All Over Albany

Reaction to Krokoff's exit from APD, report highlights suspension rate disparities in Albany schools, more memories of Draven Rodriguez

Many of the reactions to the announcement that Albany police chief Steven Krokoff is leaving for a job in Georgia focused on the shift toward a more community-oriented approach and tone he had brought to the APD. (Krokoff apparently won out over 160 candidates for the chief's job in Milton, Georgia in part of because of his record making that shift.) Deputy chief Brendan Cox, who will be acting chief when Krokoff leaves: "We're going in such a good direction, I don't know that I see any need for changes." [TU x2] [News10]

A review by a research group at UCLA of school districts across the country concludes that suspension rates in the Albany school district are "troubling," and the gap is widening in the rate at which white and minority students are suspended. Albany's schools superintendent tells the Times Union the district is working to reduce suspension rates. [Civil Rights Project at UCLA] [TU]

The temperature in Albany dipped to -8 overnight. As the frigid weather goes on and on, many people are dealing with ice dams on the roof and frozen pipes. [NWS] [Daily Gazette] [Saratogian]

In response to the five-point ethics reform plan the Cuomo admin has attached to the state budget, good-government groups are pushing for stricter rules that include limits on outside income for state politicians. NYPIRG's Blair Horner: "We believe that state lawmakers should serve only one master and that master is the public." [TU] [TWCN]

The Cuomo admin is pushing the state Department of Education to review teacher evaluations on Long Island to determine if the process is skewed to favor teachers. NYSUT's president said the "only thing skewed here is the governor's logic." [State of Politics x2]

Fred Dicker started a round of state Capitol with a report this past weekend citing "sources" that Andrew Cuomo's former chief of staff, Larry Schwartz, is still being paid despite having stepped down from the position, and that Schwartz is "radioactive" and having trouble getting another job because of the Preet Bharara investigation. The Cuomo admin says Schwartz is using accrued vacation time and helping with the transition. Andrew Cuomo also publicly addressed the article: ""As a matter of fact, the entire story was really garbage, you know, and I know garbage because I read that paper but that was really garbage." [NY Post] [State of Politics x2]

Two representatives of development teams that did not win selections by the casino sighting board say they've been contacted by the state Attorney General's office as part of what appears to be a review of the casino bidding process. [NYT]

Elise Stefanik is facing one of her first tough votes in Congress. [TU]

Schenectady police allege the fatal shooting of Carlos Figueroa in Hamilton Hill last week involved three people trying to rob him -- the alleged getaway car driver has now been charged with second-degree murder. [Daily Gazette] [TU]

Troy police say a man was grazed by a shot in Lansingburgh Monday night (map). [News10]

Former Saratoga Springs city attorney Sarah Burger is set to formally announce that she's running for public safety commissioner in a challenge to fellow Democrat Chris Mathiesen. [Daily Gazette]

The city of Schenectady is continuing its HOMES program that aims to highlight homes for sale in the sale. [Daily Gazette]

Friends and community members are mourning the death of Draven Rodriguez and remembering the effect he had on people. [Daily Gazette]