Gloom and doom predicted for school districts, push for an Exit 3 on Northway, principal answering student questions via text
Message from regional districts at a forum in East Greenbush: costs keep going up, funding is not. Another problem, according to the exec director of the Statewide School Finance Consortium: inequitable distribution of state aid. Speakers predicted some districts will be insolvent in the near future. [Troy Record] [Daily Gazette] [WNYT]
Andrew Cuomo, on the Capitol Pressroom, on the proposed plan for an independent gaming commission to pick site of possible upstate casinos: "I don't want to be involved in casinos if it's going to be politicized." Also: Proctor's Philip Morris says if the casinos are built, they shouldn't include large entertainment venues, because they'll hurt already-established venues. [TU] [TU]
Labor unions are pushing back against Cuomo administration plan to add an "ability-to-pay" cap to arbitration between municipalities and unions if the municipality is under fiscal distress. [TU]
Jerry Jennings' reformulated plan for the convention center is, publicly at least, not well defined at the moment. [TU]
The state legislature is aiming pass the state budget 10 days ahead of the start of the fiscal year, which would be the earliest budget in decades. [State of Politics]
The state Inspector General's office says a DMV employee from Ravena has been arrested for allegedly removing an ignition interlock restriction from a driver's DMV record. [NYS IG]
A state appellate court has ruled that state Workers Compensation Board was OK to deny death benefits to the widow of Gary Veeder, the State Police forensics scientist who committed suicide in 2008 during an investigation that later found he had falsified results in multiple cases. [TU] [Daily Gazette]
Says the president of the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce in pushing for an Exit 3 on the Northway for ALB: "As we try to market the Capital Region to folks around the world ... they go to the airport and they almost feel like they're going through a cow pasture to get there." [Daily Gazette]
Saratoga's County's top-paid employee last year was the public defender. [TU]
The question of whether a census block covering the UAlbany uptown campus should be split so that other neighborhoods can be kept together in Albany's redistricting prompted a shouting match between two Common Council members. [TU]
Says a Rotterdam town councilman of a proposed plan to adjust the ethics does to cut down on nepotism: "Rotterdam has been notorious over the years for hiring family members." [TU]
Albany fire and police officials say they're still investigating the Arcadia Ave fire and the death of Megan Cunningham, and to err on the side of caution, they're currently treating it as a crime scene. [TU]
Colonie police say they're investigating the armed robbery a of Wolf Road hotel Thursday morning. [Troy Record]
The man accused of knocking over trio of Albany pharmacies for prescription drugs and money -- including one stick-up in which he's alleged to have used a hammer -- has taken a plea deal that includes 11 years in prison. [Troy Record]
Chad Sandercox, the former Troy High student put on probation following an attack on two Catholic Central students in at 2011 party in Elmwood Cemetery fight, is headed to jail for probation violations. Among the probation-violating incidents: getting into a fight with the member of a biker club. [Troy Record] [TU]
For the moment, Saratoga County authorities say they can't do anything about the horses that are living on the Greenfield property of a convicted horse abuser -- who's prohibited from owning horses. [Saratogian]
Saratoga Springs High School's boys basketball coach has been suspending pending an investigation of an" alleged report of inappropriate comments" to players following a game this week. [News10]
The principal of Schenectady High School has been taking (and answering) questions and suggestions from students via texts. [Daily Gazette]
Oof: 13 people at a Watervliet apartment building recently got the norovirus. [News10]
Howard J. Meineker Jr. -- a co-owner of Kurver Kreme -- has died. [TU]
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Comments
"... they go to the airport and they almost feel like they're going through a cow pasture to get there." ... Put some cows there. Would that help?
... said ethan on Feb 1, 2013 at 10:41 AM | link
You have to be a subscriber to read Gazette articles silly.
... said Gee on Feb 1, 2013 at 11:05 AM | link
The "cow pasture" comment is among the most ridiculous statements I've seen a awhile. Let's see, I approach the airport from I-87 and pass the Desmond and see a vegetable stand on the right. Then the airport parking lot, and on the left is a wide open space that I'm sure that is empty for airport safety reasons. Once passed the runway I see the Ann Lee Pond park area to the left and the airport dominates my view to the right and straight ahead. Where is this "cow pasture" he is speaking of?
... said BobF on Feb 1, 2013 at 11:22 AM | link
Can anyone please tell me where the original Kurver Kreme was located in Albany?
... said mg on Feb 1, 2013 at 11:53 AM | link
Every other airport I've been to is surrounded by a concrete and asphalt vision of hell. If a little open space so offends these captains of industry that they can't imagine doing business here, perhaps we don't need them.
I get it -- it takes TWO left turns to get to the airport from the south, and that's woefully confusing. Drive around any of the major airports in this country, then tell me that getting TO our airport is harder than getting AROUND theirs.
... said Carl on Feb 1, 2013 at 11:54 AM | link
Local Chambers of Commerce never met a Northway exit they didn't like.
... said Bob on Feb 1, 2013 at 11:59 AM | link
Aren't all major airports surrounded by fields? You know, so the airplanes don't have to dodge buildings to land? And I imagine that it helps a smidge with all of the pollution, too.
... said abby on Feb 1, 2013 at 12:27 PM | link
I'm all for it if it means the "Exit 3 - To Be Built" signs can be put back up.
... said Bob B on Feb 2, 2013 at 9:30 AM | link