Re JoAnn Sifo’s Dec. 5 letter, “Downtown retailers shouldn’t balk at fee”: Mine isn’t the only empty storefront downtown. Does Chez Daisie Creperie owner JoAnn Sifo think that all building owners are refusing to rent out their spaces? I’ve entertained many inquiries — including hers, even though she was already committed to the space she currently occupies. If she’s suggesting that I should have offered her my space (three times the size of hers) for the same rent she’s paying, well, her judgment has been clouded by way too many handouts. What motivation do I have to open up a cafe/bistro in my space when so many are bankrolled to open up their operations? I operated two very successful restaurants in Boston without any handouts, but business is done differently in Schenectady. I need no one to sweep or shovel the sidewalk in front of my property. As far as flowers and beautification of that pedestrian walkway: Collectively, as building and business owners, we could do the job for a lot less than the $200,000-plus it costs to keep the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. bureaucracy and the waste of taxpayers’ money by purchasing a fleet of unnecessary vehicles. The city has washed its hands of any responsibility to do the work for which it collects some of the highest taxes in the land. My suggestion to Ms. Sifo, and the rest of the business owners downtown, is to focus on the real issues that are making downtown a ghost town. This is not negative, it’s the truth. I am sure all of us have great ideas. Let’s proceed with open minds and call for a meeting that will include businesses as far away as the Stockade. All of us want a success story downtown, and not just on the pedestrian walkway or State Street. EMBAREK MESBAHI Schenectady The writer owns 138-142 Jay St.
Group is helping promote downtown Sch’dy in many ways
In response to the recent articles and letters regarding the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation (DSIC), we think it is important for people to realize the essential role that DSIC plays in the revitalization of Schenectady, not as one entity alone, but in partnership with organizations, individuals, businesses and property owners who make downtown’s revitalization as successful as it is. DSIC is not just about cleaning sidewalks, planting flowers, special events or business promotions. It is about our collective efforts to redevelop peoples’ relationship to the city. By seeking to create positive change, new uses and new reasons to come downtown, we erase negative and inaccurate perceptions of our downtown and invite others to enjoy it. Long gone are the days of dilapidated buildings and a ghost-like, run-down downtown Schenectady. Today, historic buildings once again stand proud, many with the help of the façade improvement program that the DSIC administers with grants from the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority, as well as the Main Street Program, which establishes new commercial and residential space in downtowns. The streets are once again clean and inviting, making visitors want to stop to browse, get a bite to eat, shop or see a show. More importantly, because of downtown’s revitalization, once people visit, they want to return, maybe to Art Night, in which DSIC plays a role, to see a show at one of the Proctors theaters or to attend the annual Magic and Melodies Open House supported by the DSIC and Jay Street merchants. More activities are being offered every day. DSIC has been a major part of downtown Schenectady for the last 30 years, has evolved its role with the changing needs of downtown and will continue to partner with local agencies, government, business and property owners for years to come. DSIC is the only organization dedicated to the promotion of downtown Schenectady as a destination. The DSIC business promotion and marketing program offers restaurant, retail and service businesses a wide range of activities and ways to participate. In addition, we have partnered with the Chamber of Commerce to develop a new tourism and marketing guide. This comprehensive downtown business directory highlights cultural venues and business associations in the county, and information is cross-listed on the DSIC Web site for easy access. With all the new activity on the downtown streets, DSIC has devised maps that will be placed strategically in kiosks to help visitors orient themselves in our new downtown. We promote activities that draw people downtown, such as the downtown farmer’s market, Jazz on Jay, the Pottery Trail, Kids Art Fest, Community Day, Downtown Schenectady Restaurant Week and the Stockade Walkabout. In partnership with others, we have started new events, including Magic and Melodies Open House, Art Night Schenectady and Summer Night. We promote, and market, downtown by leading and organizing tours, updating our available property database, providing free listings for businesses in our district and showing available space to prospective new businesses. In addition, we establish downtown advertising opportunities and help existing businesses market their enterprises. To enhance and foster communication with our membership, we organize quarterly and special needs stakeholder input sessions. And, we are involved in behind-the-scenes activity that is immeasurable in the partnership to make downtown Schenectady the best it can be. Downtown is open for business, there is ample public parking, and we hope everyone will continue to support our businesses. Our rebirth is here and will continue, as long as we work together to rebuild downtown “block by block.” KAREN ZALEWSKI-WILDZUNAS Schenectady The writer is board president of DSIC.
