure passed 1529 to 375.

The final measure on the ballot was the Board of Education election. Three people — Lauren Allen, Anita Stabrowski and Beth Braxton — ran for the three seats up for grabs. All were elected to the school board with Braxton receiving the most votes with 1567.

Ballston Spa.

In Ballston Spa the election there were four propositions on the education ballot this year. Voters overwhelmingly approved three out of the four resolutions of the ballot. The first, prop one saw voters approve of a $113,742,988 budget with a 3.9% increased tax levy. This was approved 885 to 300.

Prop two will see $1,620,100 spent to purchase and replace existing vehicles within the district. This measure was passed by a vote of 892 to 292.

Prop four was for the library. It authorized the district to collect $65,902 and contribute it to the Ballston Spa Public Library. It received the highest approval from voters passing by a vote of 991 to 194.

The final proposition, prop two, was the most controversial. It would see the district purchase a new electric bus by a vote of 624 to 559, the closest of any vote in the district. The purchase is made in advance of a state requirement that all buses purchased after June 30, 2027, be electric with gas and diesel buses phased out completely by 2035.

The final item on the ballot was electing three people to the Board of Education. The three candidates — Matthew Dreher, Katie Whittemore and Julia Routbort Baskin —were all elected to the board with Dreher receiving the most votes at 917.

Schuylerville

While Schuylerville may have had a lower turnout than Ballston Spa or Saratoga Springs, it still approved its budget by a wide margin. Prop 1, which would see a $40.8 million budget and a 2.99% increased tax levy was passed by a vote of 378 to 121.

Like Ballston Spa and Saratoga Springs, it also decided to upgrade it’s fleet of buses, leasing eight 65 passenger buses for $1,334,500 across the next five years. This measure was passed 395 to 103.

Like Ballston Spa, Schuylerville also voted to approve a budget for its library with voters approving a $446,000 budget 413 to 83.

Galway

The only district in Saratoga County where voters rejected a ballot measure was in Galway. The district which covers the parts of the Towns of Galway, Providence, Milton and Charlton, passed its $27,688,682  budget by a vote of 383 to 239 and voted to purchase three diesel or gas school buses by a vote of 425 to 197.

The lone proposition voters rejected was spending $445,000 to purchase an electric school bus and charger. This provision was rejected by a majority of voters 373 to 248.

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake

In the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School district voted to pass their budget $94.8 million budget by a vote of 969-383.

In addition, voters re-elected Lakshmi Nagarajan and James Ireland and elected John Shillito to the Board of Education.

Corinth

Voters in the Corinth Central School District voted to approve three ballot measures for the upcoming year. The first of these measures was a $29,905,000 budget with a tax increase of 2.6%. This measure passed by a vote of 173-99.

Like other school districts this year, the Corinth Central School District asked voters for funds to upgrade their bus fleet. Voters passed a resolution that would purchase two diesel buses at a cost of $408,276. The resolution passed by a vote of 183-88.

The final resolution voters passed was a resolution for the district to collect and distribute $89,500 to the Corinth Public Library for operating the library. Voters passed this resolution 186-84.

In addition to these resolutions, Corinth voters elected Tyler Ecuyer to the Board of Education for a five-year term.

Edinburg

The Edinburg Common School District had two resolutions on their ballot this year. The first was to approve a $4,103,800 budget with no increase in tax. This measure passed by a vote of 69-13.

Like many other school districts, Edinburg voted to approve the purchase of new vehicles. I this case, voters approved a measure to purchase a 24-seat backup handicap accessible bus for $119,000. The measure passed by a vote of 67 to 15.

In addition to the two measures, voters in Edinburg elected Christian Bills and Angela Ludwig to the Board of Education.

Mechanicville

The Mechanicville City School had two measures on the ballot. For the first measure voters voted to approve a $37,350,893 budget and a 3.4% tax levy by a vote of 306 to 120.

Like several other districts, Mechanicville voters approved upgrades to its transportation services. Voters approved the purchase of 72-passenger buses, one 30 passenger bus and a 30-seat wheelchair accessible bus at a cost of $598,000. Voters approved the purchase by a vote of 277 to 123.

In addition to the resolutions, voters elected Scott D’Ambro and Kelly Pitcheralle to the Board of Education and Dawnmarie Robens to the Mechanicville Library Board of Trustees.

