All Over Albany

Who controls the future of legal marijuana in New York, state faces loss of House seats, different plan for Lincoln Square towers, new head of Historic Albany

Marijuana legalization
New York City mayor Bill de Blasio announced his qualified support for recreational marijuana legalization Thursday. The mayor's view on how legalization should work appears to be in opposition to that of the Cuomo admin -- and it highlights the ongoing conversation over the role of local control and corporations in the future marijuana industry. [NYT] [Politico]

New York population trends
Because of population trends, New York State is line to lose one -- and maybe two -- seats in the House of Representatives after the next decennial census. [TU]

St. Clare's pension problems
Albany Roman Catholic bishop Edward Scharfenberger met with former St. Clare's Hospital employees Thursday in closed-door session to discuss the faltering pension fund. The former employees had a range of reactions to what went on in the meeting. Scharfenberger: "We're going to have to get together, put our heads together, and come together with some plan." [CBS6] [Daily Gazette] [Spectrum]

Immigrants
The Cuomo admin announced that New York State will be expanding its legal defense project for immigrants to include health and social services. [TU]

High-speed internet access
New York State is falling short of its goal to get high-speed internet access extended to all rural areas by the end of this year. [Politico]

Elise Stefanik
A look at Elise Stefanik's recent moves that have created friction with Republican Party leadership. [NYT]

Police body cameras
The Albany County Sheriff's office and the Troy Police Department are getting money from the state Attorney General's office to help cover the cost of officer body cameras. [TU] [News10]

Lincoln Square towers
After trying to get money to demolish the remaining Lincoln Square towers for many years, the Albany Housing Authority is now looking at the possibility working with developers to do a mixed-use project there -- which could make it easier to get state money for the demolitions.

Albany County Land Bank
+ The Albany County has given another $250,000 to the Albany County Land Bank for its work shepherding properties from foreclosure and vacancy to a new use. (The land bank is a separate org from the county.) [WNYT]
+ Among the recent rehabbed properties that went through the land bank process: A two-family home off Southern Boulevard that's now owned by a 20something couple. [CBS6]

RPI
RPI's board of trustees has extended president Shirley Ann Jackson's contract through June 2022. [TU]

A.V. Costa
A.V. Costa -- the wedding store in downtown Troy -- is closing after 68 years. [Troy Record]

Historic Albany Foundation
The new executive director of the Historic Albany Foundation is Pam Howard. [Biz Review]

Stuff to do this weekend

Check out the list of things to do around the Capital Region this weekend.