With the primary election three weeks away, the four Democrats running for Albany mayor are being put through their paces: participating in multiple debates, forums and meet-the-candidate events. 

While they’re being grilled, the city’s current mayor has her hands full planning how to spend the $400 million gift from the state of New York. The money is known as CAP — “Championing Albany’s Potential."

Two hundred million dollars, or about half the CAP money, is meant to revitalize downtown Albany. Another $150 million will update the New York State Museum. There’s also money for policing and to upgrade the Empire State Plaza.  

The CAP money is supposed to reinvigorate commercial corridors, repurpose vacant and underutilized commercial buildings for housing and other new uses and create new reasons to work, visit, or live in downtown Albany. 

One proposal that has gained some traction is a 15,000-seat soccer stadium that includes housing and retail. The cost would be $150 million of taxpayer money, plus private investment.

Mayor Kathy Sheehan spoke with Capital Tonight about how Albany’s economic develop agency, Empire State Development, the Downtown and Lark Street BIDs and the mayor’s office will work together with MIG, the national consulting firm out of California the state hired to guide the planning for CAP.