Items tagged with 'ESP'
On top of The Egg
A few people mentioned seeing workers -- and a railing -- on top of The Egg today.
So... preparations for an Egg-top roof party? Or, finally, an effort to signal the mothership?
Alas, no.
The workers are up there re-coating the roof, part of normal maintenance that happens every 5-8 years, a state Office of General Services spokesperson told us. The railing is a temporary safety measure. The work is expected to be finished around September 1.
The mothership will just have to wait.
[photo via @fujontap -- thanks!]
Earlier AOA: Cracking open the origins of The Egg
Why is there a house on the ESP?
This afternoon Kim had a question that we suspect more than a few people will also have over the next week:
Anyone know why there's a trailer, excuse me, a modular home being built in the Empire State Plaza?
The answer, via Ed: It's a display for the New York Housing Association, an industry group for "factory-manufactured home builders, retailers and community owners." The org's spring conference and "legislative summit" is next week in downtown Albany. From the Empire State Plaza Convention and Cultural Events FB page:
In honor of the New York Housing Association 63rd Anniversary, the public is invited to visit a beautiful, two bedroom, two bath, thirteen hundred square foot manufactured home on display on the Empire State Plaza from April 27- May 1st.
The style of the house is a stark contrast to the modernist plaza. Maybe they could score a more modern pre-fab if they do it again...
Bonus historical bit: Albany has a few of the first "manufactured" homes ever, uh, manufactured -- Jermain Street in Albany has five Lustron Houses, prefab enameled steel homes made in the late 1940s.
(Thanks, Ed!)
Earlier on AOA: What are those holes by the ESP?
More (temporary) parking spaces for downtown Albany state employees
The state Office of General Services announced that it will be making available 1,000 parking spots to state employees in downtown Albany as part of a temporary program. From the press release:
This Temporary Parking Assistance Initiative will allocate these spaces based on state service to PEF and CSEA members who presently do not have spaces in state lots.
OGS initiated this one-time, single purpose allocation for downtown state parking after consultation with PEF and CSEA to provide timely relief to state employees who may be impacted by the City of Albany's Residential Parking Permit System.
Update: OGS spokesperson Heather Groll tells us the spaces are in most of the downtown state operated lots.
The agency has posted a form for members of CSEA and PEF who'd like to apply for spots (they'll be assigned by state seniority). The deadline is February 13.
OGS says it's aiming to complete a "comprehensive restructuring of the state's downtown Albany parking system" by sometime this spring. The state has been working on this restructuring since at least fall. It was prompted in part by the "re-stacking" of state office space, which an OGS spokesperson told us last September had moved about 2,000 state employees to downtown Albany. (We had emailed OGS back then for an answer to a reader question about how many parking spaces the state has for downtown employees -- it was still being sorted out as part of the parking restructuring.)
Last September irisira posted a very good comment about the state of downtown state employee parking.
It's been about two weeks since the Albany residential parking permit system started. We're curious about how things have shaken out so far state employees around the ESP. Longer walks? More bus riding? Complete mayhem?
Empire State Plaza skating rink opening
Taking a few turns last year on the ESP.
The ice skating rink at the Empire State Plaza will open this Friday (November 23), the state Office of General Services announced today.
The rink will be open seven days a week from 11 am-8 pm. It's free to skate.
Skate rentals are $3 for kids under 12 / $4 for adults. Each Friday this season will include free skate rentals, thanks to sponsorship by Hannaford. OGS says the lockers and skate rental are now on the plaza level next to the rink.
It's great to see the rink returning for another year. Public spaces are better with people. And it's fun! We went skating a few times after work last winter -- it helps you let go of the hassles from the day.
The Empire State Plaza, from above
If ever you've wondered: "What would it be like to fly a remote controlled plane with a an HD camera near the ESP?" -- wonder no longer.
The embedded clip above was posted on YouTube this past February by user IloveSPIDERZ. The plane takes off in Lincoln Park, and fights what appears to some very strong wind (motion sickness!) while flying near the south end of the plaza. It's a long clip, but you can get a pretty good sense of it from a minute or two.
(Thanks, Carl)
Tangentially, elsewhere: If I Fly a UAV Over My Neighbor's House, Is It Trespassing? [The Atlantic]
Well, it is really hard to find parking by the ESP
The state Inspector General's Office announced today that a state Department of Health employee has been arrested for allegedly scoring a handicapped parking pass for the Empire State Plaza by using a forged doctor's note.
From the press release:
The Inspector General's investigation determined that in May of 2011, Witt obtained special parking privileges at his work location at Empire State Plaza based on a forged doctor's note. In addition, Defendant admitted that on three separate occasions in January and February of 2012, he submitted certified time records indicating that he had worked full days when he had not reported to work at all.
"New Yorkers have every right to expect that state employees will comport themselves with the highest degree of honesty and integrity," said Acting Inspector General [Catherine Leahy] Scott. "Fraudulently obtaining handicapped parking not only is unlawful, but potentially inhibits the rights of New Yorkers with disabilities in need of accessible parking. Further, any fraudulent abuse of time and attendance records undermines public trust. Such conduct is not tolerable."