DSIC is not just about cleaning sidewalks, planting flowers, special events or business promotions. It is about our collective efforts to redevelop peoples’ relationship to the city.
This the proverbial answer to the proverbial complaint: "They should do something about the city. It's a mess. I cant go down there, someone needs to do something."
Remember as a kid when we would try to explain something we did wrong with the answer of "They told me it was...blah blah blah"? Who was they??
This is America and it is pretty easy to 'purchase nice things' and the people to do the work.....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Stratton decides against balancing downtown group Wednesday, February 6, 2008 By Kathleen Moore (Contact) Gazette Reporter
SCHENECTADY — Mayor Brian U. Stratton has decided not to balance the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp., despite a growing number of complaints from small business owners and owners at the outskirts of the downtown who say the economic revitalization agency is ignoring them. Stratton had promised after his November re-election to consider balancing the DSIC board by adding more small business owners, particularly from the edge of downtown. But in his new appointments, announced this week, he chose to reappoint four existing members and get rid of none of the controversial appointees he had already made. He reappointed board President Karen Zalewski-Wildzunas, a senior vice president at Key Bank who works in Saratoga; Richard Antokol, a State Street attorney; Janet Hutchison, owner of Open Door Bookstore; and city Councilwoman Margaret King, associate dean for student development at Schenectady County Community College. Stratton also appointed one new member: Don Leva, who owns a small newsstand across from City Hall. To make room for Leva, Stratton replaced Dee Earle, who was director of sales and marketing at the Holiday Inn on Nott Terrace. Earle had transferred to a Holiday Inn outside the city. Stratton removed Leva from the board in 2005, saying he wanted to put in “my own people,” according to published reports. He has not returned a call seeking comment on the recent appointments. One business owner who had hoped Stratton would appoint owners from the outskirts of the downtown, rather than the Jay Street-State Street hub, said she was disappointed by Stratton’s choices. “It still doesn’t address the problem — the representation still isn’t there,” said Kathy Fitzmaurice, who owns the Katbird Shop on Liberty Street. “It’s only right — if I’m paying, I should have a say.” But she said Leva’s appointment was a good beginning, since he is a small business owner, even though he isn’t from the outskirts. “It’s a step in the right direction,” Fitzmaurice said. “You can’t expect to get change in a couple meetings with the mayor unless you have more clout and contribute a lot more to his campaign — and you can quote me on that.” She said DSIC is “obviously” controlled by Stratton’s Democratic party. “And it shouldn’t be,” she said. Many business owners said last fall that the DSIC board is unresponsive, ignores property owners outside the heart of the downtown, and does not offer any valuable services in exchange for its mandatory special tax. But when Stratton told them he might balance the board by adding small business owners or owners from the outskirts, some owners said they would be satisfied.
