All Over Albany

Call for Troy police reform, big shakeup in Albany County Legislature, Sheehan continues push for state funding, mermaid hair

Call for Troy police reform
+ Prompted by the recent state Attorney General's office report about the fatal police shooting of Edson Thevenin, activists gathered in Troy Thursday to call for a more active civilian police review board as well as officer body cameras. [Troy Record]
+ Former Troy city council member Anastasia Robertson: "We're not here to say all policemen are bad, or policewomen are bad, because that is not the case ... But everybody, regardless, deserves fairness and unbiased approach without prejudgment on how their case is handled." [News10]
+ The group is pushing for the state AG to also take over the investigation of the police shooting of Dahmeek McDonald. McDonald's attorney -- Mark Mischler -- said Troy mayor Patrick Madden's defense of the police department following the report on the Thevenin shooting is "nothing less than traumatic." [Spectrum] [TU]

Big shakeup in Albany County Legislature
Albany County Legislature majority leader Frank Commisso Sr. -- who held the position for 25 years -- resigned the leadership position Thursday ahead of an evening caucus organized to oust him. The new majority leader is Gary Domalewicz, a 25-year veteran of the legislature who represents a district adjacent to Commisso's in uptown Albany. The switch comes two weeks after the former chair of the legislature -- Green Island's Sean Ward, a Commisso ally -- was replaced by Andrew Joyce. [TU]

State of the City: Albany
+ In her State of the City address Thursday evening, Kathy Sheehan emphasized the city's push for another $12.5 million in funding from the state (money that wasn't in the Cuomo admin's proposed budget): "Albany is treated like no other city in the state and we have demonstrated by opening our books not once but twice, I have demonstrated by believing in and agreeing with the Governor." [WNYT]
+ Sheehan also talked about strengthening neighborhoods citywide: "We can talk about burying 787 and building an aquarium, but creating a city where every neighborhood works is something that I am firmly committed to." [TU]

State of the Town: Colonie
In her State of the Town address Thursday, Paula Mahan touted Colonie's fiscal stability and upgrades to infrastructure. [TU]

Vacant properties in Schenectady
A state program that offers downpayment and renovation cost assistance low- to moderate-income people looking to fix up vacant homes is expanding to Schenectady. [Daily Gazette]

Schenectady County employee salaries
Six of Schenectady County's highest-paid employees in 2017 made more in overtime than they did in base salary. [Daily Gazette]

Schenectady train station contractor
A contractor hired for the construction of the new Schenectady train station had different contract for work at the Harriman State Office Campus terminated after OGS concluded it had failed to meet deadlines and properly manage work. [The Alt]

Early voting?
Good government and the New York State Association of Counties are criticizing the lack of funding for counties from the state for the voting reforms proposed by Andrew Cuomo that include early voting. [Daily Gazette]

Gender balance on authority boards
State Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, a Democrat from Queens, has introduced legislation that would require the state's many public corporations to nominate women to their boards in similar numbers to men. [Politico NY]

Women's March II
Talking with the organizers of the return of the Women's March in Albany this weekend. [Daily Gazette]

The Desmond
The Desmond, facing competition from major chains and their loyalty programs, has affiliated itself with Crowne Plaza and is planning a bunch of renovations. [Biz Review]

Ramona's Cafe
Ramona's Cafe on Lark Street is for sale -- to the right person. [News10]

Mermaid hair
Talking with the owner of a salon in Scotia who specializes in "mermaid" hair. [Biz Review]