Albany Commissioner Fletcher responds to critics

ALBANY — Businesswoman/Ward III Albany City Commissioner B.J. Fletcher is, by reputation, an outgoing personality.

Moreso than perhaps any other local elected official, Fletcher is quick with a quote for local news media representatives and is recognized as one of the most responsive city leaders by the people she represents.

But Fletcher said her willingness to respond to media queries and circumstances in her personal life have made her a recent target for social media posters among a group Fletcher refers to as “1-percenters.”

“Somebody told me this the other day: ‘You could end world hunger and settle the national debt and these people would still come after you,’” Fletcher said during a candid conversation. “It does seem that I’m always catching flak, but I think that also shows that I’m out there. I’m not just around for commission meetings.”

Fletcher drew the ire of many — including a number of callers to this newspaper’s Squawkbox feature — for her recorded response to a television reporter who asked her about Albany’s recent ranking by a national publication as the seventh-worst city in the country.

“I’ve always been a little more comfortable talking to newspaper reporters because they have the opportunity to go into more detail, where television reporters have to get their reports in sound bites,” Fletcher said. “I’m not knocking the TV reporters, that’s just the nature of their job. But they record what you say and then get in the cutting room and sometimes trim down what you’ve said to fit into their timeframe.

“What several people have told me they heard me say was that the No. 7 ranking is ‘just a number.’ I did say that. But I also went on to say that it’s a number that we have to do something about. That part got left out. Again, I don’t blame the young reporters; they have only a few seconds to work with.”

Responses to Fletcher’s comments have been particularly volatile.

“It goes back to that thing with the 1-percenters, the people who have nothing positive to say about the city,” the commissioner said. “They are always looking for a way to twist something so that they’ll have something to post about on social media. I just wish they’d take a little bit of that negative energy and use it for something positive every once in a while.”

Fletcher said she’s usually not bothered by such comments, but many have taken swipes at her without understanding her current circumstances.

“Really, it’s no one’s business about my personal life, but the people who know me best know that this is a very tough time for me,” she said. “Three weeks ago, my mother was working six hours a day and going for regular walks, just as full of life and energy as she could be. But now she’s literally in a fight for her life.

“My mom has lost her husband and three of her children, and she’s had every major organ except her lungs operated on. But what she’s going through right now (healthwise), I can say with all assurances this is the hardest thing she’s ever had to face.”

Fletcher said taking care of her mother and her businesses have taken a toll.

“Sometimes, I want to break,” she said. “It’s hard not to. But I cannot stop and feel sorry for myself. I have an obligation to my mother. I have an obligation to the people whose families rely on the jobs they have at my restaurants. And I also raised my hand and took an oath to serve the people of Ward III. Those things, and my faith in God, are what keep me going.

“I’m a fixer-upper, but I’ve learned the hard way there are some things you can’t fix. But if you’ll allow me, I’d like to say thank you to the people who have stepped up to help me, who have told me that they are praying for me. I’m not asking anyone to feel sorry for me, but I just want people to know that I don’t have the time to defend myself from the mistruths that I’m hearing about on social media.”

Fletcher said she remains confident that the city of Albany, despite recent issues, is on the right path to a recovery.

“I hate to tell those 1-percenters — I’m sure this will make them angry — but the city of Albany is in a good place right now,” she said. “We’re having issues with the sewer system, but we are under contract with a company (Jacobs Engineering) that is the best in the world at what they do. It’s going to take some time, but they’re going to fix it.

“And while our violent crime rate has gone up, I truly believe technology is going to be the answer to our crime issues. Look, I’m not stupid, but I don’t want to be one of those people who always complains. I want to be part of the solution. We have, I think, the best City Commission this city has had in a while — and I mean no disrespect to past commissions. But we have a group, a city manager, assistant city managers, who will sit down and talk with our citizens. With all we have going on, I truly believe our city is in a good place right now.”