All Over Albany

Albany bracing for possibility state aid doesn't come through, push for money to fix sewers and water systems, he was cooking at home

Albany push for state aid
The $12.5 million in additional state aid the Sheehan administration included in the current city of Albany budget was not part of the state budget amendments released Thursday evening. At a press conference Friday morning Kathy Sheehan said she believes the Cuomo admin is "is convinced of our case" and the city would continue to press for the aid with members of the state legislature.

The money represents 7 percent of the current city budget and Sheehan said the city is preparing for the possibility it doesn't come through. She's instituted a hiring a freeze in which any new hire would have to be revenue neutral. And she said the city is reviewing every program -- including events such as Alive at Five, which is now at risk without the aid.

Said Sheehan of the city's request to the state in light of the relatively low amount of money the city gets through the state's regular aid program for municipalities: "The state capital is treated like no other large city in New york State. And I just want to stress that. We are not asking for something extra. We are asking for something that gets us a little closer to parity."

Here's a quick thread by Geoff Redick that includes some context and reaction. [@Redick_TWCNews]

Earlier: Does Albany get a fair share of state aid?

"That's a lurking monster right now"
Jim Tedisco and Phil Steck pushed the case for state legislation that would set up a regular stream of funding for local municipalities to address water and sewer infrastructure. Said Tedisco Thursday: "That's a lurking monster right now and we can pay now or we can pay later." Tedisco has promoted this idea in past years, but he says hopeful of seeing action this time around because he's a now in the state Senate and a member of the majority coalition. [Daily Gazette] [TU] [TWCN]

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Stuff to do this weekend

The annual step show is back at The Palace this weekend. / photo courtesy of The Palace

Some score and however many years ago our forefathers and foremothers looked forward to a weekend filled with fun things to do. It probably wasn't this weekend. But it was a weekend... sometime, because everybody loves a good weekend. So we're guessing it's true. It might not be true at all. You know what -- forget about that part and focus on this weekend. Our weekend. The one that starts today. Yes. Let's do that.

After the jump you'll find a whole bunch of stuff going on this President's Day weekend -- from Flurry Fest and mac 'n cheese to gems, fossils, and butterflies.

Planning something you don't see on our list? Tell us about it in the comment section. And whatever you're up to, have a fantastic weekend.

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Way more than 3 points

Hitting the half court shot wasn't the big surprise, as it turned out. Though the made basket wasn't in the plan! (That Gazette article includes a great photo by Peter Barber.)

The clip got the top spot on the SportsCenter top 10 last night.

"I wish we'd asked, 'What can we do for you?'"

Over at City Lab there's an interesting look at how some of the people involved with the creating the very popular High Line park in New York City are using the lessons they learned -- and the failures they now recognize -- to help other cities make similar parks and adaptive reuse projects more useful to the people who already live near the sites. [City Lab] Earlier: A few bits about the proposed Albany Skyway

- Fri 2:45 PM - say something!

The untaxed city within the city

The map above depicts parcels in the city of Albany from which, for various reasons, the city doesn't get property taxes. It's from a slide deck used by Kathy Sheehan during her recent presentation before joint state legislative budget hearing about municipal aid.

That topic has popped up again this week (it never really goes away) because the city's request for an additional $12.5 million from the state -- what the Sheehan admin has tagged as "Capital City Funding" -- was not included in the 30-day budget amendments submitted by the Cuomo admin. That doesn't necessarily mean the money is completely off the table -- the Cuomo admin indicated Friday it could still happen -- but it does cast the fate of the money in doubt. Given given that it represents 7 percent of the current $177 million enacted budget, the city faces making some hard cuts if the money doesn't come through. And on Friday Sheehan urged city residents to call the offices of state legislative leaders to push for the aid.

Sheehan and other city officials have long argued the city deserves more aid from the state for two reasons:

1. The amount of money the city gets from the state's main type of aid to municipalities (AIM) is, on a per capita basis, way lower than what other large cities around the state get. It's not even close. As Sheehan said Friday: "We are not asking for something extra. We are asking for something that gets us a little closer to parity."

2. Large portions of the city -- some 63 percent of the property value -- are tax exempt because of the presence of the state and other institutions that don't have to pay.

Here's a larger view of that map, along with a few quick bits.

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Today's moment of winter

Walking up State Street, for a moment, it was all blue skies, sunshine, and wispy clouds.

Then it was February again.