Quoted from rpforpres

wow Cicero these are VERY interesting. Notice how Morris's income is listed earlier on and then it just stops.  

Quoted Text

Doing My Part
November 7, 2010 at 9:18 pm by Philip Morris

We recently moved to a different house. Not a long physical move, just minutes away, but an enormous environmental move from a mid 19th century home to an early 18th one.

For most of my life as an arts administrator, rarely have I had the financial muscle to break out of used cars, gifted appliances, and second hand furniture. Admittedly, with my move to Proctors and to a larger environment, my income has improved. Enough so, that in my 19th century home I achieved the unprecedented foodie goal of appliances that were all new to me when I got then, all stainless steel, and all of my choice.

So my new, quite old, house flung me back to days gone by. None of the appliances matched, had the features I wanted or were new and energy efficient.

At 56, I did something I only thought the most indulgent of consumers did: I bought a complete suite of appliances……the exact ones I wanted. Gas range with 5 burners, French door fridge, over stove microwave and dishwasher from the future.

NYSERDA helped me some with a rebate for energy efficiency. GE helped with two kinds of rebates, and my old appliances helped because they worked and were immaculately clean.

I did my part, too. I expressed confidence enough on the economy to spend some money just like the Federal Reserve wants. I used a 9 month no interest account for the purchase and will pay it off in a timely way.

I have been a cooking fiend ever since. Re-inspired to bake, make breakfast and find great ingredients.

And I don’t have to feel like moving left me in the past. I did that. Now, I am doing this!


Posted in General | 13 Comments
13 Comments »
How about Proctor’s doing it’s part to help the broke City save vital police and fire protection? Naah-let the homeowners pick up our tab.

Comment by gina — November 9th, 2010 @ 10:15 am

Proctors may not pay property taxes, but it pays its fair share of BID assessments, extensively participates and funds school based programming in the City and is a major contributor to the commercial revitalization downtown that generates substantial sales taxes and property taxes of the related businesses.

Far from abandoning responsibility for the community that is home, we try to do everything in our power and within our resource to be a positive contributor to the community’s health.

Comment by Philip Morris — November 9th, 2010 @ 7:41 pm

Somehow Boys/Girls Club & Ellis Hospital can both pay a City curb fee. It’s high time Proctor’s got skin in the game. The burden is less oppressive if everyone pulls their weight.

Comment by gina — November 15th, 2010 @ 10:07 am

Let’s not blame Proctors for the city’s illness. It amazes me that instead of appreciating all the many ways Proctors contributes: paying, fundraising, spurring economic development and the resulting sales and taxes, that there is always some ignorant person attacking Mr. Morris for not doing enough. Are you kidding?? This post was about his new home and energy efficiency. Way to piss on the birthday cake, Gina.

Comment by drama queen — November 16th, 2010 @ 10:48 am

Paying what? This thread is entitled “Doing My Part”? What a joke. Boys and Girls Club paid up-Proctor’s continues to pay absolutely nothing. The party’s over. Get skin in the game.

Comment by gina — November 18th, 2010 @ 3:37 pm

Gina, there would be no downtown resurgence, no commercial enterprise, no growth, no future, without Proctors. And its reach is far beyond Schenectady’s borders, but to the entire area. Restaurants, vendors, entrepreneurs, families, everyone would be suffering even worse if it were not for Proctors.

Stop being an ignorant Tea Partier and start being a realist. Proctors is the heart of this area, and many more people should stop taking it for granted and thank its staff for what they do to spur involvement downtown.

Comment by Joey — November 22nd, 2010 @ 2:38 pm

Wow. Buy a new stove and get your a** kicked.

Comment by um ... — December 4th, 2010 @ 10:55 am

Joey:

There IS no downtown resurgence; what exists is new, yet empty.

The Region now has its very own “Prosthetic City”. This little
Clubhouse of Failure stands proud as an example of “If you build
it, so what”.

As for your “Tea Party” comment, the ignorance is yours, alone.

A Realist? OK. “Proctor’s” is a few out-of-towners looking to grab
some free money by presenting 3rd rate garbage that holds little,
or no, interest for the Region’s Population. And, Congratulations
on his New Kitchen: that’s marvelous. His “Part” is now complete.

Step below Erie Blvd, and drink it all in. It’s a Wasteland, ‘Pal
Joey’.

Comment by Justin Stark — December 9th, 2010 @ 1:46 am

I’d have to respectfully disagree with Justin and Gina. I started patronizing downtown Schenectady businesses (Bow-Tie, Pinhead Susan’s, Katie O’Byrnes, Villa Italia, and the Open Door) specifically because I was exposed to them by visits to Proctors. I live in Albany, but have been spending far more dollars in Schenectady in recent years than in my hometown. All of those businesses appear to be busy, and I hope they are thriving. It’s hardly a wasteland, in comparison to other downtowns that I’ve experienced. And in my case, it’s directly attributable to the presence of Proctors.

Comment by Colin M — December 14th, 2010 @ 10:12 am

“Downtowns” compared is an apples, and oranges, debate.

Regardless, thank you for your respect, Colin. If you
are content with that context, and content, that’s fine.

But contrasted with what it pretends to be, and in light
of the gigantic sums of PUBLIC MONEY pumped into it, the
results in ‘Downtown Schenectady’ are laughably lame.

Those expenditures are irretrievable, and unsustainable.

And more is closed, and closing, than open, or opening.

The equivalent of one block does not a Mecca make (no
offense to my Muslim Friends). It exists. It is not any
significant ‘draw’, however, and even the modest advances
will be, and are, receding in this worsening Economy.

Comment by Justin Stark — December 21st, 2010 @ 3:22 pm

Most new businesses downtown DO NOT pay property or school taxes. Some are exempt for 20 years !!!! Downtown is not helping Schenectady homeowners who pay some of the hightest taxes in the nation. It may seem like more people are downtown during the day but allmost all live outside of the city and alot outside of the county.

Comment by Anne — February 10th, 2011 @ 7:06 pm

I do not know where you get your information, but it is not correct. Every new project downtown pays property taxes. Some may have sliding scales to reach full value, but they all pay. In addition, people who enjoy Schenectady from out of town or out of the region are bringing those dollars to our community to spend in our businesses and are paying sales taxes that go to our community. I am not the expert here, but, if you are serious about having the facts correct, you should contact the Metroplex Development Authority for more details. Don’t spread bad information, please.

Comment by Philip Morris — February 12th, 2011 @ 2:58 pm

Actually, Anne is correct. Most Downtown businesses do not pay property or school taxes, they are exempt (many for decades). This information can be found under the “Schenectady County Real Property Tax Data”. Therefore, she is not spreading false information.

Downtown businesses pay a “PILOT” payment to the Metroplex which then filters itself back into the taxbase. These payments are minimal and far below the amount owed as property & school taxes.

Also, there are empire zone exemptions for businesses and sales tax exemptions for non-profits. As far as millions coming into our community…well I’d like to see that info.

Comment by hadaboutenough — February 25th, 2011 @ 2:19 pm