Albany city budget approved, Troy woman no longer facing deportation, uniting against the Amazon New York deal, bioswale brouhaha

Albany city budget
The Albany Common Council unanimously passed the $177 million city budget, which includes no increase in the tax levy and again relies on $12.5 million in "capital city funding" from the state. It also approved an expansion of a $90 trash fee to single-family homes, a move that drew four votes against. [TU] [News10] [@mandy_fries]

Lawsuit over Troy police shooting
Dahmeek McDonald -- who was shot by a Troy police officer in August 2017 -- has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city and officer alleging "excessive, unreasonable, racist and deadly force." (A special prosecutor presented the case to a grand jury and this past summer and it declined to hand up charges against the officer.) [TU x2]

Troy woman no longer facing deportation
A Troy woman who was facing deportation will be allowed to stay in the country after she filed for a green card (with money donated by someone she didn't know following a Times Union story) and an immigration court dismissed her case on Monday. [TU]

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Amazon and New York
+ The Cuomo admin posted a long essay from Andrew Cuomo defending the incentives package for Amazon's planned campus in New York City -- and criticizing critics of the plan. [Cuomo admin]
+ Andrew Cuomo: "Turns out that Gov. Andrew Cuomo is the rare politician who can unite us. All it took was handing billions to the company owned by the richest man on Earth." [TU]

Schoharie limo crash
The first civil lawsuit related to the Schoharie limo crash has been filed by the parents of one of the victims. Their attorney says the lawsuit will enable them to get more information about the crash. [TU] [Daily Gazette]

Charges in fatal Albany shooting
A 23-year-old man is facing a second-degree murder charge in the fatal shooting of Khalil Barnes in West Hill in July. He pleaded not guilty. [TU] [Albany County DA]

Preston Hollow diner shot up
The owners of the Pop's Place diner in Preston Hollow (the southwest corner of Albany County) say they don't know why someone shot the building 17 times while the diner was closed Sunday night. [WNYT]

Niskayuna lockdown forum
The Niskayuna school district held another public forum about the two recent threats made against its schools and the resulting lockdowns. The superintendent said the district has identified ways it can improve lockdowns. Speakers and officials also emphasized prevention. [TU] [Spectrum] [Daily Gazette]

St. Clare's pension problems
Sara Foss on the St. Clare's pension situation: "These retirees deserve better than the broken promises and lack of accountability that leave them facing a much poorer retirement than the one they were told to expect." [Daily Gazette]

Ramsey Place bioswale
The Albany water department wants to install a bioswale (a green drainage system for stormwater) along Ramsey Place in the Helderberg Neighborhood -- to the chagrin of some of the residents there. [WAMC]

Clinton Street Mercantile
A retail incubator called Clinton Street Mercantile has opened in downtown Schenectady. [Biz Review]

Trinbago
The Caribbean restaurant Trinbago is relocating to a space on Colvin Ave in Albany. [Table Hopping] Earlier: Eat This: Caribbean food at Trinbago

William Kennedy
William Kennedy will be receiving Ireland's Presidential Distinguished Service Award for the Irish Abroad. [TU]

Neighbors
An example of good neighbors. [WNYT]

Stuff going on today

UAlbany basketball
Tuesday: The UAlbany men's basketball team takes on Holy Cross at SEFCU Arena. Tuesday 7 pm -- $8 and up

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical
Tuesday: A production of Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical will be at The Palace. "Come see all of your favorite characters from the special including Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, Yukon Cornelius and, of course, Rudolph, as they come to life... " Tuesday 6 pm -- $28.50 and up

New York State International Film Festival
Tuesday: The New York State International Film Festival continues screening a bunch of shorts at The Linda followed by discussions. Tuesday 6 pm -- $10 / $15 both nights

Brass Tacks
Tuesday: The Brass Tacks poetry series is back at The Low Beat in Albany. 7 pm

Comments

From Cuomo's Op Ed. "Long Island City will see a $3.6 billion construction project and 25,000 to 40,000 permanent jobs at an average salary of over $150,000"

This will certainly not generate 25,000 jobs where each person is making ~$150,000/year, but more likely a high majority, maybe 24,000 jobs, making $40,000 - 60,000 / year while a fraction make executive level salaries thereby skewing the average to $150,000 / year. This will by no means improve poverty in the area and most job will be low wage factory jobs.

We want to combat climate change! We want safer streets! We want to reduce the likelihood of localized flooding! We want projects that beautify our neighborhood!

City proposes bioswales on one of the widest streets in the city - addressing these requests, above.

No! It's a change! Change is bad.

Folks, when it comes down to it, Albany is not, and never will be a progressive city that is conscientious. Maybe it's time to get away from trying to be a nice place to live - and embrace the "unfriendliest" city in the world" reputation. We can do much better than 7th nationally and 13th internationally.

Or change our city motto to "Don't Rock The Boat"

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For a decade All Over Albany was a place for interested and interesting people in New York's Capital Region. It was kind of like having a smart, savvy friend who could help you find out what's up. AOA stopped publishing at the end of 2018.

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