For 50 years, someone has been able to tell the story about the time they stole a car belonging to Albany Mayor Erastus Corning 2nd — and the only person punished for the crime was Corning himself.
Corning drove his 1974 Buick Century to City Hall on March 14, 1976 — a Saturday — to take care of some business. Albany’s “mayor for life” had been in office since winning the 1941 election.
He told the Times Union he parked the green Buick in the traffic circle in front of the building at about 11:45 a.m. that day and left the keys in the ignition. When he came out about half an hour later, the car was gone.
“I don’t do that any place but in front of City Hall,” Corning said at the time, noting there was usually a police officer stationed outside on weekdays and the congestion of vehicles often made it necessary to move the car. “I will make a definite point to lock up, of course, from now on.”…