Save Public Bath #2 - Albany, New York residents only

We, the undersigned, are concerned citizens of the City of Albany, who are completely opposed to the permanent closure of Public Bath #2.  We urge you to act now to allow the Public Bath #2 to remain open so as to permit open lap swimming and swimming instruction which emphasizes water safety and teaches swimming in an independent safe environment.  It also offers a recreational opportunity for its residents. This 104 year old structure will support city residents by continuing to offer year round heated swimming, senior citizen life-saving instruction, learn to swim programs for all ages and a host of community programs for youth, which are an important and enjoyable experience in life and helps increase safety and awareness while in water. This indoor Public Bath house will also bring relief to our residents from the city's rising heat index during the summer months.  According to city data, the building is not in total disrepair since renovations were done to the building 2007-2009.  This bath house can be an anchor building which represents a form of stabilization to the south end's much anticipated reinvigoration.  This historic neighborhood and 104 year old structure serve as reminders of a prosperous era, that represent an intrinsic, latent value that is difficult if not impossible to re-create from scratch and should be preserved to the maximum extent  feasible.  The residents cannot benefit from their hard work when you take away a recreational facility. You cannot energize an area, nor state that you want to make the South End a "Community of Choice" when their very choices are being stripped from them without the courtesy of a public hearing. The city's proposed closing of the bath house will not only be detrimental to our children's future, but the future of our community!  There is no other operational Public Bath House in the City of Albany and no other indoor, year round heated swimming pool facility for residents in the City's South End neighborhood area to go to. With the growing rate of childhood obesity, we believe that it is absurd to close this facility.  We believe that with better advertising and publicity to attract residents which was previously not done, this facility  could again be the crowning jewel of Albany, by providing healthier children and adults and a lasting legacy in Albany for the next 104 years.   We are taking action to keep this facility open permanently, demanding that funding be put in place to maintain, promote and upgrade Public Bath #2, demand that the bath house be preserved, as well as demand a public hearing on this issue.  We thank you for your time and consideration.