If the people of Albany were smart and informed, they would nip this one right in the bud.
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
SCHENECTADY COUNTY Metroplex resolution also up for discussion BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
METROPLEX PLAN Tonight’s proposed Metroplex legislation went through several revisions before Democrats and Republicans agreed on a compromise that allows Metroplex to increase its bond cap from $50 million to $75 million. In return county and state legislators would be barred from serving on the Metroplex board. The proposed state legislation would also bar party chairpersons and county legislators and managers, with the exception of the county’s top economic development official, who is now Gillen.
SCHENECTADY COUNTY Lawmakers OK Metroplex bill Democrats reverse course on home rule measure BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
What a difference a week makes in the world of politics. Last week, majority Democrats in the Schenectady County Legislature tried to pull an end-run play on Republicans in the state Assembly regarding legislation to help the Metroplex Development Authority. Tuesday night, Democrats in the county Legislature approved a home rule legislation request that essentially is identical to the legislation they rejected last week. The current compromise, reached in a meeting last Wednesday, prevents county and state legislators from serving on the Metroplex board. County Democrats last week were unwilling to accept amendments to their home rule legislation and they asked the state Senate to reintroduce their original message. That would have required Sen. Hugh Farley, R-Niskayuna, to go against Assembly Republicans James Tedisco and George Amedore Jr., authors of the amendments to the original county request. Farley said he would not go against his fellow Republicans, putting into doubt measures to extend Metroplex’s bond cap by $25 million — to $75 million – and extend its life an additional five years. The new home rule message now goes to the state Legislature for approval. State legislators have eight days left in this year’s session. County Democrats, however, did not give up the fight quietly. During debate Tuesday night, they cited the original Republican Assembly bill that contained provisions that would have added $10 million to Metroplex’s bond cap, did not include the extension of Metroplex’s legal status by five years and would have barred Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen from serving on the board. County Republicans said Democrats were lying about the original bill. Minority Leader Robert Farley, R-Glenville, went so far as to call the Democrats’ statements something out of “The Twilight Zone.” A Democratic county legislator then hummed the show’s theme music. Metroplex needs the bond cap increase to continue its economic efforts in the county; the extra fi ve years helps it obtain better interest rates on bonds, as it can negotiate for longer terms. Those issues are now before the state Legislature. AG DISTRICT FLAP In other business, the county Legislature removed two parcels of land belonging to Tom and Terri Lennon of Niskayuna from the Schenectady County Agricultural District. The county action came after the Lennons had already withdrawn the application to be in the district, saying they did not want to make “agriculture a political issue.” Their neighbors lobbied county legislators to reject the parcels from the district. They said their inclusion would allow the Lennons to circumvent town zoning laws and perhaps farm wetlands on their property. The Lennons wanted to join the agricultural district because they felt the town was giving them a runaround in trying to open a business, Tom Lennon said. “The town is so restrictive we thought if we got into the agricultural district, they would let up a bit,” he said. The Lennons last year built a greenhouse on their property on St. David’s Lane, near Avon Crest Boulevard, and wanted to sell flowers and vegetables from it. They had a permit from the town to build the greenhouse and a recommendation of the Schenectady County Agricultural & Farmland Protection Board to be included in the agricultural district. Tom Lennon said he learned he can still sell farm products without being in the district. “We don’t care if we are in the district now or not. The town outlined what we can’t do, but we will sell flowers and vegetable plants and will start them in the greenhouse,” he said. The purpose of the agricultural district is to encourage the continued use of farmland for agricultural production and protect farmland from overly restrictive local laws, according to county officials. Republican legislators turned debate on the Lennons’ parcel issue into an attack on Gillen who, as county commissioner of planning and economic development, oversees the farm district advisory board. Gillen used the public comment portion of the meeting to defend himself. He said state law required the advisory board to consider the Lennons’ request and that the county Legislature has the right to reject the board’s recommendations.
County Republicans said Democrats were lying about the original bill. Minority Leader Robert Farley, R-Glenville, went so far as to call the Democrats’ statements something out of “The Twilight Zone.” A Democratic county legislator then hummed the show’s theme music.
Boy, I'd like to know the arrogant SOB that did that.