http://www.dailygazette.com SCHENECTADY Council rejects Stratton’s appointees Complaints about picks for DSIC board spark dispute BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
Business owners who claim the Democratic Party has taken over the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. got some unexpected help Monday from three Democratic City Council members. The council members rejected Mayor Brian U. Stratton’s controversial appointees to the DSIC board, stopping the appointments with a 3-3 vote. Council members Gary McCarthy, Joseph Allen and Barbara Blanchard voted against the appointees. It was a rare break among the all-Democratic city leadership, which touted “working together works” during election campaigns just two months ago and usually keeps disagreements out of the public eye. Council members did try to get Stratton to back down at meeting before the voting session, but he insisted that it was the mayor’s prerogative to make appointments. Blanchard argued that his choices — two administrators, two longtime successful business owners and an attorney — were not truly representative of the downtown business owners, many of whom are struggling to keep their small shops in the black. “Look, Janet Hutchison is not going to go out of business,” Blanchard said, referring to the owner of Open Door Bookstore, one of Stratton’s proposed appointments. “I’d like to see someone who’s a new, startup business owner who’s run into problems common to many small business owners in Schenectady.” Allen said business owners think the DSIC board is unresponsive. They complain the board is wasting their special assessment tax, which they are required to pay if they own property downtown. “It’s a lot of money for a little,” Allen said. “The people I talked to, they don’t feel they’re getting their money’s worth.” Some owners from the outskirts of the downtown have also said the DSIC board only pays attention to the Jay Street-State Street hub of downtown. Those issues led several owners to lobby Stratton last year, asking him to balance the DSIC board by seating more small business owners, particularly from the outskirts. He responded last week by appointing just one small businessman who works in the heart of downtown. He also re-appointed several controversial members, including board President Karen Zalewski-Wildzunas, a senior vice president at Key Bank who works in Saratoga. Downtown business owners have questioned her involvement both because she works in another city and because Key Bank officials have discussed closing the downtown branch. On Monday, Blanchard questioned Zalewski-Wildzunas’ appointment, calling her a “non-business person” who “isn’t working here.” King defended Zalewski-Wildzunas, saying, “We represent our respective businesses … she’s downtown periodically for meetings. She has supervisory responsibilities.” DISCORD ABOUNDS Stratton told the council that no matter who he appoints, somebody won’t be happy. “There are people no matter what you do you’ll never make 100 percent happy. If I appoint from the north side of town, they will say it should be from the south,” he said. “Certainly I will continue to take those into consideration. We’ll continue to talk to them.” He said owners could suggest who he should appoint, but when Blanchard pressed him on whether he would accept such nominations, he demurred. “The responsibility rests in me to make the appointment,” he said. The council, however, must vote on the appointments, giving the members the power to stop him. They debated with Stratton at their pre-voting meeting, but once the television cameras turned on and the voting session began, they did not discuss the issue. Instead, they simply voted, splitting 3-3 on whether to allow the appointments. Without King to cast the deciding vote, the resolution failed for lack of a favorable majority vote. King couldn’t vote because she is one of the proposed appointees. The vote leaves the eight-member board without a quorum. It now has five vacant seats, including a recent vacancy that Stratton did not fill when he announced his other appointees. The only remaining members of the board are John McDonald of John McDonald Engineering, Frank Gilmore of Stracher-Roth-Gilmore Architects, and Stephen Waite, who is developing the Big House project. McCarthy said Monday’s vote was intended to give him leverage in convincing the mayor to change some of his appointments. “It’s part of a negotiating strategy,” he said, adding that he is negotiating for “a little more responsiveness.” Stratton said he had no idea why the three council members rejected the appointees. “I’m going to make some phone calls,” he said. “[McCarthy] hasn’t expressed his concerns to me personally. I’m always willing to be responsive to their concerns and others’ as well.” But moments later, in the hallway outside the Council Chambers, he argued with Allen and Blanchard, saying it was the mayor’s role to appoint DSIC members. Stratton had proposed appointing Zalewski-Wildzunas; King; Hutchison; Richard Antokol, a downtown State Street attorney; and Don Leva, owner of the newstand across from City Hall. One small business owner was so unimpressed by those choices last week that she said Stratton was deliberately stocking the board to keep it under the control of the Democrats. Kathy Fitzmaurice , who owns the Katbird Shop on Liberty Street and says she receives no benefi t from DSIC despite being required to pay for membership, said the agency is “obviously” controlled by Stratton’s Democratic Party. She and others have claimed in the past that the mayor’s choices are more representative of him and his party than of the downtown business owners.
