A great high tech company for Death Ray's new Downtown! An exciting place to work. Only $250,000 in taxpayer funds flushed down the toilet by Death Ray and his County
stooges. Company broke but not to worry according to the czar of Schenectady. Can't answer the phone because employees busy playing beer pong. Another only in Schenectady
County. Massive worldwide layoffs and closures- including Schenectady. Bravo to the Gazetto for finally going after another ripoff okey doke. Will the $250,000 be returned to the
oppressed County taxpayers. Of course NOT! No wonder our County taxes are 3X Albany and 4X Saratoga County. Got beer pong?

They are only laying off 2 employees in Schenectady.  That is hardly massive.
In fact, one could say considering that they SHUT DOWN offices in Hong Kong and other larger cities than the office in Schenectady must be doing very well.  
The other thing to keep in mind that these newer ventures are prone to risk.  Hell -- Edison's company which would eventually become General Electric was on the verge of going out of business when the man who ran Edison's company came to down and literally begged people to buy shares in the company.  The revenue from which was used to keep the company's head above water, to purchase the first properties which became the Schenectady plant and to get the plant up and running.  Oh -- the reason that Edison's company no longer bears his name and is known as General Electric is because eventually the stockholders and Board of Directors pushed Edison out.   Why? Because the company under Edison's leadership was not doing well financially.   Edison became like Colonel Sander -- a publicity "tool" to pull out of the closet whenever GE wanted to -- but Edison like Colonel Sander were completely cut out of running the companies that they founded.
That could very well happen to Quirky's founder or, what seems to be happening, someone will agree to buy him out of his company.  Then that someone will either turn the company around or it will fizzle and die off.
That's the way the business world operates.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

...
The other thing to keep in mind that these newer ventures are prone to risk
....  

Sure, prone to risk, but the issue with this place is that they got money from the taxpayers of the city.   The taxpayers CANNOT AFFORD to be shelling out money.

That mayor you love so much, that you think is worthy of re-election, along with his metroplex cronies, are risking the loss of the taxpayers' money!  But, people who are not taxpayers don't understand, right?    That's right, we know that you will NOT respond and address the use of the taxpayers' money.  People in the city pay about the highest taxes in the state, have the highest overassessed houses in the state, but that's ok for McCarthy and his plex cronies to take more money from them for risky stuff.  What have the homeowners received in return for all their money?  Falling home values, increased blight, unplowed roads, overassessments, etc.  

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

The other thing to keep in mind that these newer ventures are prone to risk.  

Schenectady County...Home of 155,333 of the poorest venture capitalists.  

Was thinking of maybe stopping by, see what flavor the ice cream is this week. I'd better move it up the list.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

They are only laying off 2 employees in Schenectady.  That is hardly massive.
In fact, one could say considering that they SHUT DOWN offices in Hong Kong and other larger cities than the office in Schenectady must be doing very well.  
The other thing to keep in mind that these newer ventures are prone to risk.  Hell -- Edison's company which would eventually become General Electric was on the verge of going out of business when the man who ran Edison's company came to down and literally begged people to buy shares in the company.  The revenue from which was used to keep the company's head above water, to purchase the first properties which became the Schenectady plant and to get the plant up and running.  Oh -- the reason that Edison's company no longer bears his name and is known as General Electric is because eventually the stockholders and Board of Directors pushed Edison out.   Why? Because the company under Edison's leadership was not doing well financially.   Edison became like Colonel Sander -- a publicity "tool" to pull out of the closet whenever GE wanted to -- but Edison like Colonel Sander were completely cut out of running the companies that they founded.
That could very well happen to Quirky's founder or, what seems to be happening, someone will agree to buy him out of his company.  Then that someone will either turn the company around or it will fizzle and die off.
That's the way the business world operates.

Quirky's founder is out as CEO -- just as I predicted.   Only 2 jobs were cut in Schenectady and there are potential buyers and other options that can be pursued to turn the company back to profitability.

We live in an economic culture where EVERY new business is a risk!!
there are no sustainable jobs.
folks don't have disposable cash.
and it they are a 'risk' then the government has no business using taxpayer money to subsidize them.
businesses should be privately funded ONLY!!

THE FIRST CLUE SHOULD BE.....when a business won't risk ALL of their own money to venture/start a new business...then the risk is OBVIOUSLY  too high!!!

Extorting and risking taxpayer's hard earned money should be illegal!

Quoted from bumblethru

We live in an economic culture where EVERY new business is a risk!!
there are no sustainable jobs.
folks don't have disposable cash.
and it they are a 'risk' then the government has no business using taxpayer money to subsidize them.
businesses should be privately funded ONLY!!

THE FIRST CLUE SHOULD BE.....when a business won't risk ALL of their own money to venture/start a new business...then the risk is OBVIOUSLY  too high!!!

Extorting and risking taxpayer's hard earned money should be illegal!

AMEN!

Put a fork in quirky...It's only a matter of time. Their business model is unsustainable. A new CEO/owner is just moving the deckchairs.
The Schenectady office will be closed by the end of the 2016... bookmark this post.

It appears that Schenectady is realizing that it is nothing more than one big watering hole.
other than watering holes....every other business has folded or will in the near future.
and that is their fault since they are trying to build a city around proctors that would fail if it weren't for government monies.
they are trying to build on a weak foundation.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

They are only laying off 2 employees in Schenectady.  That is hardly massive.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Quirky's founder is out as CEO -- just as I predicted.   Only 2 jobs were cut in Schenectady and there are potential buyers and other options that can be pursued to turn the company back to profitability.

