The fierce nonprofit fighting to reclaim our roads

March 24, 2026

Happy Tuesday evening, folks! Today, we’re introducing you to Capital Streets, the nonprofit outfit that’s fighting hard to make our cities more friendly for walkers, bikers, bus riders, and the guy on the e-scooter who’s about to mow you down.

🍏 We are thrilled to announce a brand new event series—The 518 Happy Hour! Love this newsletter? Then you’ll love meeting up with like-minded subscribers at Nine Pin in Albany on Wednesday, April 15, 6–8p. It’s also Tax Day, so come out and drown your sorrows IRL with us!

We’ve partnered with Nine Pin to offer 10% off all cider pours for every 518 subscriber, anytime. Just show them the newsletter on your phone. Nine Pin also has craft beers & cider cocktails. See you there!

p.s. Don’t miss our reader poll down below 👇️ 

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

Capital Streets’ James Rath speaking at the 2025 Cranksgiving in Troy 📷️ Capital Streets

🚲️ Capital Streets: The fierce nonprofit fighting to keep our streets open for everyone, not just cars

Three years ago, James Rath and Kyle Hatch were just two urban planners with a pandemic and a problem.

Much of the Capital Region is hostile to anyone not behind the wheel, but there wasn’t a local organization that’s professionally staffed and pushing for real change. (Walkable Albany has a similar mission, but it’s largely volunteer led.)

So they built it themselves.

Capital Streets, the Albany-based nonprofit advocating for safer, more walkable and bikeable streets across the Hudson River corridor, celebrates its third anniversary on April 2 at Lark Hall. It's a genuinely different kind of advocacy organization: six paid staffers, professional advocacy chops, and a willingness to engage the wonky machinery of state agencies, regional transportation councils, and City Hall.

"Everything that you’re interacting with on the street has been decided by somebody," James says. "That means we can change things."

The group's focus spans Albany, Troy, and the smaller cities in between—Watervliet, Rensselaer, Cohoes—a constellation of small municipalities that makes regional coordination both essential and maddeningly complicated. 

But what cuts across everything is an understanding that “everybody has these touch points,” James says. “We all experience the challenge of getting around, feeling unsafe, wanting different transit options. We all have to get out of our cars.”

Their advocacy has helped shape recent wins: Albany's speed hump program is oversubscribed, with Common Council members fielding requests to add more. Pedestrian plazas have popped up at Liberty Square in Troy and on Western Ave in Albany. The new Lewis-Swain Ave bridge, currently under construction, will finally connect Rensselaer and Albany with bike-ped access.

Then there's the $200 million downtown Albany revitalization project. "State Street has a huge opportunity to be more of a Main Street for downtown Albany," James says.

Between the debate over reimagining I-787, the push to reconnect Albany to its riverfront, and all the talk about downtown revitalization, the city is entering one of those rare inflection points when generational decisions are actually on the table. Capital Streets is trying to make sure those decisions do not default, once again, to car-dominated corridors and prioritizing commute times over livability.

“It's not just about safety, it's also about building a city that people want to live in,” James says. “Making our streets more walkable, bike friendly, transit oriented, and people focused.”

The deets: The Capital Streets website is packed with resources to learn more about critical transportation issues around the region.

The nonprofit is highly dependent on donations to do its important work. You can contribute by attending the anniversary party on Thursday, April 2, from 6 to 9 pm, at Lark Hall (suggested donation of $30). There will be awards, live music, and dancing. More importantly, it's a room full of people who passionately think our streets should be better. Tickets and info at capitalstreets.org/anniversary-party.