Shenendehowa

Voters in the Shenendehowa Central School District, voters had two resolutions and a Board of Education election. The first of these was a budget resolution which proposed a $234,495,425 and a tax levy of 5.04%. This resolution was passed by a vote of 1887 to 648.

The second resolution focused on vehicle purchases. Voters approved the purchase of 15 66-passenger buses, six 30-passenger buses, a transportation department support vehicle, a bobcat/mower and a truck with a plow attachment at a cost of $3,697,100. Voters approved this resolution by a vote of 1907 to 626.

Shenendehowa was the only district in Saratoga County with a competitive school board race with five candidates running to fill two seats. Sarah Schanz was elected to the Board of Education, receiving 1,314 votes, and Naomi Hoffman was reelected receiving 1,151 votes. The two candidates beat Eric Leander, incumbent Patrice King and Abigail Gomes.

South Glens Falls

Only one resolution was on the ballot for the South Glens Falls Central School District — the budget. Voters passed a $76,244,314 budget and a 2.94% increase in tax levy. This measure was approved 408-173.

In addition three candidates — Haley Brashears, William Elder, and Nicholas Healy — were elected to the Board of Election.

Stillwater

The Stillwater Central School District had two resolutions. The first was the annual budget proposal which saw voters approve a $32,273,515 budget and an increased tax levy of 6.62%. The resolution was passed 221-109.

The second resolution was a $425,990 budget for the Stillwater Public Library. This resolution was passed by voters 210-120.

In addition to the resolutions, three people — Andrew Krapski, Eric Nelson, and Rachel Womble — to the Board of Education.

Waterford Halfmoon

Last but not least, in Saratoga’s southernmost district, voters in the Waterford-Halfmoon Union School District. Voters had two resolutions this year. The first was the budget vote which saw voters approve a $24,624,383 budget and a 1.4% increase in tax levy 140-48.

The second was the establishment of a capital reserve budget of $4 million over the next 10 years. This measure was passed by a vote of 138-49.

In addition to the two resolutions, voters elected Jevon Waldron, Tony Noto and Cory O’Brien to the Board of Education.

“When you get a box like this, it looks like Christmas.”  Saratoga Springs VFW Assembles 98 Care Packages for Troops Deployed Overseas

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in News, Uncategorized.

The VFW partnered with Adopt a Soldier to send nearly 100 care packages to troops serving abroad. Most of the boxes are destined for the Middle East or Europe (Courtesy of VFW Post 420).

While the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan may be over, Saratoga Springs’ veterans aren’t forgetting those still deployed across the world. 

On May 16, the Saratoga Springs chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) filled boxes with coffee, hygiene products, snacks and other items as part of the VFW’s day of service. The boxes are being sent to troops currently deployed overseas through Operation Adopt a Soldier, a Saratoga Springs based charity that sends care packages to those overseas. 

Over 30 volunteers from the VFW, Boy Scouts, and Espey Manufacturing & Electronics filled 98 boxes to send overseas. The event started at 9:00 a.m. but volunteers worked quickly, only stopping to await more supplies to finish filling the boxes. While it’s unclear which country specifically the boxes will go to, representatives from Operation Adopt a Soldier said that based on zip codes, most will go to the Middle East or Europe. 

To fill the boxes, the VFW collected $2300 in donations and received support of Espey whose donation alone covered the cost of 58 boxes. 

Post Commander Jon Cheico. who served in the Navy on an aircraft carrier during Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield said that the packages help boost morale for troops deployed overseas by giving them a little taste of home and let them know they’re not forgotten. 

“These are things that soldiers or sailors would really appreciate being deployed for such a long time overseas,” Cheico said.  “When you get a box like this, it looks like Christmas.” 

While the majority of U.S. military personnel are stationed at home in the United States, an estimated 213,315 active duty, reserve and National Guard Troops are stationed overseas, according to data from the Defense Manpower Data Center. This number does not include those on temporary assignments or deployments in support of contingency operations. 

Cheico said the decision to support Operation Adopt a Soldier came due to the War in Iran, officially named “Operation Epic Fury” by the Department of War. This Operation has killed 14 American troops — seven due to enemy action, six due to accidents and one due to illness — and injured an additional 406 service members. 

As for the VFW, The Saratoga Springs post serves 380 members, with 300 being locals and around 80 or 90 being part-year or out-of- town members. 

