When I purchased property in the City over a decade ago, I WAS VERY excited!!!! I was happy to see improvement and was convinced that my money was in the right spot. Seeing buildings improve, a Downtown filled with lights ...
Somehow, all this excitement and influx of business came with a HUGE pricetag. That cost was sent to the homeowners, the taxpayers for some reason. The Metroplex was supposed to HELP the taxbase, but instead it has crippled it. Forgiving loans? Meager PILOT payments? Metroplex loans without interest and without a due date? The same people getting the deals? $10 million to a non-profit?
On top of that, there has been no neighborhood improvement, no money for extra safety and a $2 million owed to the schools because the City can't afford it.
All I'm trying to say is that I'm here, it's not getting better and I'm trying to wrap my head around where $100 million has gone? The City has deteriorated into a wasteland of crime, high taxes, poor schools - there is no more Plex money. It's over, it failed and the taxpayers will be paying for it for decades.
When I purchased property in the City over a decade ago, I WAS VERY excited!!!! I was happy to see improvement and was convinced that my money was in the right spot. Seeing buildings improve, a Downtown filled with lights ...
Somehow, all this excitement and influx of business came with a HUGE pricetag. That cost was sent to the homeowners, the taxpayers for some reason. The Metroplex was supposed to HELP the taxbase, but instead it has crippled it. Forgiving loans? Meager PILOT payments? Metroplex loans without interest and without a due date? The same people getting the deals? $10 million to a non-profit?
On top of that, there has been no neighborhood improvement, no money for extra safety and a $2 million owed to the schools because the City can't afford it.
All I'm trying to say is that I'm here, it's not getting better and I'm trying to wrap my head around where $100 million has gone? The City has deteriorated into a wasteland of crime, high taxes, poor schools - there is no more Plex money. It's over, it failed and the taxpayers will be paying for it for decades.
You must have been smoking some pretty good dope .. because Downtown was a ghost town in the 1990's .. there were no lights shining. Carl's had closed ... you could roll a bowling ball down the sidewalk of State Street and NOT hit anyone.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
Plex was created in 1998, MVP, Proctors and Jay Street projects were taking place around 2000. My job was close to Downtown...it wasn't safe to walk downtown by myself then and it hasn't changed. Also, my tax bills were 1/3 what they are today.
DV, a decade ago was 2001. Plex was created in 1998, MVP, Proctors and Jay Street projects were taking place around 2000. My job was close to Downtown...it wasn't safe to walk downtown by myself then and it hasn't changed. Also, my tax bills were 1/3 what they are today.
Shh, don't mention that. You are only supposed to mention the tax rate not the assessment that has been raised three times in 10 years. Since they don't own any City property they don't know from nuthin. Downtown still is a ghost town. If you want to buy shoes, clothes, groceries, furniture and now bedding rotsa ruck. How's Morris' coffeehouse doin? lol.
The government, WE THE TAXPAYERS, should not be subsidizing private business....plain and simple!!! That is NOT how capitalism works!!! This is how socialist countries operate!!!
The role of government is to provide a low tax base, a high standard school system(not substandard), low crime/safe streets, sound infrastructure and residents who are ready, willing and able to buy it's goods and services. Not the other way around.
When the government starts supporting private businesses with taxpayer's dollars, it clearly does NOT level the playing field. There is then no room for 'healthy competition'. The winners and the losers are then pre-destined.
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
Plex was created in 1998, MVP, Proctors and Jay Street projects were taking place around 2000. My job was close to Downtown...it wasn't safe to walk downtown by myself then and it hasn't changed. Also, my tax bills were 1/3 what they are today.
What are you smoking...bananas??
You said that a decade ago .. Schenectady downtown was all wonderful and great .. it wasn't. So obviously, you were not honest when you said you bought your home in Schenectady a decade ago because it was so great then - and you were not honest when you said it has declined since,
But, it has gotten better in the past 8 years under Democratic leadership.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
Dv, I don't know how much simpler I can put this for you.
