January 3, 2017
Cuomo to float plan for free college tuition, how local police are trained, focus on Albany demolitions, first baby of the year
Free state college tuition proposal
Andrew Cuomo is scheduled to announce a plan Tuesday that would offer free tuition to SUNY and CUNY schools for students from middle- and low-income households. [NYT]
Cuomo vetoes plan for state to pick up costs of legals services for the poor
On Saturday Andrew Cuomo vetoed a bill that would have eventually had the state pick up the cost from counties for providing legal services to for low-income people. Pat Fahy, who represents Albany in the Assembly, was the sponsor of the bill -- she said remains "fully committed" to working toward a deal on the issue. [NYDN] [TU]
Minimum wage increase
As of New Year's Eve, New York State's minimum wage is now $9.70 per hour (up from $9) around Upstate, and higher downstate. The increase is part of a schedule that eventually will raise the minimum $15 downstate and $12.50 (or more) upstate. The Cuomo admin says it's put together a task force to provide information and enforcement for the increase. [NYS DOL] [TU]
Flurry Festival 2017
The annual Flurry Festival -- now in its 30th year -- returns to Saratoga Springs February 17-19. Advance discount tickets are now sale now through January 16, after which prices go up.
The festival is a big weekend of all sorts of dancing at venues around the city. Blurbage:
Dancing festival goers of all ages will enjoy a major lineup of international music and dance experiences. Along with our traditional weekend filled with non-stop contra and swing, we have programming lined up all weekend long with dance styles such as Tahitian, Flamenco, Bulgarian, African, Chinese, Irish, Yiddish, Scottish, Greek, Hip Hop, tap, and more. Instruction is available for beginner level on up and there is no need to bring a partner to come have fun.
Full-festival passes are currently $85 for adults at the advance discount price ($100 at the door) / $70 for students seniors, military members / $50 for teens / $8 kids. Individual session tickets start at $25.
"But first, Al Smith had to find his missing monkey."
This Bill Mahoney article about Al Smith's return to the New York governorship in 1923 is just another story about a missing monkey, political party machine theme songs, the booze-soaked Albany of Prohibition, and the breaking of political traditions. [Politico NY]
The proposal for free tuition at New York's public colleges
On Tuesday Andrew Cuomo floated a plan to for the state provide free tuition at SUNY and CUNY schools for students from middle- and low-income households. Details blurbage from the Cuomo admin:
New York's tuition-free degree program, the Excelsior Scholarship, requires participating students to be enrolled at a SUNY or CUNY two- or four-year college full-time. The initiative will cover middle-class families and individuals making up to $125,000 through a supplemental aid program. Currently 80 percent of NY households statewide make $125,000 or less with an estimated 940,000 households having college-aged children that would be eligible for the program. Based on enrollment projections, the plan will cost approximately $163 million per year once fully phased in.
The new initiative will be phased in over three years, beginning for New Yorkers making up to $100,000 annually in the fall of 2017, increasing to $110,000 in 2018, and reaching $125,000 in 2019.
The Cuomo admin says the proposed program would work in conjunction with the already existing Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) and federal aid.
During the announcement Tuesday, Andrew Cuomo framed the idea as a way of reducing student loan debt -- "Debt is so high it's like staring a race with with an anchor tied to your leg." -- as well as a matter of economic competitiveness for both individuals and the state: "In this economy, you need a college education if you're going to compete."
Bernie Sanders joined Cuomo for the announcement and predicted that if New York runs with the idea, other
states would follow.
Here are a few other quick things about this idea...
Tulip Queen nominations
Spring isn't that far away... Nominations for the 2017 Tulip Queen are now open. "Nominees must have a strong sense of community, be knowledgeable of the Albany area and its history, and possess leadership skills. Eligible nominees are women between the ages of 18 and 24 who plan to reside in Albany County for their entire year of reign (May 2017 - May 2018)." The Tulip Queen wins a $5k scholarship (and members of the Tulip Court get $1,500 scholarship). The current queen, crowned at last year's Tulip Festival, is Adaviah Ward of Albany.
2016 was hot
This graph is from the NWS Albany office -- it shows the daily average temperatures across 2016 compared to the record temperatures (high and low) for each day.
Because 2016: This past calendar year was the 6th warmest on record in Albany, according to the National Weather Service Albany office.
The average temperature here was 51.1 degrees -- 2.8 degrees warmer than the 30-year "normal" annual average (1981-2010). In this case, "on record" means dating back to 1820.
This past meteorological winter -- that is the period from December 2015 to February 2016 -- was the warmest, least snowy on record.
The warmest year on record was 2012, at 51.6 degrees.
Would you like to see a graph of the difference from normal in average temperature each year going to back 1820? We thought you might...
Bringing Albany buildings back from blight and making them into owner-occupied homes
The renovated row home on Clinton Ave in Arbor Hill.
When Habitat for Humanity comes up, the image that probably pops into a lot of people's minds is that of a volunteer org getting together on weekends and building small houses, one at a time.
But, as we've mentioned before, Habitat for Humanity Capital District has been working in recent years as something more like a neighborhood developer, doing large-scale projects such as the ongoing redevelopment in Sheridan Hollow.
Now Habitat for Humanity Capital District is evolving again, this time working to renovate blighted buildings in the city of Albany back into owner-occupied homes.
... said KGB about Drawing: What's something that brought you joy this year?