Looking ahead to other events, on June 24, at 6 p.m. the organization is hosting a meeting of the Saratoga County Peer to Peer Group, Saratoga County Veteran Support Officers and other VFW posts to help veterans with any issues they may have with VA benefits and claims. 

Saratoga County School Districts Recognized as Top Districts for Music Education

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Education.

Six Saratoga County School Districts have been named being among the top communities for music education by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). 

The 27th annual award recognizes schools and districts nationwide for their leadership in expanding equitable access to music education. In total, 1,008 districts and 127 individual schools across the country were recognized by NAMM. 

The six Saratoga County school districts recognized were: 

• South Glens Falls Central School District. 

o They have been recognized five times.

• Waterford-Halfmoon Union School. 

o They have been recognized three times. 

• Saratoga Springs City School District 

o They have been recognized three times 

• Mechanicville City School District. 

o This is their first recognition. 

• Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District 

o They have been recognized 14 times. 

• Ballston Spa Central School District. 

o They have been recognized 10 times. 

Design Dilemma: Community Gathers to Discuss Changes to DRB

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Featured, News.

Mayor John Safford addresses a community meeting regarding proposed changes the Saratoga Spring’s UDO (Aidan Cahill)

It was a packed house on May 11 as members of the community gathered at the Spring Street Gallery to go over proposed changes to Saratoga Springs’ Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). 

The changes were proposed by Saratoga Springs Mayor John Safford and primarily focus on the city’s Design Review Board (DRB) which reviews exterior designs in the historic and architectural review districts. 

The meeting was organized by Patty Morrison, a former member of the Planning Board and a self-described concerned citizen. It was originally set to be held at the Saratoga Springs Library but was moved to the Gallery due to space concerns. 

Over 100 people packed into the room to discuss the proposed changes.  It was the second of two meetings, the first being held May 5. 

During the meeting Safford defended the proposed changes to the DRB, saying they were part of a larger effort to improve the planning office and make things easier for builders and homeowners. During this process, Safford said he’s heard multiple complaints from people regarding the DRB, prompting the proposed changes. 

Many of the proposed changes specifically deal with the architectural review district, one of the two areas covered by the DRB. The area covers the downtown core of Saratoga Springs and approaches the city — such as the ones along Union Ave, Route 50, Washington Street, Route 9 and West Ave, among others. Safford described homes along some of these streets as “bargains” for people to buy and fix up. The problem, according to Safford, is that when they buy the homes they run into issues getting approvals to make repairs.

Safford cited a specific example where a couple bought a house with a leaky roof and were told by the DRB that they had to use slate in order to repair the roof due to historic significance, something that was cost prohibitive. 

“They asked, they begged, and there was no recourse to that,” Safford said. “Now they have a leaky roof that they can’t replace because they can’t afford a slate roof.” 

The proposal is not without controversy. During the meeting, members of the community brought up several concerns about the proposed changes including mandating that historic significance not be a factor in demolition decisions in the architectural review district, limiting the ability of the DRB to control mass and scale and creating an appeals process that would grant applicants the ability to appeal decisions to the Zoning Board of appeals. 

Samantha Bosshart, Executive Director of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, spoke at the meeting and laid out some of the possible issues seen by the organization. While she agreed with Safford that there was room for improvement, specifically in the appeals process and in how historic standards are applied, she argued that removing the ability of the DRB to deny demolition on historic grounds could ruin the gateways to the city as the only protected buildings would be those with landmark status. 

“That is a significant change that could dramatically change how our gateways feel,” Bosshart said. “We have the gateways with a sign that says, health history and horses. Well, if all those lovely older homes are demolished with new construction, it’s not going to be much of an introduction to our downtown historic core.” 

It’s unclear when the new changes will be voted on by city council. While Safford had been aiming for a June passage of the reforms, due to community feedback, it’s now expected to go to a vote sometime in July or August. 

State Police Intercepts Money Destined for Scammers

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in News.

 The New York State Police has announced that they successfully intercepted $10,000 sent by a Saratoga County man destined for scammers. 

The scam was a continuation of a previous attack by scammers on the man which occurred in March. 

According to New York State Police, the incident occurred when the man was contacted over the phone by alleged scammers claiming to be from their financial institution. The scammers claimed that they were following up on an investigation into compromised accounts. The alleged scammers instructed the man to send $10,000 to address in The Bronx. 

While the man complied and sent the money, the next day he realized it likely a scam and contacted State Police on April 24. Working with United Parcel Service (UPS), the State Police were able to locate and intercept the money in Yonkers and return it to the man. 

