read my ballot statement →
I'm running for Albany City Council because I care deeply about this community and believe Albany deserves thoughtful, practical leadership focused on local issues. I want to hear what matters most to you and your family. No issue is too big or too small.
me!
The moment my family and I landed in America: New York's Kennedy Airport.
Jon Destin is Albany's 2026 Citizen of the Year. He immigrated to this country as a child, escaping communism, was educated here, became a teacher, and went on to build a successful business of his own.
For years he's given back to the city he loves: as President of the Albany Community Foundation, a member of the YMCA board, and a trustee of the Albany Education Foundation for a decade. He believes Albany's best days are ahead, and that good local government starts with listening to the community.
More about Jon →These are some of the issues I'll keep a relentless focus on, and I'm always listening for what else is on your mind.
A Generational Opportunity
Golden Gate Fields is set to become a spectacular shoreline park, and I'm all in. But when that land goes tax-exempt, Albany and our schools lose nearly $2 million a year. That money pays for paramedics, streets, and classrooms. I support the park and I will be fighting to make Albany whole.
Learn more →Our budget is balanced. It's also razor thin. No time to get complacent.
I've run an Albany small business for nearly twenty years. I know what a tight budget looks like, and Albany's is tight. I'll protect core services, plan for the racetrack revenue loss, and always show you the math.
Learn more →The generation that built Albany should get to stay in Albany.
Growing older here shouldn't mean leaving here. Most of what that takes isn't dramatic: sidewalks in good repair, a ride to the store, a vibrant Senior Center, and a paramedic who arrives fast. I'll protect those everyday services, starting with the EMS fund through the racetrack transition.
Learn more →Streets that work for everyone.
Whether you're walking, biking, driving, using a wheelchair or other mobility device, pushing a stroller or trying to find parking on Solano, our streets need to work for you. Here's where I stand on Albany's transportation plan and the decisions ahead.
Learn more →Great schools made Albany. The city's job is to have their back.
I was a teacher. My son went K–12 through Albany schools. I know where the city's job begins: getting kids to school safely, crossing guards, shared gyms and fields, backing our amazing teachers, and making sure our schools don't quietly lose $700,000 a year in the racetrack transition.
Learn more →Real change is possible, and Albany is already proving it.
Albany has been a leader on climate, from electrification to rebates that help residents make real changes at home. I want us to build on that progress, learn from the experts in our community, and focus on the things a city our size can actually do well.
Learn more →A plan is not a home.
Whether you want more housing in Albany or not, this is not optional. State law requires Albany to plan for 1,114 new homes by 2031, including 486 for very-low- and low-income households. So far, only about one in ten of those lower-income homes has been permitted. Albany has done the planning. Now we need to focus on getting housing built by attracting good builders, creating more genuinely affordable homes, and making our process work.
Read more →Public safety matters. So does public trust.
In 2024 the Council approved Flock license plate reader cameras. I believe that was a mistake, and I support ending Albany's use of Flock. Decisions about technology, privacy, and public safety deserve real research, real public input, and real safeguards before they are made, not after.
Learn more →Community leaders, neighbors, parents, and small-business owners trust Jon to listen, do the work, and bring people together.
"I've worked beside Jon for years in Albany's community organizations. This is an important moment for our city, and Jon understands both the human side and the business side of the decisions ahead. We need him on the council."
"Jon listens first, does his homework, and shows up for this community again and again. I'm proud to stand with him."
"Jon brings people together. It's what Albany needs, and it's what he's been doing here for years."
This campaign will be powered by neighbors who care about Albany's future. Join us in whatever way works for you.
Every contribution fuels a relentless focus on Albany. Thank you. Gifts are processed securely through ActBlue.
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Contributions to Friends of Jon Destin for Albany City Council 2026 are not tax deductible. Paid for by Friends of Jon Destin for Albany City Council 2026 · FPPC ID# 1492565.
The kickoff was just the start. Every week through the election, I'm sitting down with neighbors in living rooms and backyards across Albany. We call them house parties. They're casual meet and greets that supporters host right in their homes. Find a date near you and come join the conversation.
Meet and greets happen in supporters' homes, so we don't post addresses. See a date in your part of town? Ask for an invitation and we'll connect you with the host.
Tell us which date works and we'll get you the details.
