State Senate paralyzed by drama, plane plucked from Mohawk, Albany sewers maxed out, moose on the loose
As had been rumored, Hiram Monserrate switched back to the Democratic caucus yesterday and now the state Senate is split 31-31. Result: no one knows what the hell is going on. The two parties discussed a power-sharing arrangement, but couldn't come up with a deal. They're now looking to the courts to settle things> -- and it sounds like the judiciary would really rather not do that. [NYT] [NYDN] [NYT]
The situation puts the state in a "constitutional crisis" as there's no clear way for the Senate to function. Also muddled: the line of succession to the governorship. [Buffalo News]
The Republicans + Democrat Pedro Espada showed up in the Senate chamber yesterday, but couldn't do anything official because they were one short of a quorum. Democrats are now threatening to sue Espada because, they say, he violated a court-issued injunction against acting as Senate pro tem. [Daily Politics] [CapNews9]
John Sampson, the new leader of the Senate Democrats, is being credited with bringing Monserrate back into the caucus. [TU]
A crew pulled the small private plane that crashed into the Mohawk near Glenville out of the river yesterday. The victims were also identified -- one was a former Bollywood actor turned real estate developer. Officials aren't sure what caused the crash. [Daily Gazette] [TU]
Land clearing started yesterday at the site of the Luther Forest chip fab project. GlobalFoundries says microphones at the site will be used to monitor construction noise levels. [Daily Gazette] [TU]
The recent heavy rains brought to flooding to many parts of Albany again -- and officials say there's not much that can be done because the city's aging sewer infrastructure is maxed out. [TU]
The Hudson River PCB dredging project is off to a slow start, but the EPA it expects the pace to pick up. [Post-Star]
Albany police say the man accused of being the shooter in the Central Ave murder two weeks ago was arrested on Long Island. The APD says it hasn't identified a motive for the shooting. [CapNews9] [TU]
The Saratoga County sheriff's office say it's arrested the man accused of breaking into 100 cars in Saratoga County over the last two months. [CBS6]
Albany police say there was another bike-by mugging yesterday. [Troy Record]
Schenectady is looking for federal stimulus money to completely rebuild one of its fire stations -- in part because the building has "varmints." [Daily Gazette]
A moose ran down Broadway in Saratoga yesterday before ending up at The Track. DEC officers tranquilized her and carted her back to the wild. New York's moose population is apparently on the rise -- and about 10 or 12 are said to live in northern Saratoga County. [Saratogian] [Daily Gazette] [TU] [Post-Star]
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Re: the sever system; I was starting to get worried during the storm because my toilet started to make these god awful gurgling and bubbling noises. I thought the clown from IT was going to climb out.
... said Summer on Jun 16, 2009 at 1:53 PM | link
>>A crew pulled the small private plane that crashed into the Mohawk near Glenville out of the river yesterday.
so, the person i went flying with a week and a half ago had been flying with that guy the week before. we took off from the same airport and everything. god. :-/
... said Kim D. on Jun 16, 2009 at 5:13 PM | link