In 2001, I WORKED near Downtown, I used to walk down Jay Street where improvements were being made. I had money to invest (because I was WORKING) and began investing in properties in Schenectady. The early 2000's were very good. Great tenants, great neighbors...things were looking up.
Then midstream (with Bombers, Paul Mitchell, Marcellas) tax bills became much higher and the fees??? What exactly was I paying for? A new DSS building? The neighborhoods were getting worse, parks were unsafe and I never went Downtown. Honestly, Proctors tix are WAY too expensive, I don't drink and there is no retail Downtown for a middle class mom like me.
So, I road the ride, I invested, I've paid my taxes and now I'm looking at where $100 million Metroplex funds (taxpayer money) has gone. It's vapor...nothing coming back into the CITY taxbase. Not Rotterdam, but the City taxpayers will continue to pay for Downtown businesses plowing, water, sewer and munic services.
The past 8 years have been the worst for every City taxpayer.
the city's overall value increased, according to county numbers. so there has been a change tot he tax base.. it has grown, and therefore u are paying not as much in taxes as you woul dhave had it not grown. simple math. cost of services, pensions etc. [see your glenville post] have increased as well.. the fact that tax rates have not jumped 10 20 percent is a statement to that effect. to say things are worse over last 8 years is basically a blatant political statement.,
No, a blatant political statement to help McCarthy become Mayor is saying that Schenectady has improved. Improved for who?!!! Not for the taxpayers!
But you wouldn't know that because you don't pay taxes. Do you drive down the City streets everyday? Erie? Stay in the right lane because the left will loosen your fillings.
Ever leave the Stockade and see the gross amount of graffitti EVERYWHERE - the Bronx looks better. Can't drive up Broadway, the DSS receipients are all over the road - to hell with the one crosswalk.
The only reason you are defending the City is for political rule. Your motives are disingenuous and your knowledge spoon fed from politicians - not the people.
Schenectady is in the top 25 highest taxed counties in the USA and what do the taxpayers have to show for it but a nice 2 block area around Proctors.The city officials refuse to see that they are spending more money than they take in and to solve the problem they keep raising taxes.
dvr is right, what kind of dope are u smoking? downtown was a dump in 2001... the street was torn up, businesses were dying.. the street was a mess, thanks to mayor al. and no one went downtown..
dvr is right, what kind of dope are u smoking? downtown was a dump in 2001... the street was torn up, businesses were dying.. the street was a mess, thanks to mayor al. and no one went downtown..
Now the neighborhoods are dumps. Rob Peter to pay Paul - Great job!!!
if u want to buy shoes clothes and other stuff, go to downtown albany, go to downtown amsterdam,go to downtown gloversville -- oh wait -- they have sh*t as well
ok, u can go to downtown saratoga and pay top dollar for crap. but then again, downtown saratoga is not for everyday people but those whohave money to spend on a 20 cigar.
btw, downtown schenctady is getting a tailor on jay street. there u go,
as for your tax bill, i will bet your a million dolalrs everyone's tax bill went up substantially since 2001.. bascially that is when the stock market crashed and then we had this little thing called a recession, which caused something called unemployment...
You're tearing me down for investing in the City? You're attacking me because I pay taxes? You're mad at me because I speak the truth.
SB and DV can say or believe whatever you want. You can cheerlead until the cows come home. Fact is, you don't live here and you have no clue what a resident or taxpayer has been going through for the past 8 years.
Your motive is to get McCarthy into office regardless of his asinine ideas ($3 mil golf course), inactivity (not dealing with pit bulls/crimes) and blatant disregard for the taxpayers by not cutting anything from a budget.
It also looks good that Parker Inn donated $100 to his campaign. Isn't that the thread title?
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Shh, don't mention that. You are only supposed to mention the tax rate not the assessment that has been raised three times in 10 years. Since they don't own any City property they don't know from nuthin. Downtown still is a ghost town. If you want to buy shoes, clothes, groceries, furniture and now bedding rotsa ruck. How's Morris' coffeehouse doin? lol. 
