All Over Albany

Two prisoners escape from Dannemora, arrests in Troy arson case, thinking about the Stockade in a flood-prone future

Escape from Dannemora
State Police say two inmates escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora (map) sometime between Friday and Saturday. NYSP say the inmates -- Richard Matt and Donald Sweat -- were serving sentences for murder and are "very dangerous individuals." Authorities say the men used power tools to cut through a steel wall in their cells, got access to a catwalk leading tunnels and pipes below the prison, cut through the pipes, went through pipes, and emerged outside the prison through a manhole a block away. Officials say the men might have had help. On Sunday, Andrew Cuomo said the two men "could be anywhere in the state by this time" as well as in Vermont or Canada. The governor announced a $100k reward for information leading to an arrest. [NYSP] [TU] [NYSP] [Press Republican] [NYT] [TWCN] [TU] [Cuomo admin]

Arrests in Troy fire case
Troy police three people were arrested last week in North Carolina for the Lansingburgh fire in May that eventually resulted in the death of an elderly woman. The trio will face arson charges when they're returned to Rensselaer County. TPD has not publicly discussed a motive in the fire. [Troy Record] [TU] [TWCN]

Jay Street fire
There are now 12 notices of claim (precursors to a lawsuit) against the city of Schenectady in connection with the fatal Jay Street fire, according the Daily Gazette's count. [Daily Gazette]

Hamilton Hill development
The plan for $14 million in new affordable housing development in Schenectady's Hamilton Hill neighborhood has prompted some skepticism from residents there. [Daily Gazette]

Paula Mahan
The Times Union sifted through campaign contributions made to Colonie supervisor Paula Mahan and reports that frequent contributors have had business before town planning board. [TU+]

Troy mayoral race
Patrick Madden -- the executive director of the Troy Rehabilitation and Improvement Program, and the pick of the Troy Democratic Committee -- is officially into the pool for Troy mayor. [TU]

Downtown Albany land
The state has received bids on the land formerly designated for a convention center on the south side of downtown Albany -- but has not released the details of who or for what. [TU] [Biz Review]

Quote

"There are 40 to 50 houses in the Stockade that are within the 100-year floodplain ... It's astonishing, and it's a big deal. But there are other economic development priorities for this city that have taken precedence. The mindset has been, well, the Stockade has always been here, it always will be here, what are we worried about? But these storms are coming more and more, and the Stockade won't always be here if we don't do something about it."

-- architect Frank Gilmore to the Daily Gazette about a plan to raise a house in the Stockade above the 100-year floodplain. [Daily Gazette]