All Over Albany

Gibson and Tonko oppose military intervention in Syria, Great Escape not interested in Hoffman's Playland, mayoral candidate drops out and endorses his mom

Local Congressmen Chris Gibson and Paul Tonko both say they oppose US military intervention in Syria. Said Gibson, who served in Iraq: "I don't believe military action will help. In fact, based on my experience and my judgment, I believe it will make it worse." And Tonko, on responding to the use of chemical weapons by Syria: "There are ways to punish without going to an air attack and boots on the ground ... I still hope diplomacy can be the call of action." [News10] [WNYT] [WNYT]

NYRA's chairman says the racing org is aiming to get its budget to break even on racing revenue alone -- so it doesn't have to rely on VLT money, which the state could choose to take away. (NYRA would have posted a $10.3 million loss in the last fiscal year if not for money from the video lottery terminals.) [Saratogian]

After a significant fire at its house on South Lake Ave, the executive director of the Albany Damien Center -- which helps people living with HIV/AIDS -- says the center will get its services back and up running soon. [TU]

The president of the Great Escape says the amusement park's parent company is not interested in buying Hoffman's Playland. (Albany County exec Dan McCoy had been working to set up the two parties with each other.) [Biz Review] [Biz Review]

The Libertarian candidate for Albany mayor has dropped out -- and endorsed his mom. [TU]

A state Assemblyman from Brooklyn is pushing for the Empire State Development Corp, a state economic development agency, to give up its luxury box at the Buffalo Bills' stadium because of ethics concerns. [TU]

Troy police say they've arrested one man and are searching for two other suspects in connection with an armed robbery late Thursday afternoon at a business at Ferry and 5th downtown (map). [News10]

SSPD says 19 cars -- and one home -- were broken into early Wednesday morning in a neighborhood on the city's south side (map). [YNN]

Saratoga Springs police say a traffic stop led to a man being arrested for allegedly stealing a TV and cases of beer from a downtown bar. [Saratogian]

Said the Waterford man arrested more than 50 times on his most recent arrest, to WNYT: "If I did it, I did it, but this thing right here I did not do." [WNYT]

In the rough and tumble world of local bingo, revenge is delivered (allegedly) with a key to the side of a car. [TU]

Niskayuna police say two kids made it through a rollover crash in an SUV with few or no injuries because they were riding in properly installed car seats. [Daily Gazette]

At the Albany County Judicial Center Thursday: a groom in an orange jump suit -- and bagpipes. [TU]

Two men are suing the village of Round Lake over a suspended building permit for a new home -- they argue the village has improperly given veto power over the project to neighbors. [Daily Gazette]

Neighbors of an apparently abandoned Victorian-style home in Cohoes say the smell from the house keeps them from sitting outside. [News10]

A Colonie man on a thief's decision to remove the travel mug holder and stuffed bear from "the Cadillac of bikes" while stealing it from the man's garage: "That was a dumb thief." [TU]