All Over Albany

The law that makes police oversight more difficult, North Colonie's big school vote, Palace expansion plans same even after missing on state money

Oversight of the police
The Times Union continues its look at how state law shields police personnel files, and in turn makes it harder for the public to hold police accountable:
+ The state Senator who sponsored the original legislation says the law was not intended to block the public from accessing records on police misconduct.
+ Citizen police review boards say the current interpretation of the law means they're often reviewing cases with key information missing.
+ It doesn't appear there's much momentum in the state Capitol to change the law.

Troy budget crunch
There's a Troy City Council meeting scheduled for Monday night that could include a vote to override the tax camp and approve the 14.5 percent tax increase now proposed by mayor Patrick Madden -- it seems the most recent snag is the set of layoffs in Madden's proposal. [Troy Record]

Uber and Lyft
An "administration source" tells Politico the Cuomo admin is working on proposal to open the way for taxi-app companies such as Uber and Lyft to operate upstate, and it's "something the governor will push to have addressed" if there's a special session of the state legislature. [Politico NY]

Indictment in Rocks shooting
The man accused in the fatal shooting at Rocks early Thanksgiving morning has been indicted on charges that include second-degree murder. [Albany County DA]

Alleged insurance fraud by insurance broker
The state Attorney General's office announced Friday that Lawrence D. Rosenbaum and Thomasine Henderson -- both 65 and from Albany -- had been indicted on charges related to alleged insurance fraud following the apparent suicide of their son on the Northway. Rosenbaum is a longtime insurance broker and former chair of the Albany County Independence Party. [NYS OAG] [TU]

Dumped
The Saratoga County Sheriff's Office says a man was arrested for allegedly dumping rocks and soil on a the hood of a patrol car with a small front-loader machine while intoxicated. [Saratogian]

School building project votes
+ Chris Churchill on the vote schedule for this Thursday on North Colonie's $196.4 million building, which has just one polling location: "It's hard to even fathom how you could design for lower turnout." (Also: the school district superintendent tells Churchill the idea of scheduling the building vote with the general election last month "didn't occur to us.") [TU+]
+ Details ahead of the Albany school district's middle school building plan vote scheduled for January 10. [TU]

Rising water
How municipalities and property owners around the Capital Region are dealing with increased, and more severe, incidents of flooding. [TU+]

Palace expansion
Palace Theatre executive director Holly Brown said it was "extremely frustrating and disappointing" that the org didn't get any funding from the state for the its proposed expansion during the latest REDC round, but: "It doesn't change our trajectory or our plans in any way." [TU [Biz Review $]

Saratoga County public safety
Saratoga County officials are talking about reviving a plan to build a $20 million public safety building in Milton. [TU]

Schenectady city proposal against smoking in cars with minors
The Schenectady City Council is moving toward approving a ban on smoking in a car that people under the age of 16 in it. [Daily Gazette]

The Wall
A look at the tension Albany's Pastures neighborhood over loitering in a spot that neither the city or county will claim ownership. [TU+]

Schenectady-Niskayuna
The Schenectady and Niskayuna school districts are trying to forge a stronger bond between their two high schools. [Daily Gazette]

Window tint
A look at the recent state law change on car window tinting. [TU+]

300-year-old house
The owners of the 300-year-old Brouwer-Rosa House in the Stockade are moving to donate the home to the Schenectady County Historical Society. [Daily Gazette]

Eight days
A dog that belongs to the family of former Congressman John Sweeney was found alive eight days after being hit by a car -- he had a broken leg and dislocated hips. [TU] [News10]