Adventures of Wilton Resident Featured on TV Documentary April 24
WILTON — A man of many talents, it is his passion as an avid mountain climber for which Wilton resident Ray O’Conor will be featured in a documentary that will broadcastWednesday, April 24.
The film - “An Above Average Day” - tells the story of Ray O’Conor and Joe Murphy, two hikers who after a chance meeting forged a close and lasting friendship that has inspired them on a series of wilderness adventures.
“My good buddy Joe and I have done a lot of hiking and climbing over the last 15 years. We hiked more than 400 different mountains, most of them together and more than 5,000 miles of trail,” told Saratoga TODAY as the film was nearing its completion last year.
O’Conor was contacted several years ago by Veda Films company co-founder Katera Kapoor who told him she’d been following O’Conor’s adventures with his buddy and was interested in putting a documentary film together. Katera and her husband Aviral subsequently began following O’Conor and Murphy on their hiking journeys capturing footage and conducting interviews.
The film celebrated its debut screening last year at Saratoga Arts Center and on Wednesday, April 24 will be streamed into homes. The broadcast debut will take place at 5:30 p.m. on WMHT/ PBS.
“If you had told me five years ago that the founders of Veda Films, Katera Noviello-Kapoor and Aviral Kapoor, would produce and direct a film in which my buddy Joe and I would co-star and that it would be broadcast on WMHT / PBS… I wouldn’t have believed it,” O’Conor said.
“There are two sides to the story,” O’Conor explained. “One is the adventure side about hiking and mountain climbing. The other is about the relationship between Joe and I,” said O’Conor, whose lengthy resume includes work as a financial consultant with a Wall Street investment firm, a United States Border Patrol Agent and a Special Agent with the U.S. Department of Defense, local bank CEO, Wilton Town Councilmember, and author of the book ‘She Called Him Raymond.’
“One of the focal points is the relationship between these two guys who met by chance and spent a lot of time together over the past 15 years on mountains and on trails.”
O’Conor’s fondness for hiking was born during an early morning climb in the late 1980s at the urging of Roy McDonald when O’Conor decided to run for the town board in Wilton, and McDonald – who later would be elected to the state assembly and senate – was town supervisor.
Since that time he has climbed the 46 high peaks of the Adirondacks, the 32 mountains between the Catskills and the Adirondacks that have fire towers on them, and journeyed to the Lake George 12ster, the Saranac Lake 6er and the Northeast 11, while working his way through the 50 highest points and peaks in the country all across the United States.
The rewards are many. “It’s as good for the mind and the soul as it is for the body,” O’Conor said. “There’s something special about being out in the wilderness. The Japanese have a term they call it: Forest Bathing. Being out in the woods, on the trail, in isolation. Getting away from all the world’s troubles is magical.
“An Above Average Day,” a Veda Films documentary, will broadcast on WMHT/PBS at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24.
Saratoga Springs Approves Summer Paid Parking Plan for City Garages, Lots
Image: Details of the seasonal paid parking program.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs City Council on April 2 unanimously approved the establishment of a seasonal paid parking program.
The program will run from Memorial Day through Labor Day and affect six city-owned, off-street parking facilities.
The paid parking program will be in effect in three parking garages - Walton/Woodlawn Parking Garage, Woodlawn Ave. Parking Garage, and Putnam St. Parking Garage, and three city surface parking lots – specifically located at Woodlawn Ave., Spring Street, and High Rock. Times of operation and parking permitted levels will vary.
To park in any of the six facilities, fees up to $2 per hour will be charged. City residents with proof of residency may apply for a permit to park free of charge at the six facilities. An online portal where residents and downtown business owners may apply for permits is anticipated to roll out by the end of April.
As it currently stands, downtown workers with proof of regular employment as verified by their employer, may apply for the free parking permit if their business is located in the city’s “Urban Core” District, as defined by the city’s Zoning map.
“Registration will occur online or by working with staff at City Hall,” said DPW Business Manager Mike Veitch. “The permits themselves are linked to license plates as is when you pay for a space. It’s linked to your license plate – that’s how the system will track.” Pay stations are expected to be installed some time in May. There will be no traditional parking meters.
The program was developed by the city’s Department of Public Works under Commissioner Jason Golub and has been scaled back from an initial plan floated last December that proposed converting more than 1,300 on-street and nearly 800 garage parking spaces into either “permit” or “paid” spots for a five-month period beginning May 1. On-street parking will remain free of charge for all, as it currently is.
