All Over Albany

All Sheldon Silver all the time, push for state to help pay for legal defense for the poor, JetBlue scheduled for November arrival, learning to walk again with an exoskeleton

Sheldon Silver was released after posting a $200k bond in federal court Thursday afternoon, and afterward said: "I am confident that when all the answers are aired I will be vindicated." [State of Politics] [NYT]

A quick scan of what the feds allege Sheldon Silver did. [AOA]

Andrew Cuomo, to the New York Daily News editorial board, about the Silver situation: "Obviously it's bad for the speaker, but it's also a bad reflection on government and it adds to the negativity. And it adds to the cynicism and it adds to the 'they're all the same,'" (The governor did not say whether he thinks Silver should resign his leadership spot.) [NYDN]

The state Assembly session scheduled for Thursday was cancelled, and Assembly Democrats huddled up before announcing their continued support for Silver as speaker. Said Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Morelle: "We believe he can carry out his duties as speaker and we are standing side by side to do our responsibilities and do our job so we can advance forward." Capital Region Democratic Assembly members all had pretty much the same take: they're waiting to see how things play out. The Republican Assembly Minority Leader, Brian Kolb, said Silver should step down as speaker. [State of Politics] [TWCN] [TU] [Daily Gazette]

Despite the Democrats' efforts to insist that the Silver situation wouldn't be a "distraction" from business of the legsislature, Silver's arrest could signal a massive shift in the fundamental political calculus of the Capitol. [State of Politics] [NYT]

Education policy -- including funding, teacher evaluations, and other hot topics -- are set to be a key part of the legislative session, and the Silver arrest could tilt things toward Andrew Cuomo and state Senate Republicans. [Capital]

The feds allege Silver racked up millions in income from his legal work -- yet by public appearances, Silver is said to have lived a relatively modest life (including stays at the Red Carpet Inn in Albany). [NY Post]

Albany County exec Dan McCoy is pushing for a law that would require the state, rather than counties, to pay the fees for attorneys hired to represent defendants who can't afford an attorney. McCoy says the current system is overburdened and is unfair to the defendants. [Troy Record] [TU]

A draft of a Troy City Council report on the King Street and Kings Fuels demolitions obtained by the Times Union criticizes the city's administration for a lack of communication and for allegedly thwarting council attempts to get information. [TU]

There's push in Troy for more consistent procedures for the selection of bidders for delinquent properties. [TU]

A crowd of about 1,000 people at an event called "Stand Up for Upstate Schools" in Saratoga Springs Thursday evening rallied for increased state school aid. [Daily Gazette]

Saratoga Springs and Saratoga County are facing a cut (compared to last year) in the amount of VLT money they get from the state. [Saratogian]

When temperatures drop, the ESP concourse becomes an overnight haven for homeless people -- until they're turned out by State Police. [TU]

Albany County Airport Authority CEO John O'Donnell told a chamber of commerce breakfast Thursday that JetBlue will start service out of ALB this November. [Biz Review]

Michael Tucker is stepping down as the head of the Center for Economic Growth by the end of this year. [Biz Review]

Sunnyview is using a robotic exoskeleton to help patients re-learn how to walk. [Daily Gazette]