All Over Albany

Cuomo calls budget a defense from "economic missile," reaction to AG's report on Troy shooting, Schenectady police lieutenant charged

State budget
+ Andrew Cuomo released his 2018 budget on Tuesday, calling it a response to Washington's "economic missile"
+ The proposal includes a plan that would allow businesses to assume their employees' income taxes as a payroll tax. [NYT][Spectrum]
+ There's also a plan in the works that could allow people to make deductible "charitable donations" to their local school districts in lieu of school property taxes.[TU]
+ Missing from the $168 billion spending plan: the $12.5 million in Albany "Capital City Funding." [TU]

Cuomo up 20 points in Siena poll
The newest Siena poll shows Andrew Cuomo's approval rating at 62 percent -- up 10 points from his November rating. [TU]

Edson Thevenin shooting
The state Attorney General's office released its report Tuesday on the fatal shooting of Edson Thevenin by Troy police last April -- and it is highly critical of the Troy Police Department. In a statement, Troy mayor Patrick Madden said there were "factual inaccuracies and errors contained within the report unfairly put the Troy Police Department in a negative light" -- though he didn't specify. French's attorney: "Randy French is a well-respected police officer ... and it is uncontroverted that his leg was pinned when he shot. A paid-for report cannot change that. Let me be clear -- Sgt. French did nothing wrong. [AOA] [Troy Record] [TU]

Supremes won't hear Silver's case
The Supreme Court has refused to hear Sheldon Silver's corruption case. The ruling clears the way for Silver to be retried on corruption charges. [TU]

Schneiderman joins net neutrality suit
Eric Schneiderman is one of about two dozen state attorneys general to sue the federal government this week over the roll back of net neutrality.

Former Milton supervisor's longtime secretary sues town
The former secretary to Milton's former Town Supervisor Dan Lewza has filed a lawsuit accusing Lewza of "horrific and damaging sexual harassment" and claims the town treated Lewza as if he had done nothing wrong. [TU]

Schenectady cop charged with criminal contempt
A former Schenectady police lieutenant -- who at one point was in the running for police chief -- was charged with criminal contempt and suspended this week after violating an order of protection after approaching his estranged wife at the Union College hockey rink. [Gazette][TU]

1,044
The number of vacant buildings in the city of Albany. The city has completed its effort to combine multiple listings and figure out the number and location of its vacant buildings. [TU]

Rotterdam water line breaks
Rotterdam officials are dealing with a series of water line breaks due to fluctuating temperatures and old infrastructure. [Gazette]

Former Saratoga mayor lands private sector job
Joanne Yepsen, the former mayor of Saratoga Springs, has taken a job at Mercury,a New York City based public strategy firm. [Gazette]

IV bag shortage
Local hospitals are dealing with a shortage of fluid bags.[TU]

Rensselaer apartments
Apartments are on the rise in Rensselaer[TU]

The future of GE
The new CEO of General Electric says it's possible that in the future GE could eventually be broken into smaller, independent companies. [TU]

Stuff going on today

David Brooks
Wednesday: New York Times columnist David Brooks will be at Proctors for a talk. Wednesday 7:30 pm -- $35 and up

Music: Walk The Moon at Upstate Concert Hall
Pop rock. With: Company of Thieves. 8 pm -- $30 ahead / $33 day of