The IG's office says Witt has been charged with four felony counts -- and faces up to four years in prison if convicted.
Full release after the jump.
By the way: Does anyone know how long the waiting list is now for a parking spot at the ESP?
At the movies, at the ESP
We checked out the screening of Star Trek at the Empire State Plaza Wednesday night. The weather was absolutely beautiful. And it was a fun time.
This was the second of two outdoor screenings this summer at the ESP. We'd love to see them do it again next year -- especially if they work out some of the technical issues, and maybe get a bigger screen. Like with the skating rink in the winter, it's great to see people enjoying the public space during non-work hours.
Also: Albany apparently loves Leonard Nimoy. Though, really, who doesn't?
At The Plaza 2012
Mike Doughty will be there.
The schedule is out for this year's At The Plaza series of events at the Empire State Plaza.
There are fireworks on the Fourth of July, of course, and some of the festivals return. But new this year: outdoor screenings of two movies: Puss in Boots on July 25, and Star Trek (the recent, JJ Abrams one) on August 8.
Also: Mike Doughty is headlining the "Local Legends Live!" concert on September 8.
All the events are free.
Full schedule is after the jump.
photo via Mike Doughty Facebook
Drive on the Empire State Plaza? The future then.
A cropped version. Here's the full version.
Today on Craigslist we stumbled across a listing for these great old renderings envisioning an auto-centric version of the Empire State Plaza. Here are easy-to-view versions: one, two, three, four, five, six.
There isn't a date listed for the renderings -- the Craigslist poster says he/she is looking for info about them (and accepting offers). We're guessing they're from the early to mid 50s (construction started in 1959). Check out how there are streets right on the plaza, running next to the agency buildings.
And this overview rendering gives a sense of the imagined context.
Earlier on AOA: The highway that was almost buried under Washington Park
Throwing jabs -- the real kind -- at the Empire State Plaza
There's a professional boxing at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center this Saturday night -- which struck us as kind of unusual because... it's the Empire State Plaza Convention Center. The only people who usually trade jabs there are politicians and lobbyists.
But it turns out there's a history of boxing matches at the ESP. There was a string of bouts under the Egg during the 1980s. And there was a bout there last year -- the first in 21 years. [Pugnacious Promotions] [TU]
Mike Tyson
One of the bouts back in the day included Mike Tyson, who at the time was training in Catskill. In 1986 Tyson entered the bout undefeated with a 15-0 record -- and he faced a fighter named Dave Jaco, who had picked up boxing as a hobby following a divorce, and stuck with it because of the possibility of winning money. [AP 1997] [Gazette archive]
You can probably guess how that turned out: Tyson won after knocking down Jaco three times a little more than 2 minutes into the first round. Afterward, Jaco asked reporters: "Anybody see that truck?" [Gazette archive]
Saturday
The card for Saturday night's events at the ESP includes 8 bouts. The first bout is at 6 pm. Tickets start at $40.
By the way: If there's going to be boxing at the ESP, it would seem kind of hard for politicians to keep pushing the state ban against MMA.
photo: Julia Zave / Ares Boxing
Corning Tower stair climb 2012
The annual Corning Tower stair climb for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Northeastern NY is March 8. The climb includes a few subdivision: individuals, a relay race (four person teams), a 13-floor climb for individuals, and most impressive -- a firefighter's climb (yep, firefighters going up all those steps while wearing their gear).
Hey, it's only 42-floors (809 steps). Easy, right? Heh. Liz -- who we're sure has a level of fitness and athleticism to which we could only hope for -- did the stair climb last year. She felt the burn.
Registration is now $40 (there's also a $125 pledge minimum). Check in begins at 4 pm, and the climbing starts at 6 pm.
Ice skating at the Empire State Plaza
Fun.
The ice skating rink at the ESP re-opened this past Saturday for the first time since 2008. So, of course, we had to take a few turns.
Here are a few details if you decide to go. (And you totally should.)
Ice skating rink returning to ESP
Cool.
Update Jan 3, 2012: Here are details about skating at the ESP rink.
____
Update Dec 14, 2011: OGS says it's aiming to open the rink the first week of January -- and skates will be available for renting (it will be free to skate).
____
The state Office of General Services announced over the weekend that the ice skating rink will be returning to the Empire State Plaza this winter. The ESP has been rinkless since the winter of 2007-08 because of budget cuts. (Full press release pasted after jump.)
OGS says it's aiming for an early January opening. The rink will be open afternoon and evenings, 7 days a week. Skating will be free. The exact date and operation times are still being worked out. (Also: some colder weather might speed things along.)
The rink's comeback is being funded in part by a $100,000 contribution Lake Placid Regional Winter Sports Committee, which is a "non-profit focused on supporting and developing Upstate New York as a sport destination for international and national winter sport events."
