Troy city council president charged in voter fraud case, majority of new ethics commission first meeting closed to public, as many as 500 spots in planned Saratoga parking garage
Troy city council president Clement Campana was charged with five felonies and one misdemeanor related to the Troy voter fraud case. Campana pleaded not guilty. Democratic councilman John Brown and two party political operatives pleaded guilty to the charges against them. Campana's attorney says he was offered a plea deal, but "he would not accept it because he cannot plead to something he didn't do." [Troy Record] [Troy Record] [TU] [YNN]
Now-former state Senator Carl Kruger pleaded guilty to multiple felony bribery and corruption charges. The plea deal includes a recommendation for many as a little more than 11 years in prison. Kruger's situation was odd -- or, as it was described in NYT: "one of the more bizarre domestic tableaux -- even by New York standards -- ever uncovered by F.B.I. wiretaps. " [NYDN] [YNN] [NYT]
The majority of the new state ethics commission's first meeting was held in executive session, with the public closed out. After being challenged about it by the AP's Michael Gormley, the chair of the commission said the org would be trying to follow "the spirit of the open meetings law." [TU] [YNN]
Top New York State court officials affirmed that family court proceedings should be open to the public -- a rule that some courts have not been following. [NYT]
A report from the Rockefeller Institute of Government concludes that the NYC area sends more to the state in taxes than it gets back in funding. [Rockefeller Institute] [TU]
It looks like Cohoes' Shawn Morse will be the next chair of the Albany County legislature. (The current chair is Dan McCoy, who is county exec-elect.) [TU]
Bethlehem supervisor-elect John Clarkson will be collecting his state pension while also collecting the supervisor's salary. [TU]
Incoming Saratoga Springs city council members are accusing outgoing members of tying up long term city contracts so the next council won't have a say. [TU]
Albany police say they're investigating what appear to be two shootings with a pellet gun in north Albany last night (map). [TU]
Albany police say they're investigating a mugging at Lark and Washington Monday night (map), and a purse snatching two blocks uptown of there the next morning (map). [APD press release below]
The Albany County Sheriff's Office says a man was arrested at ALB for allegedly exposing himself to another man in a bathroom. [Fox23]
Police say they stopped a woman on I-787 who had 35 pounds of pot in a suitcase. (That's about 180k street retail value.) [YNN]
The Saratoga Springs city council has approved High Rock Park as the site for the 9/11 memorial sculpture. [Saratogian]
The new parking Saratoga Springs garage planned for Woodlawn Ave could have as many as 500 spots. [Saratogian]
There's now a Saratoga County Veterans Trust and Agency Fund to benefit all veterans in the county. [Saratogian]
The Hudson school district has gotten a federal grant to start a program modeled on the Harlem Children's Zone. [TU]
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APD: Robbery
Albany police are investigating a woman who was robbed at Lark Street and Washington Avenue last evening.
Kristie Lynch, 30, of Central Avenue, told officers she was walking near the intersection at 10:25 p.m. when an unknown black male approached her and punched her in the face. He then grabbed her cell phone out of her hand and ran south bound on Lark Street.
The victim complained of pain to her head and as a precaution she was taken to Albany Medical Center for treatment.
No further description on the suspect.
APD: Larceny
Albany police are investigating a purse snatch in the parking lot of 76 Central Avenue this morning.
The victim, Kim Terney, 52, of Schenectady, told officers she was on her way to work at 6:30 a.m. and had just parked her car in the lot. As she was getting out of the car a unknown black male approached her and grabbed her purse out of her hand. He then ran through the backyard of 285 Washington Avenue and headed north on Henry Johnson Boulevard.
The victim was not injured in the incident.
No further description on the suspect.
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