Is crime dropping in Albany? Here's what the police chief says

Today in The 518

• Crime is down across the city? Yep! says Albany police chief

• Shogun Sushi owner needs surgery after dine-and-dash

• Beautifully restored 1890 charmer is our Home of the Week 🏡

• Plus, the week’s music listings and a new polling feature

Is crime dropping in Albany? Our police chief says so

The streets of Albany are safer now and crime is down across the city, thanks to a law enforcement crackdown on guns, says Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins.

In a public safety briefing with Mayor Kathy Sheehan, Chief Hawkins said police have seized more than 100 illegal guns in recent weeks, and more than doubled the number of confiscations compared to 2023 (which was a record year for gun seizures).

“When we're able to remove these guns from the streets, we are able to ensure that people do not have ready access to deadly force,” he said. (Read the full story from WAMC here.)

But Hawkins said Albany has seen 24 shootings to date, compared to 19 this same time last year. OK, so a bit of a mixed message here, Chief 🤷

There have been six homicides in the city so far this year, but Hawkins emphasized that they were all the result of personal disputes, not random shootings. Hmmm, not sure that makes us feel better!

To be fair, gun violence in Albany did drop 26% in 2023. Here’s hoping this trend continues because there’s still a lot of work to be done...

According to Neighborhood Scout, Albany is safer than only 3% of US cities 😬 By comparison, much quieter Ballston Spa is safer than 53% of cities. You can check the stats for your area by entering your address here and then going to the Crime tab.

Neighborhood Scout claims to have exclusive crime risk analytics for every neighborhood in America with up to 98% predictive accuracy.

Shogun Sushi co-owner undergoes brain surgery after dine-and-dash attempt

It’s more than just guns. Fists can kill too. The 49-year-old co-owner of Albany’s popular Shogun Sushi restaurant underwent emergency brain surgery last week after being punched unconscious when he tried to stop a patron from running out on a $425 dining tab. Police have arrested and charged Lucas Healey, 42, with first-degree robbery as well as a hate crime, after he allegedly told the victim, who is Asian, to “speak English” and “go back to your country,” and hurled an anti-gay slur. You can see a video of the altercation here.

This really calls for a GoFundMe, folks.

“Spring, being a tough act to follow, God created June.” —Al Bernstein

Be prepared for hot days ahead with thunderstorms later in the week. Sure feels like June to us 🥵

Capital District native to lead Institute of History & Art

We love to see talented people coming back to the region. A native of nearby Greene County, Kayla Carlsen has been tapped to lead the Albany Institute of History & Art. She’s leaving her big-city job, where she’s currently senior vice president and head of American Art at Sotheby’s New York. Welcome back, Kayla!

Shogun Sushi owner doesn’t regret leaving chef life to deliver mail

Speaking of Shogun Sushi, the former chef and owner of Shogun Sushi & Sake Bar in Delmar, Jose Arteche, is loving his decision to become a postal carrier after more than 20 years in the restaurant biz. As you can guess, the work-life balance is way better. And he gets to deliver mail to hundreds of his friends and former patrons.

“It made me see how small and interconnected Albany really is,” Arteche told the Times Union’s restaurant columnist Steve Barnes. Read the full profile here. (And thanks for being a subscriber, Steve!)

Get ready for the Belmont Stakes in Saratoga 🏇

Going to the first-ever running of the Belmont Stakes at the Saratoga Race Course? Be ready for crowds galore and a bit of glamour too. The Daily Gazette has everything you need to know to navigate the event and the Belmont on Broadway festival.

Are you partial to historic homes with stretches of hardwood flooring and elegant interior details? We are! Do you love neighborhoods with wide sidewalks and a grocery store? Yessss… This jewel of a home, located on Elm Street between Center Square and the Empire Plaza, fits the bill perfectly. Imagine grilling with a gaggle of friends and family on your deck with a perfect view of the annual Fourth of July fireworks show, and puttering around in your private 2-car garage with renovated wooden doors. What a dream!

The deets: 3 bd, 3 ba, 1485 sf + garage. Asking: $279,000. Days on market: 3. Find the full listing here.