More than a year since Luis Williams voiced concerns about drug use and decreased foot traffic to his Celebrities Barbershop, he says the lot close to the Camino Nuevo methadone clinic continues to be a hot spot for illicit and unsafe activity.

"We've got to police our own community," said Williams. "So it takes people like myself to run around here and remove people from being in a parking lot so the businesses can run."

Some of those businesses have decided it's not worth it anymore.

In the area just east and west of 175 Central Avenue, where Camino Nuevo is housed, 82 businesses now sit vacant. When Spectrum News 1 last spoke to the Central Ave. Business Improvement District in November 2021, there were 39 vacancies in the same area.

Albany County officials have taken notice.

Displaying a bucket of used needles found in one day near the clinic, Legislature Chairman Andrew Joyce said a letter has been written to OASAS, the New York State Office of Addiction Supports and Services, requesting an investigation into Camino Nuevo and immediate action.

"Everybody here in this community cares about those that are struggling with addiction," said Joyce. "But this problem has exploded and now this facility that we're talking about has become an impediment and a detriment to the community, as opposed to something that can improve the community and make people healthier."

Camino continues to stand by the work it does for those battling substance abuse. In a statement, a spokesperson said they're open to relocation, but noted the move would require considerable capital investment to secure and outfit a different facility.

They said that since the last Spectrum News 1 report, they've taken additional steps to improve their relationship with the community, including enhancing security and closing on Sundays.

"Given the unprecedented rise in overdose deaths in New York State and across the nation, facilities like Camino Nuevo play a more important role than ever in saving lives. While we understand that residents and business owners may feel uncomfortable sharing their community with a substance use treatment facility, we would like to remind them that the patients we serve are also their neighbors, and that they are people from all walks of life who deserve compassion, care, and access to treatment. We continue to work with our community-based and government partners to address any quality-of-life concerns and have taken into account the feedback we have received. As a result, we have taken additional steps such as enhancing security and closing on Sundays, and we are open to further suggestions to ensure we continue to provide critical services to those in need.

We are also happy to continue conversations with key stakeholders about a potential relocation, taking into account that we have a current lease at this location and that such a move would require considerable capital investment to secure and outfit a different facility. Until we identify a suitable location that meets the needs of the vulnerable population we serve, while fulfilling our mission-driven goals as a nonprofit, we are unable to consider a move of this magnitude.” 

But from Williams' window, it only looks to him like things have gotten worse.

"I've seen more people overdose in the past year, two years than I have ever seen in my life. When you see people defecating and urinating through the community in wide open, it becomes more sickened because the frustration builds up," said Williams.

He doesn't want to lose more customers and isn't ready to give up on the community.

"From me being a person that used to run around in the streets, I think that's what makes my compassion so strong to clean up the streets, because I know there can be change, 'cause as an individual myself, I changed," said Williams. "So being that I used to run around out here and and be part of the problem, now I'm part of the solution. Trying to fix the problem."