Amanda Fries reports in The Albany Times-Union that only five residents spoke at a public hearing July 26 about a proposal to downsize the county Legislature; all were opposed. "I'm mainly against it because it reduces the voice that people have in their government," Richard Harris, president of 100 Black Men in Albany and a city resident, said. "What's more important: Saving a few dollars or giving citizens a greater voice in their government. Loudonville Republican Legislator Peter Crouse has proposed reducing the number of legislature districts from 39 to 33 in 2024, and to 29 districts in 2032. Albany County has the largest legislature in the state with 39 districts. A citizen's charter review commission proposed making the legislature smaller two years ago. "If you make it 12,000 (people a legislator would represent) it will really be a catastrophe," McKinley Johnson, a pastor at St. John's Church of God and Christ in Albany said. "Give us an opportunity by leaving it like it is." Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.