In the grand scheme of things, the skating rink isn't a big thing. But the news a few years back that it wasn't coming back because of budget cuts was a bit of a "gulp" moment about the economy and state budget. And there's just something beautiful about the scene created by people skating on the ESP. It's great the rink will be back.
If you've never seen the ESP rink -- or just want to remember what it looks like -- a few more photos from early 2008 are after the jump.
Public hearing for the proposed Albany parking permit system tonight
An overview map of the proposed coverage area. Much bigger versions are the after the jump.
The public hearing for the proposed Albany residential parking permit system is tonight (Monday) at 7 pm at city hall. The public hearing is one of the last steps before the system could potentially be passed and moved toward implementation.
We suspect there will be plenty of suggestions/questions/concerns about the system, particularly about which spots will be subject to the permits. Richard Conti, the common councilman heading up the project, touched on that topic in his ward newsletter last week:
... the street designations on the zone maps are preliminary subject to revision after the public hearing. I've discussed the inclusion or non-inclusion of streets at neighborhood meetings during the month of October, and have received other communications, and am aware of some of the concerns regarding preliminary street designations. Under the state authorizing legislation, we are limited to the designations of 2,750 spaces spread across three zones. After the current proposed map was finalized we discovered additional spaces that had not been allocated. So we have a margin to play with to address concerns. ...
Resolving the street designations is the major issue that needs to be resolved; once that is completed the remaining pieces should fall into place.
As proposed, the system would cover three zones around the Empire State Plaza:
+ Zone A - 1946 spaces in Center Square/Hudson-Park/Washington Park/parts of Park South,
+ Zone B - 443 spaces in the Mansion neighborhood
+ Zone C - 163 spaces in Arbor Hill around the Ten Broeck Triangle
Details and maps of these proposed zones are available from the city's website -- and we've also posted them after the jump here for easy scanning.
The state law giving the city the right set up the system allows for 2,750 spaces within a 3/4 mile radius of the ESP. Once implemented, the system will run for two years and then be up for review.
Car sharing: We hear that car sharing advocates will also be at the hearing tonight pushing their case. In the past, advocates have touted sharing as another way of addressing the parking problem in congested neighborhoods.
Bill Clinton's speech at the Empire State Plaza
After the announcement of the $4.4 billion big thing about small things, Bill Clinton spoke at the New York Open for Business conference Tuesday at the ESP. The video is embedded above. Clinton's speech starts at the 50:00 mark (you can just jump to that point).
At the beginning of the speech, Clinton gives a shoutout to Jerry Jennings and remembers... jogging in Albany.
Bill Clinton speaking in Albany September 27
Update: Here's video of the speech.
____
Shh, don't tell anyone: Bill Clinton will be speaking in Albany next week (Tuesday, September 27).
The former president will be the keynote speaker at a conference at the Empire State Plaza for the regional economic councils set up by the Cuomo administration. The event is open to the public, but there's a ticket lottery. You must enter by the end of this Tuesday (September 20) and confirm your intent to attend within 24 hours of being notified.
Oddly, the Cuomo admin seems to be underplaying the event a bit. On the website for the economic councils, it's just billed as "Governor Andrew M. Cuomo/ REGIONAL COUNCIL STATEWIDE CONFERENCE/ September 27, 2011- Albany, NY." Stars are always so touchy about whose name goes above the title...
Bill Clinton was last here in March when he spoke at UAlbany.
[via Biz Review]
photo: Flickr user World Economic Forum
What are those holes by the ESP?
Helloooo?
Joe emails (with the above photo):
Re: The Mystery Hole at Empire State Plaza
I figured you guys might know - I can't even speculate as to what the hell this structure is and its always puzzled me. The view is looking east over the side of ESP near the egg. Why are the walls so high? What in the blue blazes is this thing??
We've wondered about those holes, too. (You can see them very clearly in satellite photos.) And we had some guesses.
But to get the word straight from the source, we contacted the New York State Office of General Services, which runs the ESP.
South Mall Expressway closed
The state Department of Transportation announced Wednesday night that it was immediately closing the South Mall Expressway -- that's Routes 9 and 20 between the Empire State Plaza and the Dunn Memorial Bridge -- because an inspection found cracks in beams that support the road. The full release -- with suggested alternate routes -- is after the jump.
Also part of the closure: the Madison Avenue off-ramp from I-787 south, the South Pearl Street on-ramp leading to the Dunn Memorial Bridge, and the part of Broadway between the Quay Street Connector and Madison Avenue.
The Dunn is still open, but down to one westbound lane (that is, heading toward Albany). Albany police say they expect backups Thursday morning, maybe as far back as Rensselaer. They're suggesting people use alternate routes if possible.
The Albany residential parking permit task force recommendations
A totally unofficial estimate of the area to be covered by the parking permit system.
The task force developing the Albany residential parking permit system released its report and recommendations last week. The file that we received from Common Councilman Richard Conti, the task force's chair, is embedded after the jump.
The report includes many of the provisions Conti mentioned when we talked with him about the system in June. But there are few bits that caught our eye -- we've highlighted those.