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👑 This Saturday, thousands of local protestors are expected to join a third round of nationwide rallies against the actions of the Trump administration, including its immigration crackdown and the war in Iran. Find times & locations of protests throughout the region for the No Kings Rally. [Times Union]

✊ Btw, the Underground Railroad Education Center in Albany is suing the Trump administration for revoking its grant funding. [NBC News]

📎 Love a good zine? The 518 Zine Scene will host its 3rd annual Zine Festival on Saturday at the South End Children’s Cafe in Albany, featuring nearly 30 vendors and free admission. Along with regional creatives buying, selling, and sharing zines, there will be hands-on space for attendees to collage, write, and make their own! [Daily Gazette]

🍣 Restaurant Roundup:

  • Larry Zhao, a veteran of Asian restaurants throughout the Capital Region, has just opened a new all-you-can-eat sushi spot in Schenectady—Hokkaido, at 469 State Street. [WTEN]

  • Herbie’s Burgers on Lark Street is moving to the former Bombers Burrito Bar space. [TU]

  • Closings: 110 Grill in Latham and the War Room Tavern in Albany. Openings: The Skinny Pancake in Latham and Mixed Breed Brewing in Malta—such a weird name for a brewery, btw! [Albany Business Review]

Tucked away on 3.2 acres at the tail end of a sleepy street in the heart of Slingerlands, this storybook-style home is magical. Featuring light, authentic touches including a real stone entrance with bench nook, wallpaper we don’t hate, a working fireplace, French doors, and big windows that bounce light off the beautiful hardwood floors. The updated kitchen has an exposed beam and new farmhouse apron sink.

Bonus points for the full bath, bedroom + convenient first-floor laundry on the main level. Upstairs are two big bedrooms and a full walkup attic. Outdoor space includes screened in porch, 2-car garage, and a forested space that’s actually big enough for foraging. Top it off with the 10/10 school district and you’re living the whimsical dream.

The deets: 3 bd, 2 ba, 2564 sf., 3.2 acres, Asking: $499,900. Days on market: 3. See the full listing here.

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Note: The 518 Weekender now publishes on Thursdays. Watch your inboxes!

WEDNESDAY

🐝 Do you know about Susie Davidson Powell’s new venture called The Dishing? The former TU dining critic is building a new local media company focused on food. On Wednesday, The Dishing presents TINY TALKS: Food On Film, a taste-led discussion of hives + honey in philosophy + on film, at the Albany Institute of History & Art. Phat & Karley will be there, so be sure to say 👋 if you’re going!

THURSDAY

🖼️ Judith Enck, president of Beyond Plastics and author of The Problem with Plastic speaks at Opalka Gallery. See the Plastique show while you’re there!

FRIDAY

🌷Explore immersive, large-scale garden displays, see imaginative floral-themed exhibits, and shop a huge marketplace at the Capital Region Flower & Garden Expo. All weekend.

📚️ The Book Hive’s Grown-Up Book Fair is back at Wolf Hollow Brewing Company!

SATURDAY

🎬️ The always-free Albany Film Festival at UAlbany is an annual gem. Among the highlights this year is a conversation with legendary filmmaker John Sayles.

🐰 The 2nd Annual Quick Response Easter Fun Fest is a family-friendly day of Easter activities—and it’s free!

💚 Mucho Matcha, a new mobile matcha bar in the 518, will be popping up at Sur La Table in Stuyvesant Plaza.

🏃‍♂️ The 2026 Empire State Fit Expo, a newly launched fitness expo, takes over the Albany Capital Center.

👨‍🎨 Get your young Picassos to the Kids’ Art Workshop, led by RSC MAT Art Education students, at Opalka Gallery.

♦️ Collar Works’ Annual MAD Collar Party at No Fun in Troy doubles as a fundraiser for one of the best galleries in the Capital Region.

🤠 Outlaws for a Cause II: 2026 Big Give Gala! hosted by Schenectady’s Frog Alley Brewing is your chance to cosplay as a sexy cowboy—or cowgirl!

🎙️ Lost Radio Rounders invites you to "America 250: Songs & Stories” at William Sandford Town Library.

SUNDAY

👩‍🎨 Robert Bridges leads Curator Talk: Blanche Lazzell and the Advancement of American Modernism at the Albany Institute of History & Art.

🏀 Did you know there’s a professional basketball team based in Schenectady? The NY Phoenix play their first home game at M&T Bank Center this Sunday.

MONDAY

🍏 The Nine Pin 26er Challenge kicks off with an opening pour event! Read all about this once-every-two-years cider-tasting challenge: 26 ciders. 52 weeks.

ART ON VIEW

Our music listings are now published separately on The 518 website. Click here.

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