Snow emergencies taking effect, brake on paid parking in Saratoga, medical marijuana comes up in legislature, rabid raccoons in Rensselaer County
Around 4:30 pm on Tuesday.
We got more than six inches of snow yesterday, according to the National Weather Service (obviously, there's been more since midnight). More snow is forecasted for today. Many cities and towns have declared snow emergencies (including Albany and Saratoga Springs). National Grid was reporting on its web site this morning that about 15,000 customers were without power in the Capital Region. [NWS] [CapNews9] [National Grid]
Rochester's police chief, who was a finalist to head up the Albany police department, has pulled his name from consideration -- somewhat to the annoyance of the search committee. [TU] [CapNews9]
A SUNY committee has voted to recommend closing the New Covenant charter school in Albany. The final vote on the matter is next month. [TU] [Fox23]
The advisory panel for paid parking in downtown Saratoga Springs voted to reject all four of the plans submitted by contractors. One panel member called all the plans "totally flawed." The proposed 2010 budget for the city includes $1.35 million in revenue from parking. [Daily Gazette $] [Saratogian] [Post-Star]
Troy's city council voted 4-4 on the sale of the Uncle Sam parking garage -- which pretty much kills the deal. The developer who wanted to buy the garage now says he might pull out of the city. [TU] [Troy Record]
New York's highest court has ruled that legislative and executive branches have created a "judicial pay crisis." Legislators don't sound all that eager to raise judges' pay, though. [NYT] [TU]
Could this be the year the state legislature approves medical marijuana?
The Colonie town board has voted to seek the dismissal of town landfill employee for allegedly allowing underreporting by County Waste. [TU]
Troy police say the woman accused of stabbing her landlord says she did so in self-defense -- and a teddy bear may also have been involved. [Troy Record]
A Schenectady County prosecutor says the fatal shooting this past weekend in the Vale neighborhood was not a random hit. [Daily Gazette $]
Glenville police say a man tried to rape a 17-year-old woman after picking her up in Schenectady this past weekend. They say the woman was able to escape and a driver came to her aid along Route 5. [Fox23] [CapNews9]
Rensselaer County says two rabid raccoons turned up in Wynantskill. [Troy Record]
A survey of local businesses reports that there's optimism about the local economy -- sort of. [TU] [Daily Gazette $]
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Comments
As a DC resident, I'd just like to say, Welcome to the Thundersnowme, Albany! Two snowmen enter, one snowman leaves.
... said Alice Person on Feb 24, 2010 at 10:35 AM | link
I wonder if the Albany Police Chief search committee let applicants know they were going to publicize their names before they did so. I understand the need for transparency, but there is a valid need for confidentiality at a certain point in the application review process.
... said biodiva on Feb 24, 2010 at 10:39 AM | link
The raccoons should be captured and released in the Capitol while it's in session. That way the wheat can be separated from the chaff and we can finally get something done in there. Rabies could be our only hope to save this state.
... said KatherineSass on Feb 24, 2010 at 10:49 AM | link
I'm glad they're reviewing the medical marijuana. I agree with the proper use. I have a condition where it's use is prescribed, but I'm not sure if I'd be able to use it due to a prior allergic reaction to the second hand smoke at concerts & outdoor festival events. It's annoying!
... said don't wanna get in trouble on Feb 24, 2010 at 11:35 AM | link
Without going into the epic battle between charter schools and public schools (an issue that is obvious both sides have merits) it seems there's at least a few facts here neither can dispute. Albany has X number of schools and Y number of kids. Y has not gone up significantly but X has. There's an overcapacity of space for school kids. Livingston and the adult learning center (former albany high) are now vacant and it seems as though new covenant may be going vacant as well. Will these schools ever come back online? There are a couple of former schools that have already been turned into condos (on morton and madison). If there are too many schools in the city, and clearly some will not be used as schools anylonger, then there perhaps there schould be a city-led program to reuse the older, more attractive buildings for something new - like condos or office space. It's expensive but not impossible - look at the sucess of harmony mills in cohoes, for example.
... said daleyplanit on Feb 24, 2010 at 4:49 PM | link