If you live/work/visit the area around the Empire State Plaza, it's worth taking a look at this report. There will be a public comment period after an ordinance is introduced. There's also lobbying/emailing/stopping your council person on the street to talk about suggestions or changes. (And based on the comments from June, it sounds like people will have suggestions.)
Oh, that's not a good sign
Ominous.
Ed noticed this sign today at Swan and Lancaster near the ESP in Albany.
Yep -- it's one way, right down the drain.
(Thanks, Ed!)
photo: Ed Lass
What's up with the Albany parking permit system?
A totally unofficial estimate of the area to be covered by the parking permit system.
It's been just about a year since the state legislature passed a bill allowing the city of Albany to set up a residential parking permit system near the Empire State Plaza. So, where's all that at now?
Albany Common Councilman Richard Conti is heading up the task force in charge of developing the system. We had a chance to talk with him last week about how the system is potentially shaping up...
Loving -- and hating -- the Empire State Plaza
Impressive -- and maddening.
Like lots of Albanians, I have a love/hate relationship with the Empire State Plaza.
I've never known Albany without the ESP. It's just always been there for me. I know I'm coming home when I see it on the horizon. It's a symbol of this city, and there's no changing that.
Nelson Rockefeller sure knew how to make his mark.
Future lawyers, welcome to Albany
If you see a lot of stressed-out lawyer types around downtown Albany this week, carrying their personal belongings in clear zip-lock bags, there's a reason for that: The New York state bar exam is being administered today and tomorrow at the Empire State Plaza.
People come to Albany from all over the country and the world to take the New York bar. The state's exam has a reputation as one of the toughest -- if not the toughest -- in the country. As a test-taker said in the ABA Journal a few years ago, "If you've passed the New York bar exam, you can probably pass any other state bar." One lawyer noted that California's exam is longer, "but in substance, it was easier than New York."
More than 4,000 people took the test last February at sites across the state. First-time takers from ABA-approved schools passed the state bar exam at a rate of 80.5 percent. But the rate for all candidates -- domestic and foreign educated, first-time and repeat takers -- was 50 percent.
Good luck, guys.
At the Plaza Food Festival
Updated with a sampling of vendors
Here's something that might be worth checking out on Wednesday: the annual At the Plaza Food Festival will be set up on the ESP from 11 am - 9 pm.
The event blurb says there will be 50 food vendors, which might make for a fun lunch stop. A sample of the vendors is after the jump.
And there's music, too. Among the lineup: locals Super 400 will be playing at 6:15 (that's them on the right, at the ESP even). And the Smithereens (yep, those Smithereens) will be playing at 7:45.
(Thanks, Glenna!)
photo via OGS
Is there a world record in the can?
A record-breaking spot?
Heads-up/could be oddly fun/could be loud: talk show host Jake Sasseville will be at the ESP Friday afternoon in a bid to break the world record for the "largest drum can ensemble." (The can in this case appears to be a Pringles can -- the potato crisps, or rather an "extreme" version of them, are sponsoring the event.)
The event blurb says Sasseville is looking for people to "help him shatter this world record with a noise so loud it can be heard in Canada!" (Payback for the earthquake?) The publicist for the event says they need 500 people to break the record.
Fireworks!
Chuck's set is almost like being there.
We're a little (OK, a lot) late on this because of the summer break, but we're always happy to gawk at fireworks photos. Chuck has a huge photoset from the ESP display. He's also posted an account of the evening (it included Polish horseshoes).
A few other sets to check out:
+ Helena Bowman's nice photoset makes the ESP fireworks look almost plant-like -- sort of like luminous dandelions that have gone to seed.
+ We love the light in this shot by Katie Anello.
+ We like the framing in this shot by liz_ahearn
+ This set by tcsuliv is a bunch of really wide shots. We like this shot, specifically.
+ F1addictob's set includes the Price Chopper "sign" on the Corning Tower.
+ This "hipstamatic" shot by theDreamerWorld looks totally old-school.
+ There's something kind of cool about how the person is silhouetted in this photo by s.m. bush.
+ And Caitee Smith went bokeh on the display.
(Thanks, Chuck! Thanks, Sebastien!)
photos: Chuck Miller
Assembly passes Albany residential parking permits bill
The approximate area covered by the 3/4 mile radius. Not every spot will be subject to the permits.
The state Assembly has passed the bill that would allow the City of Albany to run a trial residential parking permit program around the Empire State Plaza. From Albany Common Councilman Richard Conti's Facebook status last night:
Albany Permit Parking Bill just passed the Assembly, 80-45! Thanks to Assemblymembers McEneny and Canestrari for their efforts on moving this forward ... now it moves to Governor Paterson for approval.
The bill passed in the state Senate last week.
Among the bill's provisions:
+ The City of Albany would be allowed to "pilot a residential parking permit system with a two year sunset" within a 3/4 mile radius of the ESP.
+ No more than 2,750 spaces would be made available by permit in the permitted area. (The bill figures there are about 9000 spaces total in the affected area.)
