All Over Albany

Local cities struggle with budget crunch, APD says shot fired was "within policy," more lead found in school water, have you seen this monkey?

Budget-crunched cities
+ The process or reviewing Troy's proposed budget -- which includes a 28-percent tax increase -- is already at a standoff as city council president Carmella Mantello has asked mayor Patrick Madden to re-submit the budget as a version that includes the council's 16-point corrective action plan. Madden is continuing to assert his proposed budget is a realistic picture of the city's actual finances and doesn't overstate potential revenue and understate costs as in previous budgets. [Troy Record] [WNYT]
+ As Albany looks at another budget that depends on a special $12.5 million payment from the state, the question has again surfaced about how to get large non-profits such as hospitals and colleges to chip in. [TU+]
+ Chris Churchill on how high property taxes can contribute to a downward spiral for urban areas. [TU+]

Review of shot fired by Albany police officer
Albany police say an internal review of the actions of officers in an incident in which a detective fired a shot during the arrest of an alleged bank robbery suspect on Green Street in September "were within the policy of the Albany Police Department and the law." APD alleges the suspect had "accelerated his vehicle in reverse towards" the detective, and the detective "fired a single shot ceasing" the man's actions -- no one was hit by the shot. Alice Green of the Center for Law and Justice on the APD review, to the Times Union: "It doesn't provide the community with enough information about the incident and why it was necessary to fire the shot." [APD] [TU]

Lawsuit over fatal Troy police shooting
In the federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Edson Thevenin over the incident in which Thevenin was shot and killed by Troy police near the Collar City Bridge in April, an attorney for the city is arguing officers aren't to blame because of Thevenin's alleged actions. Police have said Thevenin pinned an officer between his car and a police cruiser and the officer responded by firing at Thevenin -- Thevenin's widow alleges the incident didn't actually play out that way and Troy police initially lied to her about how her husband died. [Troy Record]

Shooting arrest in Albany
Albany police say they < href="https://www.facebook.com/AlbanyNYPolice/photos/a.395393012380.172274.353669082380/10154536983727381/?type=3&theater">arrested a man for a shooting on Clinton Ave early Saturday morning. [APD FB]

Lead in school water
+ Tests in Schenectady's elementary schools revealed nine water sources with lead levels above EPA limits set for taking action. [Daily Gazette]
+ Tests at two Bethlehem schools revealed lead contamination in water sources. [TU]

Rensselaer County budget
The proposed Rensselaer County budget includes a 0.8-percent increase in the county property tax rate. County exec Kathy Jimino used her budget presentation to again criticize state-mandated costs. [TU] [Troy Record]

Schenectady city staff diversity
Members of Schenectady's Affirmative Action Advisory Board say they're frustrated by a lack of apparent action in diversifying the city's staff. [TU]

Schenectady police body cameras
Schenectady's new police chief says he'd like to see the department move toward using officer body cameras. [Daily Gazette]

Albany County charter vote
A look at the proposed Albany County charter changes on the ballot in the upcoming November election. [TU]

Albany County economic development candidate rejected
Dan McCoy's proposed candidate for a $120k/year economic development position is no longer being considered after officials concluded he didn't have the requisite experience. [TU]

South Lake Ave sink hole
South Lake Ave in Albany has re-opened to traffic -- it had been closed since August because of the sink hole repair there. [TWCN]

Stewart's wage case
A federal change has given the OK for the class action suit against Stewart's alleging labor violations to take one step forward. [Daily Gazette]

Missing monkey
A Rotterdam woman is looking for her missing monkey. [Daily Gazette]

Donald Trump didn't grope someone
From the Times Union: "Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump once took Maureen Lewi, of Saratoga Springs, on an extended private tour below decks of his 281-foot super-yacht the Trump Princess and gushed about the opulent suites, luxurious double beds and hand-carved onyx bathroom fixtures. But he did not grope her." [TU+]

Imaginary fire, "rescued" dog
From WNYT: "Troopers: Man mixing LSD and cough syrup saves dog from imaginary fire." [WNYT]

Stuff going on today

Andrea Gibson
Poet Andrea Gibson is set for a spoken word performance at The Linda. Poets don't typically end up in the "star" category in modern culture. But Gibson's page has more than 76,000 likes on Facebook, and a Twitter stream with almost 27,000 followers. And Gibson has produced six spoken-word albums and published three books of poetry. Opener is poet Sarah Kay. Monday 8 pm -- $18

Science Cafe
The State Museum's Science Cafe series returns to the City Beer Hall with a talk about the history of Albany. Michael Lucas, the State Museum's curator of historical archaeology, and Charles Gehring, director of the New Netherland Research Center, will be there for a discussion titled "Beverwijck, A 17th-c. Dutch Village, Above and Below Ground." Monday 6 pm -- free admission (food and drink not included)

Black Power of Hip Hop Dance: On Kinesthetic Politics
Dancer/choreographer/scholar Naomi Bragin will be at EMPAC for a workshop on the dance style known as the Robot, Robotting, or Botting. Monday 7 pm -- free

Front Parlor
The Front Parlor storytelling series is back at The Olde English in Albany. This month's theme is "Scary Stories." Monday 7:30 pm

Beetlejuice
The Palace's movie series is showing Beetlejuice. Monday 7 pm -- $5

DOOMED! The Untold Story of Roger Corman's The Fantastic Four
It Came From Schenectady presents a screening at Proctors of DOOMED! The Untold Story of Roger Corman's The Fantastic Four, about ill-fated 1990s comic book movie adaptation. A Q&A with the director of the doc, Marty Langford, will follow the screening. Monday 7 pm -- $9 / $6 kids and students with ID

Music: JoJo at Lucky Strike
Singer/songwriter. 6 pm -- free (ticket required)