The Free School

This past Monday, community activists and concerned neighbors, including some Albany Free School students and teachers held a rally to save the last public bath (indoor public pool) in the city from being shut down. Dozens of people from the South End and all over the city voiced their opposition to Mayor Jerry Jennings’ plan… to shut down the pool to save money in the 2011 budget. Young and old, residents spoke of the benefits of having a low cost recreational facility to exercise and have fun at in their neighborhood. For decades the pool, officially named Public Bath #2, located at the corner of 4th Ave. and S. Pearl St., has been a weekly destination for a large group of Albany Free School students, many of whom have learned how to swim there.

One of our teachers, Deirdre Kelly, read some words that Free School students had written about why the pool was so important to them. Local community organizers Willie White, Jacqui Williams, and Lynne Jackson all spoke about the lack of resources for youth and elderly folks in the cities poorest neighborhoods and the importance of preserving this city treasure. So if you would like to support efforts to save the Bath House please consider writing a letter or email to Mayor Jennings, and we will meet at the Bath House next Monday November 15th again at 5:30pm.

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