All Over Albany

Reaction to Las Vegas mass shooting, Albany snow shoveling law change approved, gondola project adds high-profile director

Las Vegas mass shooting
+ A Clifton Park woman who was at the concert on the experience of living through the incident, to the Times Union: "At one point, you're listening to a performer you love so much and then next you're on the ground fearing for your safety." [TU]
+ A local man who was at the hotel, to News10 up returning at ALB: "We thought it was a helicopter at first then all of a sudden we see people running and people were bleeding, it was just crazy." [News10]
+ At event in Colonie Monday, Kirsten Gillibrand said Congress hasn't passed a range "common sense" gun policies because it's "too weak and too cowardly" to stand up to the gun manufacturers. [WNYT] [TU]
+ Paul Tonko: "Congress has had many, many opportunities to take up common-sense firearms reform, hundreds of devastating attacks from Columbine to Sandy Hook, and has repeatedly failed to adopt any meaningful protections. That must change." [Daily Gazette]
+ A roundup of more reactions from New York Congressional delegation. [Spectrum]

Albany snow shoveling grace period
At Monday night's meeting the Albany Common Council passed the ordinance that tightens the grace period for property owners to shovel their sidewalks after a snow storm. [TU] [AOA]

Albany County DA
The local veteran Chris Churchill wrote about this weekend -- who was diagnosed with PTSD and has sought treatment for addiction -- took a plea deal on that burglary charge that includes at least six months in prison: "What's the point of sending Gilligan to prison? What good does it do?" [TU]

Rensselaer County exec election
Among the topics discussed at a candidates forum in Troy with the Rensselaer County exec candidates: infrastructure, rural ambulance service, and mojo. [TU]

Municipal budgets
+ The proposed Glenville town budget includes a 1.68 percent property tax increase. [Daily Gazette]
+ The proposed East Greenbush town budget includes a 4.44 percent increase in spending. [TU]

South Pearl Street speed limit
The city of Albany has changed the speed limit on a section of South Pearl Street from 30 mph to 25 mph. The change was prompted by the 2013 death of Qazir Sutherland. [TU]

Rensselaer dredging project
The first part of a $41 million project to dredge toxics from the Hudson River near the Rensselaer waterfront is planned to start this fall. [TU]

Gondola
Tom Madison -- former head of the NYS Department of Transportation, NYS Thruway Authority, the Federal Highway Administration -- is now the executive director of the group formed to pursue the Albany gondola project. Also: Project backers say they will be seeking public money for the project. [Biz Review] [Daily Gazette]

Remsen Street
Cohoes is preparing an $800,000 project to upgrade the streetscape of Remsen Street, including the addition of a bike lane and bus rapid transit stop. [Troy Record]

Automated pharmacy
Ellis Hospital's new pharmacy includes an automated kiosk that dispenses prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines. [Daily Gazette]

Stuff going on today

Madeline Thien and Peter Ho Davies
Tuesday: Novelists Madeline Thien and Peter Ho Davies will be at the State Museum as part of the NYS Writers Institute visiting writers series. They'll be reading from, and talking about, their work. Tuesday 8 pm, Huxley Theater -- free

Claire Messud
Tuesday: Novelist Claire Messud will be at Skidmore to talk about her work and answer questions. Tuesday 8 pm, Palamountain Hall -- free

Sex With Strangers
Tuesday-Sunday: Capital Rep continues its production, Sex With Strangers. The production runs through October 15. Tuesday-Sunday various times -- $20 and up

Nitty Gritty
Tuesday: The Nitty Gritty poetry slam series is back at The Low Beat. Tuesday 7 pm -- free admission