Twenty Eighteen kicks off with another forward looking editorial from the OD that is heavy with excitement but light on facts: "Nexus Center good way to begin new year."
The planned development of the Nexus Center -- a tournament-based sports and recreation hub -- on the a 1.9-acre site just east of the Aud will be one more thing to keep the downtown renaissance moving forward. . . .That is all we are told about the financing. What we are not told is (1) that the Aud Authority has a limitation on bonded indebtedness of no more than $2,000,000 meaning the project will likely require County taxpayers to back the venture much like they did with the Aud expansion; (2) that the Aud Authority is still being involuntarily subsidized by the customers of the Mohawk Valley Water Authority (MVWA) to the tune of $732,000 annually as a matter of state law with mandated increases into the 2030s; and (3) that ownership by the Aud Authority means that another 1.9 acres of prime Downtown Utica property will be permanently removed from Utica's tax rolls.
. . . It’s likely be funded through public and private funds. . . .
The editorial cites Utica's central location and alleges a "need" for such venues to conclude that the center could "play a major role in economic development."
Utica Comets President Robert Esche has said that revenue would be based on out-of-towners coming here. The planned three sheets of ice could also be converted into lacrosse and soccer fields, he said earlier, so the complex could be capturing all sports, truly built around recreation, tournament-based play. He estimated it would mean roughly 300,000 to 350,000 out-of-towners coming to the area per year.If this is true, then why isn't the Comets organization building this facility with its own money, and keeping the property on the tax rolls? It seem that, again, money from MVWA customers and the credit of county taxpayers are being lent to a private venture.
In addition to creating an enterprising new venture in the city, this project also will eliminate a major downtown eyesore next to the vibrant Adirondack Bank Center auditorium. Demolition of Tartan has been scheduled, and depending on the weather, Annese said, it could be gone by the AHL All-Star Classic later this month. Previous asbestos contamination was abated when Bowers Development acquired the property last year -- and Bowers will pay for the demolition, Annese said.What are we to make of the fact that Bowers acquired the property and performed asbestos abatement just to sell it to the Aud Authority and pay for demolition a year later? It is doubtful that Bowers is being an altruistic angel. There is a story there that the OD is not telling us. Regardless, elimination of a Downtown "eyesore" is again an excuse for government to get in bed with a private enterprise.
The center is a key component of the proposed U District, first mentioned by Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente in his 2017 State of the County message.Maybe we should start calling it the "Screw-U District?"
8 comments:
From nanotechnology to sports to hospitals, it appears that the taxpayer is the major investor and that the ventures discussed are all highly speculative. That is the worst possible formula of risk with some prospect for reward. As pointed out in the blog observation, if a project has economic merit, the lead investor should be the private sector not the public. Speculation with taxpayer money has a terrible track record, particularly here. Yet, it, as a development tool rolls on via the votes of our elected representatives. The "lead with tax dollars" approach is not the proper way to realize or generate economic development and good jobs. One has to only look at the massive taxpayer investment (gamble) in Marcy which has been on going for decades with little to no decent results to grasp the risk.
Thanks for helping keep the facts clear and pouring on the sunshine Strike.
Claudia Tenney will be starting to use this more as an example of the quagmire Mr. Brindisi smothers himself in in the future. She issued a statement and I wrote and asked if she's going to start using her voice about this twisted nest of corruption and forced indebtedness for all these stupid projects that do nothing but line dirtbag's pockets.
Esche and the local politicians appear not to understand either math or what makes a city a city. These types of attractions which may attract out- of- towners do nothing for the core need of the city, residents who own property and pay property taxes. Sure some restaurants and hotels will make money and there will be additional sales tax revenue. But, that may be dwarfed by both the long term debt and the annual maintenance and management costs. What is critical to a city is infrastructure meaning good roads, property maintenance, schools and public safety. Pouring money into hospitals, auditoriums and nano sites does nothing of significance for Utica unless people live and invest in the city. How big is the city now? 60,000. I rest my case.
Who comes up with these crazy ideas? It would have been more effective and cheaper to just give each taxpayer $10,000 to help change their lives. How about starting at the root of the problem and cleaning up the city, paving the roads and repairing the infrastructure. Not some pie in the sky, if we build it they will come. By the the time they are done with the Aud fiasco it will be NHL quality with a third rate team. And, don't get me started about the hospital being shoved down our throats with a large financial disaster looming when the construction starts. Just turn the city over to Picente/Halbritter and let him give it the final death blow.
Anonymous is on to what is in play. The recent county pay raises are designed to dramatically improve the pensions of those receiving the raises, particularly the County Executive. Pensions are based on a three year highest average. Picente will probably not run after the three years, head to a cushy Indian nation job and receive for life his inflated pension. The county pay raises are a joke, on us. Over 80% of the county budget goes to social services and public works neither of which the county executive or board have anything much to say about. If anything these elected people have been overpaid for the inconsequential jobs they have. I'd love to see some brave reporter ask to see the daily schedule of the county executive. It's one of the easiest, less demanding jobs on earth.
The city is on a path to future decline even more than experienced in the past. The combination of assuming more public debt while taking property off of the tax rolls is toxic. Out of town visitors may make some hotel and restaurant people prosper but they contribute little to the tax base. As more and more property gets eaten up by non profits, the tax base declines. Much like the terrible past error that took valuable Genesee St. properties off the tax roll in the past, now the city is trading potentially tax paying property for tax exempts.
Picente has plenty of time to appear on Keeler's show. But of course no listener calls were taken because Picente doesn't have the guts to answer calls from people that he's screwing over. I'd like to know why my tax dollars will be used to prop up the OIN?
Utica/Oneida County has one of the highest poverty levels in the State if not the Country & Picente & the Legislature have the chutzpah to ask for a pay raise? They don't deserve a pay raise any more then Sears & Roebuck CEO's do! I haven't had a pay raise in over 5 years but then again I'm not some politician who enriches themselves off the public trough paid for by taxpayers. Thousands have moved out of O.C. & these people have managed a slap across the face to those of us still here. Keep up the good work, guys!
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