KeyBank, and key executive, committed to downtown Sch’dy
I would like to clarify a number of comments made in your coverage (Feb. 12 article, “Council rejects Stratton’s appointees — Complaints about picks for DSIC board spark dispute,” and Feb. 15 article, “Downtown board carries on — Members to stay until replaced”) of Mayor Brian Stratton’s appointments to the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. (DSIC). First, Karen Zalewski-Wildzunas is a senior vice president at KeyBank, whose office may be in Saratoga, but who is very knowledgeable about small business in downtown Schenectady. As a KeyBank Business Banking team leader, Karen works with numerous companies in a wide range of industries here. As head of KeyBank’s Capital Region Key4Women initiative, which helps women business owners obtain access to capital, networking, education and mentoring, she works on a regular basis with women-owned businesses in downtown Schenectady and oversees a team of bankers located downtown. As such, she has a better understanding of the challenges of small businesses here than many individual small business owners, who are focused on their own companies and do not always have an opportunity to consider the bigger picture. In fact, Karen, who has lived in Schenectady for 20 years and continues to live here, has never had her main Key-Bank office here. Before moving to Saratoga, she was headquartered in Albany, but her connections to, and knowledge of, downtown Schenectady were not in question. Karen has brought enormous professionalism to the DSIC. Most notably, she helped the organization move from a paper accounting system to a computerized one with audited financial statements. This enabled the DSIC to become a 501(3)c (to have nonprofi t status), which made it eligible for additional funding sources, including federal government grants. Let’s stop playing politics with the DSIC and start recognizing the good this organization — and its leaders — are doing for downtown. On another matter mentioned in your article, KeyBank has no plans to close the downtown Schenectady branch. We are currently looking to move the 436 State Street. branch to another downtown location because we sold our parking lot to support downtown redevelopment efforts, and a branch without adjacent parking is difficult for our clients. Key’s commitment to downtown Schenectady has never been stronger. WILLIAM B. FAUBION Scotia The writer is vice president of KeyBank N.A. and past chairman of the Chamber of Schenectady County.
Downtown Schenectady group names new director Monday, April 14, 2008 By Michael Lamendola (Contact) Gazette Reporter
SCHENECTADY — The Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. hired a new executive director today to further promote the resurgent business district, officials said. James Salengo will join the organization May 5, becoming its third executive director since 2000. He is director of communications for the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District. DSIC President Karen Zalewski-Wildzunas said Salengo will promote downtown as a premier location for commerce, recreation and living. “The revitalization of downtown Schenectady is off and running, but we’re not done yet,” she said. Salengo was selected from among 42 candidates who applied for the position and will earn $55,000 to $75,000, said DSIC Vice President Richard Antokol. “He was the only candidate with executive experience in a business improvement district,” Antokol said. Salengo also brings expertise in other key areas on which the DSIC wants its new executive director to focus, he said. The DSIC board sought a candidate with skills in budget development and finance; business development, retention and recruitment; marketing and publications; fundraising and grant writing; and volunteer recruitment and development. “We are looking at the long-term task of running downtown as a going concern. That is a different set of skills, and Jim brings those skills,” Antokol said. “We have an enormous opportunity right now because much of the reconstruction downtown has been completed and we are now pivoting from how to jump start, restart, reinvigorate a downtown, which was the task for the last five to seven years, to how do you run a downtown." With the Albany BID since 2003, Salengo helped created the marketing campaign “Downtown Albany: Worth Discovering Since 1609,” according to a DSIC news release. The American Marketing Association awarded its Mark of Excellence Award to the campaign in 2005. Salengo moved to the Capital Region in 1990 and lived for five years in Schenectady. “I have watched the remarkable transformation of downtown Schenectady over the last several years with pride and admiration,” he said. Prior to joining the Albany BID, he worked 13 1/2 years for WMHT, serving as its main on-air spokesman and as director of television programming. The DSIC receives funding through the Downtown Schenectady Assessment District and the Metroplex Development Authority. The district collects approximately $230,000 annually from 600 downtown property owners. Metroplex Development provides it with a $150,000 operating grant, plus between $200,000 and $300,000 per year for facade grants. The organization also raises $40,000 through events. The DSIC uses the assessment money to clean and beautify sidewalks, promote downtown businesses and other activities.
