Commissioner of Public Safety, Robin Dalton, worked with Saratoga Pride to create a colorful crosswalk celebrating Saratoga Springs’ Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, Queer, And Others (LGBTQ+) community.
Saratoga Pride
According to their website:
Saratoga Pride is a welcoming community of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer people and our allies in the greater Saratoga Springs area. We invite you to join us for social and informational events and entertainment, and to look to us for LGBTQ resources, networking and advocacy.
Saratoga Pride is a network of LGBTQ community members and allies dedicated to:
- Fostering connections among Saratoga area LGBTQ community members and visitors
- Enhancing the visibility of the LGBTQ community in Saratoga and the surrounding region
- Recognizing local businesses and organizations that welcome the LGBTQ community
- Increasing awareness of LGBTQ-owned and inclusive businesses and services in the region.
The Project
The project was funded by private donors and the Adirondack Trust Community Fund.
Commissioner Dalton was enthusiastic about the large turn out for the ribbon cutting for the crosswalk. She stated, “I’m so pleased I was able to work with Saratoga Pride to facilitate this project, a simple yet powerful message of our warm and welcoming community and show of ongoing support for our LQBTQ+ Saratogians.”
From left to right are Trieste Cordova, Cindy Swadba, and Commissioner Dalton. These women along with Steve Rosenblum worked on the project.
Ms. Trieste did all the graphic design for the promotional materials and signs and was one of the spokespersons for the event.
On the left is Steve Rosenblum.
To the left of Commissioner Dalton is Congressman Paul Tonko. To her right is Finance Commissioner Michele Madigan. To Commissioner Madigan’s left is Supervisor Tara Gaston.
Julia Dunn of Channel 6 News was the emcee.
The following people were in attendance:
Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner
Supervisor Matt Veitch
Town of Milton Supervisor Benny Zlotnick
Deputy Commissioner of Finance, Deidra Ladd
Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety, Eileen Finneran
Nathaniel Gray (on behalf of Governor Andrew Cuomo)
Dr. Marc Conner, President of Skidmore College
Caroline Putnam on behalf of the Adirondack Trust Community Fund
Controversy Over Legality Of Crosswalk
There was some controversy over whether the crosswalk violated the New York State Department of Transportation requirements.
Saratoga Springs Politics 
So does this open Pandora’s Box to other groups to graffiti our streets with more political messages… I am sure the BLM will be the next to claim a crosswalk or cry our city is racist!!! Thankfully, the NYSDOT has standards and we can return this walk to a state of a normal cross walk after a few weeks of Feeling “GOOD” about ourselves. You have other avenues to INVITE and INCLUDE… -temporary flags on the light poles… God forbid you use an BILLBOARD to advertise how inclusive the Spa City is…- enjoy the new flash point for ALL of US to make us all regret this Rainbow Walk.
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Pride Month has been declared by presidents of both parties, and is done to commemorate the Stonewall riots. What does this have to with BLM, other than for you to create a strawman argument against a nice gesture done to highlight the city’s diversity and inclusiveness, both of which help make it a more attractive destination?
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So you don’t think that other groups will not want EQUAL time? You want to paint the walk in Congress Park that is not a roadway – knock yourselves out.
Sometime soon maybe we can focus on just living together without all the social pandering that every group is SPECIAL… can’t we be content to be AMERICANS.
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The politicians got their 15 minutes of fame, great photo-op, and now may I suggest a pink crosswalk for breast cancer, a green crosswalk for St. Patrick and ……
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is this a blog thing, or was my comment purposely listed after the first three comments on this post? The time stamp on my comment clearly shows it to be the first comment, yet it is listed last. This makes my comment look like a copycat of the others. Please explain. JK?
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