All Over Albany

Paterson com director resigns, black leaders support governor, Ed Koch to the rescue, Sweeney's $4,000 ankle bracelet, security up for MAAC tourney, Siena's Franklin named MAAC player of the year.

A third member of the Paterson administration has resigned. In a statement yesterday, Communications director David Kauffman said "Unfortunately, as recent developments have come to light, I cannot in good conscience continue in my current position."[TU]

Black leaders met in Harlem yesterday and publicly gave their support to Governor Paterson. Rev. Al Sharpton, former NYC Mayor David Dinkins, and former State Comptroller H. Carl McCall are part of the group that claim the state needs stability right now and the governor deserves the right to due process. But they said they'd like to meet with Paterson to discuss his ability to govern. Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos is giving the governor a week to decide on that ability for himself[WTEN/AP] [WXXI via capcon]

Meanwhile, Governor Paterson has hired one of Eliot Spitzer's lawyers. [NYT]

Albany's in trouble? Ed Koch to the rescue! The 85 year old former NYC mayor is leading and anti-incumbent campaign designed to "Clean up Albany" [NYT]

First Deputy Superintendent Pedro Perez has been named acting superintendent of the New York State Police after the abrupt resignation of Harry Corbitt. [WNYT]

Only a quarter of the anticipated number of state employees took the buyouts offered a year ago. 1,008 state employees took the $20,000 buyout packages, saving the state $58 million in salaries. Here's a list of who took buyouts. [TU/Capital Confidential]

New York State is a finalist in a competition for up to $700 million in education aid.[News9]

The area contaminated by the Dewey Loffel toxic landfill in the Rensselaer County town of Nassau may get on the Superfund list, but it even if it does, it could take decades for cleanup to begin. [TU]

The alcohol monitoring ankle bracelet that Former Congressman John Sweeney will be wearing following his 30 day stint in jail for drunk driving will set him back $4,000. Sweeney will be the first the first person in the Capital District to use the technology. [TU]

90 year old former New York Gov. Hugh L. Carey is recovering from emergency cardiac bypass surgery.[TU]

A stolen car hit a police cruiser in Albany last night when the teen driving the vehicle lept out while it was still moving. [TU]

About 75 people turned out last night for the last in a series of public hearings on the selection of Albany's next police chief. Resident's who turned out last night said they'd like to see a chief with experience in community policing. [News9]

The trial of Steven Raucci is expected to begin today. [Gazette $]

The former horse trainer charged with 34 counts of animal cruelty claimed he wasn't aware of problems on the farm until it was too late. Ernie Paragallo testified yesterday that he thought his horses were being fed good grain and that he was unaware of problems with lice until he heard about them in the news. [TU]

Albany's school taxes could go up as much as 2.95 percent under the budget proposed yesterday by city school officials. Albany's school system needs to close a budget gap of more that $10 million. The tax hike would only cover part of that. [TU]

The Troy City Council is putting off their vote on reassessment for a while.[Record]

If you've got any old parking tickets from Saratoga Springs, March 22nd through April 3rd would be the time to pay them. [Saratogian]

The Schenectady man accused of setting a woman on fire last summer will spend 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree assault. [Gazette $]

A South Glens Falls High School student was sent to detention for wearing a bracelet meant to raise breast cancer awareness. Nicholas Morgan was asked to leave his science class when he refused to take off a bracelet that read "I love boobies."[WNYT]

Assemblyman Jim Tedisco wants to save New York State parks by requiring inmates to pay for a portion of their incarceration based on their total assets. [News10]

Cuts in overtime pay for Saratoga Springs police may jeopardize some of the popular festivals. [TU]

Security is being raised to 9-11 levels for this weekend's MAAC Tournament at the TU Center after two men were stabbed inside the arena at last weekend's high school basketball playoffs. The measures could cause some delays for people entering the building, so patrons are being asked to arrive early. [CBS6]

Siena forward Alex Franklin has been named the MAAC Player of the Year. It's the second straight season a Siena player has recieved the honor.[WNYT]

Hikers will have more than six miles of new public trails to check out in Wilton and Northumberland this spring. [Gazette]