Quoted from CICERO

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?

You missed the point -- they are closing the office in San Francisco ... they are closing the office in Hong Kong ... they are scaling way back the office in Manhattan ... the office in Schenectady only lost 2 positions and will be the largest office for Quirky.  That means -- they think that Schenectady is a great place to do business.   As long as there employees are working in Schenectady and spending their money in Schenectady at lunch time and after work, it is a good thing for Schenectady.  Each new business that opens Downtown and in other parts/neighborhoods of the City-County creates jobs, adds money to the local economy and acts to invite other businesses to start up, move or expand in the City-County of Schenectady.

I am really NOT concerned where they contribute their campaign dollars.  The US Constitution protects their right (individually and as a corporation) to exercise Free Speech by giving to the candidates of their choice. I will ALWAYS defend their right and your right and my right to exercise that Constitutional right.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

You missed the point -- they are closing the office in San Francisco ... they are closing the office in Hong Kong ... they are scaling way back the office in Manhattan ... the office in Schenectady only lost 2 positions and will be the largest office for Quirky.  That means -- they think that Schenectady is a great place to do business.  

must be the only place where free taxpayer bucks are available.....more sheep left to be fleeced  

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

You missed the point -- they are closing the office in San Francisco ... they are closing the office in Hong Kong ... they are scaling way back the office in Manhattan ... the office in Schenectady only lost 2 positions and will be the largest office for Quirky.  That means -- they think that Schenectady is a great place to do business.   As long as there employees are working in Schenectady and spending their money in Schenectady at lunch time and after work, it is a good thing for Schenectady.  Each new business that opens Downtown and in other parts/neighborhoods of the City-County creates jobs, adds money to the local economy and acts to invite other businesses to start up, move or expand in the City-County of Schenectady.

I am really NOT concerned where they contribute their campaign dollars.  The US Constitution protects their right (individually and as a corporation) to exercise Free Speech by giving to the candidates of their choice. I will ALWAYS defend their right and your right and my right to exercise that Constitutional right.

DV, since when does 150 - 2 = 72   ????????????????????????????????????   Well????????????   Well????????????

Quoted Text

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.

Why couldn't this business have come here WITHOUT taxpayer money??????    THEY CANNOT EXIST without taking from the taxpayer.  

Why do you cheer for the taxpayers having to fork over their money, and often go without necessities  in order to have it go to private business?

Remember those homeowners cited with code violations.  That almost a million dollars could have paid for the repairs for those violations.

What are the homeowners in the city getting for paying for quirky?  Can you tell us DV?   Why do you REFUSE to answer the questions of what the homeowners in the city are getting  in return.   Such a coward to answer the questions

And how do you know people working there are going out to lunch every day.  For those $15 an hour jobs, I highly doubt they can afford to go to restaurants for lunch.    These workers do NOT have two rich mommies to support them, these workers are normal adults, they have rents or mortgages to pay, they have to pay their own power bills, food, homeowner or renter insurance, health insurance, car payments, car insurance, gas, support their children.  

Grow up and acting your age.

Quoted from mikechristine1

And how do you know people working there are going out to lunch every day.  For those $15 an hour jobs, I highly doubt they can afford to go to restaurants for lunch.    These workers do NOT have two rich mommies to support them, these workers are normal adults, they have rents or mortgages to pay, they have to pay their own power bills, food, homeowner or renter insurance, health insurance, car payments, car insurance, gas, support their children.  

Grow up and acting your age.

Why do you insist and continue to make your posts 'personal'? It appears that YOU need to grow up and act your age!! geeeezzzzzzzzzzzzz

the ONLY sentence that was worth reading in your post was.....150 employees down to 72

One of the nayboob tricks is to twist and distort the truth.
The TRUTH = The Times Union and other media reports were all very clear.  The cuts that were announced last week at the Schenectady office were ........ 2 positions.  They weren't talking about the past.  They weren't talking about the fact that the Schenectady office had not reached the original target employment levels.  They were just reporting that  Quirky closed its Hong Kong and San Francisco offices, made big cuts at its Manhattan office and was only cutting 2 positions at its Schenectady office.  And that, Schenectady is now Quirky's largest office.   Those are the FACTS.  Anyone is entitled to their own opinion .. but they are NOT entitled to their own facts.
Also - It is just common sense that if there more people that you have working Downtown or near Downtown that more money will be spend .. before work, on breaks, lunch time, after work.   While some people might be deluded enough to think so .. those people working Downtown are not going to drive to Colonie or someplace else on their lunch break.  If they are going to buy lunch, they will do it close to where they work.

Now, it is obvious that Quirky is having problems.  That is why I cited the Edison Electric Works/General Electric Company experience.   Quirky's founder like Edison may have been a technological innovator but he had trouble making his company run profitably.  Edison was eventually pushed out of first management and then any real role in his own company.  Quirky's founder has stepped aside from the top spot.  Edison's company, without him, tuned things around by bringing in other investors and companies to become General Electric.  Quirky will have to reshape its business in order to survive and prosper.

As for Schenectady, it benefits TODAY from having the largest Quirky office located here.  If things turn around for Quirky and it grows, Schenectady would most likely be the first in line to benefit from additional hiring.  

Bottomline - The City-County of Schenectady is a very good place to live and do business.

Quoted from bumblethru

Why do you insist and continue to make your posts 'personal'? It appears that YOU need to grow up and act your age!! geeeezzzzzzzzzzzzz

the ONLY sentence that was worth reading in your post was.....150 employees down to 72

That's pretty much why I don't waste much time here anymore. This is not a discussion forum as some believe. It lost that designation a long time ago. About the time that the two children decided to make every post personal. IMO

And in case you haven't noticed, many of the posters who used to come here have exited as well. As a matter of fact count the number of people who post here on a regular basis. I count 7 or 8, certainly not a consensus or representative of the population of the  County by any means. It's really quite a shame.  

