Extraordinary legislative session very ordinary, Army still investigating Colonie soldier's death, judge blocks Fort Orange Club demolition, prisoners to make new license plates

Today is Veterans Day.

Yesterday's "extraordinary" session of the state legislature produced rather ordinary results -- there was no agreement on cuts to close the state budget gap and no Senate vote on the same-sex marriage bill. Late yesterday afternoon David Paterson said he will call the legislature back next Monday and Tuesday. He also said the Senate would vote on same-sex marriage "at a date not certain between now and the end of the year." [TU] [NYT] [Daily Politics] [NYO]

Joe Bruno trial Day Seven: the business manager of a Saratoga County plumbers union testified that Bruno recommended Wright Investment Services -- and didn't mention that he was a consultant for the firm. The union also got two state grants, perhaps at Bruno's discretion, around the time it invested $4 million with Wright -- and the timing of those came up yesterday during testimony by state Senator Betty Little. After one of Bruno's attorneys tried to introduce five years of member items as evidence, Judge Gary Sharpe scolded both sides. "This trial has lost its way for a long time. This is not an election campaign," he said. [Troy Record] [TU] [Fox23] [NYT]

The Army says "the facts and circumstances" surrounding the death of Colonie soldier Amy Seyboth Tirador in Iraq are "still under investigation." The military has called Seyboth Tirador's death "non-combat-related" -- her family has been telling the media that she was shot in the back of the head on a base in Kirkush. [TU]

The condition of 12 bridges in the Capital Region -- and 110 upstate bridges in total -- scored lower on state inspections than the now-closed Champlain Bridge, according to an analysis by a group of upstate legislators. There was a rally outside the Capitol yesterday calling for more state funding for upstate bridge maintenance. [TU] [Fox23]

The Troy city council has proposed budgets cuts it says will hold next year's tax increase to 2.2 percent. The slate of cuts includes the elimination of a handful of city jobs, including the commissioner of public works and the mayor's spokesperson. [TU] [Troy Record]

The H1N1 flu is the suspected cause in the death of a Clifton Park seven year old (no mention of whether there were any other underlying conditions). Schenectady County held an H1N1 vax clinic yesterday for priority groups yesterday -- and turn out was strong. [TU] [TU]

Kirsten Gillibrand spoke yesterday on the floor of the US Senate that she's opposed to the "Stupak amendment" to the health care reform bill passed in the House -- it would prevent health care plans bought with federal subsidies to pay for abortions. [Daily Politics] [CapNews9]

It sounds like Jim Tedisco is still a little bitter about his loss in the NY-20 special election. [Daily Politics]

A state Supreme Court judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Fort Orange Club from knocking down two buildings that preservationists say have historical value. [TU]

Home prices in the Capital Region were down 4.9 percent in the third quarter compared to the same period last year, according to the National Association of Realtors. [TU]

The Cohoes common council approved a budget that includes a 2.85 percent tax increase. [TU]

Wilton is planning for spill-over development from the GlobalFoundries chip fab. [Saratogian]

An East Greenbush woman says she was attacked by a cat that's suspected of having rabies. [TU]

A Clifton Park cloud computing start-up has scored $5 million in funding from a venture capital fund. [TU]

The Dake Family (the Stewart's Shops people) have donated $3.9 million to the Community Foundation for the Capital Region. [Saratogian]

The new "EmpireGold" license plates will be made by prisoners making as much as 42 cents/hour at a prison in Auburn, NY. [NYT]

Comments

The Fort Orange Club cares for no history except it's own. They've already torn down a fine 1905 Arts and Crafts house and gained a grand total of six parking spaces. As long as they can continue to host the upper crust of society nothing else matters.

everyone wants better infrastructure but no one wants to pay higher taxes. You want roads repaired? Prepare to raise the gas tax, pay tolls on free highways, and divert municipal sales/business tax towards infrastructure.

Americans have had the best of both worlds for awhile now (low taxes, good services) but our lifestyle and the expectations of what 'the good life' is need to change to adapt to the future. You get what you pay for, America, the sooner we realize this the better!

@ Eric : I tend to agree. In the round of hearings when the club was granted the variance to expand, the counsel tried to tell the public the club ' would return to it's stand-alone' opulence, to be veiwed as it was meant to be, un-encroached bu other buildings." BS. When the land was plotted, before the club was built, there were several lots next to the club. Several buildings were torn down for the AES building, and the building on the lot you mention was torn down years ago.

If the club's "founding fathers" really intended for the building to stand as intended, they would spin in their graves to hear we've torn down useful buildings to construct a parking lot.

I know there's been some frustration over the h1n1 vaccine shortage.. Albany country residents can register TODAY (November 12th) for a vaccine clinic at the Times Union center this Sunday from 10am-7pm. I just registered my toddler. 447-4505
It's free.

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