+ Permit parking would not be allowed on streets where adjacent properties are zoned for "commercial, office and/or retail use."
+ At least 20 percent of the spaces in the permit would be available for non-residents to use for at least 90 minutes at a time.
(Thanks, Mike and others!)
Update: From a PEF press release:
The New York State Public Employees Federation (PEF) is disappointed state lawmakers have passed the Albany Permit Parking Plan, pandering to a small group of residents while shunning the needs of the general public.
The union is calling for Paterson to veto the legislation.
Earlier on AOA: Is the brake coming off residential parking permits near the ESP in Albany?
"An authentically quaint vision of a hopeful future"
Beam me up.
Architect Michael Molinelli, in an appreciation of the Empire State Plaza in the current issue of Hudson Valley Mag:
The plaza appeals to me because it is a futuristic vision built with great optimism. In many ways, it could have been a set on the original Star Trek. ...
It looks dated now because we currently like to affect older historical styles. Give ESP another 40 years and it will no longer be old, but venerable and -- perhaps -- an authentically quaint vision of a hopeful future.
Earlier on AOA:
+ Cracking open the origins of The Egg
+ Ben Folds' short tour of the ESP
+ The Egg is famously strange
+ Talking with They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh about The Egg
Is the brake coming off residential parking permits near the ESP in Albany?
Not every street within the proposed area would be subject to residential parking permits
Via Bob Conner comes word that a bill allowing residential parking permits near the Empire State Plaza is moving through the legislature again.
The bill passed in the Assembly a year ago, but died in the state Senate. Bob reports that Neil Breslin says it looks like there will be enough votes to pass it this time around in the Senate.
Among the bill's provisions:
+ The City of Albany would be allowed to "pilot a residential parking permit system with a two year sunset" within a 3/4 mile radius of the ESP.
+ No more than 2,750 spaces would be allowed in the permitted area.
+ Permit parking would not be allowed on streets where adjacent properties are zoned "commercial, office [and]/or retail use."
(The full text of the bill's provisions is after the jump.)
One possible hitch: the Assembly version of the bill differs from the Senate version in the size of the allowed area for permits -- 3/4 mile vs. 1 mile. Bob reports that CSEA dropped its opposition to the bill because of the reduced radius. Update: Albany common councilman Richard Conti stopped by in the comments to note the Senate bill is identical to the Assembly bill and includes the 3/4 mile radius (it appears the Open Senate entry for the bill hasn't been completely updated, yet).
Jerry Jennings told AOA last October that he wants permit parking -- and would pursue it if the legislature allowed it.
The tree is lit -- with a bang
For best results, take a look at it really big.
Sebastien's posted a photo set from the tree lighting Sunday at the ESP.
(This also explains why we heard fireworks last night. It kind of caught us off guard.)
photo: Sebastien B
Tuba Christmas at the ESP
Emails Chris today with word of a brassy event:
Tuba Christmas is a flash mob style concert where by low brass (tubas, French horns, etc.) show up someplace, practice a bunch of Christmas tunes, and then play 'em.
I've attended a bunch of these (in Baltimore, out on the Eastern part of MA) and it's awesome, but they depend on getting the word out.
Chris says the local Tuba Christmas is scheduled for this Sunday at the ESP. From (where else?) tubachristmas.com:
ALBANY - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6 - TIME: 4:00 pm LOCATION: Empire State Plaza, concourse
REGISTRATION: 12:30 pm Massry Center for the Arts, St. Rose, room 306
REHEARSAL: 1:30 pm same as registration
PARKING: rehearsal is on site, parking for performance is being arranged
CONDUCTOR: David Wampler, Instructor of low brass, College of St. Rose
COORDINATOR: Gregory Clark 315-264-4474
photo: Flickr user celesteh
Ben Folds' short tour of the ESP
From the Twitter stream of Ben Folds, who performed at the Egg last night:
http://twitpic.com/kmz72 - this is where i'm playing in albany. they call it an egg, but its more football like
http://twitpic.com/kmz2r - its a sad day when our society makes women go to the bathroom in public trash cans
http://twitpic.com/kmz97 - empty seats at soundcheck, egg in albany
http://twitpic.com/kohmv - albany egg: post soundcheck, people showed up to cover up some of the red.
[via @marciepry]
photo: Ben Folds
Reaction to APD shame sign, man found dead near the Egg, Paterson and Ravitch reportedly at odds, Other Guys shoot wraps, local woman on Jeopardy tonight
A spokesman for the APD says the light-up sign on Central Ave that's set to display the names of people arrested for soliciting prostitute is no different from mug shots appearing in the local news. The spokesman says city attorneys don't foresee any legal issues with the sign. Defense attorneys aren't so sure about that. [CBS6] [WNYT] [Fox23] [TU]
A state Supreme Court judge has thrown out 39 of the allegedly fraudulent Troy absentee ballots. [TU]
A man was found dead Saturday morning at the foot of the ESP wall below the Egg near Lancaster Street. Police say they're investigating, though it appears the man fell. [Troy Record] [Fox23] [WNYT]
GlobalFoundries' "Fab 1" in Dresden, Germany -- which was built by AMD in 1998 -- is now at the center of a cluster that employs 35,000 people. [Saratogian]
Obama at HVCC today, Bruno not invited, Paterson told to drop out, transcript indicates chief used slur, men accused of blowing up turtle
The scene this morning before the event.
