All Over Albany

Ford takes shot at Gillibrand and Schumer, TU Center turns profit, second ESP man caver sentenced, Phillip Livingston school up for sale

Harold Ford was in Albany yesterday to make the rounds at the Capitol and ESP -- and take shots at both Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer. Ford said on Talk 1300 that both senators were elected to be independent and not act like a "parakeet" for for the Democratic Party. A Gillibrand spokesman shot back: "The notion that [Ford] is independent is completely contrived." Said one legislative intern to the TU after meeting Ford on the ESP concourse: "He should really look into getting a New York accent." [AP/Troy Record] [NYO] [NYDN] [NYT] [TU]

David Paterson said yesterday that his potential gubernatorial campaign opponents shouldn't be hiding in the "candidate protection program." [NYDN]

Annoyed that the governor keeps calling them back for special sessions, the legislature has decided to just not adjourn -- basically blocking more special sessions. [Daily Politics]

Albany County announced that the Times Union Center, which it owns, turned a profit of almost $1.8 million last year -- up from about $900k the year before. That's the second-highest profit in the facility's 20-year history (not adjusted for inflation). [Albany County] [TU]

John Lewis, the suspended Schenectady cop arrested for a sixth time this past week, is in jail after a Schenectady County judge revoked his bail. [TU] [Fox23]

The second man charged in the ESP Man Cave case was sentenced to five years probation and ordered to pay $1,500 in restitution. He's also not allowed to work for the state again. [TU] [CapNews9] [WTEN]

The state comptroller's office has approved the Troy Business Improvement District funding plan, which includes a five percent levy on city property taxes for downtown business owners. [Troy Record] [TU]

The former state Department of Taxation and Finance employee who used stolen taxpayer identities to open credit cards was sentenced to six months in jail. The Troy man will also have to pay back $200k to credit card companies. [NYS AG] [Troy Record] [TU]

The City of Albany's new franchise agreement with Time Warner Cable includes money for public access TV. [TU]

A Ballston Spa man was sentenced to three years probation after he pleaded guilty to harassing his elderly neighbor by calling her on the phone repeatedly. The Saratoga DA had been pushing for jail time. [Daily Gazette $] [TU]

The Albany school district is hoping to sell the former Philip Livingston Magnet Academy building (map). [TU]

Yesterday's warm, wet weather caused some area ski operations to close. [CapNews9]

The UAlbany student who won $10k on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" says she's going to bank the money. [CapNews9]

After his mother and daughter went missing in Haiti after the earthquake, a Saratoga man traveled to his home country and was able to track them down, alive. [TU] [Daily Gazette]