While acronyms seem to be everywhere these days, it’s always helpful to defi ne the acronym when writing about it. That was not the case with the editorial in this morning’s [Sept. 2] paper about the Schenectady “DSIC.” I gathered that it was some sort of business improvement district or organization, but nowhere could I find it spelled out. Though I always read and usually enjoy your editorials, being on the western edge of your range leaves me less familiar with everyday things like this in Schenectady. In the future, please try to establish what an acronym stands for before diving into the rest of the article and/or editorial so we all know exactly what is being referred to. TOLGA MORAWSKI Fort Plain
SCHENECTADY Few downtown business owners attend meeting BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Kathleen Moore at 395-3120 or moore@dailygazette.com
Only a handful of downtown business owners showed up last week for a meeting they spent years demanding.
Finally, the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. is rethinking its tax formula, which many business owners have said is unfair. But at the first of two critical meetings on how to change the formula, only about 12 owners showed up, DSIC Executive Director Jim Salengo said.
The owners were nearly outnumbered by the staff and board members who attended, he added. There are more than 500 business owners in the district.
He declined to say whether he was disappointed by the turnout, but indicated some frustration.
“We’ve announced it quite a bit, it was in every newsletter, we sent out postcards,” he said. “All I can say is we got the information out there. I just want people to understand we tried to make this a transparent process.”
There will be just one more meeting, on Dec. 3, at which consultant Saratoga Associates will discuss its recommended tax formula. That meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn on Nott Terrace.
Later in December, the DSIC formula committee will make a recommendation on the formula and the board will vote. In January, the board’s decision will be presented to the public.
Business owners will have a chance to react to the proposed formula at the Dec. 3 meeting. That will likely be their last chance to affect the final decision.
“It’s an open process,” Salengo said. “They can participate if they want.”
It’s not clear why more owners didn’t show up for last week’s meeting. Salengo said they may be reassured by the board’s increased effort at communication.
But many owners were so upset about the taxing formula that they organized a group to lobby the mayor and the Schenectady City Council to make changes last year. Some even demanded that the downtown corporation be disbanded.
In response to business owners’ complaints, the Schenectady City Council took the rare step this year of rejecting the mayor’s appointments to the DSIC board. After months in which the council was split evenly on the issue and no one would budge, the appointees came to a meeting to plead their case.
They promised to be responsive to the business owners, to consider new taxing formulas, to spend more money marketing the businesses and to spread the wealth more fairly among all of the businesses instead of focusing on those in the heart of the downtown.
Council members said they were convinced that the board was heading in the right direction. They approved the appointments in late August.
They promised to be responsive to the business owners, to consider new taxing formulas, to spend more money marketing the businesses and to spread the wealth more fairly among all of the businesses instead of focusing on those in the heart of the downtown.
In my opinion, I don't think the DSIC should even exist. Again it takes away from capitalism. Let the private businesses market their own in their own way.
I really don't remember if the business owners wanted and supported the DSIC from the beginning. Or the DSIC was formed and so called forced on these business owners. In either case, it should not exist. It really hasn't worked so far. If more NEW businesses come to Schenectady County, than ALL will flourish. But I haven't seen too much of that in the last decade.
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
The DSIC {Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp} is an extra level of taxation for oppressed Downtown Business. It was started as a parking authority and now Metrograft runs all the lots. It is not a Business Improvement Group. Business are forced to pay a fee, for flowers, promotion and street sweeping. Things the City should be doing with its record taxes. Nobody showed up for a reason-nobody cares-get rid of this!
The new "leader" better walk up quick. The Mayor and Metrograft Ray are calling all the shots. Funniest part their President, from Saratoga Key Bank doesn't even work in Schenectady! Another dupe attorney is Vice President and regularly supports large tax increases and is the only one for the Mayor's insane Circle to nowhere. The best thing Downtown could do, is end this horrible do nothing organization
Service Above Self He/she Profits most who serves best Four-Way Test of the things we think, say or do:
Is it the Truth? Is it Fair to all concerned? Will it build Good Will and Better Friendships? Will it be Beneficial to all concerned? Rotary's Mission
The Mission of Rotary International is to support its member clubs in fulfilling the object of Rotary by:
Fostering unity among member clubs; Strengthening and expanding Rotary around the world; Communicating worldwide the work of Rotary; and Provide a system of international Administration.
