I saw something on the news about a ceremony at city hall having something to do with new homeowners. Apparently the city is giving some sort of recognition or welcome to people who bought homes, and they were calling some woman the city's newest homeowner? But it looked like they were only recognizing those who bought houses through that stupid program. I know a couple families closed on their houses in mid-December and nobody gave them any special attention except maybe a hassle when they applied for their STAR exemption.

You know what could help attract families to Schenectady? Having ice skating at Central Park. I have had families with young kids ask me about it and I have to tell them they don't do that any more. Isn't having people come here into the neighborhoods instead of downtown as "good for Schenectady" as all the other stupid things we spend money on? Some of the "good" streets on the north side of the park are becoming slummy.

And of course the mayor wouldn't say that the only reason these people would NOT buy a house IN the city if not for the handouts from the taxpayer.  

Of course the mayor will NOT provide a report to the taxpayers to list what houses sold under this program, whether the purchasers were existing Schenectady renters or were they people who lived in other counties and made a choice to buy IN the city.   And of course he would NEVER report to the taxpayers whether these people could buy a home the normal way--by saving for a downpayment and qualifying for a real mortgage.

And will these people get the assessments reduced during grievance time?   Or will the board say "insufficient data, denied"

This is why it is critically important to know the address and owner of each and every house that sells in this program, because taxpayers in the city have a birthright entitlement to know if the assessor grants reductions in the assessments of these houses prior to publishing the tentative roll, and if not then does the board of assessment grant them a reduction if they grieve?  

If the assessor or BOA reduces the assessment of the houses in this program, then ALL the other homeowners who file a grievance should have their assessments reduced as well.   I mean, we have seen THE EVIDENCE of how high the assessed values are.  

I'm wondering if they are counting houses that sold without the program as success stories for their stupid program.

Quoted from Madam X

You know what could help attract families to Schenectady? Having ice skating at Central Park. I have had families with young kids ask me about it and I have to tell them they don't do that any more. Isn't having people come here into the neighborhoods instead of downtown as "good for Schenectady" as all the other stupid things we spend money on? Some of the "good" streets on the north side of the park are becoming slummy.

I hardly doubt that having ice skating will attract 'smart folks' who know that they would be getting screwed over with high taxation and high crime and a substandard school system....just to name a few reasons to stay clear of schenectady!!!

Soooooooooooo after the 'ice skating season' is over............then what??? Do you honestly think that 'ice skating' will buffer the SHOCK when they open their ever rising tax bill?

Central park has become a drug dealer's/pedophiles business location. Ice skating will just draw more customers and victims for them!! No one in their right mind would go there! imho

Quoted from bumblethru

I hardly doubt that having ice skating will attract 'smart folks' who know that they would be getting screwed over with high taxation and high crime and a substandard school system....just to name a few reasons to stay clear of schenectady!!!

Soooooooooooo after the 'ice skating season' is over............then what??? Do you honestly think that 'ice skating' will buffer the SHOCK when they open their ever rising tax bill?

Central park has become a drug dealer's/pedophiles business location. Ice skating will just draw more customers and victims for them!! No one in their right mind would go there! imho

Buying a home in Schenectady is the equivalent of skating on thin ice!

I agree with you, bumble, that ice skating will not attract 'smart' buyers. However, our city is already spending our hard-earned money in an effort to create a "renaissance" and meanwhile they are spending more of our hard-earned money to lure in the not-so-smart, or maybe just uninformed and gullible buyers. Rather than throw money away on some of the stupider efforts, I think that preserving one of the good things we had here would be more cost-effective and have the added bonus of benefitting those who already live here . I would rather fork over money for something nice like ice skating instead of trying to dupe some innocents with some stupid program or give some freeloading garbage czar a ride home.
Freezing weather like that which is necessary for ice skating repels roaches, ticks, and drug dealers/pedophiles. It is the one time of year we can use our park without exposure to anything worse than frostbite.

BTW, a little-known true story... remember when people were protesting BS's no ice skating edict a few years back? Remember how he made a big show of getting prisoners from the jail finally to clear off a tiny patch of ice for skating? A couple of days prior to that, two young men went to the trouble of stomping "Stratton Sucks" into the snow in large letters, at the very same location that the jailbirds removed the snow. Coincidence? I think not.