Two former DSIC employees were arrested by the SPD Thursday night, charged with stealing 6,000 pounds of City owned tree grates cashing them in at a local scrap yard. One employee was still working with the taxpayer funded Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation when CBS-6 ran the story and he resigned the next day. 67 tree grates were stolen and only 37 have been recovered. The cost to replace one massive tree grate is around $1,000 so the City is out over $30,000. Another example of Downtown "renaissance" and your tax dollar at work?
C'mon benny, DiCS is a wonderful not for profit they we should all love and be grateful for. Just look at allllllll the wonderful work they have done. Remember, don't look at results, look at the good intentions.
Here's what should be scraped-the entire useless DSIC. Merchants have been screaming about the increased fees, a job killing additional tax, the tin ear that only helps Proctor's. In a real "renaissance" you wouldn't need layer after layer of DEM bureaucrats. Another group of alleged planners with no planning expertise.
The idiotic defense of this outrage is hilarious. More hard workers just trying to make ends meet? They just needed walking around money? ROTFLMAO!! Keep this flop in the hot media spotlight and see what else bubbles up.
The DSIC as well as the Plex should be abolished!!!
And as far as these guys stealing the grates............it's criminal! End of story!!!
Let's see how the gazetto spins this one.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
SCHENECTADY 2 charged with selling stolen grates Scrapyard records implicate pair of former DSIC workers BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter
Two former Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corp. employees have been charged with possessing cast iron tree grates stolen from the downtown area. Charles Williams, 33, of Union Street, and Warren Ashburn, 29, of Irving Street, both face one count of third-degree criminal possession of stolen property. They are accused of selling the stolen grates for scrap. Corporation executive director Jim Salengo Friday called the accusations against the men regrettable and “totally against” what the corporation stands for. As to how the grates were taken, “that’s what everybody’s trying to figure out,” he said. Ashburn left the corporation Oct. 1, after about a year of employment, officials said. Williams worked with the corporation until last month, leaving soon after the thefts were discovered. The thefts were discovered after a viewer of CBS6 tipped off the station and the station then relayed the information to police. The viewer sent information that tree grates were at T.A. Predel and Co., a scrap yard off Edison Avenue. In all, a total of 67 sets of grates and 13 more vertical tree cages were missing. The stolen items were valued at more than $70,000. Just more than half of the grates were recovered at Predel. The fate of the rest was unknown. ........................>>>>...................>>>>......................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01102&AppName=1
As for how the grates were taken "that's what everyone is trying to figure out"? WTF? These tree grates are huge and take hours to remove from frozen ground. Were they taken during "working" hours? The idiotic statements continue from DSIC "leaders".
This speaks to the great supervision of DSIC employees. Another City funded agency running amok with no oversight. What did you know and when did you know it? Can't wait to hear how the rubber stamps on City Council/Gazetto try and spin this as a positive development. Downtown merchants have been screaming for years to abolish this useless agency. The should be the last straw.
u know, perhaps if u left the comfy confines of spectacular rotterdam with its rolling vistas and wonderful places to see and visit, and went to downtown, perhaps you would figure out all the problems there and offer us some brilliant solutions.... nothing here but gripe, gripe, gripe, an endless broken record that plays nostalgic tunes of never-ever land.....
Many of Schenectady's problems could be solved if Metroplex would spend the money on things that really need improving and stop wasting the money on their pipe dreams.
Are there any cameras downtown? Seems there would be with the millions invested.
Wonder how long it would have taken DSIC "leaders" to discover these thefts if the workers had not bought the grates to Prendel's? Finally DSIC generates some press and its all negative. Your City tax dollars at work.
Not surprised that the DEM cheer leaders want to move on and change the subject. Nothing to look at here-let's move onto Parker Inn-lol. Another example of the kind of oversight and accountability the pathetic DSIC is famous for. Defund it-let Downtown business people run their own affairs without this group of DEM meddlers.
This should be the last straw for a useless agency. They can't even run Arts Night's professionally. Downtown merchants are going ape over this fiasco. After the news aired they even fire the guy-he went in and quit.
u know, perhaps if u left the comfy confines of spectacular rotterdam with its rolling vistas and wonderful places to see and visit, and went to downtown, perhaps you would figure out all the problems there and offer us some brilliant solutions.... nothing here but gripe, gripe, gripe, an endless broken record that plays nostalgic tunes of never-ever land.....
The truth of the matter is.......many folks have not only been downtown, not only have family and friends who painfully reside in the city, but who have also attended many many city council and count leg meetings voicing their concerns and offering alternative solutions.......ONLY TO FALL ON ROLLING EYES AND DEAF EARS.
Smokey, you really need to beyond downtown and talk the the overburdened residents. Take a ride down the crater filled roads. Count how many vacant properties there are. And stop off at the dss building and ask them how well the metroplex is working for them. Ask them how they enjoyed the Lion King. And check out schenectady's second Hamilton Hill....aka Mt. Pleasant.
However, I will agree with you about rotterdam. It too is becoming a sh!thole just like the city. The city scum is overflowing the boarder towns.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
who have also attended many many city council and count leg meetings voicing their concerns and offering alternative solutions.......ONLY TO FALL ON ROLLING EYES AND DEAF EARS.
Exactly right. When you complain they laugh at you-when you don't complain then you should have complained. NO ONE IS WATCHING THE STORE. DSIC is a total joke. Metrograft is a total joke. Someone at DSIC should have noticed when 90 tree grates where ripped out of the ground all around Downtown. Someone should have been fired when the story aired on CBS-6. Nothing happen.
No one knew from nuthin. Of course they are a waste of money like everything these idiots do. They have to do something to keep the tax money and fees rolling in. Whether it is an improvement or not no one cares. Another only in Schenectady story.
Two former DSIC employees were arrested by the SPD Thursday night, charged with stealing 6,000 pounds of City owned tree grates cashing them in at a local scrap yard. One employee was still working with the taxpayer funded Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation when CBS-6 ran the story and he resigned the next day. 67 tree grates were stolen and only 37 have been recovered. The cost to replace one massive tree grate is around $1,000 so the City is out over $30,000. Another example of Downtown "renaissance" and your tax dollar at work?
Logged
Here's what should be scraped-the entire useless DSIC. Merchants have been screaming about the increased fees, a job killing additional tax, the tin ear that only helps Proctor's. In a real "renaissance" you wouldn't need layer after layer of DEM bureaucrats. Another group of alleged planners with no planning expertise. 
Exactly right. When you complain they laugh at you-when you don't complain then you should have complained. NO ONE IS WATCHING THE STORE. DSIC is a total joke. Metrograft is a total joke. Someone at DSIC should have noticed when 90 tree grates where ripped out of the ground all around Downtown. Someone should have been fired when the story aired on CBS-6. Nothing happen.
