Neil Golub dismisses report of rumored Price Chopper sale, Albany passes 2017 budget, Troy mayor warns of layoffs, no Ballston Walmart, rescuing Buzz Aldrin
Price Chopper
+"I don't comment on stuff like that, when you see nonsense articles coming from halfway across the country," -- Neil Golub on a Reuters story about rumors that the Golubs are in advanced talks to sell Price Chopper to Albertson's. [TU]
+Chris Churchill laments the potential loss of the only locally owned grocery store in the Capital Region. [TU+]
Mayor warns of layoffs in Troy
Troy Mayor Patrick Madden warned city employees on Wednesday to be prepared for layoffs after the City Council failed to override the state tax cap, leaving the city with a $5.8 million deficit. [WNYT][TU]
Albany budget
Albany's Common Council approved a $180 million 2017 budget by a vote of 11-4[Correction: the vote was 10-4 with one abstention], but only after considerable debate over trash fees and a protest by some city employees who are still without contracts[WNYT]
Legislative pay hike
State legislators may be called back into a special session before the end of the year to discuss, among other things, government ethics, funding for a hate crimes task force and legislative pay hikes. [WNYT]
Pedestrian hit
A 26- year old man is in serious condition after being hit by a car Wednesday evening on New Scotland Avenue near Saint Peter's Hospital. [TU]
Arrest in Elk Street shooting
Albany police have arrested a 17-year-old in connection with Tuesday's shooting on Elk Street. [News 10]
No Wal-Mart in Ballston
Wal-Mart has dropped a controversial plan to put a store in the Northern part of the town of Ballston. [Gazette]
Tuition hikes
SUNY Trustees have approved a plan that would allow schools to raise tuition up to $300 a year over the next four years. [Gazette]
Cuomo nixes proposed Clifton Park hotel tax
Among the bills vetoed by Andrew Cuomo this week, was a plan to allow Clifton Park to levy a hotel bed tax. [Gazette]
Bharara will stay on as U.S. attorney
Preet Bharara, the Manhattan U.S. attorney who has built a reputation on fighting corruption, has agreed to stay on under the Trump administration. [NYT]
Siena assault investigation
Siena officials say they are investigating an alleged sexual assault in a dorm earlier this month. [News 10]
Health clinics in Schenectady schools
A pair of health clinics have opened in two Schenectady schools. [Gazette]
Fate of fire damaged Saratoga buildings
Officials are concerned about what a snowstorm might do to at least two of the buildings damaged by fire on Thanksgiving. [TU]
GE layoffs
GE is planning to lay off 27 workers at its Luther Forest plant -- that's about two-thirds of the workforce at the PILOT fuel cell manufacturing facility. [Gazette]
Move over
230 tickets were issued along the Thruway in a four day crackdown on NY's Move Over law earlier this month.
[TU]
Standing Rock
An Army veteran and professor who spent six days at Standing Rock says the experience was "the most profound and meaningful experience" he has had in a decade of activism.[TU]
Mastroianni Brothers
A Utica company has purchased the Mastroianni Brother's name for $220,000. [Gazette]
Glenville based Airlift Wing to rescue Buzz Aldrin
The Glenville based 109th Airlift Wing rescued an ailing Buzz Aldrin from the South Pole Station on Antarctica. [TU]
Stuff going on today
Stage
Camelot
Today-Sunday: Capital Rep opens its production of Camelot. (It was in previews this past weekend.) Blurbage:
The four-time Tony® Award-winning musical, with one of the richest scores of the Broadway song book, tells the story of the legendary King Arthur, who rules his kingdom with new ideals, bringing peace to a troubled land. This lusty, romantic tale is sure to inspire audiences with a celebrated score that includes the classics "If Ever I Would Leave You," "The Simple Joys of Maidenhood," "How to Handle a Woman" and the title song, "Camelot."
It runs through December 24. Tuesday-Wednesday -- $25 and up
Hamlet
Proctors is screening the 2015 National Theatre Live production of
Saratoga Springs Victorian Streetwalk
The annual Victorian Streetwalk returns to downtown Saratoga Springs. There will be a tree lighting, entertainment, kids activities, and shops will be open. Thursday 6-9 pm -- free admission
Magic Electronics
Artist Laure Prouvost will be at EMPAC to talk about her work, including her multi-format work Magic Electronics. "Magic Electronics is a 2014 work by French artist Laure Prouvost, in which she installed moving lights and synched audio into a gallery in order to animate and narrate her exhibition of objects. In doing so, she transformed the static exhibition into a stage. Magic Electronics is exemplary of an approach that slips between formats (video, sculpture, installation) and registers (speech, image, object, light), deliberately mistranslating and misunderstanding as it goes." Thursday 7 pm -- free
Music
tour">I Love the 90's Tour at TU Center
Vanilla Ice, Salt N Pepa with Spinderella, Rob Base, Color Me Badd, Coolio, Tone Loc. 7:30 pm -- $59 and up
The Moth & The Flame at Lucky Strike
A free show thanks to EQX. 8 pm -- claim ticket online
The Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg at Troy Music Hall
Playing Schubert, Strauss, and Beethoven. 7:30 pm -- $45 and up
Say Something!
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Comments
While all the news outlets reported that the Albany budget passed 11-4, the vote was actually 10-4-1 with Council Member O'Brien voting "present." For an indepth look at the issues the Common Council has been discussing since October 3, read our budget intent Resolution here: https://www.scribd.com/document/332852237/107-113-16R-2016BudgetIntentResolution-Final-11-29-16
For those interested in learning where things stand on the trash fee -- discussion of that starts on p 7.
... said Leah Golby on Dec 1, 2016 at 10:48 AM | link
Corrected. Thanks, Leah.
... said Mary on Dec 1, 2016 at 11:24 AM | link
Did anyone look at the Albany Budget Presentation? Maybe someone can help answer a question:
Slide No. 9: Property Tax Revenues increase from $56,827,890 in 2016 to $58,000,000 in 2017.
Slide No. 12: Property taxes going down from 2016 to 2017 for homestead and non-homestead properties.
Who's property taxes are going up to make up for the increase in the tax levy and reduction in homestead and non-homestead adjustments?
... said John on Dec 1, 2016 at 1:47 PM | link