Quoted Text

SCHENECTADY
City denies rental of room in favor of studio plan
BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter

    The city has turned down money from the state Office of Court Administration so that it can instead turn a narrow room into a broadcast station and public television studio.
    The OCA asked to rent the room so it could create a holding space for prisoners next to the City Council chambers, used as a courtroom during the day. There is also a court down the hall.
    Mayor Brian U. Stratton has trumpeted the city’s arrangement with the OCA in the past because its rental of the council chambers has led to signifi cant renovations and improvements in sound quality. In 2008, the OCA spent $14,000 repainting the entire room in bright colors that highlighted intricate designs that had never before been seen on the ceiling.
    In this case, the OCA offered to pay rent. But the OCA’s idea never got as far a formal request, Council President Gary McCarthy said. City officials rejected the idea at once.
    The council uses that room to store its broadcast equipment. The twice-monthly meetings are broadcast live on public television.
    The rest of the room is currently used for storage. McCarthy acknowledged that the broadcast equipment could operate from virtually anywhere in City Hall, but he doesn’t want to give up that room.
    “We’re also looking at making that a studio for city productions,” he said.
    He wants to create infomercials for public television. Among his ideas: teaching residents how to get a building permit or explaining new recycling rules.

http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01301&AppName=1

So instead of getting rental money from a propsective tenant who spent $14K in 2008 to improve the space, McCarthy wants to use the room as storage...and for infomercials in the future. I'd like to give some ideas to Mr. McCarthy for his infomercials:

"The Reverse Robin Hood - how the City steals from the Taxpayers and give to the Rich"

"Making Friends - Giving Away Taxpayer Millions to Get Votes"

"Faking Residency  - Working for the City, Living Elsewhere and Getting a Free City Vehicle"

"Buy More Cannolis - Helping Villa Italia Sales Tax Contribute $50 to the Region"

"What You Won't See At Proctors - Any City taxpayer"

Someone's more interested in politics and having their face on TV than doing what's best for the people (getting prisoners away from the public prior to the meeting) and making money from the deal.

I just read this in the Gazette and knew it would allready be posted here : )

Unbelievable !!!  A chance to make some money, but the rooms used for storage and future "productions' What a bunch of crap. Do they have carbon monoxide detectors in city hall?  Just wondering because I think all of their brains are affected.

They don't need to make any money, if the city wants more money they'll just raise your taxes.

Everyone who is outraged at what is happening please post a comment on the channel 6 site at this link, scroll down to the bottom. Maybe someone would want to include businesses that are tax exempt etc? Just maybe channel 6 will continue working on the abuse against taxpayers.

http://www.cbs6albany.com/news/schenectady-1282555-sits-never.html

I gotta say - from the point of view of the production of the council meetings, having that room nearby is very valuable.  You don't want to be running all over city hall when there's a problem.

But if they did this more for the "studio space" - then yeah, pretty dumb.

I heard they were going to use the room to store all of the GOP's "empty promises" from over the years.

Well, there's an entire downtown of tax-exempt empty promises from the current 'leadership' - price tag well over $50 million.

Quoted Text

“We’re also looking at making that a studio for city productions,” he said.
    He wants to create infomercials for public television. Among his ideas: teaching residents how to get a building permit or explaining new recycling rules.

that's what SKYP/youtube is for....WTF.....really? honestly?......let Morris do it with the back drop of the Apostrophe stage......WTH!!

the future is coming....get on board already....

Quoted from JackBauer

I gotta say - from the point of view of the production of the council meetings, having that room nearby is very valuable.  You don't want to be running all over city hall when there's a problem.

But if they did this more for the "studio space" - then yeah, pretty dumb.

It's just another attempt at 'government controlled media'!

Quoted from senders

that's what SKYP/youtube is for....WTF.....really? honestly?......let Morris do it with the back drop of the Apostrophe stage......WTH!! The future is coming....get on board already....

Another new low. The City is supposedly tapped out. So they turn down rare State funds for an important lock up in City Hall for a production studio?

     Just what we don't need more shows featuring the DEM morons on this City Council on unwatchable OSM/Channel 16. Put the production studio in Congressman Tonko's first floor office. It's a total waste of space. Gary McCarthy better rethink running for Mayor after this stunad move.

Quoted Text

The city has turned down money from the state Office of Court Administration so that it can instead turn a narrow room into a broadcast station and public television studio.

Quoted Text

“We’re also looking at making that a studio for city productions,” he said.
    He wants to create infomercials for public television. Among his ideas: teaching residents how to get a building permit or explaining new recycling rules.

Talk about stupid.  There are very functional studios right at the Public Access location on State St.

That room should stay just as it is, a production control room.  Now if he means they will keep the production room as is or upgrade the production equipment and use the Chamber as the studio I can see that.

It is a club of sorts in the city for the FEW......danger lurks there like it does in Egypt......

They should broadcast City infomercials like how to formulate illegal contracts and keep your job, or how giving permanent tax free give aways to millionaires helps City revenue, or to promote the City run body shop that no one uses.

     Channel 16 should go to an all City infomercial format. This would be a vast improvement over the current "fare". Mind numbing Big Brother how to and constant speeches from glorious leaders Death Ray/Mercury Morris and Mayor SOS.