In light of the scam, the State Police offered the following advice from the FDIC : 

• Do not open emails from people you don’t know. If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.

• Be careful with links and new website addresses. Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.

• Secure your personal information. Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.

• Stay informed on the latest cyber threats. Keep yourself up to date on current scams. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) can provide you with Alerts.

• Use Strong Passwords. Strong passwords are critical to online security. Review CISA guidance on Choosing and Protecting Passwords (PDF).

• Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs. Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.

• Update the operating systems on your electronic devices. Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.

Five Arrested in Biker Attack in Saratoga Springs 

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Featured, News.

Five men associated with the Red Devil’s Motorcycle Club have been arrested and charged in connection with an assault on two individuals that took place near Pavilion Row on April 11. 

Jamal J. Bridges, 28, of Castleton on Hudson, Nolan G. Empringham, 25 of Bowmanville, ON, Jerome Akers, 31, of Hampton ON, Charles J. Collins, 47, of Gansevoort and Jordan X. Prendergast, 31 of Hampton ON all face felony charges related to the assault. 

Akers, Prendergast and Collins were charged with felony 2nd degree attempted gang assault, Empringham was charged with felony tempering with physical evidence, and Bridges was charged with felony 3rd degree criminal possession of a weapon and felony attempted gang assault. 

According to Saratoga Springs Police, the assault began after two men walking between bars on Caroline Street walked by a group wearing clothes identifying the men as members of the Red Devil’s Motorcycle Club. One of the victims asked the alleged gang members what they rode and were told to move along. 

The victims were then allegedly followed to their destination and assaulted by members resulting in injury. Immediately after the attack, several members of the group attempted to conceal clothing which would have identified them as members of the gang. In addition, one of the men was found in possession of brass knuckles, resulting in additional charges. 

“Our officers are the enforcers of law and order on Caroline Street,” Saratoga Springs Police said in a statement. “This community will not tolerate violent, senseless behavior in our bar district or anywhere else in our city. Those coming to enjoy the nightlife Saratoga Springs has to offer should not have to fear being violently attacked. This arrest should serve as a reminder to all who visit our vibrant downtown that you are on camera and will be held accountable for your actions when you break the law.” 

Taking off: New Daily Service from Albany to Denver has its First Flight

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Featured, News.

The inaugural United Airlines flight between Albany International Airport and Denver Airport goes under a water cannon salute. (Aidan Cahill)

A new daily United Airlines flight between Albany International Airport and Denver International Airport has had its inaugural trip on April 30. 

The flight took off at 8:00 a.m. and marked the first time the two airports would be connected by year-round daily service. It’s one of now three airports with non-stop service to Albany through United. 

“This is an exciting day; we’re thrilled to expand our presence in Albany and provide the community with direct service between Albany and Denver,” Kevin Keado, Managing Director, Regional Line Stations at United Airlines, said. “From family vacations, business trips and all the moments in between – this new route makes it easier for our customers in Albany to travel wherever they want to go. Whether that’s to United’s hubs in Denver, Chicago, Washington D.C., to one of the hundreds of destinations that is easily accessible across the U.S. or around the world with convenient one-stop connections from these hubs.”

The flight took off from the newly renovated Concourse A. Passengers were offered donuts and refreshments before getting on the inaugural flight (Aidan Cahill)

The new flight took off from the recently renovated concourse A which has six gates and primarily serves United flights. For the inaugural flight, passengers were treated with donuts and other refreshments. During taxiing, the flight was given a water cannon salute by the airport fire department. 

This is not the first time Albany and Denver will be connected. Currently Southwest Airlines offers seasonal service between the two cities. 

“Today’s inaugural flight to Denver is an exciting milestone for Albany International Airport and for travelers across the Capital Region,” said Peter Stuto, Chief Executive Officer of Albany International Airport. “This new year-round route strengthens our connection to the western United States and gives our passengers more convenient access to destinations across the country. We are proud to celebrate this launch from our newly renovated Concourse A and grateful to United Airlines for its continued partnership and confidence in this market.”

While Albany International Airport may be a gateway to Saratoga, DEN is also known for its love of horses, in this case, mustangs. (Photograph provided courtesy of Denver International Airport.)