Quoted from Alva White

That's pretty much why I don't waste much time here anymore. This is not a discussion forum as some believe. It lost that designation a long time ago. About the time that the two children decided to make every post personal. IMO
And in case you haven't noticed, many of the posters who used to come here have exited as well. As a matter of fact count the number of people who post here on a regular basis. I count 7 or 8, certainly not a consensus or representative of the population of the  County by any means. It's really quite a shame.  

The sad fact is that there has always been a group of posters that will personally attack anyone who doesn't agree with them.  Those are the same folks that NEVER have anything good to say about Schenectady or Rotterdam.
I have tried to have reasonable discussions and look forward to having them with those who are actually willing to be civil, reasonable and deal in facts.

I'm guessing that they closed the offices either because those people were doing design work that they are now outsorcing...

Or if they happen to be doing the same roles as those here in Schenectady - they would obviously close the offices where the pay would have to be substantially higher.

Quoted from JackBauer

I'm guessing that they closed the offices either because those people were doing design work that they are now outsorcing...

Or if they happen to be doing the same roles as those here in Schenectady - they would obviously close the offices where the pay would have to be substantially higher.

This company relies on the Internet and really has no need for a physical presence in any particular spot. Why in gods name, if you are in trouble, would you keep office space in areas like Manhattan and Hong Kong..places where they can charge what they want and people STILL set up shop?
Schenectady is the best option because of the free money and tax breaks...and those are the only reasons they are here.

In response to JackBauer and 55Tbird:

The high cost of the real estate that they were leasing in Hong Kong, San Francisco and Manhattan was cited as a major problem for the company.

They would probably get incentives from most anyplace -- they just happened to choose Schenectady.

Schenectady has lower cost commercial real estate, is in the center of Tech Valley and with Albany InternationalAirport and soon to be upgraded rail lines is easily accessible to/from all parts of the world.

The other huge factor in Quirky's corporate problems is that they have not hit on the "next big thing" that will generate the revenue it needs.  

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

In response to JackBauer and 55Tbird:

The high cost of the real estate that they were leasing in Hong Kong, San Francisco and Manhattan was cited as a major problem for the company.

They would probably get incentives from most anyplace -- they just happened to choose Schenectady.

Schenectady has lower cost commercial real estate, is in the center of Tech Valley and with Albany InternationalAirport and soon to be upgraded rail lines is easily accessible to/from all parts of the world.

The other huge factor in Quirky's corporate problems is that they have not hit on the "next big thing" that will generate the revenue it needs.  

The next big thing?? LOL, I think that's every companies goal.. Like I said, Quirky has about 14-16 months before the end comes.

Albany International Airport is international in name only...They do not have the real estate to land true international flights... That deal was sealed complements of the Democratic machine in the 40's and 50's...killing the idea of a large airport in Schenectady county and the connector off the thruway at the same time.

I remember back when I first came to this forum, I didn't have anything personal against anyone else here, I didn't know them from Adam, as they didn't know me. I was dismayed to find myself the target of rather vicious personal attacks by someone calling himself Democratic Voice of Reason. I had never used any ad hominem attacks against him. I was attacked for being female, for being old, for being unattractive, and for for physical infirmities. I made repeated objections, but it seemed I could not make a post on any topic without him going on the attack. I even left the forum for a time, and only came back because I had some things to say on the topic of the tragic death of the Pizza King.
I can see I don't belong here, but I would have the record set straight on who is doing the personal attacks, and why people leave this site. You can look it up, but I know you sandbox bullies aren't interested in facts.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

The sad fact is that there has always been a group of posters that will personally attack anyone who doesn't agree with them.  Those are the same folks that NEVER have anything good to say about Schenectady or Rotterdam.
I have tried to have reasonable discussions and look forward to having them with those who are actually willing to be civil, reasonable and deal in facts.

You try to have reasonable discussions?????

Some years ago you stated that the county taxes were lower than in the 1970's.   I asked you where you came up with that info, to provide your proof.   You NEVER NEVER NEVER engaged in any discussion about that.  You NEVER provided a reply.

People ask you what have homeowners gotten in return for the city forcing them to pay for downtown.  You NEVER engaged in any discussion about that.


So let's have a reasonable discussion.  Tell us what the homeowners in the city have gotten in return for paying for all the fancy buildings downtown?  

Let's have a reasonable discussion.   Galesi is a billionaire company.  The homeowners in the city have total household incomes averaging $40,000 per year.  Many homeowners cannot afford to make repairs to their own homes, so please explain why these lower income people should pay for the demolition of a building owned by a billionaire--a billionaire that can not only afford to pay for the demolition of that DSS building, put the he could completely afford to pay for ALL the properties he owns downtown--for the purchase PLUS the renovations/building new PLUS the FULL tax bill, and the billionaire could STILL pay for the repairs on the homes of everyone in the city who needed it.  So why should the poor pay for the rich?

what the hell is wrong with you people here????????????????? OMG!!!

you folks who bit@h about the government....insist and continue to beg, plead and argue with them and/or anyone else to fix your woes!!!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

you have all learned NOTHING!!!

idiots.

Quoted from bumblethru

what the hell is wrong with you people here????????????????? OMG!!!

you folks who bit@h about the government....insist and continue to beg, plead and argue with them and/or anyone else to fix your woes!!!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

you have all learned NOTHING!!!

idiots.

BINGO!