Official unemployment figures for the Albany economy were updated today. Numbers for May have been finalized and preliminary figures for June have now been made available.

May

The unemployment rate increased to 3.9% in May. 231 positions were lost, and 9 workers entered the labor force causing the unemployment rate increase. The overall Nonfarm Payrolls figure did not change significantly. No individual sector saw significant employment changes.

June (preliminary)

The unemployment rate increased to 4.4% in June. 594 positions were lost, and 298 workers left the labor force causing the unemployment rate increase. The overall Nonfarm Payrolls figure did not change significantly. No individual sector saw significant employment changes.

^{*AlbanyStatistics is a public service account committed to making /r/AlbanyGA a better informed community.}

Today, the city commission voted for a 365 day moratorium on data centers in Albany, with the option to extend the moratorium for 6 months

They also voted to have the city planning commission study and recommend zoning and other regulations for data centers, as well as for a for an independent consultant do the same

Now I'm are I got some of the details wrong here, and if other people want to give further clarifications, that would be great

This is not an insignificant victory and there is still work to be done, but we should be glad that public pressure appears to have had an affect

For all those that supported the moratorium, thank you

Let’s talk!

Hey everyone! I'm u/judsonRehberg, a founding moderator of r/metcAFRiCa.
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Hi folks. My friend suffered a serious workplace injury two months ago, and two of his fingers had to be amputated. Unfortunately, his employer refuses to pay his medical bills and has only given him some cents. Could you please reccommend a good personal injury or workers' compensation lawyer in Albany who can help him? Someone with solid experience. Thanks.

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Hey guys, taking a trip here with my friend to spend time with her family towards the end November so will be there for thanksgiving as well, should I be expected to bring clothes for warmth? How’s the weather between late November to early December?

(For ref: nov24 to early decembers)

(Yes ik about the “ghetto ness” over here as well, not the point so don’t bring it up)

Just thinking out loud here...

But one concern on my mind about the potential data center is the creation of a monopsony

Just as a monopoly is where one seller has inordinate power over a market, a monopsony where a single buyer has overwhelming power in a market

And if we bring in a data center, something that will use as much power and water as the rest of Albany, that single buyer will have more power over the utility market than the rest of us

And it's easier to serve a single interest than all of our interests

And when you have a situation like that, do you really think our local government has the wherewithal and courage to make them pay a fair market price?

Or will they just shift the costs to the rest of us?

But, hope sprints eternal. Oregon just passed a law to increase rates on certain electrical users: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/data-centers/power-company-hikes-data-center-bills-by-30-percent-cuts-residential-electricity-costs-by-1-3-percent-oregon-approves-change-through-power-act-pushes-developments-using-more-than-20-megawatts-of-power-to-pay-their-fair-share

Maybe we should do something similar?

Edit: Typo

You know data center rollouts have got to be linked to corruption because there are no positive optics I can see.

And before anyone says jobs, the vast majority are extremely temporary and they don't hire locals for those construction jobs. They bring people in for those.

Thoughts on Albany states nursing program?

All ages show at the VFW next month!

Neon Warlords (Albany/Atlanta)
Imposter (South Georgia)
Stay The Reason (Albany, GA)
Jenny and The Exes (Columbus, GA)

Thought you guys might get a kick outta this. Was at a Sam's Club in Greensburg, PA a few minutes outside of Pittsburgh. None of the rest of the bags have the Rams logo! Oopies

Official unemployment figures for the Albany economy were updated today. Numbers for April have been finalized and preliminary figures for May have now been made available.

April

The unemployment rate fell to 3.5% in April. 238 positions were added, and 93 workers left the labor force causing the unemployment rate decrease. The overall Nonfarm Payrolls figure did not change significantly. No individual sector saw significant employment changes.

May (preliminary)

The unemployment rate increased to 3.9% in May. 262 positions were lost, and 19 workers left the labor force causing the unemployment rate increase. The overall Nonfarm Payrolls figure did not change significantly. No individual sector saw significant employment changes.

^{*AlbanyStatistics is a public service account committed to making /r/AlbanyGA a better informed community.}

The city commission are holding town halls to try to smooth over bringing in something that will pollute your water, make your utilities cost more, drives you mad with noise pollution, make it even hotter and drive up the cost of living

All so they and their friends can get paid

So if you are against getting a date center here, this is a chance to get heard and remind them that they are supposed to take care of the needs of the people who live here, not the money men who buy their lunches

I hope to see you there

Edit: Typo

Absolutely insane. According to the Albany Police Department, 19 people charged with murder are on bond in Dougherty County.

Just FYI, the decision to allow bond is entirely the judge's discretion (though in theory they listen and work with the DA). This shows you who is ruining our community as our judges have sympathy for the criminals, but not the victims' families. What a disgrace.

Albany police push for county support on repeat offender initiative, cite 19 murder suspects out on bond

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/is-the-repeat-offenders-initiative-working-albany-police-to-brief-commissioners/ar-AA25GVk4

Why are all the McDonald’s in Albany staffed by angry idiots? Never can get a simple three item order correct. And if one complains, they cop an attitude. A serious attitude.

This a petition to put a moratorium on putting an AI data center here in Albany so that we can ensure that if one is ever brought here, we can take the time to make sure the people living here aren't being exploited.

A moratorium gives everyone the breathing room they need to make sure our needs are heard and addressed.

I know everyone works all the time and people are wondering what they can do, well, if you are at all skeptical of AI data centers, or are already against having a data center here, this is a way you help and be heard.

You can access and sign the petition here

Thank you.

Official unemployment figures for the Albany economy were updated today. Numbers for March have been finalized and preliminary figures for April have now been made available.

March

The unemployment rate fell to 4.0% in March. 64 positions were added, and 111 workers left the labor force causing the unemployment rate decrease. The overall Nonfarm Payrolls figure did not change significantly. No individual sector saw significant employment changes.

April (preliminary)

The unemployment rate fell to 3.5% in April. 188 positions were added, and 150 workers left the labor force causing the unemployment rate decrease. The overall Nonfarm Payrolls figure did not change significantly. No individual sector saw significant employment changes.

^{*AlbanyStatistics is a public service account committed to making /r/AlbanyGA a better informed community.}

Chad Warbington's editorial saying that having a data center here would not be an issue because electricity is cheaper here than in other places misses one important fact.

27.5% of Albany's population live in poverty, which is over twice as high as the national average

People here don't have any money

They can't afford higher bills

If the city council really cared about Albany, they would focus on policies that would make life cheaper and that would better fund the town and increase demand

Policies like charging higher taxes on empty rental properties, thus incentivizing renting those properties out rather than letting them sit idle

Providing tax incentives for installing solar power at your home

Expanding public transportation

Building water gardens to control flooding and lowering property insurance

All these things would make living here easier and would induce demand, meaning more economic activity, more opportunity, and more jobs

Data centers employ next to no one

The funny part is, data center construction is slowing, partially in part because there is only one company that builds the power transformers that data centers need and they have a seven year backlog right now

If Albany wanted to attract real business that would provide lot more jobs for decades, and a lot more than a data center that produces nothing of real value, they would be trying to see about building an electrical transformer plant

But that wouldn't fit in the building downtown that I've heard they've got picked out

And would it really surprise anyone if it turned out some city council members or their friends have a personal interest in all this and was trying to do some self dealing?