All Over Albany

Sorting through effects of SUNY Poly allegations, continued push to end violence in Hamilton Hill, sale of zombies prohibited by town

Alleged SUNY Poly bid rigging: Joe Nicolla
+ Columbia Development president Joe Nicolla pleaded not guilty Monday to the charge against him in the state Attorney General's case alleging bid rigging for a student housing project near SUNY Poly. Nicolla's attorney, E. Stewart Jones, called the allegation against his client "absolute nonsense" and predicted the charge would be withdrawn after more evidence is presented. Said Jones: "Joe Nicolla never ever would have to engage in bid rigging. He has never engaged in bid rigging. He's a remarkable businessman who plays by the rules every day of his life." [TWCN] [Biz Review] [News10] [WNYT]
+ One of the reasons this is such a big story is the scale of Columbia's businesses dealings within the Capital Region, especially within the city of Albany. [TWCN]
+ Chronicling how much money Nicolla (and those connected to him) has contributed to politicians' campaign funds over the years. [TU+]

SUNY Poly and Alain Kaloyeros
+ State Senate Republican leader John Flanagan says there should be "hard questions" about the Buffalo Billion following the federal charges filed against Alain Kaloyeros, Todd Howe, and a group of developers. [Politico NY]
+ Documents filed with the state Department of State indicate it was the large construction company M+W that was the unnamed contractor that supplied the $50 million loan for the NanoFab X building at the SUNY Poly Albany campus that was mentioned in the federal complaint. [TU+]
+ With its economic development duties transferred to Empire State Development, does this mean SUNY Poly will focus on tech alone? [TU+]
+ Chris Churchill on Alain Kaloyeros as the state's economic development star and a Capital Region celebrity: "With Kaloyeros, it became difficult to tell if he was still succeeding or if was all an illusion. Maybe it didn't matter. The boss had his back. That was then. Everything has changed." [TU+]

Death on UAlbany campus
UAlbany police say they're looking into the "unattended death" of an undergrad student in a wooded area of the uptown campus. Police say there's no indication of suspicious or criminal activity. [News10] [TU]

Albany bank robbery
Albany police say they're investigating a robbery at the M&T Bank on State Street downtown late Monday afternoon. [APD]

PFOA
The law firm Weitz & Luxenberg has filed a class-action suit against Taconic Plastics on behalf of the residents of Petersburg, alleging the company knowingly polluted the surrounding environment with PFOA. Earlier this year the firm has also filed a law suit over water contamination in Hoosick Falls. [TU+] [News10]

State legislator pay
The arguments being made by (some) state legislators for why they should get a pay raise. [Politico NY]

Schenectady Street
Residents of Hamilton Hill were at the Schenectady City Council meeting Monday evening pushing for the city to address violence in the neighborhood. (And the street lights are lit again on Schenectady Street.) [Daily Gazette]

Troy budget
Mark Robarge: Anonymous Republicans on the Troy City Council say they're concerned the city's difficult budget situation has become overly politicized and they'd consider supporting a proposal by mayor Patrick Madden (who's a Democrat). [Troy Record]

South Lake Ave sink hole
The large water main damaged in the South Lake Ave sink hole in Albany has finally been repaired and the city has lifted its water restrictions. [News10]

Saratoga Springs homelessness
Those donation boxes set up in downtown Saratoga Springs to get people to donate rather than give money to homeless people have collected about $1,200 in three weeks. [Saratogian]

Saint Rose
The College of Saint Rose says its incoming class this school year is the largest in school history, which the administration attributes to widening its geographic reach for students. [TU+]

Cafeteria workers
The Niskayuna school district says it's been crunched for cafeteria workers this school year. [Daily Gazette]

Fred Dicker
Longtime NY Post state politics writer Fred Dicker is leaving the paper (but continuing his radio show). [TU]

Zombies
From News10: "Town of Colonie tells woman she can't sell her massive zombie display." [News10]

Stuff going on today

Outside Mullingar
Tuesday-Sunday: Capital Rep opens its production of Outside Mullingar.

Fear and anxiety
Psychologist and author Joseph LeDoux will be at UAlbany as part of the NYS Writers Institute visiting writers series. LeDoux is "the world's foremost authority on the neurobiology of anxiety and fear." And he'll be talking about his most recent book, Anxious: Using the Brain to Understand and Treat Fear and Anxiety. Tuesday 8 pm, uptown campus, performing arts center -- free

Troy Public Library vote
Tuesday is the vote for the Troy Public Library budget. The polls are open from noon to 8 pm.

Albany "City Hall on the Road"
The Albany "City Hall on the Road" series of events is at Pine Hills Elementary School. Tuesday 5:30-7:30 pm