Kenneth C. Crowe II reports in The Albany Times-Union that, faced with a federal lawsuit later this week with the New York Civil Liberties Union, the city of Troy settled with The Sanctuary for Independent Media in their lawsuit accusing the city of shutting them down for code violations for free speech reasons. Then Troy Public Works Commissioner Robert Mirch, now a Rensselear County Legislator, got upset about the political content of an art show and led pickets outside the media center March 10, 2008. The next day, as Public Works Commisssioner, he closed the center for a few code violations. The Sanctuary for Independent Media had agreed to host an art installation by Iraqi-American artist Wafaa Bilal, after Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute cancelled the show there due to complaints. While Mirch delayed the show temporarily, now his actions are causing the city to establish a fund for programming there involving the city and the media group. "We're looking forward to moving forward in a positive way with the (city's) new administration," said Steve Pierce, executive director of the Sanctuary for Independent Media. Read the full story in The Albany Times-Union.