SCHENECTADY Tax delinquent property dispute entangles city BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Kathleen Moore at 395-3120 or moore@dailygazette.com
On orders from City Hall, a tax collector refused to accept tax payments from a deceased owner’s nephew, opening the way for Schenectady officials to sell the property cheaply to a developer. City officials said the developer could be better trusted to improve the property than the man who tried to pay the tax bill. “It has been sitting as a blight on the neighborhood for 10 years,” Corporation Counsel L. John Van Norden said. The city found a development company, 1001 Davis LLC, that would buy the property for $1,000 to $3,000. But some city council members have expressed grave concerns about taking the property and then selling it cheaply to a developer who wants to replace empty apartment buildings with new apartment buildings. The taxpayer, David Bianchi, is now alleging in court that the city is trying to steal his uncle’s property. His unexpected tax payment, which started the court proceedings, got an immediate reaction from tax collection officials at Optimum Realty. The president of the company called an unidentifi ed city official the day after the payment was received, and then ordered a manager to refuse the money. “I am very sorry for the inconvenience,” wrote Optimum Realty Accounting Manager Megan Booker when she wired the tax payment back, the morning after Bianchi sent in $3,879, the fi rst installment of a payment plan he had negotiated with Optimum. “The president of the company spoke with someone from the City of Schenectady just this morning, and we are not allowed to accept this payment.” Van Norden said he did not know who might have directed Optimum to refuse the payment. The properties in question, at the corner of Barrett Street and South Avenue near North Jay Street, take up half a block. The city owns most of the other properties. Selling them as a group to a developer could spark the redevelopment of an entire block. ......................>>>>...................>>>>..................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01200&AppName=1
So, somebody steps up to pay their taxes (unlike most of the businesses in town) and the city won't accept it? Gee, I wonder how they expect to fund the city, except for the fact that accepting the payment would go against the idea of the city deciding who they want where.
This is the only blighted building in Little Italy? Nothing is more sacred than the deal. Another new low that will cost the oppressed City taxpayers thousands in legal fees to remedy. Someone wants to pay back taxes and they won't accept it. And the DEMS wonder why revenues are in free fall? November can't come soon enough.
It is outrageous what the city can get away with and there is nothing we can do! Or can we?
First McCarthy tries to squash a presenter at the POF trying to present that the presenter is less than. Treating a citizen like $. Now he is handing over deals to developers and he is being brazen about it.
These things are happening on his watch....God help us.
Maybe this owner really is not going to do much. We don't really know. He has made efforts to pay back all the taxes but maybe the city sees he has no money left to do any improvements. Bull$ they have no right to discriminate and that is what they are doing. Treating someone differently based on economic status.
The fact they already have it planned to give it to a developer sure sounds like corruption to me. Whose hand is in the cookie jar?
Isn't it interesting now that McCarthy gets into a position of control and suddenly these types of corruption go full speed ahead. Blantant, brazen.
There is no other way to see this.. it is corruption at it best. Out in the open, brazen "Try and stop us now!"
If this goes unchallenged by the populous......
This is only the beginning folks just the beginning and it goes downhill from here.
McCarthy is business as usual in the city. Did anyone honestly think things would change once stratton left? Of course not. McCarthy will be the corrupt tax and spend party loyalist in hopes of landing a state job just like stratton and savage.
They all have to be voted out!! The city is a total disgrace!! Just ask the residents!!
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
They all have to be voted out!! The city is a total disgrace!! Just ask the residents!!
The City's implosion has been going on for awhile. The DEMS have ruled the City Council for 35 straight years. Too many idiotic spending, arts and revitalization plans have been hatched.
Let's get the golf course straightened out and cut spending. No! This isn't the right time? The DEMS want to take a $400,000 loan out on the golf course. They keep hiring to make up for any possible Mayor's savings. The REPS must endorse 3 of the 4 Alliance Candidates so that some changes can take place. A new Mayor with the same DEM morons will change nothing.
The City's implosion has been going on for awhile. The DEMS have ruled the City Council for 35 straight years. Too many idiotic spending, arts and revitalization plans have been hatched.
Let's get the golf course straightened out and cut spending. No! This isn't the right time? The DEMS want to take a $400,000 loan out on the golf course. They keep hiring to make up for any possible Mayor's savings. The REPS must endorse 3 of the 4 Alliance Candidates so that some changes can take place. A new Mayor with the same DEM morons will change nothing.
The city has no choice but to give Hull a shot at this mess. McCarthy would only promise the same old business as usual. Except this time we can only hope that the voters are more alert in that if Hull screws up, they kick him out too!
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
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says several local governments are avoiding fiscal laws by creating special agencies to fund projects that leave taxpayers holding the bag.
DiNapoli says examples of misuse of local development corporations include a fire station that cost $9 million more than taxpayers agreed. In another, a deal soured that left taxpayers with a ferry too costly to operate.
"Time after time, our auditors uncovered LDCs being used to skirt the laws ... governing local government operations," DiNapoli said. "And that's costing taxpayers money. LDCs are a good idea that, in too many cases, has been put to bad use."
The Democrat said the tax-exempt agencies are supposed to build or renovate buildings for new employers as part of their economic development duties, but are too often being used to borrow and spend money when fiscal restrictions aimed at protecting taxpayers constrain the local government.
"LDCs are one of the few economic development tools available to local governments in our economically challenged state," countered Peter Barnes of the New York Conference of Mayors. "The claimed abuses by a few LDCs deserve a response, but not one that involves 'throwing the baby out with the bathwater,' as the state is prone to do."
DiNapoli issued the findings of recent audits on Thursday. He wants a law to provide his office with oversight of the local development corporations created by villages, towns and cities often headed by the same officials who run the municipality.
DiNapoli's audits and other reports show LDCs were used to borrow and spend millions of dollars of public money when the local government couldn't, often costing more than taxpayers expected while leaving them responsible for the debt without necessarily owning the building that was constructed.
AMEN!!! Now all DiNapoli has to do is act on his words.
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
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says several local governments are avoiding fiscal laws by creating special agencies to fund projects that leave taxpayers holding the bag.
DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FINALLY
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Logged
This is the only blighted building in Little Italy? Nothing is more sacred than the deal. Another new low that will cost the oppressed City taxpayers thousands in legal fees to remedy. Someone wants to pay back taxes and they won't accept it. And the DEMS wonder why revenues are in free fall? November can't come soon enough.
The City's implosion has been going on for awhile. The DEMS have ruled the City Council for 35 straight years. Too many idiotic spending, arts and revitalization plans have been hatched. 