ROTTERDAM SUNRISE ROTARY Thursday, 7:15 AM McLanes Restaurant, 2717 Broadway President: David J. Rey Secretary: Frank A. Renna Charter Date: June 25, 1991
SCHENECTADY Businesses may create new groups Talk of taxation fairness turns to fragmentation BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
Tempers flared at Wednesday’s Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. meeting, with several business owners saying they would be better off if they seceded from the DSIC and formed their own groups. “Put a different BID [business improvement district] in each area — downtown, Erie East, Erie West, Stockade,” said Erie Boulevard property owner Lou Buhrmaster. “Have four BIDs if you want them. You can have downtown. We’ll have one on Erie if we want it.” John McDonald, who owns the Stockade Inn at the very edge of the DSIC district, said his neighborhood needs to secede as well. “We’re kind of a separate entity in the Stockade. Our needs are different. Our district is just not homogeneous,” he said. The idea proved popular, but it was not quite what DSIC leaders had hoped for when they called Wednesday’s meeting. They wanted to hash out a new taxing formula that would give all owners a sense of equality. Currently, many owners are fuming about the fact that they pay far more than others yet receive far fewer DSIC services. Business owners at the edges of the district — particularly Union Street, Erie Boulevard and the Stockade — have complained for years about the unfairness in the current system. The idea of splitting into separate districts struck them as a perfect solution, although it would likely require approval from the City Council and the mayor. “Each group could do what they want. That’s the simplest way to do it,” said Phil Tiberio, who owns EOS Technologies on Erie Boulevard. He suggested that each group retain some connection to the DSIC but choose which services it wanted to buy from the agency. “It could be an a la carte kind of deal,” he said. McDonald agreed, saying the district is so large and diverse that each area has its own needs and priorities. “Break it up into corridors or neighborhoods or homogenous groups — subgroups,” he said. Even DSIC Executive Director Jim Salengo seemed to think the idea had merit. He said he has so little contact with the businesses on the Stockade side of the district that he relies on the neighborhood association president to.......................................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar01301
WOW....good for these business owners! 'bout time! If I were them I WOULD NOT be a part of the DSIC in any capacity! These business owners are smart people. Otherwise they wouldn't be in business. They are creative and know what needs to bedone. They can do it themselves! Congrats!
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
Be careful what you wish for BT. Yes form separate groups AFTER abolishing the horrible, Krat run, DSIC. Just what we don't need it this County more tax wasting "improvement" groups, anti-business, run by aliens.
What's never reported is the hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars wasted on this farce. What sparked this fight is also not reported {big surprise?}. The Great Erie Business People are furious at the horrible DSIC hacks for supporting the idiotic Stratton Circle To Nowhere, on Erie Blvd. The DSIC VP made a complete fool of himself speaking for it at a public meeting.
Now the latest, the DSIC morons want to purchase their own building to make it harder to eliminate. Waste more contributions and tax money. With Metrograft doing such a great job{?} {according to the People's Gazetto and no business people}-eliminate the horrible DSIC.
Schenectady isn’t the only city with a downtown business improvement district. There are many of them, and the criticisms tend to be the same — i.e., some business owners think they are paying too much, some don’t think they are getting enough for their money, while others are opposed to the very concept of an involuntary assessment. While it can’t do anything about those in the last category, the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. seems serious about addressing the concerns of those in the other two. Business owners, some of whom were talking about splitting off and forming their own groups at a meeting last week, should give it more time. The criticism has come largely from people outside the core of downtown, where most of the businesses are concentrated and where the DSIC has focused most of its efforts in the past. Those include beautification measures such as street cleaning and flower planting, as well as marketing and promotion. Business owners on the periphery, on Erie Boulevard, Union Street and in the Stockade, sometimes feel neglected when they don’t get flowers or flags, when there is a downtown event and visitors aren’t directed their way, or when they have their own event and it isn’t promoted by the DSIC. The DSIC’s new executive director, James Salengo, a veteran of the Albany BID, is aware of these issues and says he is working on a plan for 2009 that will highlight the assets of each different district and spread the wealth more. That should make the critics feel better. So should a new assessment formula being .....................................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar00502
The usual whitewash for the Gazetto. What has sparked this revolution is that key members of the DSIC supported Stratton's Circle to Nowhere. The Erie Business people are fired up. Nobody cares about another useless plan. The DSIC can never represent businesses as long as the Mayor keeps putting political flunkies like Peggy King on the Bored. No one can get on this Bored without the Mayor's approval.
No taxation without representation. Either let Downtown business people run it-or abolish it. There is not another BID in the county run like this. Typical Schenectady monkey business.