Quoted Text

Quirky founder out as CEO
  …
  
     NEW YORK — Quirky founder Ben Kaufman is no longer CEO of the beleaguered invention company,
….
The New York City-based startup, which opened a customer service call center in Schenectady last spring, is in the midst of major downsizing.
…

The Daily Gazette reported last week on the company’s troubles both downstate and in Schenectady. Current and former employees had expressed concerns over the company’s management, and questioned frivolous purchases and a sometimes out-of-hand party culture on company grounds.

The Schenectady team was downsized from a high of 150 employees earlier this year to a core team of 72, according to a Wink spokesman.
...

  

Partying and frivoulous purchases on the taxpayers' penny.

  150 employees earlier this year...
-  72 employees on the core team

   78   employees have lost their jobs




Press release from the governor’s office March 27, 2014

Quoted Text

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced today that Quirky, an invention company headquartered in New York City, will open an office in downtown Schenectady. Quirky will occupy two floors at the Center City building at 433 State Street, and plans to create 180 new jobs in downtown Schenectady within the next three years.

...

Empire State Development is providing Quirky with $500,000 in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits tied directly to investment and job creation commitments. The Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority is also providing a grant of $450,000 to support establishment of the new Quirky Schenectady office.

Almost one million dollars in taxpayer dollars.   A TOTAL WASTE, just like the STUPID UNNECESSARY FANCY LIGHTING on Erie Blvd.

What has that fancy lighting done for the homeowners in the neighborhoods?   Can you state what the homeowners have gotten for that fancy lighting?  Well?   Naturally, no answer to that question


Oh yeah, so you claim Metroplex is a "solid investment," and that it has provided "tremendous dividend."

What dividend(s)?   Naturally you will NOT answer that question.


The so called "dividend" from metroplex:


Continuing increase in taxes
Continuing falling home values
Continuing reduction of essential services to the homeowners in their neighborhoods
Continuing poor road paving
Increasing blight
Increasing crime.
Continued falling home sales
Continued falling home sale prices.
And a mayor (and dem council people and a TOTALLY UNQUALIFIED assessor) who continually WILLFULLY AND DELIBERATELY  VIOLATE STATE LAW by refusing to assess ALL properties with the same UNIFORM percentage of value.


Care to comment on these above listed "dividends," DV?????     Ah, TOTAL SILENCE

Quoted from bumblethru

It appears that Schenectady is realizing that it is nothing more than one big watering hole.
other than watering holes....every other business has folded or will in the near future.
and that is their fault since they are trying to build a city around proctors that would fail if it weren't for government monies.
they are trying to build on a weak foundation.

Very very true.

Those that are not on the tax rolls anywhere are the ones cheering the most for spending others' money.

If any person were to actually look at the FACTS, Schenectady must be doing something right.  Quirky is closing its offices in San Francisco and Hong Kong.  It is cutting deeply into the number of employees at its expensive office space in the Chelsea section of Manhattan.   Oh -- BTW -- the offices in Schenectady will actually be the company's LARGEST office.
MMMMMM -- is it that the nayboobs don't know the FACTS or just aren't willing to admit that the FACTS prove their bile-filled, hate-filled, always-negative view of Schenectady wrong.   Personally, I think it is equal parts of both.  

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

If any person were to actually look at the FACTS, Schenectady must be doing something right.  Quirky is closing its offices in San Francisco and Hong Kong.  It is cutting deeply into the number of employees at its expensive office space in the Chelsea section of Manhattan.   Oh -- BTW -- the offices in Schenectady will actually be the company's LARGEST office.
MMMMMM -- is it that the nayboobs don't know the FACTS or just aren't willing to admit that the FACTS prove their bile-filled, hate-filled, always-negative view of Schenectady wrong.   Personally, I think it is equal parts of both.  

The CORRECT FACT, DV is that they have a little office here ONLY because of TAXPAYER HANDOUTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


And the result is ONLY to make them richer and the homeowners in their neighborhoods far worse off and more financially strapped


When, DV, are you EVER going to understand that EVERYTHING downtown is the result of higher taxes on the financially struggling taxpayers.

The CORRECT FACT is that these places would NOT be here if not for the city leaders over the past ten years STEALING from the taxpayers.   Tell us DV, can you tell us DV, what the homeowners in the city have gotten in return for paying the highest taxes around and having taxes increased every  year?   Can you tell us.  Really, DV, please list what the homeowners have gotten for their money.


  
You see, you are still a little boy, you live in a fantasy world with two 80+ year old mommies who are so filthy rich that they were approved for a whopping $400,000 mortgage.  So, you see, you do NOT have rent or a mortgage to pay like normal adults, you do NOT have a Nat Grid bill to pay like normal adults, you do NOT have a wife to support like a normal man, you do NOT have children to school, clothe, feed, save for college, etc, like a normal adult man, you do NOT have to put money into retirement like normal working people do.  And most importantly, you do NOT have to pay property taxes, school taxes, sewer taxes, water taxes, trash taxes or collection  like normal adults.

All your cheering for  your dem buddies spending of the taxpayers' money has not done anything to get you a high paid no-show job where you can spend your days on that I-taste website oogling at the boobs

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

If any person were to actually look at the FACTS, Schenectady must be doing something right.  Quirky is closing its offices in San Francisco and Hong Kong.  It is cutting deeply into the number of employees at its expensive office space in the Chelsea section of Manhattan.   Oh -- BTW -- the offices in Schenectady will actually be the company's LARGEST office.
MMMMMM -- is it that the nayboobs don't know the FACTS or just aren't willing to admit that the FACTS prove their bile-filled, hate-filled, always-negative view of Schenectady wrong.   Personally, I think it is equal parts of both.  

The FACT that Quirky can afford to do business in San Francisco and Manhatten, with the most expensive real estate, property taxes, and labor costs in the country, and it takes $1 million in subsidies from the Schenectady County residents.  That begs the question...how much and to whose campaign did Quirky contribute to?