Denver International Airport is one of the largest airports in the United States. In 2025, the airport ranked second in both departures and arrivals, according to the Department of Transportation. That year the airport saw 705,469 total flights and served a total of 82,427,962 passengers, according to a report published by the airport. 

Burger Pleads Guilty to Lesser Charges After DWI Arrest

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in News.

Saratoga Springs County Supervisor Sarah Burger has plead guilty to charges of driving while ability impaired. 

Burger had initially been charged with misdemeanor DWI, operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08 and received a speeding ticket but accepted a plea deal which saw the speeding ticket dropped and the two misdemeanors reduced to driving while ability impaired, an infraction. 

Burger was arrested in the early hours of January 11 by New York State Park Police after an officer observed her 2023 BMW going 41 in a 25 mile per hour zone on Broadway.  Upon being pulled over, the officer observed that Burger had glassy eyes, impaired speech, impaired motor coordination and smelled alcohol, according to court documents. 

Although she denied drinking multiple times to the officer, Burger subsequently failed a field sobriety test and a later breathalyzer test showed a blood alcohol content of .13, according to court documents. 

Burger was sentenced on April 28 to a 90 day driver’s license suspension and a $300 fine. She is also required to attend a DWI victim panel and enroll in New York’s Impaired Driver Program.  

“Public service is built on trust and I remain dedicated to continuing to serve as Saratoga Springs county supervisor with integrity and focus and will continue doing the work the people elected me to do,” Burger said in a statement to media outlets. 

The case was handled by the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office after the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office recused itself from the case. 

Burger won her seat on the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors this past November and was sworn in on January 1 of this year. In her election, she received the most votes of any candidate running in a competitive race with 5,458 across the One Saratoga and Democratic party lines. 

Code Blue Shelter Gets New Permanent Location in Saratoga Springs

Written by Aidan Cahill on . Posted in Featured, News.


Parcel of land at 96-116 Ballston Ave., captured from Finley Street Aug. 21, 2024, with Route 50 visible at left. The existing building in the distance is 96 Ballston Ave. and is included in the county purchase. Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos

The Saratoga County Code Blue Shelter will have a permanent location starting in the winter 2027 after the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors approved a site in Saratoga Springs. 

The new facility will be located at 96 Ballston Ave, directly across the street from Market 32, in the city of Saratoga Springs. It is listed as being a 25,600 square foot facility with a common room, office spaces, commercial kitchen and mess hall. When in operation, the shelter will have 75 beds available with capacity for an additional 43 beds in times of emergency. 

Under the ordinance, Shelters of Saratoga will build and operate the facility. It is expected to be open during the winter months and any time the temperate dips below freezing. 

The shelter was approved during a Saratoga County Board of Supervisors meeting on April 21, 2026. The permanent shelter was described by members of the board as a good first step and that it would avoid the continual need to find locations for the shelter year after year. It also coincides with the end of the lease at the current code blue shelter located at 120 South Broadway.

During the meeting Saratoga Springs Supervisors Minita Sanghvi and Sarah Burger spoke about the impact the code blue shelter would have on the city. Both said they received numerous comments from residents speaking about safety concerns surrounding the shelter. According to the supervisors, numerous residents reported issues with public urination, verbal assaults, physical altercations, indecent exposure and incapacitated individuals in the neighborhood surrounding the current code blue shelter and the proposed site.

This has created concerns over public safety costs for handling the incidents. Sanghvi said that while those who use the services come from across the county, Saratoga Springs has had to bear the cost of providing emergency services to the shelter. 

“While the county dispatch would get the calls, Saratoga Springs police, EMS and fire will be responding to the calls,” Sanghvi said. “This is a significant burden on our city residents that we shouldn’t have to bear alone.” 

Sanghvi said that she hopes that the county can come to an intermunicipal agreement with the city to share resources and costs associated with the shelter moving forward.

Supervisor Burger echoed Sanghvi saying there were 264 emergency calls to the current code blue shelter in 2025 and that the city can’t afford the bill for the county.

Both supervisors emphasized that while this was an important first step, it shouldn’t be the only step. Sanghvi said that homelessness comes in many forms and that a single shelter open in winter cannot be the only solution. 

The discussion around a code blue shelter has been going on for over a decade. In 2013, the death of Saratoga Springs resident Nancy Pitts due to freezing temperatures led the City of Saratoga Springs to first establish a code blue shelter. Later in 2016, a statewide mandate was issued requiring counties to provide a code blue shelter when the temperature dips below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.