Quoted from Madam X

It's fair, it goes to show how homeowners have to fight, while millionaires have these things handed to them, and people who don't understand yet what is happening are being taken advantage of.
It proves what M/C keeps saying. The sky IS falling.

Nothing proves what the he/she nayboob keeps saying.  He/she and you are just tiresome drones who don't give a damn about our community and get your cheap thrills by constantly whining.  Admit it, your life is dull and boring -- you crave attention -- you get a "tingle" from ranting here or at the podium at City Hall.

BTW - the property owner in question went through the same process that is available to ALL property owners.  No special treatment was given.  No "theft" was involved as the chronic liar accused.  

Theft? I think M/C explained that this was the process that anyone would go through, if they had the means to do so, and showed what the results were, and also showed how this proved what they have been saying all along.
Why this should enrage anyone is beyond me, anyone who doesn't live here and/or pay taxes here, or anywhere, that is.
Maybe leave the discussion to the adults who know what they are talking about. I wish the women in my neighborhood who just had to dump their house had been more wary when they bought it. People who try to get the facts out are doing the right thing, and why anyone would try to obstruct that is beyond me, except of course when the obstructionists are trying to pull the wool over people's eyes due to their own culpability.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

yet admitting that the property value had indeed gone down.  

The problem is ALL Schenectady properties value have gone down, but the rest of the city doesn't get the reduction afforded this home.

Quoted from RPEGCL

The problem is ALL Schenectady properties value have gone down, but the rest of the city doesn't get the reduction afforded this home.

I have never said that the city doesn't have problems.  I think a reval is long overdue. However, I do think there is a chorus of constantly negative people (I call them nayboobs) who will never be satisfied -- who get their cheap thrills posting lies, half-truths, hysterical rants and bullshit personal attacks.  The nayboobs don't offer anything constructive and prefer to remain part of the problem rather than part of the solution.  Now, I know that the he/she chicken sh*t liar and Madam XLax and others will follow with a bunch of bull sh*t personal attacks.  They can bray and shriek all they want.  The rest of us reasonable, positive-thinking taxpayers will just ignore them and keep on doing what we can to help our community improve.

If the downtown revitalization experiment is so successful, with millions invested in there,why would any business there need to have a lower assessment?   Wasn't one of the Plexs' goal in investing all that $ there supposed to increase the downtown worth/value?   Oh, we get it, with less taxes paid to the city (from the lower assessment) the Galessi group can take that savings and reinvest elsewhere in the city.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

"Party line" has nothing to do with it.  You don't even know what party I belong - you think you do - but you don't.  

Unless you have changed party registration since this time last year, you are registered Dem, and naturally  you know that I always have evidence to prove what I say.   Any change that may have occurred, it will be proven too.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

"Party line" has nothing to do with it.  You don't even know what party I belong - you think you do - but you don't.  The only things that are misguided are the illogical rants of nayboobs who speak out of both sides of their mouths - claiming that an assessment reduction was granted due to "incompetence" yet admitting that the property value had indeed gone down.  

Party line DOES have to do with it when a downtown property is owned by the DEMS, is tax exempt for a period of time, and then AS SOON AS the exemption expires, the property is given a HUGE reduction.

However, the Nott St property, of which this post has to do with, proves the INCOMPETENCE of the of the mayor, his assessor (current and previous) and of Mccarthy's CRONIES that he appointed to the board of assessment (naturally as you are not and have owned a house nor been a taxpayer and know NOTHING about assessment, you cannot recognize INCOMPETENCE when it is staring you in the face).

The INCOMPETENCE is proven by the FACT that McTHIEF's cronies on the board would not reduce the assessment despite the EVIDENCE that proves it was not worth what the INCOMPETENT city assessor claimed it was worth.

See, here, DV, you do not even know what you are talking about.  You said:

     "... claiming that an assessment reduction was granted due to "incompetence" yet admitting that the property value had indeed gone down."


The issue is that you keep claiming that the city is improving, and that all the stuff being done downtown is causing the tax base to expand.   But the FACT is, the TRUTH is, the REALITY is that the tax base is NOT expanding as you claim.  All the wild uncontrolled spending of the taxpayers money on downtown, all the taxpayer handouts, i.e., property tax exemptions given out to the rich Dem party cronies, is just causing MASSIVE REDUCTION of the city's tax base!

