May 18, 2018
Mother says she feared for lives in reported Colonie road attack, pedestrian killed in Amtrak crash, Arch Park
Arrests in reported Colonie road attack
State Police say two people have been arrested in what the agency is calling "a reported road rage incident" May 10 on Alternate Route 7 and I-87 in Colonie. A woman tells WNYT that she and her teen son, who are black, were cut off by a truck with at least five people in it -- those people got out of the truck and started hitting the mother and son's car with bats while yelling racial slurs. Said the mother to the Times Union: "I thought they were going to kill us. They yelled, 'We're white supremacists. Go back to your country.' They used the N word." [NYSP] [WNYT] [TU]
Schenectady police discipline
+ The arrest this past weekend of an off-duty Schenectady Police Department officer for DWI involved a paperwork problem at the arraignment that a city court judge said prevented her from suspending the officer's license. [Daily Gazette]
+ The officer has not been immediately suspended because Schenectady is now operating under a state law that allows its public safety commissioner to handle police discipline, which officials say is a faster overall process. [Daily Gazette]
Fatal Amtrak crash with pedestrian in Castleton
Schodack police say a man was killed Thursday night when he was struck by Amtrak train while crossing the tracks near Main Street in Castleton. Officials the spot in a popular crossing point for pedestrians going to the river. [TU] [News10]
The Movies Under the Stars series returns to Albany this summer
The Movies Under the Stars series of outdoor movie screenings is back in Albany this summer. Here's the lineup:
June 15: Black Panther in Washington Park
Update: The screening will be in the park's parade ground, the same spot as the main stage for events such as Tulip Fest (map).
June 22: The Lion King at the College of Saint Rose
July 20: Coco at the College of Saint Rose
August 17: The Last Jedi at Sage College of Albany
September 7: Wonder Woman in Washington Park
September 21: Beauty & the Beast (animated) at Sage College of Albany
Each event starts at 7:30 pm with live music, family activities, snacks, and drinks. Then the movie starts at 8:30 pm. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket.
Movies Under the Stars is a collaboration of the Albany Public Library, Christ's Church Albany, the Helderberg Neighborhood Association, the Lark Street BID, and the Pine Hills Improvement Group/Pine Hills Neighborhood Association.
Tip credit
Steve Barnes on the back-and-forth over whether tipped employees, such as restaurant servers, should be paid the full New York minimum wage: "Although [Andrew] Cuomo and labor advocacy groups characterize this as a win for workers' rights and a way to ensure fair pay, I have talked to no one in the restaurant industry, in any position, who believes the proposed change would be anything but hugely damaging." (Tipped employees are currently allowed to be paid less than the regular minimum -- the "tip credit" -- as long as their tips cover the difference.) [TU]
Washington Park tulip dig and sale 2018
The annual Washington Park tulip dig and sale is usually the weekend after Mother's Day -- but that depends on the tulips.
And this year, because of the cool spring, the tulips are still doing their thing. So this year's dig and sale is May 26 and 27. Blurbage:
The event kicks off on Saturday at the Park's iconic Moses Fountain at 9am. Volunteers will join City of Albany Gardener Jess Morgan, City of Albany Department of General Services staff and members of the Washington Park Conservancy for the annual ritual of digging up the city's iconic tulip bulbs. Participation in the event provides volunteers with the opportunity to purchase 30 bulbs for $5 in exchange for assistance in preparing the park's beds for the summer season. The remaining bulbs will be sold first-come-first serve to the general public on Sunday at the Park's Lakehouse beginning at 9am for the same price and quantity.
Those bulbs go fast on Sunday, so if you'd like to buy some it's a good idea to be there right at the start.
Proceeds from the sale go to support the Washington Park Conservancy.
Blood plasma, another mixed-use project approved, that Western Ave apartment, and other exciting tales of the Albany Planning Board
The Swinburne Building project on Central Ave was up for approval.
Exciting Tales of the Albany Planning Board is a program recorded before a live studio audience once a month in which the fates of multi-million dollar projects around the city are (partially) decided.
This month: Blood plasma centers, approval for another large mixed-use project, continued neighborhood criticism of that apartment building on Western, and a proposal for affordable housing...
... said KGB about Drawing: What's something that brought you joy this year?