October 9, 2012
Court to consider whether gang members can be charged with terrorism, Troy city hall moving, more residential plan for downtown Troy, 47 years as a Great Dane
New York's highest court -- the Court of Appeals -- will hear a case today in which it will consider whether gang members can be charged with terrorism. [AP/Troy Record]
Sales tax revenues in Albany, Saratoga, and Rensselaer counties are all on path to be up this year. [TU]
Many local school districts still have not submitted their teacher evaluation plans to the state. But some districts have submitted their plans -- and have even had their plans approved (example: Albany). [Daily Gazette] [Cuomo admin]
The Albany County Sheriff's Office inspector who appears to have moved to Florida -- but is still on the department's payroll -- has been asked to sign an affidavit that he still lives in Albany County. [TU]
A Schenectady County prosecutor says a Schenectady police surveillance camera "caught significant portions of what happened" during the fatal shooting in Hamilton Hill on Friday. [Daily Gazette]
The New York Civil Liberties Union says it opposes the (re)proposed Albany County pawn shop law because the requirement that sellers collect info on buyers is "an invasion of privacy." [TU]
Albany historic ghost tours
The historic ghost tours on the Albany Trolley are "back from the dead" for another season. From the blurbage:
The Albany Trolleys are "back from the dead" for a fifth season of Ghost Tours in Albany to help everyone to get into the"spirit" of the Halloween season. This on/off Ghost Tour invites participants to get up-close and personal experiences at local haunts. Step off onto the haunted grounds of the Ten Broeck Mansion. Stand by the State Capitol to hear the tales of the spirits that lurk there. And, by lantern light, find out about the ghost of Graceland Cemetery.
Tours start October 18, and the last tour is October 28. The tours leave at 7 pm from the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center. Tickets are $25 per person and reservations are recommended.
Speaking of historical haunts... The Ten Broeck Mansion has a few Halloween-themed events coming up, including a horror movie screening (October 25) and a paranormal investigation event (with pizza) (October 27).
Earlier on AOA: Capitol Hauntings Tour 2012
Cheese Traveler soft opening
The Cheese Traveler -- the new cheese/gourmet foods shop on Delaware Ave in Albany -- is having a soft opening this week (also known as a brie opening*). Hours are currently flexible while the owners get the store in final order, according to its website -- they'll be posting updates on Twitter and Facebook. It sounds like if the lights are on, it's OK to stop by. (*You know, because it's a soft cheese...) Earlier: Cheese Traveler app for Sunmark Startup Grant | Cheese Traveler profile by Daniel B.
Trying Jose Malone's watermelon-habanero margarita
Look past the pink.
I have a very Irish mouth.
That is, I enjoy salt and can handle more than most in my food and drinks, but heat -- not so much. It took me years to be able to eat the pepperoni on my pizza. Then I trained to work my way up from mild to hot salsa and sriracha.
Next?
Jose Malone's watermelon habanero margarita.
A spicy Margarita? Yes.
I had to try it.
The Klondike Ramp
Interesting: The Times Union's Lauren Stanforth dug up accounts and photos of the long-gone "Klondike Ramp" in Schenectady that pedestrians once used to get the top of Hamilton Hill -- you can still see the concrete walkway that fed the ramp (and now goes nowhere) from I-890.
Think tank: New York has the worst business climate in the nation because of taxes
The Tax Foundation, a "non-partisan tax research group", has released its annual "business climate" index -- and New York State is at the bottom.
How the index is compiled:
The State Business Tax Climate Index, now in its 9th edition, collects data on over a hundred tax provisions for each state and synthesizes them into a single easy-to-use score. The states are then compared against each other, so that each state's ranking is relative to actual policies in place in other states around the country. A state's ranking can rise or fall significantly based not just on its own actions, but on the changes or reforms made by other states.
Why New York is at the bottom:
Despite moderate corporate taxes, New York scores at the bottom this year by having the worst individual income tax, the sixth-worst unemployment insurance taxes, and the sixth-worst property taxes.
Here's the index profile for New York.
The other members of the bottom five, in ascending order: New Jersey, California, Vermont, Rhode Island. The top five, in descending order: Wyoming, South Dakota, Nevada, Alaska, Florida.
The full report is embedded after the jump.
It's no secret that New York could have lower taxes -- the property taxes alone in some municipalities are crushing. But just out of curiosity, we thought it might be interesting to compare the Tax Foundation's list against a list GDP per state...
Taghkanic House for sale
The Taghkanic House in Columbia County -- which we got a tour of last year (many photos) -- is up for sale. Listing price: $8.25 million (or $6.75 million, less some of the land and renovated farmhouse). [Yahoo]
TOP 2012: Round 1: Saratoga
The opening round of the 2012 Tournament of Pizza -- sponsored by Sunmark Federal Credit Union -- starts in Saratoga.
The pizzerias in Round 1 pool competition of sausage pizzas:
Returning champ: Mama Mia's - Saratoga Springs
Crowd pick: Pope's - Saratoga Springs
Tough luck: Amore - Saratoga Springs
Mystery entry
The judges gathered at the Case Center on the campus of Skidmore College...
... said KGB about Drawing: What's something that brought you joy this year?