People of Troy

Interview with Richard and Kathleen Kiernan, Troy Residents.

Was there a particular reason why you chose to live in Troy?

"We had moved from Brooklyn in 1992 to have a more suburban lifestyle. We raised our son in suburban Rensselaer County. But there was always something about Troy that intrigued us. We volunteered at the Music Hall at one point, and over the years, we had different experiences here. A lot of people we met had roots in Troy. And right around the time we were thinking about moving, things started happening— there was energy building. Everything just felt like it was coming together. We wanted a walkable downtown for this next chapter of our lives, and Troy really fit the bill. Albany is connected, and there are a lot of nice places— but they’re not Troy. From day one of moving here, we’ve absolutely loved it. This is a unique location, and living here has brought a lot of incredible experiences into our lives."

If you had one thing to say to the future residents of troy, what would it be?

"Keep Troy real. I love that people want to come to Troy, and development is necessary— we appreciate everything that’s being done. But Troy has a certain grit, and I would never want to see future generations trade that for a more polished version of the city. Of course, we all want to live in a safe, clean place. But Troy, within the Tri-City area, has its challenges. One indicator is the level of participation in the federal free lunch program. It’s wonderful to see the city improving in so many ways, but we also need to take care of all our neighbors. And there are ways to do that without creating an “us versus them” mentality.

Rich and I live next to an emergency shelter, and our church encouraged us to get involved— to volunteer and donate. We’ve supported Joseph’s House in many ways, and I actually work there now. I retired from academia two years ago and took a position there. I think it’s about investing in people and understanding their needs, rather than dividing ourselves. That’s not easy— it takes effort, compromise, and sometimes discomfort. We’ve experienced that firsthand. For example, my husband is on the Beautification Committee and would love to see less littering. That’s something we deal with regularly. But instead of just complaining, he spends his own time cleaning up the neighborhood. I wish more people had that mindset. And while I may be a bit idealistic, I really believe that kind of investment can make a difference."