Metroplex board members, politicians react to state comptroller's audit Monday, July 6, 2009 By Michael Lamendola (Contact) Gazette Reporter
And they still report that it's not available on the comptroller's website. Makes you think...where'd they get it, if not from the people publishing it? Great reporting from our hometown paper!
Schenectady County Legislator Joseph Suhrada, R-Rotterdam, said the audit points to the need to remove Ray Gillen as chairman of the Metroplex board and for additional oversight. Suhrada is a frequent critic of Gillen, saying he runs Metroplex “as a political entity.”
People are concerned about the entity and whether we are getting the best bang for the buck,” Suhrada said. They are handing out money like candy and not measuring results. That does not serve the public’s pocketbook well.”
Lewis called Suhrada’s call to remove Gillen “unbelievably absurd from my point.”
Suhrada said he also agrees with the comptroller’s recommendation that Metroplex develop objective standards for projects, saying Metroplex’s power can “determine who lives or dies” in a competitive economic environment.
“Time will tell if they mean to rectify matters or, without further oversight and a lack of political accountability, they will continue to sink further into dishonesty and vague explanation of their modus operandi,” Suhrada said.
This leads me to believe the Mr. Surhada is in favor of the Metroplex Authority’s existence; he just disagrees on who and how it's being run. That's the same as Republicans who are outraged by the Obama stimulus bill, but were fine with the Bush bailout bill. Some people are such party loyalist, that they refuse to acknowledge their own core principles for the sake of the party.
Both the Reps and Dems are wrong, either Metroplex has to start doing the job that it was formed to do and actually create jobs and build a tax base to help lower the residents taxes or it must be dissolved no matter what the political fall out might be.
Metroplex board member Neil Golub, who helped create Metroplex and has served on the board since its inception, said the comptroller’s audit found no major faults. “The comptroller is looking for holes. I don’t consider any one of the of issues significant,” he said. “I see these as recommendations.”
Golub said, “As far as measuring things, we could do a better job. We brought in lot of businesses that brought in people. All one has do is look downtown to see.”
Metroplex should look to bring western New York supermarket powerhouse Wegman's into Schenectady County. It's a good strong company and good to their employees. I think it would be beneficial if the County could entice Wegman's with loans, grants, and shovel ready site. What does Mr. Golub think??
When did Surhada say he was happy with the Bush bailout? Boy, Cicero, you make a LOT of assumptions. Just because the local republicans don't issue position papers on each crazy and un-conservative thing Bush did in eight years, doesn't mean they agreed! WAKE UP! Local officials have been burdened with the Bush things for a a LONG TIME. They couldn't and can't do anything about the mistakes Bush made- duhhhhhhhhhhhhh...When did Bush call Surhada for guidance, EVER? I doubt he was calling the guy's candy shop to find out how much money to deliver to Wall street.
Surhada must have gored your Mallozzi ox or something silly, but you are now stretching the bonds of incredulity with your nut job attacks. And you asked when you made comments about him not having kids- that was your other incarnation RWilson who as I read on the Schenectady blog a long time ago assaulted him there as not being a "family man" because he didn't have children. Your hate for the man has been long seated. You apparently even keep track of what he drives and what kind of properties he purchases. I just wanted to answer your question.
And Suhrada WOULD shut down Metroplex from what I understand, but because he has only one vote and no one will even second that idea (either party), he must figure that would not get any further than first base. So, instead of beating your hate drum against the GOP who are only a few, and instead of wanting to make sure that we have a one party system like Cuba, why not focus on trying to make sure we are not utterly subjugated by these crooks. I mean, after all- we have the media, the special interest groups, and the unions to make sure that there is only one party left. Why do I, as a conservative, or any of the other elected republicans want to join in to destroy the very last vehicle which prevents the county and country from becoming an abject dictatorship- the fractured remnants of the Republican Party?
Ronald Wilson Reagan had an eleventh commandment. Even though you pretend to be a Reaganaut, you sure hate the GOP and it's officials. You should put down your vendeta and figure out that the few remaining Republicans are a firewall. They don't have the power to STOP Metroplex. They don't have the votes to (and you really have to stop beating up Surhada for not being "persuasive" enough since the fact is, the Democrats act as a one headed beast with a robot soul, all voting in lockstep with Susan Savage and the leaders and ANYBODY WHO EVER ATTENDED ONE OF THEIR MEETINGS KNOWS THAT!!! ) "change" things as it were. But they can inform, cajole, use the bully pulpit and stop some really bad things from going down just by their virtue of being able to cry "foul" and raise a stink. Ninety percent of the time the paper doesn't even call for an opinion or counter-point to what the dems are doing, but when they do, there are a only a small handful of republicans who will take them on. Why destroy them? Why give the prevalent party who controls just about every office in the state and local from top to bottom complete control?? It is incumbent that you disclose your true agenda.
You are sure that it would be all hunky dory if all republicans are voted out lock, stock and barrel. Apparently you are not alone. I can turn on MSNBC and hear the same thing any evening. I think any further attempt to change your mind would be fruitless. You are either a Savagite, a liberal seminar blogger, or just have some personal hate ( a 'la mallozzi gang ) for the local republicans. But you sure have stopped making sense.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
NO real property tax base expansion. NO sales tax revenue increase for ANY project. The State Comptroller reviewed 16 projects and found NO data on ANY job creation.
Joe Suhrada should be cheered for being right from the beginning. Sharon Jordon is treasurer of Metrograft? What is her business experience? What business has Ray or Gary run? Even Gary is questioning wild Metrograft spending. Yes bring in Wegman's-maybe they can build a regional office in "renaissance" Downtown? lol. Fire Ray/Disband it. Check out the poll on talk1300-90% say DISBAND IT NOW!
