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To sell houses, a team effort
Schenectady officials will answer questions from prospective buyers
By LAUREN STANFORTH, Staff writer
Published 08:15 p.m., Wednesday, January 4, 2012

SCHENECTADY — At an open house, a bowl of apples placed on a freshly waxed coffee table or the faint smell of chocolate chip cookies is the norm. But having a police officer there to answer questions about the community? No.

That is what newly minted Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy is planning for President's Day weekend when members of the city's codes office, trash collection, police, fire department — even school officials – will be present at open houses throughout the area to sell prospective buyers on homeownership in the Electric City.

The idea is reminiscent of a giant Welcome Wagon. Officials will answer questions about Schenectady and will try to dispel concerns that often trouble prospective buyers, such as unkempt properties, noise and crime.

"We want to make people realize the fire and police departments are a phone call away and that we're responsive to the needs of our citizens," said Schenectady Fire Chief Michael Della Rocco. "Mayor McCarthy's idea that we will have a city of excellence is something we can all strive for."

The Greater Capital Association of Realtors has agreed to contact its members and encourage real estate agents to hold open houses on Feb. 18 or 19, when city officials will be available.

The exact logistics have not yet been worked out. But fire and police officials say their members will be supplied with printed materials about their services, and will answer questions. Police Chief Mark Chaires said he or members of his command staff will provide information about how to contact police, data on crime trends and how to keep families and residences safe..............>>>>..............>>>>..............Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/business/article/To-sell-houses-a-team-effort-2441947.php#ixzz1iaI4snJn

The answers given to the possible home buyers will not be truthful IMHO. Before buying a house anywhere in the city drive around yourself and see what's going on. Ask people who live and work in the area what they think. I was talking to a business owner in Mont Pleasant and was told how bad that area has become with the high crime and lack of business caused by it.

Oh Im sure it'll be "truthful" (according to the dictionary) - but there'll be such a spin on it to sound positive that you'll hardly recognize it.

New residents will be easily tricked.

LOVE to see a prospective buyers face when the $55 false-trip ambulance fee is discussed...

Or, the criminal trends data? Really? You're going to hand that out??

Less than 60% graduation rate and millions taken away because the school didn't have a restructuring plan in place?

How about the fees for water and trash?

Don't worry, all this overtime given to the PD and FD will all be in vain when the mortgage monthly payment calculations come back. No middle class family can afford the property and school taxes.

How about this McCarthy - why don't you spend your time figuring out a way TO LOWER THE TAXES!!!! THAT is the only way you'll begin to bring people into the City...it's really just that simple.

Quoted from rachel72

How about this McCarthy - why don't you spend your time figuring out a way TO LOWER THE TAXES!!!! THAT is the only way you'll begin to bring people into the City...it's really just that simple.

Amen to that!

Building support for the public employee unions, one (new) resident at a time.

Will they also provide voter registration forms, perhaps partially completed, as a "service"?

And just where these prospective buyers are coming from??????      N Y C......

All they see is a place to become slum landlords , welfare takers, and drugs will be easily transported to this area.....

What a circus.

What city services will have to be cut in ordre to pay all the overtime on a holiday weekend?

Where are the lines for this in the 2012 city budget?

Obviously McC believes prospective buyers are all stupid, because he thinks it's up to the existing taxpayers to fund the cost of telling prospective buyers what police do, what their trash day is, etc.   Obvously he believes prospective buyers are so stupid that they cannot use a phone book or trying googling "city of Schenectady" and then search around on the city's website for the answers.     When a mayor treats prospective buyers like they are stupid, that is extremely insulting.

Regarding the unkempt properties, what will McC's response be about houses that have been abandoned for 10 years, burned out 10 years and never addressed?    Since they haven't been addressed in 10 years, where are the city taxes being spent?    Oh yeah, exempting millioniares from paying taxes.   Paying the illegal STAR exemption that Morris has.  Paying Morris' $200,000+ salary,  Etc.


This is an act of sheer utter D E S P A R A T I O N by this unqualified mayor!!!  

An act of deparation by the city and county dems trying to keep up with the government businesses downtown and their need to keep paying off the millioniares at the expense of the financially struggling homeowners

Obviously, this is an admission by the mayor that no one wants to buy a house in the city.   If the city was a good place to live, prospective home buyers would look to the city without being bribed !!!!!!!!!!!    And THAT is the UNDISPUTABLE, UNDENIABLE TRUTH, and since I always provide proof, that comment is supported by the proof of the high numbers of houses for sale because people are fleeing the city, and because virtually no one is looking at houses in the city, and becuase according to GCAR the property values in the city are plummeting (and Smoking Banans has not provided any numbers---DIRECT from GCAR's website itself--to prove otherwise)

Funny, don't see this happening in Colonie, Clifton Park, Rotterdam, Niskayuna, or anywhere else.  

He's just on the leading edge I guess (of insanity)

Quoted from 147

Funny, don't see this happening in Colonie, Clifton Park, Rotterdam, Niskayuna, or anywhere else.  

He's just on the leading edge I guess (of insanity)

You took the words right out of my mouth!!
Only in Schenectady to you  need the help of the police department AND the fire department to sell a home in the city!!! OMG!! If I needed to meet with either one of those departments before buying a home.............I'd beat feet the other way in  heart beat!!! What the hell are they even thinking????

And will the police and fire fighters get a cut of the commission when and if they do sell a house??? hmmmmmmmmmmmm

You just can't make this stuff up!!!
OMG!!

Can't wait for the meet and greet for prospective tenants at the DSS building.

Schenectady's version of the Funny Farm with Chevy Chase.  

Quoted from 147

Funny, don't see this happening in Colonie, Clifton Park, Rotterdam, Niskayuna or anywhere else. He's just on the leading edge I guess (of insanity)

They don't need no dog and pony show. Send in the clowns. School "leaders" from the worst district in the region. Make sure all of the prospective "buyers" avoid 890 between exits 6 and 7. Anything and everything except lowering taxes, slashing assessments and privatizing City services. Keep the implosion going!

Quoted from TakingItBack

Schenectady's version of the Funny Farm with Chevy Chase.  

I WAS THINKING THE SAME FREAKIN' THING......are there Rockwell pictures handed out to everyone to copy and act like.....sounds like a REAL JOB for Proctors.....

I think Gary is confusing excitement with confusion.  Most of them think it is stupid.  This program will actually do the opposite of the intended results.  It will create fear in cases it doesn't already exist.  

This is a fine line the police and firemen are walking.  They will need to say that the crime isnt that bad and later will say they need more personel and resources.  You just cant make this stuff up.  

What next.......


McCarthy said he got the idea after speaking to real estate agents about meeting prospective clients. "Realtors have been somewhat excited about it, but I don't think they actually believed me," the mayor said.