President Obama's appearance at HVCC today is scheduled for 11:30 am. There were no tickets made available to the public. Video from the event will be streamed on HVCC's web site. Update: Lou's posted details about how to get the stream working. [HVCC] [HVCC]
Obama's speech is expected to focus on the economy and industries such as alternative energy. HVCC was likely chosen because the Obama Administration has been touting the potential of community colleges to train workers for these industries. [Troy Record] [TU]
The usual assortment of state and local politicians will be at the Obama event -- including Paul Tonko, who's flying in on Air Force One with the POTUS. [TU] [Fox23]
Not on that list of officials: Joe Bruno, who says the White House told him specifically that he was not invited -- and told WNYT that he's "hurt by it." Bruno's pork prowess helped fund many of the projects Obama will be highlighting. [WNYT] [TU]
The White House has reportedly asked David Paterson to drop out of the 2010 gubernatorial race. Paterson says he's still planning to run. The President is expected to meet with Paterson today during his visit to the Capital Region -- and with gubernatorial candidate state attorney general Andrew Cuomo. [NYT] [AP/Troy Record] [NYDN]
The Egg is famously strange
The Egg has popped on another "weird building" list -- it's #4 on Popular Mechanics' list of "The World's 18 Strangest Buildings--And Why We Love Them." The mag geeks out on The Egg's "intensive support system."
Last year the theater showed up on a list of 50 strange buildings. One more list and we think The Egg gets inducted into the hall of fame.
Earlier on AOA:
+ Cracking open the origins of The Egg
+ Talking with They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh about The Egg
(Thanks, Arielle!)
Report: ambulance delay a result of "human error," state AG's office takes up ESP man cave case, GE reportedly building new plant in Schenectady, it's huuuuuge
The city report on the delayed ambulance response to the scene of a fatal crash between a car and a child on a bike in Albany in May concludes that "a single human error" was responsible for the delay. The dispatch error held up the city from calling another service, said the chair of the report task force. The report also concluded that a faster response would not have saved the child. [TU] [Fox23] [CapNews9]
Police are looking for a man who allegedly kidnapped a woman in Saratoga Springs Thursday night and attempted to sexually assault her. The woman, who had been forced at gunpoint to strip, escaped. Police credited her with being "brave and resourceful." The SSPD says it will release a statement about the case today. [TU] [Saratogian] [Daily Gazette] [Saratogian]
The ESP Man Cave case has been turned over to the state attorney general's office -- and felony charges are possible. [TU]
It seems that David Paterson's gubernatorial campaign is something less than fiscally disciplined, spending lavishly on consultants, hotels and -- in one case -- joke writers. That largesse apparently did not extend to reimbursing the state for airfare, though. [NYT] [TU]
Attorney calls ESP man cave allegations overblown, SPAC ticket surchage floated, Tedisco proposes "Madoff Bill," DEC building urinals criticized for backsplash
An attorney for one of the men accused of setting up a "man cave" in the ESP for smoking pot instead described the space as "a break room" and called the allegations "overblown." One of the accused men has a criminal record -- and there are some questions about whether the state knew that before hiring him. [TU] [CBS6]
The Albany Common Council has passed a resolution that calls on public agencies to not ask a person about his/her immigration status if that person is "not posing a threat." The resolution is non-binding. [TU] [CBS6] [Fox23]
Saratoga Springs' finance commissioner has floated the idea of tacking on a $2 surcharge to rock and pop concert tickets at SPAC. The fee could bring in as much as $500k. SPAC's executive director said the venue is "firmly opposed" to the proposed fee and called it "an onerous tax." [Daily Gazette] [TU] [Saratogian]
The Troy Fire Department says mayor Harry Tutunjian has asked it to tour the RPI campus -- EMPAC in particular -- to get a better sense of the layout of campus buildings. The TFD has been lobbying for RPI to pay a public safety fee to fund additional fire coverage of the campus. [TU]
The ESP is smokin'!
Duuuude.
This is the kind of story you just can't make up. From a press release from the state Inspector General's office:
A state janitor was arrested and his boss suspended this week amid allegations that they created a hidden party lounge at an Empire State Plaza garage to sell drugs, smoke pot and sleep for hours during work shifts.
This hidden lounge allegedly contained "couches, TV and scales to weigh marijuana." The press release actually uses the term "man cave."
The janitor is also accused of using his Office of General Services truck to make pot deliveries to other state workers during his shifts. Both he and his supervisor have been suspended without pay.
(Thanks, CB!)
Oooooh! Ahhhh!
Bang.
Sebastien, B and Paul have posted some great photos of the fireworks at the ESP this past weekend.