When did Surhada say he was happy with the Bush bailout? Boy, Cicero, you make a LOT of assumptions.
I was drawing parallels between Republicans who spent like drunken sailors when they controlled both houses and the white house. And now with Obama and the democrats spending like drunken sailors, republicans start with the socialist comments.
IM SICK OF BOTH PARTIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't make a case for either party.
I'm sorry I don't slant the facts to make one party look better than the other. I'm sure you are better at spinning and justifying the spending by the house republicans between 2000 through 2007, with the Bush rubber stamp. While condemning the current spending by house Democrats and Obama's rubber stamp, just like you can pin the failure of the Metroplex on Democrats, even though it was just as much a failure under Republican control. There's just no state audit documenting it. Metroplex is politicized by BOTH PARTIES!
Please re-read, I did not say Surhada was happy with the Bush bailout, I said REPUBLICANS.
And Suhrada WOULD shut down Metroplex from what I understand, but because he has only one vote and no one will even second that idea (either party), he must figure that would not get any further than first base.
If Surhada would shut down Metroplex, why doesn't he voice it when he has a reporter standing in front of him? Republicans complain about the Gazette not getting their message out. Farley and Surhada both had the opportunity, and gave a luke warm response. Unless Surhada was mis-quoted in the recent Gazette article, it was fairly clear that he was in favor of changing the leaderhip of Metroplex, not dissolving it.
Ronald Wilson Reagan had an eleventh commandment. Even though you pretend to be a Reaganaut, you sure hate the GOP and it's officials. You should put down your vendeta and figure out that the few remaining Republicans are a firewall. They don't have the power to STOP Metroplex. They don't have the votes to (and you really have to stop beating up Surhada for not being "persuasive" enough since the fact is, the Democrats act as a one headed beast with a robot soul, all voting in lockstep with Susan Savage and the leaders and ANYBODY WHO EVER ATTENDED ONE OF THEIR MEETINGS KNOWS THAT!!! ) "change" things as it were. But they can inform, cajole, use the bully pulpit and stop some really bad things from going down just by their virtue of being able to cry "foul" and raise a stink. Ninety percent of the time the paper doesn't even call for an opinion or counter-point to what the dems are doing, but when they do, there are a only a small handful of republicans who will take them on. Why destroy them? Why give the prevalent party who controls just about every office in the state and local from top to bottom complete control?? It is incumbent that you disclose your true agenda.
Are you trying to say today's GOP is the same as the Reagan GOP? Come on, you don't believe that, do you? Bush's prescription drug bill was very Reaganesque. Please spare me.
Hopefully the party that emerges after this Republican rebuilding period resembles that of Goldwater/Reagan. Reagan would have ignored the 11th commandment and would have forced a primary with Bush after his first term. I would like to believe Reagan was a man of principle.
Metroplex should look to bring western New York supermarket powerhouse Wegman's into Schenectady County. It's a good strong company and good to their employees. I think it would be beneficial if the County could entice Wegman's with loans, grants, and shovel ready site. What does Mr. Golub think??
An agreement between the Wegman and Golub families prevents Wegmans from entering the Capital Region (Schoharie - Schenectady - Albany - Renns - Saratoga, etc)
That sounds more like a price fixing scheme by eliminating any serious competition. Wegmans is an excellent market with good quality produce at a fair price as I've shopped there when visiting relatives in Syracuse. There are Price Chopper markets in Syracuse right now or is that just for show.
Wegman's agreement was between Robert Wegman (d 2006) and Golub. Colleen (Wegman) now runs all 71 stores in NY, PA, NJ, VA and MD. I believe that the agreement had a 20 yr term - which ends in 2 years.
Joe Suhrada should be cheered for being right from the beginning. Sharon Jordon is treasurer of Metrograft? What is her business experience? What business has Ray or Gary run? Even Gary is questioning wild Metrograft spending. Yes bring in Wegman's-maybe they can build a regional office in "renaissance" Downtown? lol. Fire Ray/Disband it. Check out the poll on talk1300-90% say DISBAND IT NOW!
Speaking of AM1300, has Mr. Surhada or other County Republicans gone on the Paul Vandenburg Show? There are other outlets to get to voice opposition toward Metroplex, other than the Gazette. Mr. Vandenburg is VERY vocal in his opposition to Metroplex, he would welcome local republicans on his show, giving them a chance to voice their opinions and positions.
I believe Mr. Littlefield was on his show taking a position.
Here's the thing...YES, Mr. Suhrada is the most vocal. It does appears that all he does is point out, and very well might I add, the wrong doings of the dems/metroplex/etc....
HOWEVER....there are never any solutions. Not ones that I've heard of. I also don't see the rest of the reps walking lock step with suhrada when he stands up for the taxpayers. And this includes Burhmaster and ang.
The reps in this county are being ripped apart by the dems, cons and even their own. We can blame the dems all we want, but if the reps don't change leadership and unite, they will be non existent after the next election. Which in turn is bad news for us taxpayers with a one party rule.
So may I end in saying that even though I do not agree with the ideology, nor will vote for a dem or con.....I clearly will not be voting for a rep either. I can not, never did and will not in the future, vote for a party just to oust another. I NEED A GOOD VIABLE CANDIDATE!! But where are they?
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
) "change" things as it were. But they can inform, cajole, use the bully pulpit and stop some really bad things from going down just by their virtue of being able to cry "foul" and raise a stink. Ninety percent of the time the paper doesn't even call for an opinion or counter-point to what the dems are doing, but when they do, there are a only a small handful of republicans who will take them on. Why destroy them? Why give the prevalent party who controls just about every office in the state and local from top to bottom complete control?? It is incumbent that you disclose your true agenda.
NO real property tax base expansion.