Under McCarthy's leadership, property values have gone down.  The INCOMPETENCE lies in the fact that the mayor and his team and dem council people REFUSE to do a much needed citywide reassessment.  The INCOMEPTENCE also lies in the FACT that neither the mayor's assessor (current or previous) nor his cronies on the board of assessment would reduce the assessment of this property, thus causing the property owner to take the city to court.  

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Nothing proves what the he/she nayboob keeps saying.  He/she and you are just tiresome drones who don't give a damn about our community and get your cheap thrills by constantly whining.  Admit it, your life is dull and boring -- you crave attention -- you get a "tingle" from ranting here or at the podium at City Hall.

BTW - the property owner in question went through the same process that is available to ALL property owners.  No special treatment was given.  No "theft" was involved as the chronic liar accused.  

Nothing proves what we are saying?   We say that under McCarthy's leadership, property values in the city are falling big time.  So, the FACT that hearing officers at the SCAR level, and judges at the certiorari level see it and order reductions that the city has to accept is not proof enough?

Stating facts, i.e., "the property values in the city are falling" is considered "whining?"   DV, you have absolutely no reading comprehension ability.  Making the statement that "the property values in the city are falling" is not a whine, but it is stating a fact.  Saying that McCarthy -- who YOU want to see re-elected -- needs to immediately do a citywide reassessment is not a "whine" but rather it is stating a fact.

Yes, this property owner went through the same process "available" to all owners, however, since you have to knowledge nor experience in assessment issues, nor in owning a home, nor in being a taxpayer, you do not understand that the process can cost money---and people in Schenectady city do NOT have money to pay lawyers to do this, one teeny little mistake, you lose.  This owner is a lawyer so perhaps he acted as his own attorney in court.  

I think there is some confusion of this thread with the one where the reduction is granted to Galesi.
No one ever said the owners of this house shouldn't be granted the reductions they received.
M/C, it doesn't matter what facts you post, it just makes that big loser start snarling worse. No one can say that values aren't falling, when here are the indisputable records. YOU never have come out in favor of policies that cause the death spiral of falling values/higher taxes. Not wanting to see destruction of people's homes, hopes, and dreams for the future is the exact OPPOSITE of being negative, and I commend you for continuing to labor to get the truth out.
More knowledge would have saved a lot of people a lot of heartache, I know that for a fact. As to this particular property, just because the owners have some means, I'm not going to sit back and gloat at their predicament, which McCheese only has to look out his window to be reminded of. This is the GE Realty Plot, part of our history, a once glorious neighborhood, and yet the neighbors are getting to see the same decay the people of Hamilton Hill experience.

Quoted from RPEGCL

The problem is ALL Schenectady properties value have gone down, but the rest of the city doesn't get the reduction afforded this home.

By means of percentage, other property owners may be able to get something close to what this property got--again, I clarify the percent of reduction.  This represents a bit more than 25% reduction in assessment, but it is evidence of an even bigger percent, about 40% reduction in property value under  McCarthy's leadership.

Under McCarthy's INCOMPETENT leadership, the assessors REFUSE to grant anyone an "informal review."

McCarthy's cronies that he appointed to the Board of Assessment most often refuse to grant a reduction in assessment.   The FACT that homeowners can present their cases with evidence, e.g., perhaps, 30, 40, 50 comparable homes with actual prices well below assessed values, and STILL McCarthy's cronies on the Board of Assessment will sometimes grant SMALL reductions (5%) but mostly say "denied, insufficient data" is evidence of total incompetence by the board members.

Going the appeals routes can require an attorney and since McCarthy is forcing the homeowners to pay the property taxes of his rich political cronies, the average homeowners do not have the money to afford an attorney.  And many do not know how to go about the SCAR process either.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

I think a reval is long overdue. .

Really?   How long overdue?   Can you tell us?

Quoted from mikechristine1

Party line DOES have to do with it when a downtown property is owned by the DEMS, is tax exempt for a period of time, and then AS SOON AS the exemption expires, the property is given a HUGE reduction.

  

come on here.....do you HONESTLY think it would be any different if the REPS controlled the city???????
of course not!!!!
Remember....it was the REPS that gave birth to the METROPLEX!!!
Let's face it.....folks just don't like the DEM players in this city.
The REPS would be doing THE EXACT SAME THING....only the player 'might' be different!
You'd be singing the same bit@hing song....only it would be the REPS you'd be bastardizing.

like I've said many times.....what candidate will have the balls to campaign on abolishing the METROPLEX.....AND......abolish the downtown tax exemptions?

