All Over Albany

Lots of chip fab details, Paterson looks for "hand back," Saratoga Springs looks at cutting city jobs, Albany High scheduling mishap blamed on training

Even with the state facing a seemingly ever widening budget gap, David Paterson says the state will follow through on its pledge of $1.2 billion in incentives for the Luther Forest chip fab project. [TU]

The chip fab project isn't officially a done deal, yet. One of the remaining hurdles: the federal Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States has to sign off on the deal because the AMD spin-off building the plant is being funded by the government of Abu Dhabi. [TU]

The fab is expected to directly generate about 1,500 jobs. The Malta town supervisor says he's heard that 60 percent of the jobs will pay between $40k-$70k -- and the rest will probably be worth more than $100k a year. [Daily Gazette]

David Paterson says he'll be meeting with state worker unions to discuss how "we can work together" to address the state's budget gap for next year, which now projected at $8 billion. The Gov wouldn't say whether layoffs were on the table. [AP/TU]

More budget gap talk: Paterson says the federal government should send some of the taxes New Yorkers pay back to the state to help cover the deficit. Paterson says the state should get the "hand back" after years of sending more to Washington than it's gotten back. [Newsday]

The proposed Saratoga Springs budget for next year includes a 3.8 percent tax increase -- and the elimination of 24 city jobs. The city's public works commissioner says the reduced workforce will lead to fewer services. "I'm not a very popular guy in City Hall right now," said Ken Ivins, the city's finance commissioner, to the Saratogian. [Daily Gazette] [Saratogian]

The candidates running for Albany County DA spent much of their debate arguing over incumbent David Soares' first four years in office. Challenger Roger Cusick criticized Soares for a falling conviction rate. Soares responded that there have been fewer arrests, and thus fewer crimes to prosecute. [TU] [Fox23]

A Loudonville rabbi already facing child sex abuse charges faced new charges yesterday. The rabbi says the accusations are false and stem from jealousy of his Colonie congregation's success. [TU]

Albany School District superintendent Eva Joseph says poor communication and inadequate training were to fault for the scheduling mishap at Albany High. [CBS6]

The first produce shipment on a special train run from California arrived yesterday in Rotterdam. The line is expected to (relatively) quickly ship produce and other products, such as wine, from the West Coast. [Biz Review] [Daily Gazette]