The election pool is getting smaller and smaller and smaller!
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
And then there were none......this is how populations change ethnicities, values, traditions etc........the past, traditions, values etc are a slippery slope and there IS only one foundation......for EVERYTHING........TRUTH TRUTH TRUTH TRUTH...........
...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
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
I don't know that this is a meeting to review and discuss the results of the audit by the NYS Comptroller's office as I have not heard that it has been completed and released. The meeting may be to discuss the results of the internal and self-directed annual audit.
Once again, those at the Daily Gazette have outdone themselves in providing an abundance of insight to the public.
Last week Gov. David Paterson came to the aid of Schenectady by vetoeing a bill that would have required it to once again use arbitrators in police discipline cases. He now has a chance to lend further assistance with three other pieces of legislation — not by vetoeing but by signing them. One would extend the life and raise the bonding limit of the Metroplex Development Authority. Schenectady, especially its downtown core, has been rejuvenated in recent years, with new businesses, aesthetic improvements and events that have brought back people and provided a sense of hope. It is doubtful that this would have happened without Metroplex, which receives roughly $6.5 million annually in sales tax revenue. Back in June, some last-minute political gamesmanship on the part of Schenectady’s Republican representatives in the state Legislature, and brinksmanship on the part of the Democrats who control the county Legislature, seemed to put Metroplex’s future in jeopardy. But a compromise was reached and a bill passed. Paterson should sign it. As he should a bill pushed by local officials and sponsored by Sen. Hugh Farley that would toughen penalties for those who do things to endanger or harm drinking water supplies. The current pitiful penalty, $200 per violation, has made it easy for scofflaws like Michael Marotta, owner of an illegal junkyard in Pattersonville, to defy Rotterdam and county officials. The law’s prescribed penalties — fines of up to $1,000 per day, reparations for damages and jail in the most extreme cases — would go a long way toward protecting our precious aquifer and other drinking water supplies around the state. The last bill is not locally generated, but would also be very helpful to this area with many historic buildings. It would raise the value of tax credits for restoration of these properties, both commercial and residential, most importantly in poorer neighborhoods. Other states have made good use of these tax credits to spur economic development, and New York could, too. All the governor has to do is sign the legislation — and make it three for Schenectady.
Ahh....the good old gazette. Just when Paterson speaks on the pathetic state of the state, towns are experiencing lower than expected tax revenue, Schenectady looking at a possible $16M defeceit.....they promote even more tax dollar spending.
All I can say folks, is that since this has not been signed by the gov, it is an opportune time to email/snail mail/call the governor's office and tell him to veto extending the life of the plex.
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 Agency sets its sights higher Metroplex bond cap raised; more projects on tap BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
Since its creation in 1998, the Metroplex Development Authority has worked some serious magic to revitalize the city’s downtown. Now, it’s prepared to tap this mojo once again by turning $25 million into more than $100 million in additional investment in Schenectady County, local officials said. Gov. David A. Paterson on Thursday signed legislation that increases Metroplex’s bonding cap by $25 million, to $75 million, and extends its life by five more years through 2033. The law allows Metroplex to receive one-half of 1 percent of county sales tax revenue until 2033. This totals approximately $7 million annually. The same legislation would continue to provide towns with $3 million annually in sales tax money. Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen said the authority sought the legislation because the authority was fast approaching its initial bond cap of $50 million. He said Metroplex can support the additional debt due to a guaranteed income stream from the sales tax, from income generated through loan repayments and because of its strong credit rating. While Metroplex had several major projects in play during its first five years, it was under Gillen’s leadership, which he assumed in 2004, that Metroplex hit its stride, officials said. Under his tenure, it has spurred more than $300 million in local investment, creating some 3,000 jobs. Metroplex Vice Chairman Brad Lewis said the governor’s action “allows us to expand what we are doing. We certainly think there is plenty to do.” Metroplex expects to quadruple the $25 million through a simple process, Lewis said. “We leverage it. Basically, in our projects, we always have a fair amount of other people’s money. We rarely would finance a project ourselves,” he said. Metroplex’s investment, he said, “tends to be set up with private investment and, more often than not, with state and federal grants. We tend to put in a fraction of the money that goes into projects.” Lewis said as Metroplex becomes increasingly effective, “our share has gone down. We are putting in expertise and helping get grants and people know we will be here for a while.” He cited as examples Metroplex’s investment in the facade grant program administered by the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. and its investment in Proctors. Metroplex has provided $1.6 million to the facade program since 2002. Participants must match the grant award, but more often they exceed the match, Lewis said. According to Metroplex, the facade program has generated some $6 million in exterior and interior building improvements downtown. As for Proctors, Metroplex provided a $10 million grant toward expanding and rehabilitating the downtown landmark. Proctor’s more than matched the grant through additional grants and other sources by the time it completed the project. Metroplex is now turning its attention to the revitalization of lower State Street, to the rehabilitation of Erie Boulevard and to the redevelopment of the former Alco site on upper Erie Boulevard, Lewis said. Lewis does not expect Metroplex to use the $25 million quickly. “We also have money coming in as prior loans get repaid, and some of these projects will increase the sales tax stream, increasing the amount of money to Metroplex and to the towns,” he said. “But that kind of capacity will allow us to do some significant work.” Politicians on both sides of the aisle praised the governor’s actions while saying little about how they almost derailed the legislation. Majority Democrats in the Schenectady County Legislature proposed home rule legislation early in the summer to increase the bond cap to $75 million. State Sen. Hugh Farley, R-Glenville, immediately supported it. Republican Minority Leader James Tedisco and Republican Assemblyman George Amedore Jr., however, amended the legislation. Their amendments would have barred county legislators from the board, along with party chairmen and county government managers, and would have raised the bond cap to $60 million. They also asked the county to delay its request until after the state audited Metroplex’s books. The State Comptroller’s Office plans to examine Metroplex’s operations from Jan. 1, 2006, to Dec. 31, 2007. The audit is Metroplex’s first since its creation. Metroplex officials called the state comptroller’s audit routine. After weeks of dickering, Susan Savage, D-Niskayuna, chairwoman of the Schenectady County Legislature, offered a compromise to ban all elected government officials serving on the Metroplex board unless they are currently a member. Republicans modified this to ban county and state legislators from serving on the Metroplex board and raised the bond cap to $75 million. Everyone accepted the compromise and the legislation passed.
Amazing, in that wonderful piece of propoganda, handwritten by a GREAT PR agent for m'plex most likely, not one single mention of the Metroplex FAILURES that are amounting to millions in lost, late, unpaid revenues to county taxpayers
1. Van Dyck - still in bankruptcy 2. The Big House - Metroplex is now 3rd in line to collect on debt 3. MILLIONS in Grants 4. Facade grants to rehab facades on buildings not even built yet 5. Dozens of businesses forced from downtown to make way for Proctors by larger competitors 6. "Free wireless Internet Access"
and that's just the ones I can think of without my morning coffee.
Obviously Ang didn't carry enough weight to change this outcome. And although I commend Mr. Santabarbara for his efforts......his counterparts (Tedisco & Amedore), clearly were not on the same page.
The dems certainly DEMON-strate how to get it done! They ALL stick together in support of one another and their agendas. When will the reps 'get 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
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