County Executive McCoy and County Legislature Chair Cunningham Announce Appointees to Albany County Pine Hills Land Authority

Post Date:08/19/2024 11:38 am

Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy and Albany County Chairwoman of the Legislature Joanne Cunningham have selected their appointees to serve on the Albany County Pine Hills Land Authority. A bill to create the seven- member Authority was signed by Governor Hochul in June so its members would help redevelop dozens of properties left vacant by the recent closure of the College of Saint Rose. Four members are appointed by the County Executive with two appointed by the Chair of the County Legislature and one by the Albany Mayor.

"I am pleased so many people were interested in serving and it was difficult to select only four members," said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy. "I'd like to thank these qualified individuals in advance for what will be a challenging task. My appointees are Dominic Mazza, John Nigro, Alejandra Paulino and Alison Walsh."

Dominic "Nick" Mazza has a broad range of government experience with over forty years of service in NYS local government and consulting. Nick has served as the County Administrator for Livingston County, Director of Administration and Finance for the City of Cortland, Management Policy Specialist for the City of Syracuse and was a Municipal consultant with the Bonadio Group, CPA's and Consultants working with municipalities throughout NYS.

John Nigro is the President of Nigro Properties, Real Estate Development, Management and Leasing. He has over 50 years of commercial real estate development and management and has played key roles on boards, including the Center for Economic Growth where he worked on expansion of the Rensselaer Rail Station, and the development of the Watervliet Arsenal and Nanotechnology.

Alejandra Paulino is a graduate of Albany Law School. Her commitment to justice and fairness led her to diverse public policy and legal roles within the community, including serving as an Assistant Public Defender in Albany County. Since 2019, she has served as the Secretary of the New York State Senate. In this key role, she oversees the day-to-day administrative functions of the Senate, contributing to the smooth operation of this legislative body.

Alison Walsh is Vice President for Real Estate Development and Planning at Empire State Development where she manages redevelopment and reuse plans for a portfolio of closed state facilities. Her recent projects include overseeing the Prison Redevelopment Commission and producing a first of its kind report on how to repurpose closed correctional facilities. Prior to this role, Alison served as the Vice President for Regional Economic Development where she led the Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) portfolio, managed ten Councils throughout the state, and coordinated multiple state agencies in awarding grants each year.

"I'm delighted to introduce my choices: Jasmine Higgins and Sarah Reginelli," said Albany County Legislature Chairwoman Joanne Cunningham.

"Sarah has dedicated nearly two decades to serving the community in nonprofit and public capacities, including leadership roles as President and CEO of Capitalize Albany Corporation and the City of Albany Industrial Development Agency/Capital Resource Corporation. Jasmine, a fifth-generation resident of Pine Hills, has a deep understanding of the area's needs and unique characteristics. With experience in managing diverse stakeholder groups in local government and as Partner and Chief Operating Officer of GLS, an economic development and public affairs strategy consulting company, Jasmine brings a wealth of expertise."

"Both of these women bring valuable skills and a strong commitment to doing what is best for the Pine Hills neighborhood and Albany County as a whole," she continued. "Their professional backgrounds demonstrate their capabilities, and I am confident that they will contribute dedication, energy, creativity, and solution-oriented strategies to the authority."

The Albany County Pine Hills Land Authority has been entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing the repurposing of the College of Saint Rose's former properties. This initiative is not just about revitalizing these spaces, but also about creating a sustainable blueprint that will benefit the community for years to come.

###