The city estimates the plan will generate a gross revenue of just under $1.6 million this summer. “It is additional revenue coming into the city,” said Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi, reasoning that numerous nearby tourist-friendly cities are already running paid parking schemes.
Subtract from the estimated gross revenue about $450,000 in expenses to run the program in 2024 – this includes a one-time pay station installation cost of about $125,000 – resulting in an estimated net gain of just over $1.1 million.
The city says it will invest $100,000 of revenue gained in the DBA (“a dedicated marketing professional for the Downtown Business Association”), $50,000 into Parking Structure Capital Reserve, $75,000 into a Downtown Improvement Reserve, and $40,000 into a Recreation Parking program. There was no documentation presented this week regarding where the anticipated more than $850,000 in additional annual revenue may be spent.
“We have a three-month period here to see how it works and I think it’s worth doing,” said Mayor John Safford, adding that some of the revenue generated will be earmarked to help resolve homeless issues, although how much of or where those funds would be applied was not specified.
The City Council’s 5-0 vote in favor of the plan followed a 65-minute Public Hearing on the matter attended by more than 60 people at City Hall. Approximately 20 people addressed the council during the hearing, expressing a variety of opinions: a handful in favor of paid parking, a slightly higher number of people opposed, and some who voiced an expression akin to “let’s try it for three months and see how it goes.”
A reduced rate parking permit for Saratoga Springs School District taxpayers which would benefit those in nearby municipalities is also expected to be optioned-in at some point. The city school district stretches south to areas of Milton and Ballston Spa, west to Middle Grove and Lake Desolation, north to Porter Corners and Wilton, and east along Route 29 on the road to Schuylerville.
Scene One Entertainment Targets April for Reopening of Legendary Spectrum 8 Movie Theater
ALBANY — Scene One Entertainment is slated to reopen the Spectrum 8 Theaters in Albany this month, the company announced this week.
Joe Masher, owner and CEO, Scene One Entertainment, opened Scene One Wilton Mall Cinemas at the Wilton Mall in Saratoga last month. The company also operated Movieland in Schenectady.
Spectrum 8 Theaters first opened in 1983 and for decades screened independent, upscale programming of avantgarde, foreign, independent, and widely-released features. Originally a single-screen theater known as The Delaware Theater that opened in the early 1940s, the Spectrum has been a mainstay of the Delaware Avenue neighborhood.
“The overwhelming response to the theatre’s closing last month prompted me to move faster with the building’s owner to get the cinema reopened. I’ve been working very closely with (Spectrum co-founder) Keith Pickard to bring the heart and soul back into the Spectrum. The art gallery will be reactivated and the calendar that was published monthly will return,” Masher said in a statement.
Scene One will restore the selections that made the Spectrum’s concession stand a treasure: locally-sourced cakes, pastries, cookies, gluten-free delights, real butter on fresh, hot popcorn, and mint brownies.
“I’ve been attending the Spectrum since Keith and his partners opened it in 1983. I saw its first film, ‘Lianna’, when it was a one-screen cinema. I’ve been a giant fan of their operations since their start at the Third Street Theater. I am honored that Keith and his partners have selected me to carry on their tradition,” Masher said. For more information about Scene One Entertainment, visit scene1ent.com.
Under Consideration: Tree House Brewing Company in Saratoga Springs
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Updated sketch plans have been submitted to the city by the Tree House Brewing Company for the proposed development of an eating and drinking establishment at 3376 South Broadway.
The business would be located between Saratoga Honda and Homewood Suites on the east side of Route 9 upon currently vacant land and would include micro-production of alcohol and outdoor dining, as well as site work associated with the venue.
The application is currently under consideration for Site Plan Review by the Saratoga Springs Planning Board.
The Planning Board will hold its next meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 11 at City Hall.
Yaddo Summer Benefit to Feature Suzanne Vega on June 20
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Yaddo’s annual Summer Benefit will take place on the grounds of the historic artist retreat at 7 p.m. on June 20.
Heralded as The Party of the Season, this year’s event features singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega in a performance under the stars.
Vega last performed in Saratoga Springs in April 2023, kicking off her U.S. Northeast tour at Universal Preservation Hall where she performed an 18-song set that included “Luka,” “Small Blue Thing,” “Marlena on the Wall,” “Left of Center,” “Tom’s Diner,” and a poignantly beautiful “Walk On The Wild Side” encore, featuring all of Lou Reed’s original words.
