All Over Albany

Cuomo says he'll veto redistricting lines, talk of primary for McDonald because of same-sex marriage vote, Cops-like incident in Albany, fist bump for the record

Due to problems with our hosting company, AOA's website was offline Monday morning. So things were a bit (or a lot) delayed. Sorry about that.

Andrew Cuomo said Friday that he will veto the proposed plans for redistricting, which will most likely prompt negotiation over changes to the maps. In an op-ed in the Times Union Sunday, Neil Breslin argued the creation of a new state Senate district that would cover the southwest part of the Capital Region is unconstitutional and "outrageous": "... Albany County as we know it would be drastically distorted, separating communities and disenfranchising voters."[AP/WSJ] [TU] Earlier: The Capital Region's legislative districts, before and after proposed new lines.

Sheldon Silver is reportedly going to introduce a bill today that would increase the state's minimum wage to $8.50 and include yearly increases for inflation. [NYT]

Records indicate the Saratoga Springs Housing Authority has spent tens of thousands of dollars over the last two years on travel so employees could attend conferences around the nation. Among the reported expenses: more than $5000 to send a receptionist to conferences in Vegas and DC. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

The Schenectady County SPCA says a Great Dane was found tied to a tree near the Mohawk by SCCC, malnourished and shivering Friday night. It says it appears the dog wouldn't have made it through the night. Two people have claimed ownership of the dog. [TU] [WNYT] [WTEN]

Look for To Catch a Test Strip Black Marketeer, hosted by Paul Grondahl, next fall on a TV schedule. [TU]

Republican Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin is making noises about primarying Roy McDonald over the McDonald's vote for the Marriage Equality Act. "I don't dislike Senator McDonald at all -- but I have a big disagreement with the gay marriage vote and the way it was done." [State of Politics] [TU]

The Saratoga Springs police department is at one of its lowest staffing levels in recent years. [Saratogian]

There are now some details on the settlement reached between the Sanctuary for Independent Media and the city of Troy over the "Virtual Jihadi"/code enforcement suit. [Troy Record]

The bus company that's taken over the Double Happyness routes in and out of Albany is certified to operate. [TU]

A handful of whooping cough cases have popped up around the greater Capital Region. [TU] [Fox23]

Albany police say they arrested a man after he escaped twice during an incident that allegedly included burglary, the assault of multiple people, and a foot chase in West Hill -- it sounded like some from an episode of Cops (map). [APD press release below]

Rotterdam police say an Albany man led them on a car and foot chase down Altamont Ave Saturday that included a car wreck (map). [TU]

Firefighters in Guilderland credited two good Samaritans -- a former firefighter neighbor and a mail carrier -- for helping keep a Westmere garage fire contained Saturday. [TU] [WTEN]

A Loudonville art dealer has been awarded $250k in a defamation case involving a painting and nuns. [TU]

The Hoffman's car wash and oil change on Delaware Ave in Bethlehem is closed because of concerns the hillside it's built on is slowly collapsing (map). [Fox23]

That big building going up on Delaware Ave in Elsmere is a medical office complex (map). [TU]

Just so everyone's clear: Saratoga and Saratoga Springs aren't the same thing. [Post-Star]

Destination dress shop Apropos has moved from Amsterdam to Guilderland. [Daily Gazette]

The Lake George Winter Carnvival has had to make a sacrifice because of the non-winter: the outhouse races will have to be on land this year. And with little or no snow on the ground in urban areas, regional ski mountains are having a hard time convincing people there's (manufactured) snow on the slopes. [Post-Star] [TU]

An unofficial world record for fist bumping was set in Clifton Park this past weekend. [TU]

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APD: Domestic Burglary

Albany police arrested a 28 year old ex boyfriend for burglarizing his ex girlfriends apartment, assaulting her and then leading officers on a foot chase up Livingston Avenue yesterday morning.

Police initially received a 911 call from the victim shortly after 9:00 a.m. She stated she came home and her ex boyfriend was inside her apartment without permission. According to the victim he was waiting there for her to come home to assault her. She told him several times to leave the house and he refused. She called 911 and went outside for her safety until officers arrived.

When officers arrived they searched the victim's apartment without finding the suspect. When they went to the basement one of the officers located the suspect, Tristan Jenkins, hiding in a storage closet. Before the officer could get Jenkins handcuffed he pushed the officer out of his way and ran out of the house. He then shoved the landlord to the ground and punched the ex-girlfriend in the face. Jenkins then fled on foot into the rear yard of 553 Third Street with officers in pursuit. He came out onto Livingston Avenue and ran through several backyards before exiting the rear yard of 634 Livingston Avenue.

Officers caught him at Livingston Avenue and Terminal Street. As they were putting him into a patrol car to be transported he shoved and pushed officers again and broke free. He ran down Livingston a short distance before being caught again and placed into custody.

Jenkins, of 575 Broadway, was charged with Burglary 2nd, Assault 3rd, Resisting Arrest, Escape from Custody and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 4th and 5th degrees. He was arraigned in Albany City Court and remanded to Albany County Jail.

The victim sustained minor injuries to her face.