Claire Bryan is reporting for the Times Union the barricades blocking cars from driving down State Street in Albany, near the state Capitol building were removed May 23. The fencing that blocked pedestrians from walking on the grass throughout West Capitol Park is gone, too. Beginning the next morning, cars were parked along both sides of State Street and walkers and joggers ran freely through the park. The barricades were put in place in January. City of Albany spokesperson David Galin told the Times Union in March the road was closed because of unspecified threats. This week, he said Mayor Kathy Sheehan has been in contact with the state during the closure of State Street and had asked that it be reopened as soon as practicable. The fencing in West Capitol Park was there to protect the grass while the ground "firms up," Michelle Rosales, a spokesperson from the state Office of General Services wrote in an email.  Taijay Lanier, a security guard who works at Empire State Plaza, said, “I think it is a good thing that [the barricades] are gone, but I also think it was necessary for the barricades to be there in the first place.” Fencing around the grass next to Corning Tower still stands, as well as fencing around areas under construction throughout the plaza. The sidewalk in front of the Governor’s Mansion is also still blocked off. The State Street barriers between Swan and Eagle streets went up after the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and after a stabbing took place on the same day outside of the state Capitol. Read the full story in the Times Union.