Golub - relocation.

Let's not forget the music/piano store that wanted to go in the Carl Co arcade, but fizzled out cause it took so damn long. (the one that was to put out hermies and van curler music)

LogicalNet - which was supposed to provide free wireless access downtown - and is in the process of moving out (never really changed their mailing address from Albany anyway)

I'm sure there's more, anyone else?

I talked to someone at Hermie's the other day and they said that the Metroplex people told them that Metroplex funding stops going up the hill at State Street and Nott Terrace.  Since they're on the next block, they would get no funding...so...they have to pay into it and they've already been told as much as don't be bothering submitting an application, we won't even look at it.

They also told me that my visit (to spend a good chunk of money, too,) was to serve as a reminder that in the next couple days they had to send in their share of the funds they collected for redistribution (my words, not theirs).

What is the bond rating??? isn't that how we get 'weighed'......those just scales, just kill me.......well, actually the ratings industry has killed us all.......

Fairfield Conn. lost millions in Madoff ponzi......

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aSZMu0okayJU&refer=home

a mistake????

Quoted Text

Whither comptroller’s audit on Metroplex?

    Over a year has passed since I wrote Kenneth Madej, chief examiner at the state comptroller’s office, requesting an audit by his office of the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority in accordance with established state law governing public authorities.
    Despite the formation of the Metroplex in 1998 and the requirement that the state perform an independent audit of public authorities at least once every five years, the results of the audit have not been released. The audit request was submitted to ensure the accountability of those spending public revenues and to provide transparency to the operations of Metroplex. The correspondence included a list of questions that were posed by Schenectady County residents regarding the application process, criteria for funding decisions, and management of public revenues.
    The meeting minutes of the Metroplex board of directors and those of the Metroplex governance committee that are posted on the public authority's Web site reported that the audit commenced in early April 2008 and that the field work concluded on Aug. 1.
    In July 2008, the state Legislature passed home rule legislation that increased the Metroplex bond cap by 50 percent (from $50 million to $75 million) and extended the charter of the public authority by five years, to 2033, without the benefit or insight that the audit results would have provided. Yet the public awaits the results of the long-overdue performance audit.
    I acknowledge the improvement in appearance of a several block section of downtown State Street. Questions remain, however, regarding the return on investment of public revenues redistributed by the Metroplex. The public deserves answers, particularly in light of the recent notable failures of several projects funded by Metroplex. Progress? Yes. But at what price?

    BRAD LITTLEFIELD
    Delanson

Brad, great letter and I'm pleased to see it made the editorial section of the Gazette. Good job! As usual, of course.

Let's hope that the Comptroller can read.

Day 250:  A few more reports were posted to the NYS Comptroller's web site.  No mention of the Metroplex audit.  

http://www.osc.state.ny.us/audits/auditdatelist.htm

Quoted Text

Medicaid Payments to Transportation Providers While Recipients Were Hospitalized (Follow-Up Report)
Agency: Department of Health
Issued 12/18/08

Medicaid Payments to Signature Health Center, LLC (Follow-Up Report)
Agency: Department of Health
Issued 12/18/08

Medicaid Overpayments of Medicare Part B Deductibles (Follow-Up Report)
Agency: Department of Health
Issued 12/18/08

Compliance with Executive Order 111 Requirements to Purchase Power from Renewable Energy Sources
Agency: Department of Transportation
Issued 12/18/08

Quoted from 147

Golub - relocation.

Let's not forget the music/piano store that wanted to go in the Carl Co arcade, but fizzled out cause it took so damn long. (the one that was to put out hermies and van curler music)

LogicalNet - which was supposed to provide free wireless access downtown - and is in the process of moving out (never really changed their mailing address from Albany anyway)

I'm sure there's more, anyone else?

Good one MT. LogicalNet was given $175,000 to wire up all of Downtown 4 years ago. And nothing happened. Except they left Downtown. And nobody knows from nuthin.

Metroplex is certainly doing a fine job of wasting the taxpayers money and they're doing it with no oversight by either the city/county or the state. There's no transparency or accountability to anyone so Metroplex gets to do what it wants with the taxpayers money even though every venture that they try fails.

The plex is nothing more than a taxpayer's money pit that benefits the 'select few'. You hear the same names and benefactors of our tax money over and over and over again! The plex has become an employment agency for the select contractors and business people!

And if the state can't see through that BS, we are in deep sh**!!!

Quoted Text

Metroplex critic wrong on several counts

    In response to Brad Littlefield's Dec. 18 letter, "Whither comptroller's audit on Metroplex?":
    Metroplex is committed to transparency and full accountability. Each year since Metroplex was formed, the agency has conducted and published a financial audit completed by an independent CPA firm. Copies of the audited financial statements have been submitted each year to the state comptroller's office for review. When the state comptroller's staff began a performance audit this April, in response to request from Mr. Littlefield, we cooperated fully and hosted members of the comptroller's staff in our office for four months. We provided them with full access to all of our project files, fi - nancial records and reports. While we have not yet received a copy of the final written report, we were told during an exit interview that concluded the audit that our finances are in good order. We look forward to seeing any recommendations from the final report.
    With regard to Mr. Littlefield's observation of progress downtown, we appreciate this recognition of our work. But in recognizing our work on State Street, he fails to acknowledge the fact that our unified economic development effort has resulted in new tax base, new jobs and new investment countywide, not to mention the $28 million in direct payments made to Schenectady County towns since Metroplex started.

    RAY GILLEN
    Schenectady
The writer is Metroplex chairman.

http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....amp;EntityId=Ar04005

Is it me, or did Mr Gillen claim he was "wrong" but then fail to tell us HOW he, or his facts were wrong

I still fail to see the increase in tax base, new jobs, and new investment because I can read and many of the jobs that were created were lost when the businesses either went bankrupt or left the area. Show me the money!!!

looks lie the scum bag crowd bought the letters to the editor page today!

I found Mr.Gillen's editorial to be weak, at best. He boasted of nothing that was solid. I fail to believe, as demonstrated with our 9% tax increase, that the tax base is increasing. No, just the opposite, OUR taxes are increasing. And it isn't just all about state mandates.

I may be wrong here, but from what I read and hear, there have been more businesses closing or leaving than there are new ones created. And money (our tax dollar) has been just pi**ed away by the plex. For example, look at Center City. Five years ago, we the taxpayer, paid $1 million for the so called 'piazza' in the front of Center City. Only to sell it to Galesi for $1.00. Now is this a good business investment? Hardly!

And we won't even bring up the Big House or the Burrito place. If it weren't so pathetically sad and incompetent, it would be hilarious!