Wow, and I thought she was a mature lady! I knew she didn't have the guts to stand up to Susie, but I didn't think she had the nerve to act like a cavone
a slob or a lowlife with little manners who does things in public like pass gas, burp, or while someone is speaking at an important meeting, mock them by whistling a song over their speech. That is 6 year old behavior but when an adult acts this way, we call them a cavone. This was a lady who is supposed to be the smartest lady in Schenectady and the best mayor ever such and such. Too bad her mother and father never taught her how to act when someone is speaking during a formal occasion. If my kids did this they would get a smack on the kisser and would never act that disrespectful again. This is sad and I of course am even more ashamed to be from Schenectady then I was yesterday. but they say that in an organization, be it a military unit, or the boy scouts, or a fortune 500 outfit, that the style of the leaders is reflected in the actions of even the least of the people in that there group. If the boss acts a certain way, henceforth the underlings act that way in the same fashion and so and so. What we have in this group is a boss who has a savage and disreputable way and maybe in a sad way this is rubbing off on her underlings. Have you all ever heard of such a saying as that? I was taught that many years ago.
Wouldn't it just be a hoot if this bond increase, for some reason or another, doesn't quite make it through state legislation by the deadline??? Oh God, we can only hope!!!!!!!!
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
Excerpt from the May 23, 2008 Board of Directors Meeting Minutes:
Quoted Text
•7. Big House Underground Project: Resolution 520-08 - Amend the General Project Plan
Metroplex has been asked by 411 State Street LLC to subordinate its collateral position to Hoosick Valley Contractors, Inc. By consenting and further subordinating its mortgage, Metroplex facilitates the completion of renovations in the basement nightclub and third floor offices immediately. In turn, the developer may secure the permanent financing needed to finish the first and second floors. Metroplex is working with the developer to find suitable tenants for the first floor retail space and 2nd floor office space. Mr. Lewis moved Resolution 520-08; seconded by Mr. Capovani. Discussion followed about tenants interested in the location and the scope of work necessary to finish renovations. Resolution 520-08 was unanimously approved.
The Board of Directors of the Metroplex has again accepted a subordinate position on a mortgaged property (411 State Street). This action further jeopardizes the invested public revenues. If the investor defaults on the mortgage loans and if the property is foreclosed upon, the Metroplex, and hence the residents of Schenectady County, will be third in line to collect monies owed.
In whose interests are the Metroplex Board of Directors acting? Certainly, the subordination of positions on mortgaged property is NOT in the best interest of the public whose taxes have supported this project.
If the investor (411 State Street LLC - Mr. Stephen Waite) defaults on payment of loans and if the property is foreclosed upon, the order of repayment of loans (if the property was to be sold and there was enough proceeds to cover the debt obligations) will now be:
1). Sunmark Federal Credit Union - $1,500,000 loan 2). Hoosick Valley Contractors, Inc. 3.) Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority - $1,000,000 loan
The amount of funding provided by Hoosick Valley Contractors, Inc. is not disclosed in the Metroplex meeting minutes. It is stated to be the "financing needed to finish the first and second floors". Previously, news reports stated that the project required an additional $400,000 of funding to complete.
So, the investment of public revenues has been compromised by agreeing to accept the subordination, from position 2 to position 3, in position.
It is obvious and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that this entire Metro-purse has failed miserably. They will be foreclosing on the Van Dyke. Clinton's Ditch is looking to 'flip' their investment. The clothing store from Saratoga has YET to move in. Bombers has yet to make up it's mind where it wants to set up business. Sunmark has left. The Big House will never appear. The millions of dollars invested in Proctors just made it 'bigger', otherwise it remains the same..nothing new there. The Silver Diner was sold for a big $1, only to eventually be flipped by it's new owner. Villa Italia was a relocation right along with the proposed Golub office complex. The movie theater does not 'pack'm in' like expected. I don't know about the Hampton Inn, but I can't even imagine who in their right mind would even stay there with all the shootings in the city. And MVP is sounding questionable.
So I guess the only places doing a half way decent business is Pin Heads and Obyrnes...BARS! And that is only during the college season or when the cops are off duty.
10 years and millions and millions of dollars later....a failure!!! But a developers dream come true!!
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
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