The annual summer benefit champion artists and Yaddo’s crucial role in culture. Tickets and information go to: yaddo.org.
Seasonal Paid Parking Proposal: Public Hearing and Subsequent Vote Expected Tuesday April 2
SARATOGA SPRINGS — A summerlong paid parking plan, scaled back from the initial “tourism parking program” first floated late last year, will be presented during a 60-minute Public Hearing at City Hall this week.
The Public Hearing will begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, and a vote regarding the proposal is anticipated to be held during a meeting of the City Council later that same evening.
The initial proposal pointed to converting more than 1,300 on-street and nearly 800 garage parking spaces into either “permit” or “paid” spots for a five-month run that was to start this May.
Following a presentation in February to more than 50 people, most of whom were downtown business owners and managers, the plan’s title, its time period in effect, and the breadth of the proposal’s reach were rolled back in what the city reported as “streamlined adjustments in response to great stakeholder feedback.” Plans for on-street paid parking has also been altogether eliminated, with city streets continuing to offer free parking for both residents and visitors.
The new seasonal parking plan is proposed to run from Memorial Day to Labor Day and include both free permit and paid parking in city-owned garages and surface lots. Visitors can pay $2 an hour to park in the garages and surface lots.
“As a government we must identify new revenue streams to offset the increased costs of city services, downtown investment, and the maintenance necessary to support our nationally celebrated downtown,” said Department of Public Works Commissioner Jason Golub. “This streamlined parking approach will be less disruptive to implement and will allow for a measured approach of paid parking downtown.”
Additional amenities of the program include directional signage to assist visitors toward available parking in the garages and lots where they will have the option to pay via their mobile device or a nearby pay station.
Permits
Residents and any downtown business employers can obtain free parking permits to park in the garages and surface lots for themselves or their employees. Registration will be provided with proof of residency via an online portal or with assistance from employees at City Hall. The permits will be linked to vehicle license plates. Ticket forgiveness will be provided to residents and employees if they park in a lot and were eligible for a permit but did not have one at the time of the violation.
Revenue and Expenses
Forecasting the utilization of spaces at a conservative 33% (a figure well-below what was observed in studies), the anticipated seasonal revenue for 2024 is expected to be approximately $1.6 million.
Expenses are estimated at about $450,000, which includes the costs associated with program administration, equipment for the installation of paystations and enforcement, contract attendants to work at the garages, and additional parking enforcement.
The proposal envisions re-investment of revenue generated into Saratoga Springs’ downtown.
This would include a dedicated marketing professional for the Downtown Business Association, capital reserves for the parking structures and downtown improvements, and funds allocated for the recreation department. The proposed re-investment will be $225,000 for downtown and $40,000 for recreation in year one and will be annual.
Following the establishment of the seasonal program, a plan allowing school taxpayers in the Saratoga Springs City School District to park at a reduced rate permit may be optioned.
“There have been a few business owners that expressed fair concerns about customers in surrounding towns facing a barrier due to parking fees. Once the program is set up, we’ll work toward creating a reduced rate permit for school district taxpayers,” Golub said.
City Pushes for Increase in State AIM Funding
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Each year, the state sends funding to cities, towns and villages as part of its Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) program. The amounts sent have largely stayed stagnant for more than a decade, however, and now some municipalities – Saratoga Springs among them – are appealing to the governor to increase those annual payments.
“In Saratoga Springs, aside from changes for two years during the pandemic, this aid has remained flat for over a decade. Effectively, this is a budget cut for our city,” city Finance Commissioner Minita Sanghvi said this week.
in 2013 AIM funding to Saratoga Springs was 4.25% of the city budget, but by its 2024 comparison it measured only 2.7%, said Sanghvi, noting a March 5 city resolution unanimously approved by the council that calls upon legislators and the governor to increase in AIM funding from New York State. Legislators have since picked up the baton.
In addition to proposing an overall $210 million increase in AIM funding, the New York State Senate recommended the establishing of an AIM Redesign Task Force. The Assembly proposed a $100 million overall increase in AIM funds.
“The Senate and the Assembly have come up with their budgets and have added AIM funding in there for all of us,” Sanghvi said. “Of course this is not the final budget, so, I applaud the efforts of the New York State legislature to increase our AIM funding and I hope the governor’s office budget will match New York State legislature’s commitment to the New York State municipalities. “
According to the state, AIM payments to the city of Saratoga Springs in 2023 were just under $1.65 million. Comparative to geography, Albany received just over $12.6 million, Cohoes $2.7 million, Glens Falls $1.6 million, and Mechanicville $662,000.
