All Over Albany

Monserrate expelled, Paterson says he'll only leave office "in a box," the center of the nanotechnology universe, horse breeders say they're leaving

It's snowing. React accordingly.

The New York Senate voted to expel Queens senator Hiram Monserrate last night. The expulsion followed Monserrate's conviction on misdemeanor charge for dragging his bleeding girlfriend through the lobby of an apartment building -- though Monserrate alleged in a 16 minutes speech last night that political fallout from his role in last year's Senate coup was actually motivation for the vote. Eight senators voted against expulsion, including Monserrate. David Paterson says there will be a special election for Monserrate's seat on March 16. Monserrate is vowing to challenge the expulsion in court and may run in the special election. [TU] [NY Senate YouTube] [Daily Politics] [CBS6] [NYT]

Said David Paterson yesterday at a press conference: "The only way I'm not going to be governor next year is at the ballot box and the only way that I'll be leaving office before is in a box." Paterson also said he had met with NYT reporters and the much-buzzed-about piece that apparently is in the works is a "profile piece." The Paterson administration also sent a letter to NYT's public editor "to communicate our deep disappointment in the approach taken" to compiling the article. [CapNews9] [TU] [CBS6]

The Paterson administration's revised budget plan is banking on $1 billion in federal stimulus money. It also includes a proposed redistribution of funding between the Egg and NYSTI. [AP/Saratogian] [TU]

The five Albany plastic surgeons, a nurse and an administrator who pleaded guilty to giving unapproved off-brand Botox to patients were sentenced to community service and fines. They were also ordered to pay restitution to the patients who got the knock-off de-wrinkler. The attorney for the medical practice told the judge yesterday that it was on his advice that the practice kept quiet about the product's use when it first came to light. [Daily Gazette $] [CapNews9] [TU]

The public vote on the Troy schools capital project is today. [CBS6]

An official with the construction company building the Global Foundries chip fab says the Albany area is "the center of the universe as it is now in nanotechnology." The construction company announced this week that it would be moving its US headquarters to the Watervliet Arsenal. [Troy Record] [Post-Star]

The interim Albany schools superintendent will stay in the job for another year. He says the search committee has yet to come across the right candidate for the permanent job. [CapNews9] [TU]

Cohoes mayor John McDonald said yesterday in his state of the city speech that the city is facing a challenging fiscal situation -- and urged people to buy local. [TU] [Troy Record]

Colonie Town Court is busy. [TU]

The soda tax didn't go over well yesterday during a state Senate hearing. [TU]

An RPI official says the school is closing its on-campus business incubator because it feels it could "do better." [TU]

The attorney for Steven Raucci says his client will not try get his trial moved to a different county. [Daily Gazette $]

Saratoga Springs is pushing for property owners to properly display their homes' street number -- or be fined. [TU]

Horse breeders say all the recent drama in New York's horse industry has people taking horses to other states. [Saratogian]

Saratoga Hospital is getting praise from Consumer Reports for its record on preventing a type of hospital infection. [Saratogian]

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Discovery Center announced yesterday that its building has been awarded the LEED Gold certification for green building. The center joins a handful of Capital Region buildings now on the list. [email press release not online] [TU]

The Ballston Spa school orchestra will be performing works by the Beatles, Cream and Coldplay. [Post-Star]

Albany's city hall was destroyed by fire on this day 130 years ago. [TU]