For many developers, campaign support of municipal and state government leaders is provided every year — whether there is an election or not. For instance, despite a lack of local races this year, Galesi gave the controlling Schenectady County Democratic party $3,850 in 2014, using the name Schenectady Development, one of 15 entities the developer has used to give campaign cash since January 2009.

Galesi has been a fixture in the movement to redevelop Schenectady's downtown, and has received government assistance to do it. Galesi received tax breaks for environmental remediation at the new Golub headquarters; $583,162 a year in tax exemptions for the new Center City building, and was recently rolled into a federal package to receive money to demolish a former county department of social services building so the land could be used for apartments. Galesi is also behind a project to build Rivers Casino and Resort at the former American Locomotive Company property that Galesi owns.

Galesi's chief operating officer, David Buicko, said his company will not comment in detail on its political contributions, which total at least $115,784 to local and state races in the last five years. "Those decisions we make, those are internal to us as to what entities we support," Buicko said.


Developers, entities, local and state contributions since Jan. 2009




Columbia Development Cos.

15

$297,515





Galesi Group

15

$115,784




Bruce Tanski Development

10

$172,080




Highbridge Development

8

$61,005


http://www.timesunion.com/loca.....e-5863746.php#page-1

Somebody finally did a story on the political slush fund affectionately called Metrolex.  Yup...It's working just as designed by the politicians, to serve their political party.  Go figure.

Quoted from firefox

GALESI KEEPS THE SCHENECTADY DEMOCRATIC MACHINE OILED AND LUBED WITH ITS DONATIONS FOR MORE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS! # VOTE TOMORROW TO STOP THIS!

Vote for whom to stop it?  I've gotten hundreds of mailers in my mailbox, not ONE mentioned stopping the political corruption of Metroplex.  Please point me to one candidate that put that on their platform?

Between Galesi and Highbridge, they contribute about 20% of Gillen's annual salary.($30k per year)

Quoted from CICERO

Vote for whom to stop it?  I've gotten hundreds of mailers in my mailbox, not ONE mentioned stopping the political corruption of Metroplex.  Please point me to one candidate that put that on their platform?

NONE of them want to abolish it............they ALL want to control it!!
DON'T VOTE!!! don't waste your time or vote for corruption on BOTH sides!!!

as far as mailers........can I just say....OMG!!!!
we don't even look at them, let alone read them.
they go from mail box to garbage can....instantly.
we don't pay the least bit of attention to tv ads.
we hang up the phone the second we realize its  a robo call.

dems will be in control of Schenectady for at least another decade, if not longer!

as a side note........there is NO unity in the rep party at all! another waste of time!

Quoted from bumblethru

NONE of them want to abolish it............they ALL want to control it!!
DON'T VOTE!!! don't waste your time or vote for corruption on BOTH sides!!!

Really?   Any evidence that Vince Riggi is trying to get rich off Metroplex?

Quoted from firefox

GALESI KEEPS THE SCHENECTADY DEMOCRATIC MACHINE OILED AND LUBED WITH ITS DONATIONS FOR MORE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS! # VOTE TOMORROW TO STOP THIS!

THIS IS THE MONEY USED BY KOSIUR/ UNDERTAKER TO PRINT THEIR NASTY MAILERS!

What have Mike and I been saying for several years?


Now, what does the cheerleader DV have to say about MORE EVIDENCE that the millionaires and billionaires and the city/co/plex leaders are in cahoots with each other.   Confronted with more EVIDENCE, he will NOT respond and address this corruption

Renaissance in the city?   For whom, DV?????    For the corrupt city/co/plex leaders and their millionaire political cronies.  

Quoted from mikechristine1

Really?   Any evidence that Vince Riggi is trying to get rich off Metroplex?

What has Vince Riggi said about Metroplex?  Support or oppose?

Quoted from firefox

GALESI KEEPS THE SCHENECTADY DEMOCRATIC MACHINE OILED AND LUBED WITH ITS DONATIONS FOR MORE PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTIONS! # VOTE TOMORROW TO STOP THIS! THIS IS THE MONEY USED BY KOSIUR/ UNDERTAKER TO PRINT THEIR NASTY MAILERS!

What else is new? They have a preferred developer/preferred architecture and everyone else go to heck. Lumpy and the undertaker are the worst candidates ever from
the DEM machine. Look where their signs are-public roadside, parks and only DEM moron committee persons will put in front of their homes. DEMS are voting for Kelleher and
Barnes by the thousands. REP get out of the cupboard and vote this year to get some help for the great Vince Riggi. We need businessmen not lobs and undertakers for a
City that was buried years ago.

Quoted from mikechristine1

Really?   Any evidence that Vince Riggi is trying to get rich off Metroplex?

NO EVIDENCE! Cause even tho I think riggi is good....he too knows that he has to play 'nice' to all those who dole out the campaign $$$$.
cause they can just 'pull the plug' in a heartbeat.

riggi ain't stupid....he will address ONLY the 'addressable'!

NO ONE is going to pull the plug on METROPLEX/GILLEN....DEM OR REP!!!

Quoted from mikechristine1

Really?   Any evidence that Vince Riggi is trying to get rich off Metroplex?

No, but he fully supports the person who created it. (Hint: It's Roger Hull)

I also never hear of Vince calling for a tax cut either.

Quoted from firefox

Who ever runs against McCarthy in 2015 for Mayor will need to magnify his & the DEMS relationship with the Galesi Group and all the $$$ the millionaire developer has given McCarthy & company as he sat on the sideline and watch the neighborhoods rotten to death with foreclosures and crime in his 4 years as Mayor. (This will topple McCarthy from power)

That's not going to happen.  The person that runs against Mc Carthey will want the $115K from Galesi for their own campaign coffers.