- Chip companies to spend $1.5B on research at SUNYIT near Utica
- More than 1,000 jobs coming to SUNYIT
Yes, there are reservations on the environmental impacts of this development and spinoffs, particularly on the viability of our water supply to support non-chip related uses and population growth.
Yes, there are reservations on whether or not this mega-development will become an excuse to burden area residents with even higher levels of taxation and water and sewer fees.
Nevertheless, this is still a positive announcement.
Let's cheer about it!
12 comments:
Hip-Hip-Hurray (with all those reservations)
Can we designate "the Wave" as the official SUNYIT cheer? After all it is a phased hurray
"Yes, there are reservations on the environmental impacts of this development and spinoffs, particularly on the viability of our water supply to support non-chip related uses and population growth.
Yes, there are reservations on whether or not this mega-development will become an excuse to burden area residents with even higher levels of taxation and water and sewer fees."
You answered your own questions. I expect this kind of pie in the sky optimism from Kris Worell and the OD but from you???
I can finally look forward to the area growing and me being able to sell my house when I retire in the next three years !!!!
To Anonymous 5:46, I'm optimistic because (1) it is not totally a fiction with a building under construction, (2) WE are getting benefit of the State's spending for a change and (3) the project will contribute to a positive perception of the Greater Utica area by those outside.
Do I think it will be transformative? No. Inspite of what they say, the impact of such developments on the Albany area have been limited, otherwise there would have been a boom in home sales in Amsterdam, a direct 30 minute commute from the chip fab in Malta. Albany has ALWAYS done well being the seat of state government.
I do think it buys this area a few more years during which we can hopefully reform state government to one that is attractive to business . . . or throw it off entirely to create a new state Upstate. Albany's transgressions on our freedoms have been piling up. Those who could leave already have. Those left are becoming restless.
Why would these manufacturers want to build next to a city which is 75% ghetto? I hope it happens so that taxpayer's will be relieved of the burden of supporting the thousands in this area who have to rely on welfare programs in order to survive.
A manufacturer would locate in such an area because of the available labor pool. Some reasonably large percentage of the jobs in these facilities do not require great amounts of technical knowledge - monitor process, push button, repeat. If a manufacturer is wishing to tap an available labor resource and avoid industrial espionage in the Asian labor markets. With its low cost of living and proximity to major metro areas (less than a days drive for a truck)Central New York has to be looking good.
The project is much too small to be transformative. I also would love to see the public/private cost ratio. We are once again, Crumbs Along the Mohawk.
To Anonymous 9:07
I would hardly call the prospect of 1,000 or more jobs and significant high tech infrastructure crumbs.
Granted, when compared to silicon valley it is small potatoes, but when was the last time anyone announced 1,000 jobs with clear intentions and a tangible first step (building(S) at SUNYIT. A crumb is the announcement that a sausage factory is adding 15 jobs (bless them if the sausage factory can do it - providing 1 job is a challenge for small business)
As a former resident of the area residing on the west coast, sentiments and attitudes such as yours do more to hurt than help.
Big things come from small starts. It may not be the whole cake, but it is something more than a crumb.
And who cares if the public is paying for some of it? Aren't we all in this together? The state has always provided incentives - whether land grants to railroads and western settlers, inter-state highway construction or airports. Things like this don't get started without some form of public investment.
The opinion of above is indicative ofwhat is wrong with the New York and the nation. When the taxpayer is the developer of first result, the end is more often than not a failure. We have seen this time and time again. With the government as the lead or prime investor which translates into the taxpayer, the private sector players have far less incentive to make money, grow and to stay.
This project aside, the state can just keep borrowing to finance these projects for so long . And since these projects are tax free and will probably remain so forever, the results from a tax revenue perspective is questionable.
Confusing the skepticism of government spending and business development with that of negativity is a boring cop out. But, I guess it does not matter to one who does not live here and does not pay our taxes.m
The opinion of above is indicative ofwhat is wrong with the New York and the nation. When the taxpayer is the developer of first result, the end is more often than not a failure. We have seen this time and time again. With the government as the lead or prime investor which translates into the taxpayer, the private sector players have far less incentive to make money, grow and to stay.
This project aside, the state can just keep borrowing to finance these projects for so long . And since these projects are tax free and will probably remain so forever, the results from a tax revenue perspective is questionable.
Confusing the skepticism of government spending and business development with that of negativity is a boring cop out. But, I guess it does not matter to one who does not live here and does not pay our taxes.m
To our former resident now enjoying the beautiful West Coast. First, the jobs are promised to come over th next several years. In the world of high tech, that is an eternity. The taxpayer will be spending billions during this gap.
More important, if government is best to lead business redevelopment, and this is good, why does not the state build buildings for all business qnd not tax any business?
The latest answer is the buzz word nanotechnology. Remember Pataki's green energy surge where the state ran around financing and not tqxing any development that smelled of being green? How
many jobs did that create at what cost. New York has spent decades of throwing money and tax breaks at all kinds of companies. Why have people and businesses left?
To anon 10/24 - Never implied government is the best - only a player. Many examples where government has provided infrastructure or seed money to get things started - Erie Canal (financed by the state) , Land Grants to railroads, Subsidized air ports, Interstate Highways etc.
Utica became the industrial center it once was partly because the State Funded the Canal. Local businessman used it to their advantage and developed Utica's textile industry.
Of course textiles died and local investors and leaders repeated the cycle - the renewal noted as Loom to Boom with Electronics - GE, Remington Rand and Chicago Pnuematic. At same time, county built the airport and the state built the thruway - both government investments that aided business and the community.
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