That's one of Sebastien's photos above. Check out the reflection on the Corning Tower in this shot by B. And we love this wide-angle shot by Paul.
Update: Check out Chuck's set of fireworks photos -- they're from a different angle.
photo: Sebastien B
Alleged "Craigslist killer" went to UAlbany, Schenectady HS fight reportedly over suicide taunting, police say bus driver may have been at wheel drunk, smokin' at Skidmore
Philip Markoff, the Boston U medical student accused of being "the Craigslist killer" by police, is reportedly a 2007 UAlbany graduate. The man's fiance, who also reportedly attended UAlbany, told ABC News that police have the wrong guy. Markoff is the fourth former UAlbany student to be charged with murder during the last five years. [Boston Globe] [AP] [ABC News] [Albany Student Press]
Three teen girls were charged after a fight at Schenectady High School yesterday injured two teachers. One of the girl's mothers said her daughter did throw the first punch -- because she was being taunted about the recent suicide of her cousin. Students said yesterday that bullying is an ongoing problem at the school. [TU] [Daily Gazette] [Fox23]
Rudy Giuliani was in town last night for the Albany County Republicans' annual Lincoln Reagan dinner. Guiliani said state leaders should be "ashamed" of the New York's current "anti-competitive position" and he criticized the size of the recently passed state budget. Guiliani said he hasn't made his mind up about whether he'll run for governor next year and isn't sure when he will. [NYDN] [CapNews9] [AP/Newsday] [PolitickerNY]
There are still about 1500 disputed absentee ballots still to be counted (or not counted) in the NY20 special election. Scott Murphy's unofficial lead over Jim Tedisco is at 273 votes -- and Democrats are starting to make noises about the race being over. [TU] [CapNews9]
Inauguration parties?
We're guessing he's going to give a good speech.
Madonna (no, not that one) emailed us this week asking if we knew about any places hosting parties or events related to the inauguration. So far, we haven't come across anything that really stood out. Anyone hear of something good? Please share.
If you work around downtown Albany and are looking for a place to watch with some other people, we heard today that the NY Network will be showing the inauguration on the big screens at the Madison Ave end of the ESP concourse.
photo: Flickr user Lost Albatross
It snowed, pharmacy held up with a grenade, man stewed before bank heist, Paterson in Iraq, hope for ESP skating rink?
It snowed. The National Weather Service estimates the Capital Region got between 14-20 inches over the course of Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A snow emergency is in effect in Albany until 8 pm Tuesday -- and in Troy, you can park free in downtown city lots and garages until Monday at 8 pm. [Daily Gazette] [City of Albany] [City of Troy]
After the recent ice storm and power outages, the state Public Service Commission says it will be watching how well utilities keep trees trimmed around power lines. One potential culprit for some of the downed trees: the white pine weevil, a beetle that weakens otherwise ice-resistant pine trees. [Daily Gazette] [TU]
Police say a man robbed an uptown Albany CVS of narcotics Friday night using the threat of a grenade. [Daily Gazette]
Police say yet another pizza delivery guy was robbed in Albany in apparent setup. This is the third time that's happened in the last few weeks. In this most recent robbery, it seems the muggers only got away with pizza and chicken wings. [CBS6] [CapNews9] [TU]
New plan for Albany Convention Center, tech park for Arsenal, pepper spray fog sends six to hospital, ESP skating rink protests
The Albany Convention Center Authority has reformulated its plan for the project, separating the convention center, parking garage and hotel into their own parts. The new plan is expected to cut the cost of the project by about 40 percent. The authority says it won't be doing less, it'll just be "putting the pieces together differently." [Daily Gazette] [TU]
A federal investigation and raid in Watervliet led to the arrest of three men on charges they were making bombs and growing marijuana. [TU]
The plan to turn a significant portion of the Watervliet Arsenal into a tech park was officially announced yesterday. Outgoing US Rep Mike McNulty says the site could eventually support 1000 jobs. [Daily Gazette] [Troy Record]
The latest local layoffs at: WNYT | Albany International | Momentive Performance Materials. [TU] [Daily Gazette] [TU]
Pickup plows into family of pedestrians, ESP skating rink won't open, Saratoga packs 'em in for Gillibrand, ghost ticket investigation urged
A pickup truck hit a family of seven as they were crossing State Street in Schenectady late yesterday afternoon. A police spokesmen said there were "bodies all over the street" and it was "the worst thing" he'd ever seen. Two of the injured children were airlifted to Albany Med -- they were in critical condition last night. [TU] [WNYT] [Daily Gazette]
Opponents to the expansion of the Albany dump were out in force last night at a public comment meeting. One city resident called said the dump problems wouldn't be fixed until there's a new mayor. And Colonie residents complained about the smell. The dump is projected to be full by the end of next year. [TU] [WNYT]
The family of the man who was mistakenly identified by police as having died in a car wreck says the error was preventable. They say police didn't take notice that the body didn't match their son's license -- it was 200 pounds heavier and had different color eyes. They also say police never asked them to identify the body. [TU]
The skating rink on the ESP will not open this year. The state says it can save $150,000 keeping the rink closed. [TU]
New York needs a new senator, driver hit by trains charged with misdemeanor, ESP skating rink on ice?, Reilly has headlock on UFC, Troy officials fight over door lock, Garcia's closes
Hillary Clinton will be introduced as Barack Obama's nominee for Secretary of State today. That means, of course, that New York will need a new US senator (David Paterson gets to make the pick). Of interest: it came out this past weekend that Clinton had been offered the chair of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, which would have allowed her to direct loads of pork to NY. [NYT] [NYDN]
The man driving the SUV that was struck by two trains last week in New Scotland has been charged with a misdemeanor for not stopping at the rail crossing. Officials say a review of video and black boxes from the trains indicates the train operators did nothing wrong. [TU]
A 17-year-old was shot Friday night in the area of Clinton and Lark in Albany. Police say the shooter caught the young man in the face with a shotgun. [TU] [Troy Record]
Vandals spray-painted more than 50 cars in Lansingburgh Friday night. Residents say vandalism in the neighborhood is out of control. [Troy Record] [TU]
Lunch with Rousseau, Gauguin, Klimt and Munch
The Hungry Lion Throws Itself on the Antelope by Henri Rousseau.
