All Over Albany

Troy councilwoman responds to accusations made over Lansingburgh incident, 35k E-ZPass users overbilled, push continues for Medal of Honor for Henry Johnson

Troy City Council member Anastasia Robertson said Thursday she had been "slandered and defamed" by comments made by Sgt. Thomas Hoffman, the head of the Troy Police Benevolent Association, at a city council meeting last week. And she asked for an ethics investigation of Hoffman. The PBA head had accused Robertson of inciting a crowd that had gathered around police during an incident in Lansingburgh in August, but a video indicates she had been trying to calm the crowd. [TU] [TWCN] [News10] [WNYT]

A casino employees unions has sent a letter to the state Gaming Commission alleging that managers for Rush Street Gaming -- which is aiming to open casinos in Schenectady and Newburgh -- have been harassing employees the union is trying to organize at the company's other casinos. The company has settled labor charges in the other city, and points to multiple "best workplace" awards for the casinos. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

The East Greenbush Zoning Board of Appeals has set a date for a public hearing on the planned development district being sought by the proposed Capital View casino project. [TU]

The Thruway Authority says about 35,000 E-ZPass users were overcharged because of an error at the Harriman toll barrier on I-87. The authority says users will be credited the overcharges. A spokesman declined to state the total amount of the overbilling. [Thruway Authority] [TU]

Prosecutors say DNA evidence collected from a bed in the Herman Robinson case -- he's accused of serially raping a Schenectady teen, impregnating her, and then killing the baby -- could be used to indicate the existence of the baby. (The baby's body hasn't been found.) [Daily Gazette]

State Police say they arrested four people from Philadelphia in Clifton Park for allegedly working a scheme in which two members of the group would engage customers of stores in conversation, and then while the customer was distracted, the others would steal the customers wallet or purse. [NYSP]

Lou Rosamilia and two members of his administration told a Troy City Council hearing on the King Street demolition that they learned about the emergency demolition the morning of August 5, 2013. Rosamilia said the city fire chief said "the building has to come down." [TU] [TWCN]

A look at the current turmoil within the Albany County Democratic Party leadership. [TU]

A group of environmental orgs and nearby residents are suing the town of Coeymans over another bid to rezone land at the Port of Coeymans for heavy industrial. [TU]

The state's Public Service Commission is concerned that the proposed Comcast takeover of Time Warner Cable will more than double the price of basic TV and internet services. [TU]

The advocacy group Disability Rights New York is threatening the city of Mechancville with legal action if the city doesn't improve access for people with disabilities in the city's business district. [TU]

A feud between vendors at the Saratoga Farmers' Market has resulted in one of the vendors being suspended from the market for two weeks. [TU]

Schenectady is considering whether it should keep its fire alarm pull-boxes. [Daily Gazette]

The Greater Capital Association of Realtors wants a court to allow it to dissolve the Capital Region Multiple Listing Service (the database that tracks houses for sale) because of an ongoing dispute with it co-owner of the system. [Daily Gazette]

The new owner of the warehouse at 2-10 River Street in Troy (map) is planning to flip at least some of the space to residential units. [TU]

There are now bills in the US House and Senate that would open the way for Albany WWI hero Henry Johnson to receive the Medal of Honor. [TU]