Questions about Cuomo adviser, big donation for RPI, North Greenbush's unknown $3 million account, airlift wing members OK after NZ quake
Jeffery A. Sachs, an influential Cuomo administration health care policy adviser and reportedly Andrew Cuomo's best friend, is also a consultant who represents many large health care clients -- and NYT reports that "state officials have made decisions that surprised many in the health care industry but were favorable to Mr. Sachs's clients." (By the way: this Jeffery Sachs is not the Colubmia Jeffery Sachs -- he's Jeffery D. Sachs.) [NYT]
Despite the Cuomo administration's call for a state employee wage freeze, the proposed budget does include fundings for step and longevity increases. [TU]
New York Congresswoman Louise Slaughter on what the state should do about the string of sex scandals involving politicians over the last few years: "I think the answer to that is to elect more women." [State of Politics]
Two of the Skidmore students involved in the Compton's incident have pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct -- a violation, instead of a misdemeanor -- as part of a plea deal. An attorney for one of the students says the outcome is "the equivalent of a dismissal." Attorneys for the students say witness statements collected after the incident were inconsistent with those collected by police (the statements aren't being released). [TU] [Post-Star] [Saratogian]
Albany city treasurer Kathy Sheehan says she voted against the Brighter Choice Foundation's application for tax-free financing for buildings not because of a position in the charters vs. public school debate, but rather because she says the city has too much classroom space. [TU]
An RPI alumnus has donated $1 million to the school. [RPI]
Albany police say a convicted sex offender -- who had been tagged as a "level 3" offender -- was arrested and charged with raping a 13-year-old in his Quail Street apartment (map). They allege the man attacked the girl at Quail and Central and took her back to the apartment. [TU] [YNN]
Police say they've arrested one of two men allegedly involved in a robbery at Glen Sanders Mansion early Tuesday. The clerk who was there at the time of the robbery was not tied up, as had been previously reported. [TU] [CBS6]
A preliminary auditing report of North Greenbush's town finances concludes there was a bank account opened with $3 million that the town board did not authorize and did not know about. [Troy Record]
Twenty-six members of the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing were in New Zealand during the recent earthquake. None of the guard members were injured, nor were their planes damaged. The guard unit has been supporting operations in Antarctica. [Fox23] [TU] [Troy Record]
People involved with the local horse industry say the economic downturn has significantly affected their business. [Post-Star]
Saint Rose president Mark Sullivan is back at work full time after his stroke five months ago. [TU]
The 19th century house in Saratoga said to be the city's oldest brothel was demolished yesterday. [Saratogian]
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"Despite the Cuomo administration's call for a state employee wage freeze, the proposed budget does include fundings for step and longevity increases. [TU]"
And the point of TU's story is what? To scapegoat public employees? These step and longevity increases are part of long-standing contracts which were negotiated by the Governor's Office, approved by the Legislature, and well-understood by competent news reporters. Yet, news stories appear expressing surprise that provisions of these contracts are still in effect. Of course they are - we still live in a state that enforces legal contracts. If the governor is unhappy with the current contracts, he can negotiate new terms for the next round of contracts if he ever decides to come to the table. Some folks want to scapegoat public employees for the economic crisis we're in, despite the fact that public employees in no way caused the recession and are compensated less, in terms of salary and benefits, than are private employees.
... said Bob on Feb 23, 2011 at 11:07 AM | link
The point of the TU story was to provide the narrative of where New York stands as populist protests set the stage for wide-spread breakout all across this country. If the TU scapegoats to past governors instead of making Cuomo's budget the true rattle then mission accomplished. Andrew can do no wrong, its nobody's fault, public employees should be honored for their unselfish devotion to service consumers and any demonstrations will be rendered as merely side-show attractions only.
The Capital Region is brainwashed.
... said Jeff S on Feb 23, 2011 at 11:40 AM | link