David Buicko's letter to the editor last week points out errors I made in a previous column, but the Galesi Group leader didn't address the message I tried to send. The column stressed excess downtown Schenectady office space still exists despite an extremely huge infusion of public-sector tenants. Try to imagine what the business district would look like without the state DOT, Lottery, Taxation and Finance, Racing and Wagering Board, Commission on Quality of Care and Workers Comp, Empire State College and the federal Social Security Administration plus various county government offices. He states I wrote there were four floors at Galesi Group-owned Center City when there are five. Also he said I mentioned Schenectady County Community College will lease 10,000 square feet of space at Center City when the correct figure is 20,000. My numbers were off, but ironically his corrections underscore that there was even more empty space than I believed existed and yet another public-sector tenant -- SCCC. The column referred to the new Center City building as empty, but Mr. Buicko asserted the structure is 70 percent full. When people through the decades referred to Center City, they meant the building directly across the street from Proctors, the single building that housed sports venues. Mr. Buicko stretches the original Center City to include the adjacent former W.T. Grant and Wallace Department Store buildings. These adjoining and expanded buildings are where the 70 percent occupancy rate takes place. He also disputed my observation of "office space for lease" signs all over downtown. Four of the signs are on Galesi-owned buildings. There are plenty on surrounding properties. The long-term public-sector financial mess signals the end for more new public-sector offices. Hey, some of the existing space needs may even shrink. Cermak can be reached by email at mcermak@timesunion.com. http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/From-managing-cops-to-an-IHOP-1332706.php#page-2
Yeah, it's worse than anyone thought. Imagine Downtown Schenectady's vacancy rate without; DOT, Lottery, Racing and Wagering, Quality Care, Empire State College, County Government and Tax and Finance? Most stand where retail that generated sales tax used to be.
Death Ray has been a total failure at bringing in any retailers/corporations. He prefers opening governmental gin mills. Hic, Hic! Center City with it's 30% vacancy rate would be 50% without the Y.
government buildings/jobs doesn't count as renaisance....unless it's to fill the 'kings' coffers......It could be a renaisance if we look at it in terms of medieval times... art with starving artists/ eunichs/ taxes /robinhood/ jesters/ lyre players/shows/plays........anyone see well paying jobs?.......yeah, no one made money until they were DEAD and they became 'known'.......
when the king isn't liked very well, the king keeps perceived enemies close and well paid
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS