All Over Albany

Layoffs averted in Cuomo admin-PEF deal, donations pour in for McDonald, another movie to shoot locally, purple bookmobile sold

The Cuomo admin and PEF announced this past weekend that they have reached a contract deal that heads-off planned layoffs. The deal is similar to the one worked out with CSEA a few weeks back -- it includes no general salary increases for three years, furlough days, and increased employee contributions for healthcare. It also includes "broad layoff protection" for PEF members through April 2013. Said PEF's president in a statement: "This was a difficult agreement to reach, but with our members' jobs in peril and the state's fiscal hardship we've stepped up and made the necessary sacrifices." The contract still has to be approved by the PEF membership. [Cuomo admin] [NYT] [TU] [PEF]

Leonard Crouch -- the Albany County sheriff's office anti DWI program coordinator -- was "separated" from the department on Friday. Crouch had been under scrutiny after the Times Union reported that a program employee he supervised had allegedly been using fraudulent addresses to claim she lived in the county. [WNYT] [TU]

Roy McDonald has seen a surge of campaign donations following his vote on the Marriage Equality Act. The chairman of the Saratoga County Republican party says he doesn't "want to speculate" at this point whether McDonald will get the committee's endorsement next year. [Daily Gazette] [Saratogian]

Bar and restaurant owners on Pearl Street in Albany say business is down -- perhaps because of public perception that the area is a hotspot for drunken rowdiness. The business district's BID has launched a marketing campaign and promotions in an attempt to fight the perception. [Fox23] [WNYT] [TU Table Hopping]

Once thought to be headed in the right direction, residents say Schenectady's Hamilton Hill neighborhood is sliding backward as muggings and larcenies are increasing. [Daily Gazette]

Albany police say a man was shot in front of a bar on Washington Ave across from Townsend Park in Albany early Sunday morning. They say the victim was not injured seriously. No arrests were announced (map). (Press release below.) [APD]

Albany police say a pizza delivery person was robbed on Jay Street in Center Square early Monday morning (map). (Press release below.) [APD]

A few more details on the plans for a UAlbany football stadium: 6,000 seats, southeast of SEFCU Arena, no announced budget total. [TU]

Schenectady County's sales tax revenue was up 12 percent last quarter, the biggest increase among large counties in the state. [Daily Gazette]

A huge fire lit up the night sky in Schenectady Saturday night. There were reportedly 70-foot flames from the buildings. [Fox23] [Daily Gazette]

State Police disposed of a live grenade that a guy had in his garage in Selkirk. [Fox23]

Cohoes requires taxis based in the city to have bulletproof glass dividers between the passenger seat and driver (though perhaps not for much longer). [Troy Record]

Saratoga is trying to crack down on loud late night music at bars. [Saratogian]

Moody's says payments have stopped on the bond backing the large medical sciences research building on New Scotland Ave in Albany that houses the financially troubled Ordway Institute. [TU]

A movie starring Chris Cooper is set to shoot in the greater Capital Region this fall. [Troy Record]

Recently opened in downtown Saratoga: not one, but two, shops specializing in the sale of women's underthings. [Saratoga]

Dominique Strauss-Kahn and his wife attended a concert at Tanglewood Saturday. [Troy Record/AP]

The Albany Public Library's purple bookmobile was sold to a person in Connecticut for $2,500. (The APL had been asking $10k for it last year.) [TU] [AOA]

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APD press release

Albany police are investigating a early morning shooting in front of 244 Washington Avenue. Officers responded at 12:54 a.m. for a man that had been shot in front of the Caribbean Breeze bar.

When officers arrived they located Hector Padin, 34, of Troy, with a gunshot wound to his upper leg and back. He was treated at the scene and taken to Albany Medical Center for treatment.

A suspect in the shooting was described as a white or Hispanic male, medium build, 6 foot and in his late 20's. He fled the shooting scene in an unknown white vehicle that headed North on Henry Johnson Boulevard.

The victim's injuries are not considered serious. No motive has been determined at this time.

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APD press release

Albany police are investigating the robbery of a pizza deliveryman on Jay Street early this morning by three men.

At approximately 1:10 a.m. James Kehoe, 25, was attempting to make a food delivery for Soho Pizza to 172 Jay Street. He was approached on the street by the first suspect who told him "hold on my brother will be right out with the money". A second suspect came from across the street and wrapped his arm around the victim's throat and threw him to the ground. A third suspect then walked up behind Kehoe and placed what appeared to be a handgun to his neck and told him not to scream or he would get shot. The first suspect then reached into Kehoe's pockets and stole his money and cell phone.

The three suspects fled on foot south on Dove Street. Kehoe drove himself back to the pizzeria and called police.

The suspects were described as black males in their twenties. No further description.

Detectives and officers canvassed the neighborhood. A K-9 dog tracked but was unsuccessful.