Absolutely not. Metrograft must be abolished. Anyone from EITHER party that supports it should be thrown out.
Completely disgusted that no one on the REPS-besides Joe Suhrada has said boo about this scandal. Do say that the REPS listened and did a better job initially. This was a horrible idea. No other County in the Nation has followed it. END IT NOW. Socialism did not work in Russia it won't work in Schenectady.
But what are the DEMS doing? Will they throw over Death Ray to save this honey pot?
ROTFLMAO! Guess who was the only one that voted NO? Joe Suhrada AGAIN!
And this must mean that Ang and Burhmaster voted YES????
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
Joe Suhrada stated that this horrible State audit points to the need to remove Death Ray as chairman. Mr. Suhrada said he runs it like a political entity. YES! Gary McCarthy questioned the high amount spent on legal services. This audit is just "routine". lol
We await the first DEM to call for Death Ray's immediate removal. {Crickets chirping}.This issue is spreading like wildfire. Paul V-Talk 1300 will have the State Comptroller on. The gig is up.
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
Joe Suhrada stated that this horrible State audit points to the need to remove Death Ray as chairman. Mr. Suhrada said he runs it like a political entity.
Did anybody state that the horrible State audit points to the need to remove THE PUBLIC AUTHORITY!
I would still like to know why the other reps voted 'yes'!
Anyone?
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
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
I went and voted. Voting is still open. I also made a comment. I just wanted to put it here, since I just updated my user profile there to have my name show up on it. Here is a copy of the remarks that I left there, in case it still says anonymous.
Quoted Text
This would give me yet another reason to not go downtown. Businesses that are paid with government money. It's now going to cost me more money to use a parking lot (paid for with my tax dollars) to go to a store that already took my money (through a government grant/loan) so that I can pay a sales tax to so that the government can give out more of my money to a company? I'd rather go to do shopping outside of downtown (or better yet, outside the city) where I'll be paying less to the government.
Metroplex board members, politicians react to state comptroller's audit Monday, July 6, 2009 By Michael Lamendola (Contact) Gazette Reporter
SCHENECTADY COUNTY — A state comptroller’s audit critical of the Metroplex Development Authority has drawn mixed reactions from board members and local politicians. The audit was leaked to local media Friday and is not yet available publicly on the state comptroller’s Web site. It covers the period between Jan. 1, 2006, and Dec. 31, 2007. The comptroller completed the audit in August 2008. State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said the audit’s purpose is to help Metroplex officials manage operations efficiently and effectively and to provide accountability for tax dollars spent on projects. Among the audits key findings: -- Metroplex is solvent. Sales tax revenues, bond proceeds, restricted cash and other sources of funds were sufficient to finance current operations, economic development projects and long-term debt redemption. Its ability to accomplish its mission was enhanced by an increase in bonding authority approved by the state Legislature. View audit To view the Report of Examination for the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority, which was prepared by the Office of the State Comptroller, click HERE. -- Parking lot operations exceeded revenues for every year reviewed. -- Metroplex is not effectively monitoring performance to ensure that projects are meeting employment projections. Specifically, the comptroller found, no information on real property tax base expansion or sales tax revenue increases for any project. The office reviewed 16 projects and found limited or no data on employment goals. The projects received $34 million in Metroplex funds from 2005 to 2007. The comptroller is recommending Metroplex require all project businesses to provide timely employment reporting forms and other required performance measurement documentation. It also wants Metroplex to independently verify reported employment data by making on-site inspections of company premises, obtaining payroll information or both. Also, the comptroller wants Metroplex to perform periodic evaluations to determine whether sponsored projects are producing benefits as intended and that it verify why businesses are not meeting their performance goals. Metroplex was created by state legislation in 1998 to expand the county’s property tax base, expand its sale tax base and create and retain jobs. Metroplex Vice Chairman Brad Lewis said the audit shows a need for Metroplex to do a better job of collecting data to measure its success. He said the audit does not say Metroplex is failing in its mission. Lewis said contrary to the audit’s statements, Metroplex “keeps very careful track on projects and how they are operating.” He said that while Metroplex is prevented by law from obtaining sales tax information for a specific business, it can tracking overall sales tax for the county. Sales tax figures for the county are up 6 percent from the last year, while other counties had declines. Metroplex also can measure property tax growth in the county, and Lewis said that Metroplex has put 38 buildings back on the tax rolls since 2004. Lewis said that during this period covered by the audit, Metroplex had not finished collecting the data to determine project performance. “The data is there, but it had not yet been collected,” he said. “If you want one indicator of economic activity downtown, look at the increase in monthly parking permits. It went from 350 in 2004 to over 2,000 today.”...........>>>>............>>>>...................http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2009/jul/06/0706_metroplex/
Metroplex has spent far more money than it has brought into the county and of the 38 buildings that were put on the tax rolls how many are still in business? The report tells me the only thing Metroplex is very good at is spending money IMHO.
If you want one indicator of economic activity downtown, look at the increase in monthly parking permits. It went from 350 in 2004 to over 2,000 today.”
Absolutely not. Metrograft must be abolished. Anyone from EITHER party that supports it should be thrown out.
Logged
ROTFLMAO! Guess who was the only one that voted NO? Joe Suhrada AGAIN!
