About Albany Data Stories

Albany Data Stories uses public data to create non-partisan, unbiased stories about our government and our community of Albany, NY.  

We began publishing with a dozen stories in early 2025 and have been adding new stories as we conduct additional analysis.  You may also find us on Reddit in r/Albany if you search for "Albany Data Stories" and on Facebook.

Albany Data Stories is inspired by USAFacts.  If you’re not familiar with USAFacts, it is a non-profit started in 2017 - we like their mission:

“No one at USAFacts is trying to convince you of anything. The only opinion we have is that government data should be easier to access. Our entire mission is to provide you with facts about the United States that are rooted in data. We believe once you have the solid, unbiased numbers behind the issues you can make up your own mind.”

What do we like about USAFacts that we want to replicate with Albany Data Stories?  USAFacts has published data and analysis that can:

• validate what we know and inform what we suspect
• challenge our beliefs that turn out to wrong when presented with data
• provide insight on subjects that we've never thought about at all

I’m Karl Urich, creator of Albany Data Stories, 30 year resident of the City of Albany, I live in the Buckingham Pond neighborhood.   The origin of Albany Data Stories is straightforward - I’m a data and analytics professional and I have been using that experience to examine Albany’s open data and public data to understand our city.   Along the way I've been joined on the ADS team by friends Adam and Keith.  Together we manage the analysis, content, storytelling, editorial control, publication and Q&A surrounding our work. 

Are you affiliated with the City of Albany? 

Albany Data Stories is an independent site and not affiliated with or controlled by the City of Albany.

Can I use your content for something that I'm working on?

Yes, all content on Albany Data Stories is distributed with a Creative Commons Share-Alike license which lets you freely Share and Adapt the content, given the Terms of the license.  

Who makes money off of Albany Data Stories?

No one.  It's a labor of love and we don't commercialize it in any way, nor do we intend to.

What subjects do you care about?  What do you want to study more?

Property, housing, budgets, healthcare (especially harm reduction), crime, pedestrian safety, public spending, zoning, the interplay between govt structure and decision-making ... it's a pretty long list.  

Why do you get political?

Many of our stories - especially now that the City's financial crisis is front-and-center - may appear to have a political angle to them as a function of the topics that we are analyzing.   

Is Albany Data Stories a Democratic site or a Republican site?

We strive to be neutral.  As we have noted many times, evidence suggests that both parties have demonstrated an equal ability to destroy and rebuild their local communities through bad and good decision-making.  We're not particularly interested in calling out party behaviors; we are interested in highlighting decision-making, the impact of decisions, and the root causes of what led to decisions.

Can I suggest a story idea or a dataset that we should be using?

Absolutely, drop us an email, message us on FB.  This isn't our full-time job so there are things that don't interest us, things that are better classified as investigative journalism. 

What else interests you?

The availability of public data.  We believe that transparency and accountability begin with citizens being able to access and use public information that describes the facts, operations and impact of local governments.  We have put together some model open data legislation for the City of Albany and we are championing that legislation.

What do we like from readers?

Challenge us when you think we are wrong.  Ask to see our analysis.  Suggest different approaches and interpretations.  

Whether or not you’re an Albany resident, if any of the above interests you and you have ideas, thoughts, whatever… feel free to drop an email to AlbanyDataStories@gmail.com.