All Over Albany

State of the State reaction, Cuomo continues to dodge, APD looking for community input, fire at firehouse

In his State of the State speech yesterday, David Paterson proposed a bunch of ethics reforms and economic development initiatives (full text of Paterson's speech). He also openly scolded the legislature and interest groups for creating a culture of "addiction to spending, power, and approval." That didn't seem to go over well with the audience. [TU] [Daily Politics] [NYO] [NYT]

Reactions to Paterson's speech:
+ Dean Skelos: "Governor Paterson talked a lot about fiscal restraint, but we've heard that speech before." [CapNews9]
+ Sheldon Silver seemed to be on board with some of Paterson's ethics reforms, but not others. [NYO]
+ Andrew Cuomo: the outline for spending and ethics reform is right, but "we've had trouble in the past is actually getting it done." [NYO]
+ Jim Tedisco: "You have to take what he says with a grain of salt until you see that positive action which he hasn't illustrated so far." [Fox23]
+ Roy McDonald: "I'm tired of these stupid budgets that don't work and of upstate getting the short end of the stick." [Saratogian]
+ Jack McEneny: "The proof is going to be in the [next] budget." [Troy Record]
+ Baruch College prof Doug Muzzio on the proposed ethics reforms: "Ain't going to happen." [AP/Post-Star]
+ George Pataki: "I thought it was exactly the right message." [NYO]

Andrew Cuomo continued to dodge the question of whether he's running for governor. [Daily Politics]

The Albany Police Department said last night that it's forming a community advisory panel to help it develop its community policing approach. Said one deputy chief: "We realize there is a disconnect." Another deputy chief said the APD wants to know what the community's "expectations are for the future." [TU] [Fox23] [CapNews9]

The state Charter Schools Insititute has recommended that the New Covenant charter school in Albany be closed. [TU]

The woman accused of setting the Schenectady house fire that killed a 10-year-old pleaded guilty -- and has been sentenced to 22 years to life. [WTEN] [TU]

There was a fire at a Rensselaer firehouse yesterday. An official says it looks the a problem with the kitchen stove started the fire. The department says it will now be moving into its new firehouse sooner than expected. [TU] [CBS6] [Troy Record]

Troy police say a man tried to strangle his ex-girlfriend -- and then himself -- Tuesday evening. [Troy Record]

County Waste, a local trash hauler, has bought new trucks that will carry both garbage and recyclables. [TU]

The Schuylerville school district is trying to figure out what to do with $4.5 million it didn't expect to have. [WTEN]

Some Saratoga shop owners say rents on Broadway are too high. [Daily Gazette $]

Le Canard -- the restaurant that replaced Nicole's Bistro at Quackenbush Square -- has closed. [TU]