Another STUPID decision by the INCOMPETENT DEMS in the city.
Remember who the DEMS tried to hire that CRIMINAL contractor because the DEMS FAILED to check his background. And then the Pappas guy either opted not to do a job or the city decided not to have the deal?
And then the city DEMS decided to let him do a job after all
Pappas is done again!
Since the FACT is that the overwhelming majority of people do NOT want to buy a house in the city, even contractors don't want to do work for the city, the city is so extremely desperate that it turns to criminals to fix houses.
Would YOU buy a house that a criminal fixed up?
Waiting to see when they have that Focus Construction doing work, it may get to that when good contractors don't bother withit.
And of course, we know that McC and his cronies will NOT put a list out of what city owned houses are getting done and how much is being paid, etc., remember these ARE city owned houses now, therefore the taxpayers have a birthright entitlement to know the details. So when is McCheese going to make this information public?
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
BIG PLANS Contractor Gary Pappas, who has already started work at the fi rst house offered through the program, is hoping to do 10 to 12 more houses next year. He thinks the city’s plan is fantastic, even though contractors don’t get paid until the house sells.
... step by step Schenectady ... continues its Renaissance.
Quoted Text
Rehab project is a scratch Schenectady apartment deal in urban renewal effort ends as contractor's past revealed By Paul Nelson Published 7:40 pm, Thursday, January 10, 2013
SCHENECTADY — The city's latest attempt at urban renewal is off to a rocky start.
Earlier this week, the first contractor selected under Mayor Gary McCarthy's program to rehabilitate blighted properties bailed out amid revelations that he served prison time for not paying federal back taxes and stealing from a pension fund.
City Councilman Vince Riggi expressed anger Thursday that city officials had apparently not properly vetted Gary Pappas before agreeing to sell him a foreclosed apartment building at 14 Myers Alley.
"The process was sloppy," said Riggi. "We want to ensure that people who get involved in this program are going to be able to pay the taxes."
Councilman Carl Erikson echoed those feelings.
"I think the shock is we didn't know," he said, noting he believes that city officials conducted a financial but not a criminal background check on Pappas.
McCarthy initially said during a phone conversation late Thursday that Pappas was still involved with the city's Home Ownership Made Easy in Schenectady program.
He called back later and said Schenectady Building Inspector Eric Shilling had informed him that Pappas had dropped out of the project because "there wasn't support for him from the City Council."
Asked about emails Pappas reportedly sent to city officials, McCarthy dismissed them as "old stuff" even though he acknowledged he hadn't seen the correspondences.
The mayor also insisted that the governing body had access to a file containing financial information about Pappas, including bank letters certifying he was in good fiscal standing.
Riggi disputed that contention and said the only paperwork he had on Pappas was a standard form letter from Trustco Bank.
But what the council didn't know when they voted Dec. 10 to give Pappas the property was that he had pleaded guilty in Colorado in May 2004 to embezzlement for taking money from the employee benefit plan at his business Pro Auto Parts Inc., and for keeping federal payroll taxes. He was sentenced to three years' probation, 10 months of home detention and ordered to pay $65,778 to the Internal Revenue Service and $13,917 to his victims.
Status: Delinquent Form: Limited Liability Company Jurisdiction: Colorado Formation Date: 11/19/2006 Term of Duration: Perpetual Periodic Report Month: November
... step by step Schenectady ... continues its Renaissance.
Quoted Text
Contractor walks away from city rehab deal Friday, May 31, 2013 By Kathleen Moore (Contact) SCHENECTADY — The first contractor to sign up for the new contractor-rehab program has given up, the city’s building inspector said.
…. Councilman Vince Riggi criticized the way in which Pappas was chosen to be the first contractor in the program, saying City Hall should have vetted the man more carefully.
Pappas then quit, but Shilling persuaded him to keep working. Now, he’s quit for good, Shilling said.
…
But Riggi said the council should have been told that Pappas never paid the $10,000. “Why weren’t be apprised of this situation?” he said. “Nothing was said.” He said he wasn’t surprised to learn that Pappas had quit. “My fears were substantiated,” he said.
... step by step Schenectady ... continues its Renaissance.
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
I think the problem may be that even if the information were made public, you will still have the majority in favor of some of these crackhead ideas because they either: a) don't really understand the ramifications; b)aren't paying their own way anyhow; c)have a finger in the pie somewhere; or some combination of all three. This was such a bad plan from the start. You can't start out with a foolish plan put together by incompetent, self-interested people and then invite in some hinky individuals, and then make alterations in the plan as you go along and 'discover' the flaws that were inherent from the very beginning. Desperation and hubris are a lethal combination.
I thought this was about new retail finally coming to Downtown under the leadership of Mayor McCheese and Death Ray. At least another governmental gin mill?
Look, the board cheerleader DV WAS these boards just before midnight on June 2.
But while he claims the city is so good, does he come and respond about these issues?
TOTAL SILENCE, TOTAL AVOIDANCE on responding to the FACTS
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
Logged
I thought this was about new retail finally coming to Downtown under the leadership of Mayor McCheese and Death Ray. At least another governmental gin mill? 