AIM is provided to all of New York’s cities, towns and villages, outside of New York City.
Elsewhere in Saratoga County, town data shows the town of Clifton Park received just over $98,000, Ballston $49,000, Malta $25,000, Saratoga $31,000, and Wilton $25,000 (all umbers rounded off). For a spreadsheet of amounts received by all cities, towns and villages, go to: osc.ny.gov/local-government/data/aid-and-incentives-municipalities-aim.
When Gov. Hochul released her Executive Budget proposal in January for the State fiscal year 2024-2025, the proposal held AIM funding for cities and villages at previous year’s levels.
Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County Strategize to Combat Homelessness
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Three months into his regime as the city’s new mayor, John Safford announced that he – as the mayor before him and the mayor before that had done – was seeking solutions to a question that has remained unresolved for several years: What can be done to combat homelessness in the community?
“I’ve started to pull together various providers and stakeholders with mutual concern over the unhoused population,” said the mayor, identifying local agencies RISE, SOS, and Healing Springs, as well as members of the county as attendants of the Saratoga Homeless Strategy meeting.
“This meeting was all about getting these folks talking again. My main focus is bringing the county together with the city, stakeholders that haven’t been talking lately, and getting them in the same room,” said Safford, specifying that he has no current plans to form an official committee, although he intends other members of the council to be involved in some way.
“My goal is effective zero. I want to have plans in place so that people coming in equal the number of people getting housed,” the mayor said. “You’re never going to completely eliminate homelessness, but we’re committed to building some kind of 24-hour safe place for the homeless to go with services.” The “safe place” could be centered in the city or possibly elsewhere in the county. “It doesn’t have to be in Saratoga Springs. Timewise, we’re under the gun to do something, because the current shelter I think we only have available through next winter.”
The past decade has seen greater prominence by local agencies such as Shelters of Saratoga (S0S) and RISE Housing and Support Services, fundraising from both the private and public sector, and the increase of multiple temporary and emergency shelters sited across the city, but a permanent location has been difficult to secure. On more than one occasion when a long-term remedy was believed to be found, those with interests in geographic proximity to a site proposed for a year-round, 24/7 shelter nixed the plans.
Last year, an ad hoc Task Force on Homelessness instituted by then-Mayor Ron Kim evaluated approximately two dozen sites across the city that could potentially site a permanent homeless shelter and navigation center.
The group ultimately identified a 3.7-acre lot on Lake Avenue/ State Route 29 - located between the Northway overpass and a Stewart’s Shop near Weibel Avenue - as a primary site, and parcels on South Broadway, Route 9, and Maple Avenue as potential alternatives. Alongside possibilities, each of the venues also presented challenges - from area variances that would need to be secured and likely opposition of some area residents, to the lack of geographic proximity to agencies providing social services and access to public transportation.
“We are taking into account what the Task Force came up with, which is mainly locations. They had three or four locations that are still in play,” Safford said.
“I’m very dedicated to getting this done, but doing it the right way,” the mayor continued. “This includes addiction and mental health. My concern is in the homeless population (and) we also have addiction and mental health problems that create problems if you do housing first. My view of what we have to do is higher than just housing. My goal is to address not only housing but also strategies to effectively deal with addiction, and mental health issues.”
In engaging other services in the discussion, Safford specifically referenced a program initiated with the involvement of Healing Springs Recovery Community and Outreach Center that addresses addictions and operates at the Saratoga County Jail.
Ben Deeb, a Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) and Certified Addictions Recovery Coach (CARC), was an employee at Healing Springs and began working with the Sheriff’s Department five years ago to create a recovery unit at Saratoga County Jail. Today, there is a 48-man recovery unit that features 13 hours per week of programs for individuals with opiate use disorder and alcohol use disorder in a specially designated unit at the jail.
“In 2019 we were able to rehab a unit and designate that for individuals in recovery so that they would have an environment conducive to change,” Deeb said. “In order to gain any ground for recovery, you need to have a space that can promote change.”
The success rate is measurable. A study conducted with the University of Wisconsin showed a large drop in the recidivism rate of people in the county based program, compared to the national average recidivism rate. “Saratoga’s really a leader in this,” Deeb said.
Mayor Safford said he intends to provide regular public updates at council meetings regarding the city’s efforts to combat homelessness.