Here's something a little different for your lunch hour if you work around the ESP. The New York State Museum is starting a four week Thursday lunchtime film series today called "The Post-Impressionists." Blurb from the announcement:
At the close of the 19th century, artists freely explored the innovations of Impressionism by expanding on the use of color, light, subject, and texture. The 2008 film series examines how the Post-Impressionists helped to usher in a new era of art by paving the way for Modernism.
Today's film is about Henri Rousseau. The next three weeks will cover Paul Gauguin, Gustav Klimt, and Edvard Munch.
Each film is 50 minutes long and will start at noon in the NYS Museum's Huxley Theather. And, yep, you can bring your lunch.
Earlier on AOA: Three things to see now at the NYS Museum
Proposed tax increases for City of Albany and Schenectady County, proposals for Harriman development, crystal balls at ESP trouble some, the Knicks drink coffee in Saratoga
Jerry Jennings' proposed 2009 budget for the City of Albany includes a 4.9 percent tax increase. (That's a projected $100 increase for the owner of a "average" home.) The almost $161 million budget is actually smaller than last year's by about $1 million. Among the cuts this year: 20 firefighter and 10 police jobs will be left vacant. [TU]
In Troy, Harry Tutunjian's proposed budget is four percent bigger than last year's, but it doesn't include a tax increase. The plan aims use to reserves and state aid to cover the increase. [Troy Record]
Schenectady County's proposed budget for 2009 includes a 13 percent tax increase. The county manager, a Democrat, says the cost of state mandates is forcing the hike. County Republicans say the majority Democrats have mismanaged the county's finances through their "out-of-control patronage and liberal programs." [TU] [Daily Gazette]
Banks with local branches say they're in pretty good shape, despite the ongoing banking/Wall Street meltdown. They credit their stability to not being involved with shaky subprime mortgages. [TU] [Saratogian]
Yellow Blue is back... or is it?
Kelly is said to have thought the ESP needed some color.
The Ellsworth Kelly sculpture Yellow Blue is back in its place at the foot of Building 3 at the ESP. It had been on a sort of spa vacation for the last couple of months. And it's returned looking very refreshed.
KT Tunstall, Martha Wainwright tonight at ESP
Matha Wainwright. Presumably she'll be right-side up tonight at the ESP.
The At The Plaza concert series has a show lined up tonight that should be pretty popular. KT Tunstall is headlining. You probably know her from "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" and "Suddenly I See", which has been played in pretty much every TV show and movie trailer over the last year or so.
Also on the bill is Martha Wainwright, daughter of Loudon and Kate McGarrigle and sister of Rufus.
Things get started at 5 pm with locals The Audiostars. Wainwright's scheduled for 6 pm, followed by Leon Russell at 7 pm, and then Tunstall at 8:45. It's free.
The Corning Tower observation deck
Ever wish you could just rise above it all? Try looking down on your friends and neighbors from the observation deck of The Corning Tower. (It's the reallllly tall building at the end of the capital mall.) You can see the Adirondacks, The Catskills, The Berkshires, The Empire Plaza, even The Governor's Mansion (Is that a tiny steamroller?).
If you live downtown you can walk. Otherwise, park under the plaza. Just bring your photo id. Getting into the tower isn't hard, but you have to jump through a few post 9-11 security hoops. If you enter from the plaza level, you'll have to take the escalator down, present your id and get your picture taken. The guard will print an unflattering photo of you on a name badge.Stick it on and head back up to the plaza level to wait for the express elevator to the 42nd floor.
It's really not as much trouble as it sounds, and on a clear day, it's well worth the view. There are signs below the windows with tips on what there is to see, and a representative from the NYS tourism department is on hand to answer questions. Fun, informative and oh yeah, free.
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