Boat erupts into flames on Hudson, state comptroller says budget "was not worth the wait," breathalyzer tests for jockeys
A 34-foot boat caught fire on the Hudson near Troy yesterday and burned before sinking (map). The vacationing couple on the boat jumped into the water and were rescued by a passing boat. The fire, which burned for hours, produced bright orange flames and a tower of black smoke (lots of photos). The Troy Fire Department waited until the boat drifted toward shore before hitting it with foam and water. As it happens, the TFD has a firefighting boat on order -- scheduled to arrive at the end of this month. [YNN] [Fox23] [CBS6] [TU] [WNYT] [Troy Record]
Albany police say they drained Tivoli Lake as part of investigations into multiple cases, including Ashley Carroll -- and say there was no evidence found "relative to the investigation" (which investigation was not specified). [WTEN] [TU]
State comptroller Tom DiNapoli, in a statement: "this budget was not worth the wait."
There's no guarantee the budget process under Andrew Cuomo, were he elected governor, would go any more smoothly next year. [NYT]
The clothing tax restored by the state budget won't start up until October 1 -- and is scheduled to eventually be phased out again. [TU]
New York State is in line to get $2.6 billion in federal aid after the US Senate passed a package of aid to states and school districts (it still has to pass in the House). [WSJ] [NYT]
Schenectady police say they've arrested a man for allegedly being connected to the shooting earlier this week in the Union Street neighborhood. They say they picked him up after stopping a car because the driver wasn't wearing a seat belt. [Fox23] [TU]
An Albany police officer has been suspended without pay after being arrested for allegedly shoving his girlfriend. [TU] [YNN]
An Albany County corrections officer has been suspended without pay after he was arrested for alleged domestic violence. [TU] [YNN]
Chris Gibson, the Republican running against Scott Murphy, says he would push for an eight-year term limit in the US House of Representatives, with four-year terms. [Post-Star]
Saratoga Springs is issuing building permits again after a more than two-week delay because of a civil service dispute. [Saratogian]
An Albany landlord has accused the zoning board of targeting him because "I rent to low-income and minority tenants in areas that they don't want to see them." [TU]
The condition of Troy's Frear Park Golf Course are said to be "sub-par." [Troy Record]
The Saratoga racino is looking at staying open 20 hours a day. [Post-Star]
Gross receipts at this year's Saratoga selecting yearlings sale at Fasig-Tipton were down almost 40 percent compared to last year. [Post-Star]
The National Weather Service says a tornado touched down in Montgomery County yesterday. [Fox23]
Jockeys will soon have to take random breathalyzer tests at Saratoga. (What would you call drunk jockeying? JWI?) [WTEN]
The Adirondack Mountain Club says hikers should carry whisk brooms to brush off their boots at the end of hikes as part of an effort to reduce the spread of invasive species. [Daily Gazette]
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Comments
Re: Frear Park
It really is a sh*thole this year. Not only that I went up to play and the non-resident rate is ridiculous, almost $50 to play a public. Take a page from Capital Hills and put some money into your municipal course. They should realize that a lot of golfers left their country clubs in the last couple years and more and more are at the Muny courses. Why not have their money coming back?
... said Save Pine Hills on Aug 5, 2010 at 10:19 AM | link
"Save Pine Hills"
Troy's got about a million problems, and a sh*tty golf course is on the bottom of the list.
As far as I'm concerned, they shouldn't be dumping a dime into the course that doesn't come from the fees they bring in from golfers playing it...if that means the conditions are terrible, too bad. It probably means there's too many courses in the area and some of them should shut down.
Considering the average per capita income in troy is a whisker over $20k per year, people are getting shot main drags through downtown, and the city doesn't know where its City Hall will be in a year, I don't think anyone gives a crap that you have to pay $50 bucks
... said Ike on Aug 5, 2010 at 10:51 AM | link
Four year terms for the House of Representatives? Is Chris Gibson going to lead a national movement to amend the Constitution? I doubt he realizes what it would take to change from the current (and historically unchanged) two year terms, and I expect more than that from someone looking for my vote.
... said Rudy on Aug 5, 2010 at 11:33 AM | link
Golfing is good for you, walking, etc. Maybe Troy should close it as far as your concerned. In fact Ike, I rode my bike from center square to frear park WITH golf clubs on my back! No car! That should make the greenippies happy huh?
... said MattW on Aug 5, 2010 at 1:14 PM | link
Ike,
Every city has problems, Troy more than others but why let one of the good things in the city that people still enjoy go to waste? Why not put some money into it so people from other cities want to come play there and spend money at the nice new restaurant/clubhouse? The money they get from golfers probably helps them just get by at this point. Troy can't throw a little money their way? I'm sure you love how Dinosaur BBQ is coming into town right? I'm sure you know how much of a break they got and how no other restaurants got that? Why not take that money and clean up the ghetto?
You're not going to clean up bad parts of a city when most of the problem citizens don't want to be helped. Drugs and gangs are not going anywhere. Why not have some fun?
... said Save Pine Hills on Aug 5, 2010 at 2:25 PM | link