Sam leads the effort to make the City's vacant buildings habitable by preventing homes from deteriorating, as well as assisting on related housing issues. "My focus is finding solutions to vacant buildings and getting them re-occupied," Sam says. "It's a challenging task." Sam notes that the vacant building problem is multi-layered, with solutions dependent on the condition of a building, where it's located, as well as ownership and legal issues. He has a Bachelor’s Degrees in Environmental Design & Political Science, and a Master’s in Urban & Regional Planning, all from SUNY Buffalo.Sam is also a licensed drone pilot, a board member of the Albany County Land Bank, and is the City lead for the Love Your Block program. Outside of work, you will likely find Sam playing hockey, working on his old North Albany house, or spending time with family & friends.