The Jennings camp held their "media event" outside a row of deteriorating structures along Henry Johnson Boulevard... part of a day-long workshop staged by the Albany Housing Authority AND the City's Division of Neighborhood Revitalization... "NeighborServe Incorporated" was designed to train local contractors on so-called "Artistic" board-up procedures for vacant buildings, which entails things like painting boards to resemble windows.

A few streets away Corey Ellis was speaking in front of 16 Lexington Avenue, at the heart of one of the city's most blighted neighborhoods, citing the huge jump in the number of vacant properties during Jennings' four terms. Ellis pointed out numerous code violations on Lexington, stating that some of the property owners live out of state and owe YEARS of back taxes. While the Mayor promises MORE will be done to combat Urban blight, Ellis is calling on Jennings to crack down on absentee owners and make sure buildings are code-compliant. He wants government to differentiate between vacant and abandoned buildings to expedite application of remedial programs.