Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How will Albany’s $55M deficit affect city services and jobs?

Spotted on the Albany calendar: Finance, Assessment and Taxation Committee - Common Council

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Wednesday August 19th Patch AM
Wednesday August 19th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

What's up Albany! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How will Albany's $55M deficit affect city services and jobs?
  • Why an Albany County plea is raising alarms about sex offender tracking.
  • How K-9 Casey's death is changing Albany County's K-9 safety rules.

Today's riddle: What do evil hens lay? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Times of clouds and sunshine, with a high of 85 and low of 63 degrees.
  • Thursday: Sun and some clouds, temps: high: 82, low: 55.
  • Friday: Partly sunny, with a high of 82 and low of 57 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Albany lawmakers talk about city's $55M budget deficit (wnyt.com) — Albany officials are confronting a projected $55 million budget deficit, keeping hiring freezes and other austerity measures in place while they search for long-term fixes. City leaders point to decades of tax-exempt state property, including Empire State Plaza, and a shrinking downtown state workforce as major drivers of the crisis. Residents can expect cost-cutting to continue as solutions are debated.
   

2. Albany County Court plea highlights gaps in tracking level one sex offenders (cbs6albany.com) — A recent plea deal in Albany County Court is prompting calls to change how New York tracks level one sex offenders, after a man with prior convictions was not listed on any public database. An Albany-area victim's father and a legal expert explain how current state law keeps these offenders off public websites and what reforms families want.
   

3. K-9 Casey likely escaped through unlatched kennel door before fatal Thruway strike (cbs6albany.com) — Albany County Sheriff's K-9 Casey, an 8-year-old bloodhound, was found dead along the Thruway after likely pushing through an unlatched kennel door at her handler's Ravena home. The sheriff's office is investigating the timeline, reviewing video, and tightening kennel locks and GPS tracking to prevent future escapes, while classifying her death as line-of-duty.
   

4. UAlbany men's basketball schedule announced (troyrecord.com) — UAlbany men's basketball just released its 2026–27 schedule, featuring 14 home games at Broadview Center and the return of the Albany Cup against Siena on December 12. Fans can already buy or renew season tickets, with packages starting at $100 and renewal payments due by October 28. The slate mixes marquee nonconference opponents with a full America East schedule.
   

5. U.S. News & World Report Ranks Schuylerville High School #2 in Albany Metro Area (schuylervilleschools.org) — Schuylerville High School has been ranked #2 out of 49 schools in the Albany metro area and 92nd statewide in U.S. News & World Report's 2026–27 Best High Schools list. Administrators credit strong academics, college readiness, and personalized planning for students' next steps. The recognition highlights how competitive Capital Region schools are performing in statewide comparisons.
   

📸 Around Albany

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Albany

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

    Wednesday August 19
  • Finance, Assessment and Taxation Committee - Common Council →
    Albany, NY Calendar Albany, NY 12207
    5:30 pm
    • Thursday August 20
  • Freedom and Opportunity: the Revolution and Beyond
    Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc. The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, 194 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY, 12210, United States
    5:00 pm
    • Friday August 21
  • Drawn To Art - Workshop at UREC
    Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc. The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, 194 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY, 12210, United States
    2:00 pm
    • Sunday August 23
  • International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition
    Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc. Virtual
  • Black August Block Party
    Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc. The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, 194 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY, 12210, United States
    3:00 pm
    • Monday August 24
  • Board of Education Meeting
    Menands School Albany, NY 12204
    6:30 pm
  • CRAFT NIGHT at The Myers Residence
    Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc. The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, 194 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY, 12210, United States
    7:00 pm
    • Friday August 28
  • Drawn To Art - Workshop at UREC
    Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc. The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, 194 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY, 12210, United States
    2:00 pm

📣 Albany Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Hello everyone my cat got out of the house in the rensselaer ny area just this morning.
    if anyone has seen her please let me know she is very friendly and i'm afraid someone may have took her. her name is cottony, cotton or cotty. (Nextdoor North Albany - Shaker Park)
  • Orange cat sighted near the National Babe Ruth park on Woodlawn.
    I left some food. It let me get close enough to get a picture. (Nextdoor New Albany)
  • Peregrine Shaker posted a job opening for Activity Assistant in Albany. Apply here.
  • Molly Maid posted a job opening for Professional Residential House Cleaner in Albany. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Albany here.

Ok Albany! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Deviled eggs (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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