Observer Chronicle is an independent digital publication covering New York’s Capital Region and the Hudson Valley: Albany, Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga Springs, south through Kingston and Poughkeepsie, and the towns along the river between them.
What we cover
- Politics & Albany: the State Capitol, the Legislature, state agencies and county government.
- Local News: city halls, school districts, public safety policy and the services residents rely on.
- Business and Finance: the semiconductor and tech corridor, small business, housing, property taxes and household bills.
- Hudson Valley and Community: rail and transit, the river, parks, local history, the arts and events.
- People & Profiles: the people and institutions that shape the region.
Who we are
Observer Chronicle is owned and published by Richard Williams. Our reporters cover the region by beat, working from public records, agency data, meetings and on-the-record reporting. Read how we work in our Editorial Policy.
Our reporters
Walter Brinkerhoff
Politics & Albany
Walter covers the State Capitol, the Legislature, state agencies and county government, with an eye on how decisions made in Albany reach households across the region. He works from budget documents, bill text, hearing video and public records.
Priya Venkatesan
Business
Priya writes about Capital Region and Hudson Valley business, entrepreneurs, brands and marketing, from Main Street shops and family firms to the tech and manufacturing companies reshaping the region. She studied entrepreneurship, brand strategy and marketing in business school, and she works from company announcements, public filings and on-the-record interviews.
Colleen Mahoney
Finance & Local News
Colleen covers personal finance, property taxes, housing, utility bills and the city services people use every day in Albany, Troy and Schenectady. She explains the forms, deadlines and fine print, working from agency guidance and official data.
Jamal Whitaker
Hudson Valley & Community
Jamal covers the Hudson Valley and community life, from Kingston and Poughkeepsie to Saratoga Springs: transit and rail, parks and the river, local history and events. He relies on agency data, public meetings and on-the-ground reporting.
Get in touch
Story ideas, public notices and corrections are welcome at contact@observerchronicle.com, or see Contact.