Salengo moved to the Capital Region in 1990 and lived for five years in Schenectady.
The Gazette article states that Mr. Salengo livED in Schenectady. This suggests that he no longer resides there. It doesn't appear that he owns or operates a business in the City of Schenectady either.
My goodness! All of this money STILL for downtown. And all of these salaries and appointed positions ALL IN THE NAME OF REVITALIZATION! Of what?
This has become a bottomless money making honey pot for the politicians, families, friends and business acquaintances. Instead of using all or most of these funds for revitalization and the improvement of all of schenectady county...it is used to appoint and elect the elite into high paying taxpaid positions.
Believe me people....this metroplex, DSIC and the rest will be looked at in history as a shame with more corruptness than the union days of GE!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 2:21 PM EDT Schenectady downtown business group will hold annual meeting July 16 The Business Review (Albany)
The Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. will hold its annual meeting July 16 at Proctors in Schenectady.
About 150 business owners, elected officials and property owners are expected to attend the meeting, which will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Wright Family Atrium & GE Theatre at Proctors.
Presenters at the meeting include Jim Salengo, executive director of the DSIC, Mayor Brian Stratton, Karen Zalewski-Wildzunas, board president, and Margaret King, president of the City Council and board secretary.
Registration and refreshments will be provided from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. by Aperitivo Bistro and the Muddy Cup Coffee House.
For more information contact Salengo at 518-377-9430 or jim@downtownschenectady.com.
Downtown Schenectady group to do more marketing Wednesday, July 16, 2008 By Kathleen Moore (Contact) Gazette Reporter
SCHENECTADY — The street-sweeping and flower-planting will stay, but the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. will also throw itself into promoting its businesses after a year of controversy in which many business owners said they get nothing from the agency that taxes them.
“My background is in marketing, so I’m really coming into this wanting to do that side of it,” said new Executive Director James Salengo after Wednesday’s annual meeting. “So I agree. We can do a better job and we will do a better job.”
Roughly a third of the agency’s members gathered early this morning for the annual meeting, at which Salengo said DSIC serves a “vital role” in the downtown.
He emphasized the positive: an increase in visitors parking in daytime lots downtown, repeat business from college students after a free event this spring and a successful restaurant week promotion in which nearly half the diners were new customers.
“We are building momentum,” he said.
The agency also picked up 960 cubic yards of litter (the equivalent of 30 full Dumpsters) last year, a tribute to the amount of work needed to keep the downtown looking clean.
But Salengo acknowledged his members are not all satisfied with his agency, particularly with the way DSIC leaders are chosen and the special assessment tax.
He said the agency will at least discuss changes in response to both criticisms.
“There seems to have been some good progress made on looking at the assessment [tax],” he said. “The decision has been made that it’s important to look at it.”
The agency will hire an independent consultant to offer options on new formulas for spreading out the tax burden. But Salengo noted that most critics of the tax don’t want a new formula — they simply say they aren’t getting enough in return for their money.
Part of the answer, he said, is to do more to market the businesses. He’s trying to add businesses to existing programs as a package deal — dinner and a show after a trolley tour, for example — and create new promotions that could draw customers to the area.
He warned that big events, like the SummerNight program that will be held Friday, are too expensive to put on regularly.
“Events are great, but we don’t have the staff or resources to be a full event organizer,” he said. “I’m brainstorming.”
As for the smoldering issue of leadership, nothing has been resolved. The City Council split, 3-3, over who should be appointed to the board. Many business owners still feel they should have a say in that decision, but the mayor still insists he should keep that power.
Salengo said a committee is considering a recommendation process or a membership vote to help guide the council’s decision. The committee is also weighing the idea of increasing the size of the board. The mayor is staunchly opposed to that, and the agency would need city council support to make such changes.
I still don't understand the roll of this company and who pays for it, what do they sell to get money to do the marketing? Anyone have a handle on this?
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