Lake Avenue Students Host Q&A with Congressman Tonko; Library of Congress Books Delivered to School Library
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Let the record show: on a late weekday afternoon of an Election Year, when the American tradition of campaign mudslinging will surely rise to present itself once again, decency prevailed in a century-old brick building on Lake Avenue where fifth-grade students assembled in the elementary school library to dialogue with Congressman Paul Tonko.
“Words matter,” the congressman said to the students, arriving on Lake Avenue in a white Jeep SUV to deliver more than three dozen books to the school library, their pages filled with the words carefully selected by authors, he explained.
“Our exercise every day is to choose words that help, and not hurt. Words that lift and don’t pull down, that bring us together and unite, rather than divide. These authors had to painfully work on every word,” Tonko said. “They’re teaching us by their work that words matter, that they’re important and we should choose them deliberately in a kind expression of who we are.”
Lake Avenue Elementary School serves about 400 students, grade K through 5. More than 60 of them gathered upstairs in the library, joined by school Principal Elizabeth Carroll, District Superintendent of Schools Michael Patton, School Resource Officer Aaron Moore and school educators and staff.
“We all have gifts, and your teachers are great friends to you because they allow you to discover what your own gifts are,” Tonko said. “We all have different gifts and the exercise in the classroom is to have you discover, through education, who you are and what gifts you’ve been granted.”
The 40 books delivered are among a stock of duplicate titles that arrived at the Library of Congress which are offered to members of Congress to bring to educational institutions or organizations that focus on reading.
The Library of Congress, located in Washington, D.C., holds 164 million items on 840 miles of bookshelves that count as the single most comprehensive accumulation of human expression ever assembled, as well as the largest library in the world.
This month’s transport of titles marks Tonko’s 78th delivery of surplus books through the program, with more than 2,500 books valued at over $50,000 delivered to local schools and organizations since 2017.
“What’s your favorite book?” asked one student, whose name is McKinley.
“’Silent Spring,’ by Rachel Parsons, because she ignited the spirit of taking care of the earth,” answered Tonko.
“Who are your inspirations?” asked another.
“JFK, MLK, RFK.”
A student named Olivia asked Tonko to name his favorite thing about being in the House of Representatives.
“I’m able to make changes or develop laws that affect people I may never meet - making life better for everyone,” he replied.
The students were provided a 25-minute Q & A session with the congressman. Their questions ranged from “How did you get started on your career path?” to “What are your greatest accomplishments?”
Successfully passing mental health parity was named by Tonko among his accomplishments, as well as dealing with the issues of mental health and addiction affecting people. “Trying to do legislation that will help people, enable them to survive that struggle to come out of it stronger and to have a good life,” he said.
“How do you manage the most stressful parts of your job?” one student wanted to know.
“Probably by eating ice cream, and enjoying the outdoors. My favorite flavor ice cream? Coffee.”
Tonko thanked the staff for inviting him to the school and the students for paying him their attention. “I also hope you saw me paying attention to you. Paying attention is showing respect. And we need a whole lot of respect. It’s the way to maintain a civil society. We can disagree but we need to be civil,” he said. “If there is any message I can leave with you today, it’s to promote love, kindness and compassion, and don’t use the words that divide and hurt or put down and divide.”
City Police Responded to More than 27,000 Calls, Made 850 Arrests in 2023; Drone Program Goal for ‘24
SARATOGA SPRINGS — In 2023, members of the Saratoga Springs Police Department responded to 27,643 calls for all types of service – approximately 1,500 more calls than in 2022 - and generated nearly 3,800 cases that resulted in just over 850 arrests.
The Saratoga Springs Fire Department meanwhile responded to 6,990 calls for service in 2023, representing a 9.2% increase compared to the previous year.
The Saratoga Springs Public Safety Department on March 8 released its annual report for 2023. The 74-page report was submitted March 5 by newly elected Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll, and Deputy Commissioner Daniel Charleson.
In 2023, James Montagnino served as commissioner of public safety, and Jason Tetu as deputy commissioner. The police department concluded the calendar year with 80 sworn personnel, 51 of whom are currently patrol officers, according to the report.
Overall, the Public Safety Department includes a full-time Administrative Office Staff, a Police Department, Fire Department, Code Enforcement Division, Central Dispatch, Traffic Maintenance, Animal Control Officers and a Health Officer. There are approximately 204 full-time employees. An additional 14 part-time employees work as school crossing guards, vehicle traffic controllers, part-time traffic control maintenance and summer laborers at the traffic garage.
