Saratoga Springs council votes no on casino, charter schools and pre-K draw thousands for Lobby Day rallies, Kokopellis owners planning to sue Troy and police, 100 years of Thacher Park
In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, the Saratoga Springs City Council opposed casino expansion in the city. Nearly 400 people attended the council meeting, which included a heated 90 minute public comment period. Mayor Joanne Yepsen says there is still room for negotiation on the issue if there is a willingness to address the city's concerns and build partnerships with the community. [TU][TWCN][Saratogian]
State Senator Kathy Marchione, whose district includes Saratoga Springs, won't say whether she believes a proposed host community should have a say in the siting of a casino.[Capitol Confidential]
Tuesday was lobby day at the Capitol, with thousands of supporters of pre-K expansion and charters schools holding huge rallies. Andrew Cuomo spoke at the charter school rally, telling the crowd "You are not alone; we will save charter schools." Meanwhile, at the Washington Avenue Armory, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio appeared at a rally to fund universal pre-K with a tax surcharge on the wealthy. [Record][TU][CNY]
Also on Lobby Day, organizations representing small municipalities, mayors, and school boards expressed concerns about what they say is Andrew Cuomo's "flawed" proposed property tax freeze.[TU]
Legislators, concerned parents, and drug treatment professionals were also at the Capitol on Tuesday, asking for $15 million in additional funding to help fight the growing heron and prescription drug problem. [WNYT]
Alleging police beat their patrons "without justification" at an incident on January 25th at their night club, the owners of Kokopellis are threatening to sue the city of Troy and its police department. Kokopellis owners Barry and Joe Glick claim the police actions on January 25 were "nothing short of harassment" and that their business has suffered as a result. They're also alleging that since the incident police have been harassing their patrons and trying to shut them down.[Record][TWCN] [TU] [WNYT]
An Albany man was arrested Tuesday when police allegedly found five ounces of crack and hundreds of baggies of heroin -- estimated at more than $12,000 -- during a search of his home.[TU][WNYT]
The man who was shot three times and spent two and a half years in jail after rushing at police with a knife in the lobby of the Daily Gazette building in 2011 was released this past Friday, but is now wanted again for allegedly menacing police officer. [Gazette]
Ariel Myers is being tried for a third time for the 2010 Griswold Heights shooting that left a Troy man in a permanent vegetative state. [TU][Record]
A 20-year-old Schenectady man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to the November shooting death of William Riddick following a car chase throughout the city. [Gazette]
Democrats in the state Assembly are planning to introduce legislation to delay the Common Core testing standards.[News 10]
Hobart and William Smith President Mark Gearan was confirmed by the state Senate on Tuesday as the new chairman of the New York State Gaming Commission. [TU]
St. Peter's Health Partners is bringing back the house call. [TU]
Tuesday marked the 100th anniversary of Thacher State Park. [TU]
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Comments
Unbelieveable that Republican governor Cuomo promised to back charters.
Bill Deblasio is the real leader of the Democratic party in New York.
... said Chad on Mar 5, 2014 at 5:05 PM | link
lets have equality in schools across NY one every district gets a charter then they can try for the second one. no district should be left behind if this is such a great idea. I personally would like to leave schooling public and private with all districts getting equal funding for ones tourism region.
... said TJ on Mar 5, 2014 at 9:59 PM | link