Commentary: To address Albany violence, we must put our egos aside

By Ta-Sean C. Murdock

As featured in the Times Union

Pictured: Albany, NY Lincoln Park

Albany, NY - I grew up in Albany. From Madison Avenue to the South End, these streets shaped me. I’ve walked these blocks as a kid, as a young man, and now as someone trying to be part of the solution.

But what I see today — what so many of us are witnessing — is heartbreaking.

There’s a heaviness in the air that comes from violence, death and grief. It’s the weight of lives lost far too soon. Of families left devastated. Of youth raised around trauma, forced to understand pain before they ever got to experience peace. You can feel it in the silence after a shooting. You can see it in the tears at candlelight vigils. You can hear it in the strained voices of those asking, once again, “When will it end?”

But the truth is, these tragedies didn’t start this past weekend, when a beloved city celebration was fouled by shootings, fire and chaos. The violence we see today is a symptom of deeper issues that have gone unaddressed for generations: poverty, lack of opportunity, broken systems, disconnection and distrust.

One of the greatest barriers to progress in this city isn’t what’s happening on the streets. It’s what’s happening in the rooms where decisions are made.

Real change requires uncomfortable conversations. It requires collective sacrifice, shared vision and accountability. But too often in Albany, disagreement isn’t seen as a step toward growth; it’s treated as a reason to disengage entirely.

We have leaders who seem more interested in credit than in collaboration. Conversations that go nowhere because no one wants to be wrong. Meetings that feel more like performances than progress. Would we really rather argue over who’s right than work together to fix what’s wrong?

This isn’t about politics. This is about people – the people we claim to serve. Are we truly committed to their well-being, or are we chasing clout? Are we building something lasting, or just boosting our platforms?

I’m calling on all of us — including myself — to do better. To remember why we’re here. To stop letting ego lead us while our communities fall apart. We can’t keep talking about “the people” while silencing the very voices we claim to represent.

What Albany needs is less competition and more cooperation. Less noise and more action. Less control and more connection. We need leaders who listen, who show up, and who understand that titles mean nothing if they aren’t backed by truth and trust.

Picture this: a monthly roundtable in the South End or Arbor Hill. not during a crisis, but as part of everyday routine. A roundtable where residents, youth, elders and local leaders gather in a shared space, not to be spoken at, but to speak. A high school junior sits beside an elder living on a fixed income. Both are given equal voice on matters that shape their lives — violence, housing, education, policing. These kinds of roundtables aren’t just meetings; they’re a commitment to listening to people who are usually left out, and they lead to better, more honest policy.

Now think about what it would mean to have a school-based mental health clinic in that same neighborhood. A young boy, grieving the loss of a cousin to gun violence, shouldn’t have to wait weeks or months to talk to someone. He should be able to walk down the hall the very next day and get the support he needs. Families shouldn’t have to scramble for help when a crisis hits. That’s why we need mobile teams — clinicians and counselors — going into communities like West Hill or the South End to run support groups, lead trauma workshops and meet people where they are. Insurance status shouldn’t determine access to care. This is what it really means to show up and offer trauma-informed support — before the system pushes someone out or gives up on them.

I still believe in Albany — not because of what it is, but because of what it can be. I believe in the resilience of the people. I believe in the potential of our neighborhoods.