You are barking up the wrong tree here mc1.....you need to go to Roger Hull's camp and ask them what they will campaign on.

I guarantee....YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED!!

It's the SYSTEM nutsie....not the players!!

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

I However, I do think there is a chorus of constantly negative people (I call them nayboobs) who will never be satisfied -- who get their cheap thrills posting lies, half-truths, hysterical rants and bullshit personal attacks.  The nayboobs don't offer anything constructive and prefer to remain part of the problem rather than part of the solution.  Now, I know that the he/she chicken sh*t liar and Madam XLax and others will follow with a bunch of bull sh*t personal attacks.  They can bray and shriek all they want.  The rest of us reasonable, positive-thinking taxpayers will just ignore them and keep on doing what we can to help our community improve.

Stating FACTS is "getting cheap thrills?"    

What are the lies?   What are the half truths?

Come on DV, engage in discussion like we do.  You keep stating that we just "complain," but we are engaging in discussions, we discuss FACTS, we make claims but those claims are proven with EVIDENCE.

I make a statement.  "All the spending of taxpayers' money on downtown is causing the city's tax base to fall."   That is a statement.  I am making that claim.   Then I prove that to be a FACT by providing EVIDENCE.   I have provided EVIDENCE such as referring to the city's equalization rate which shows the city is the second highest over-assessed municipality in the whole state of New York.  I have provided EVIDENCE by presenting the falling sales prices provided by official sources.   I have provided EVIDENCE by annually posting the taxable value totals shown on the official assessment rolls from the city.

So, tell us DV, how do you claim that we post "half truths," that we post "lies."   ?????    Well, got an answer?

You make statements.  You claim that all these projects downtown will expand the city's tax base.     Do you have any ability to explain your claim and what EVIDENCE have you to prove that you are telling the truth?  

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Metroplex isn't a gamble -- it is a solid investment.  It has paid tremendously positive dividend to the City-County of Schenectady under its capable leadership during the past decade.

What dividends, DV?????    Is a falling tax base a dividend?

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

…

and since most of you folks just cry about high taxes but aren't willing to actually do anything sensible -- like grow the tax base through economic development[/b]

Sensible??????   Tell us DV, how are all these downtown so called economic development projects downtown--done largely at taxpayer expense, tell us DV, HOW are they "growing the tax base."   Tell us DV, tell us, "Have they grown the tax base???????"   If so, tell us HOW much and can you provide a teeny weeny shred of EVIDENCE???????  



Well???????   Cat got your tongue???????  


So, are we waiting for you to engage in discussion by addressing the FACTS and you providing any evidence?   Or are you going into hiding?  Or are you going to come out with your customary yawn when evidence proves you wrong, proves your lies.

Quoted from bumblethru

come on here.....do you HONESTLY think it would be any different if the REPS controlled the city???????
of course not!!!!
Remember....it was the REPS that gave birth to the METROPLEX!!!
Let's face it.....folks just don't like the DEM players in this city.
The REPS would be doing THE EXACT SAME THING....only the player 'might' be different!
You'd be singing the same bit@hing song....only it would be the REPS you'd be bastardizing.

like I've said many times.....what candidate will have the balls to campaign on abolishing the METROPLEX.....AND......abolish the downtown tax exemptions?

You are barking up the wrong tree here mc1.....you need to go to Roger Hull's camp and ask them what they will campaign on.

I guarantee....YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED!!

It's the SYSTEM nutsie....not the players!!

^5

I find it hilarious, that all the folks who hate Metroplex, are supporting one of the founders of the damn thing. Too funny.

Quoted from bumblethru

come on here.....do you HONESTLY think it would be any different if the REPS controlled the city???????
of course not!!!!
!!

We don't know.   Would they have given out the tax exemptions?  

We DO know for a FACT that the lone non-dem on the council OPPOSED the spending of the homeowners money to demolish the building owned by the billionaire.

IF the other side wins in November, we'll see.  I don't if they can take away the tax exemptions of downtown depending on what might be in any legal contract, but we could see if they refuse to give out anymore.

And where is it in Metroplex legislation that stated that virtually all of downtown would be granted exemptions from property taxes?  I believe the plex stuff was to increase the sales tax an extra 1/2 percent to fund downtown.   Maybe someone can show that the legislation was intended to also exempt all downtown properties from property and school taxes.