Police Department
The Saratoga Springs Police Department was created by an act of the State Legislature in 1887, when a staff of 8 worked out of a station that was formed as an annex to town hall. The current department resides in the same location and has expanded into additional portions of the building. Tyler McIntosh has served as chief of police since June 2023.
Among the department’s stated goals in 2024 is the development and implementation of a department Drone Program, which will enhance investigations and crowd-management capabilities.
Additional goals include: creating a Traffic Safety Unit, a Citizen Police Academy, and developing and implementing a comprehensive Wellness Program to improve members’ mental and physical health.
The department also reported it has acquired Flock License Plate Readers, which provides AI and machine-learning powered technology to reveal detailed information that may not have otherwise be available, according to the company. The LPR’s will be set in fixed locations around the city.
“This technological resource will provide invaluable data and leads for investigations that pertain to all sorts of criminal activity,” according to the report. “The ability to track, trace and analyze other types of evidence will be instrumental to the future of crime-solving.”
Calls For Service
In 2023, members of the Saratoga Springs Police Department responded to 27,643 calls for service. The most frequent call type was the traffic stops, which accounted for about 11% of all calls.
Officers generated 3,794 cases that resulted in 852 arrests. Comparatively, in 2022, the police department responded to 26,186 calls for service, and officers generated 3,933 cases that resulted in 821 arrests.
A consistent primary density for calls for service were in the area of Broadway between Caroline Street & Lake Ave. Secondary hotspots consistently observed were in the area of Union Street between Adelphi St. & Arthur St. as well as Hamilton St. between W Circular St. & Congress St. During the summer months, a consistent density for calls emerged in the area of the Saratoga Racecourse, and at the western portion of Saratoga Spa State Park in correlation with Saratoga Performing Arts Center.
Of the 27,643 calls for service handled by members of the SSPD in 2023, 63 resulted in a use of force by SSPD standards. Those 63 resulting instances: Physical Force (40); Firearm Displayed (16)/ Firearm Discharged (0); Taser Displayed (5)/ Taser Deployed (2); Pepper Spray Deployed (0).
In 2023, city police responded to 998 reportable traffic crashes, down from 1,052 compared to the previous year.
Officers conducted 2,976 traffic stops in 2023 and issued 1,754 Uniform Traffic tickets – up from 1,686 tickets in 2022. Of the tickets issued 114 were for Driving While Intoxicated offenses, down from the 132, 135, and 133 DWI tickets issued for DWI offenses in each of the three previous years, respectively.
Reported Offenses
| 2023 | 2022 | |
| Rape | 20 | 18 |
| Robbery | 12 | 11 |
| Aggravated Assault | 36 | 68 |
| Burglary | 41 | 75 |
| Larceny | 454 | 439 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 10 |
| Kidnappings | 5 | 6 |
| Sex Offenses | 18 | 22 |
| Assault | 388 | 381 |
| Criminal Mischief | 189 | 208 |
| Drug Possession | 73 | 82 |
| Drug Sale | 25 | 22 |
*Saratoga Springs Police Department – 2023 summary crime data submitted to DCJS. Report run Feb. 12, 2024.
Fire Department
The Saratoga Springs Fire Department has 84 full-time career fire officers and firefighters.
In 2023, the Saratoga Springs Fire Department responded to 6,990 calls for service. This represents a 9.2% increase from 2022. Emergency Medical Responses accounted for 4,911 of the responses. Alarm Activations – 644, Good Intent and other – 697, Hazardous Conditions – 147, Service Calls – 198, and Fires – 93, were some of the others. The 93 responses to fire were the highest number in any one year compared to each of the past five years.
The average response times, from dispatch to arrival in 2023, were 4:24 (downtown and eastside), 5:12 (westside), and 6:28 (I-87 East).
The year also saw the Saratoga Springs Fire Dept. hosting its first Recruit Firefighter Training Academy, in a joint effort with the cooperation of the Wilton VFD, Glens Falls FD and the Albany Airport FD. The Academy began in late March and concluded in mid-July with the graduation of 15 firefighters.
Fire Prevention and Inspection/Code Enforcement – In 2023, there were 1,963 total inspections, with 811 total violations.
Ambulance Report – in 2023, there were 5,398 emergency medical calls, and 3,900 transports. The fire department EMS revenues increased in 2023 as a result of placing a second ambulance in service on a daily basis. That ambulances transport revenue in 2023 was just over $2.9 million.
Station Three update: A project decades in-the-making, the report cites an approximate March/April estimated opening of the station based on Henning Road.
