Jamaica Miles rejects ACOD in protest arrest
Schenectady School Board member Jamaica Miles will be back in Saratoga Springs court later this month. This comes after Judge Francine Vero’s attempt to resolve the racial justice protester’s case with an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal, an agreement that would remove the charges if the accused does not get re-arrested in a certain period of time, a story in the Daily Gazette says. The assistant district attorney declined the judge’s offer for the ACOD and offered to reduce the charge to disorderly conduct, but Miles, through her attorney Thomas Keefe, rejected the prosecutor’s counter, the story says.
The Times Union story on the same topic says that Miles intends to go to trail on the charges.
[Read more about the protest that begat these charges, here. Read our coverage of the fallout, cases and more, here.]
Springs: Hampton Inn sold
The Hampton Inn & Suites hotel in downtown Saratoga Springs has been sold, the Albany Business Journal is reporting. According to the story, owners Mike Hoffman and Frank Parillo sold the 123-room hotel and the parking garage next door for $17.25 million. The total price, which included the business, real estate, buildings and interiors was $28.25 million, the story says. DelMonte Hotel Group of Rochester was the purchaser. It is their fifth purchase in the Capital Region.
Crossgates withdraws lawsuits against tenants
Pyramid Management Group LLC of Syracuse, the owner of Crossgates Commons has withdrawn a pandemic-era lawsuit against the owners of The Gap, Michaels, Journeys and other tenants, a story in the Albany Business Journal says. They were seeking $1.16 million in back rent. No clear reason for the pull out was given in court filings, but it appears the parties negotiated settlements, the story says.
Proposal for Children’s Museum former building: woodworking workshop
Businessman and entrepreneur, John Haller, is proposing to buy the two-story brick building at 69 Caroline St. for $2 million and turn it into a creator space, starting with woodworking, a story in the Daily Gazette says. The building has been the Children's Museum at Saratoga Springs for a couple decades, but they are moving to the Lincoln Baths building at the Saratoga Spa State Park and are selling the Caroline Street building. [Read more about that, here.] Haller is proposing community educational and professional workshop space, the DG story says, but the proposal requires a change in zoning.
Tonko recalls Jan. 6 attack on Capitol
“The ‘thunderous’ noise of hundreds of protestors forcing their way into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2020, lives vividly in the memory of U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko," a story in the Times Union opens.
“Barricaded in the House chamber, Tonko heard the intruders pounding at the doors, shouting for entry and the unmistakable pop of a gunshot…
“Tonko, D-Amsterdam, was one of about 25 or so representatives stuck in the upper-level gallery in the House chamber when protestors supporting former President Donald J. Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol, seeking to stop a vote to certify President Joe Biden as the victor in the 2020 election.
“Just hours after the attack on the Capitol, Congress voted to certify the 2020 election results, the very action the protestors sought to stop. Some Republicans voted against the certification, however, and continued to voice concerns about how the election was conducted.” The story continues here.