The usual whitewash for the Gazetto. What has sparked this revolution is that key members of the DSIC supported Stratton's Circle to Nowhere. The Erie Business people are fired up. Nobody cares about another useless plan. The DSIC can never represent businesses as long as the Mayor keeps putting political flunkies like Peggy King on the Bored. No one can get on this Bored without the Mayor's approval.
No taxation without representation. Either let Downtown business people run it-or abolish it. There is not another BID in the county run like this. Typical Schenectady monkey business.
If you have the 'downtown business people' run it......you will then be in that damn predicament of who knows who and the other kind of greasings.......JMHO.....there are other parts of this forum that we have discussed this problem too........
Those who have the money control the masses and those who have the guns control the masses......
bathtub gin anyone???
...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
SCHENECTADY DSIC eyes State Street office BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
The new reality of downtown rental rates is hitting home for the agency that helped build up the downtown’s real estate value. The executive board of the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. will vote this morning on whether to put the agency in debt for years to buy a permanent home. The meeting will be at 8 a.m. at the DSIC’s Jay Street office. The Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. has been house-hunting this fall, despite having little money for such a big purchase. It had no real choice in the matter — the agency was taken by surprise when its new landlord, the Galesi Group, announced that every office tenant in Center City had to leave to make room for renovations. That meant DSIC had to come up with the funds to buy or rent somewhere else — a search that was rather shocking at first. DSIC had been paying a special rent of $1 per square foot at Center City, far below market rate. “It was a special deal negotiated long ago,” said DSIC Executive Director Jim Salengo. “Any place we move, we were getting into the real world.” After some searching, he has recommended that the agency buy 137-143 State St., the building next to the former Northeastern New York Girl Scout Council office. The building would cost $137,500. The sale price represents roughly $40 per square foot, 40 times the cost of DSIC’s price at Center City. The agency will also have to take out a mortgage, incurring interest, and will make a payment in lieu of taxes agreement, Salengo said. “We’ll pay whatever the taxes are, as a PILOT. We just want to be a good citizen to the downtown,” he said. The cost of ownership is so high that some downtown business owners say the agency should rent property elsewhere instead. But Salengo said his recommendation is the cheapest option. “Honestly, every other space we looked at would require so much fit-up cost. Really rough spaces,” Salengo said. “This was the most cost-effective option.” He was handicapped by one factor: He didn’t consider buildings that might become prime retail space. He wanted to leave those, he said, for businesses. Despite the cost, he is enthusiastic about the new building. It would be 50 percent bigger, he said, and includes an open space that could be used for large meetings. “It would be much more effi - cient. It’s already set up as an office space,” he added, noting that..............................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar01302
SCHENECTADY DSIC buys new digs BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
The Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. met at the height of the ice storm Friday morning and bought a new home. The controversial decision, which was opposed by some business owners and executive committee members, was approved by a vote of 6-2. Vice President Richard Antokol said members debated the issue at length before coming to a decision. “We had a very good and thorough discussion. I would call it a robust discussion of the pros and cons,” he said. “The decision was not taken lightly.” Antokol voted for the purchase of 137-143 State St. partly as a way to support development of lower State Street. “I think it’s important for us to show confidence and make an investment in lower State Street. That’s the next place we need to work on,” he said. He added that renting a space sends the wrong message. “It’s important to be seen as a secure presence, not just transient in some way, renting some space. We’re on a long-term trajectory,” he said. “We need to have a permanent home.” But the $127,500 sale price was a major concern to others — particularly some business owners who said it would be a waste of money. It will force the agency to take out a mortgage, incur interest and longterm debt, and pay taxes. Still, others noted that they had little choice. The new owner of Center City, where it currently rents space, has told all of the Jay Street office tenants to leave while the building is renovated. Offi cials did consider other rental offices, but found the cost to be higher than buying 137-143 State St. “It’s the...............http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar01003
Every single business owner that pays for DSIC services should 'bow out'. What a slap in the face to the taxpayers. Owning a building for this service is just plain old nonsense! Pretty soon the downtown section will become the epicenter for government, tax paid programs. And just who is expected to pay for this mortgage? The taxpayers? And will there be salaries and benefits provided for these people? I just can't believe it!!
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
Logged
The DSIC {Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp} is an extra level of taxation for oppressed Downtown Business. It was started as a parking authority and now Metrograft runs all the lots. It is not a Business Improvement Group. Business are forced to pay a fee, for flowers, promotion and street sweeping. Things the City should be doing with its record taxes. Nobody showed up for a reason-nobody cares-get rid of this!
