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Downtown Schenectady takes a holiday

By MARV CERMAK
First published in print: Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Downtown Schenectady was a strange sight late afternoon Thanksgiving Day when Officer Kevin Green appeared to be standing guard over nothing.
     
This ghost-town streetscape persisted until hours later when it was showtime at Proctors.

Finally, a guy showed up asking the city police sentry to look at a photo of his missing cat.

Green said he hadn't seen the animal, but assured the man he would be on the lookout for the pet. Nearby Nico's Pizza was closed.

A block away, the Pizza King was also dark, but owner John Camaj stopped by to check out the place.

"Pizza can't compete with turkey today,'' Camaj quipped.

A few doors away, the Taj Mahal was one of not many Capital Region restaurants open.

Signs stated, "Enjoy Thanksgiving turkey cooked in mouth watering Indian spices."

The place was serving until late evening, but had only a table of four at 6 p.m.

The new Hampton Inn parking lot, usually filled near capacity, held just two vehicles.

This business district Thanksgiving Day emptiness is not unique to Schenectady.

During recent times, there has been the same lack of movement in downtown Albany, Troy and even prosperous Saratoga Springs.

Adding evening stage shows at Proctors and a perked up late attendance rush at Movieland gave Schenectady new life at the tail-end of the holiday.

Yet, in general, downtowns have not been the place to be on any holiday.......................http://timesunion.com/AspStori.....p;newsdate=12/2/2008

How long can these businesses stay in business with this kind of patronage? Even on week days the attendance for the businesses downtown is very low.

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How long can these businesses stay in business with this kind of patronage? Even on week days the attendance for the businesses downtown is very low.

I know that and you know that, but that is not what is being reported!

Even when they close it is not reported. Look around on Sunday-completely empty not even a greasy slice of pizza is available. Legally Blonde did very poorly. Several governmental gin mills are for sale with no takers. Restaurants fold up and stay vacant. The way things are going under the Krats and Death Ray tumble weed will be blowing down State St any day now.

Soon the beggars and the petty thieves will opt to relocate from the city as there will be no targets of their intentions.
Perhaps, this is the plan of our city and county government officials to reduce criminal activity in Schenectady.

Step 1:  Implement oppressive taxation and fees on business owners forcing them to close their businesses
Step 2:  Eliminate presence of those who are employed by these businesses and the patrons from the city streets
Step 3:  Lead the criminal element and the "undesireables" to relocate to more affluent areas, thus leaving Schenectady County.

It just could work  

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Soon the beggars and the petty thieves will opt to relocate from the city as there will be no targets of their intentions.
Perhaps, this is the plan of our city and county government officials to reduce criminal activity in Schenectady.

Step 1:  Implement oppressive taxation and fees on business owners forcing them to close their businesses
Step 2:  Eliminate presence of those who are employed by these businesses and the patrons from the city streets
Step 3:  Lead the criminal element and the "undesireables" to relocate to more affluent areas, thus leaving Schenectady County.

It just could work  

The dogs eating scraps under that table need to find a table with scraps to spare......however, those at the table with scraps to spare
would bode well to employ those'floor cleaners'......because when the fall comes, one never knows who they will be staring at
eye to eye.......anyone remember the man that owed money and went and beat up everyone who owed money to him so he didn't
go to jail......find it and read it......NO ONE is above the pushing the trigger......