Legislature reacts to $9/hr minimum wage proposal, parking permit grace period over, GloFo looking to pass by exit, releasing the inner salamander
The state Assembly has amended its minimum wage increase proposal to match the $9/hour rate proposed by Barack Obama in the State of the Union. Said spokesman for Dean Skelos on the proposed increased: "In light of President Obama's proposal and our intention to keep New York businesses from being put at a competitive disadvantage, it may be best to wait and see what the federal government does before the state acts." [TU] [State of Politics]
A Congressional panel has requested that federal auditors investigate New York Medicaid program (and the oversight agency for the program) after a committee concluded the program overcharged the feds by $15 billion. [TU]
A federal appeals court has declined to dismiss Joe Bruno's appeal, now scheduled for this spring. [TU]
The grace period for for the Albany residential parking permit system ends today. [TU]
Albany County exec Dan McCoy appears to be making a play on behalf of the county and Albany school district for a portion of the PILOT money the city of Albany gets for the ESP. [TU]
OSHA is investigating the crane collapse in downtown Saratoga. [Saratogian]
One hurdle GlobalFoundries is looking to go around -- instead of over (for the moment) -- in its proposed plan for another chip fab in Malta: a requirement for a new Northway exit. [YNN]
Saratoga County is getting a credit as part of the settlement with the Hudson River-Black River Regulating District. [Saratogian]
A Green Island gun store owner has applied for a permit -- and a code change -- to open an indoor shooting range. [TU]
Two teens accused of luring Takim Smith to the Corliss Park apartment where he was killed have been arraigned on conspiracy charges. [TU]
A Queensbury woman has been charged with rape for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old. The Warren County Sheriff's Office says the woman is a librarian and alleges she met the teen while working in the "teen center" of the Crandall Public Library in Glens Falls. [YNN] [News10]
A 13-year-old has been charged with terrorism after he was allegedly caught on camera writing a bomb threat on a locker at a Shen school district middle school. [Saratogian]
The owner of a Cohoes sub shop says a thief broke in and took $75 from the shop -- and made himself a sandwich before leaving. [WNYT]
The Saratoga Springs Fire Department's takeover of ambulance service in the city is line to bring in about 15 percent less revenue during its first year than originally predicted -- but it netted about $500k. [Saratogian] [Daily Gazette]
The announcement that Tech Valley High School is moving UAlbany east campus to the SUNY NanoCollege was apparently a surprise the UAlbany Foundation, which owns east campus. [TU]
NYSERDA has awarded grants to a trio of local tech/manufacturing companies, including Ecovative. The grants are intended to help with technologies that reduce the use of energy in manufacturing. [TU] [Troy Record] [Daily Gazette]
The Clifton Park strip club Double Vision has filed for bankruptcy (the re-organization kind). The club says in its filing that its in a dispute with the state over $124,000 in taxes. [Daily Gazette] [TU]
The Mr. James Hairstylist salon in Schenectady -- open for 80 years -- is closing. [Daily Gazette]
The title of the entry that won a local opthalmologist/researcher an NIH award: "Endogenous Retinal Repair: Releasing Our Inner Salamander." [TU]
A fourth-grader at a Scotia-Glenville elementary school gave his teacher a six-foot teddy bear for Valentine's Day. [Daily Gazette]
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"Both state workers and city residents seem to agree on one point: the [residential parking permit] system is misguided because the roads covered in the parking plan are more crowded at night than during the day." (TU)
We've heard something similar from some commenters here. Is this an instance of 'we have met the enemy and he is us' with regard to car-owning residents in select neighborhoods?
... said Bob on Feb 15, 2013 at 10:32 AM | link
True, parking is challenging after 5pm - but no more or less than it was before. I can usually get a spot on my block. But daytime parking is substantially better! Spots open so anyone can park and get lunch or shop at small local stores, or grab a slice of cheesecake at Cheesecake Machismo. If you take a 2-hour lunch you can probably afford to pay for parking.
... said Hamilton St on Feb 15, 2013 at 11:09 AM | link
Nice job Ecovative!
... said natalie on Feb 15, 2013 at 12:19 PM | link
@Bob - We have met the enemy and it is misguided planning / execution of the parking permit system and how it would effect both residents and state workers. I'm beginning to think it was done this way specifically so it could fail in two years and then be used as an example of why the system shouldn't be there in the first place.
... said Paul on Feb 15, 2013 at 1:09 PM | link
The program was intended to free up parking during the day. It seems like it is meeting it is intended purpose.
There is a group of people working on bringing car sharing to center square and the capital region, similar to Buffalo and Ithaca car share programs. It could help alleviate the overall need of residents to have their own personal vehicles in the city. It is estimated that each car share vehicle takes 7-11 personal vehicles off the road either through delaying the purchase of vehicles by users or car share users getting rid of their personal vehicles.
See Previous article from AOA:
http://alloveralbany.com/archive/2012/06/10/car-sharing-in-the-capital-region
http://alloveralbany.com/archive/2012/09/17/sharing-cars-sharing-bikes
... said Lauren on Feb 15, 2013 at 1:44 PM | link
@Lauren: Thanks for the info and the two links to previous posts.
... said Bob on Feb 15, 2013 at 2:31 PM | link
Malta: a requirement for a new Northway exit
Right. They built roundabouts but they work so poorly that another highway exit is needed. What a waste!
... said Lu on Feb 16, 2013 at 12:09 PM | link