Thursday, May 24, 2018

The Balloon has Burst . . .

A few days ago area officials were whining about this area losing out as a drone testing site.  Tonight we are hit with this bombshell: Premier Aviation in Rome to close, 150 jobs lost.

No Drones . . . No Aircraft Maintenance . . . So what do we have to show for the Taxpayer $$$$$ invested at Griffiss "International" Airport? 

Meanwhile we gave up our old County Airport in Whitestown for a "Homeland Security" Training Center that has created how many jobs? ...  that is used how often?

We destroyed what we had that met our needs to build something "better"  -- and more expensive to maintain -- 5 miles away. Did that make sense for a region of shrinking population?

We are doing the same thing now in Utica where two existing hospitals will be closed and consolidated into something "better" at an entirely new site -- yet the old hospital sites will remain and the existing tax-paying businesses at the new site will be destroyed. Does this not waste the prior investments made at both hospitals and businesses?  Aren't we increasing future expenses for the taxpayer?

We seem to be building for the sake of building - - like pumping air into a balloon.

What will we have when the balloon bursts?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Actually the Training Center is used and staffed every day. I cannot speak for how many jobs it created, but I can attest that by providing unique training it has saved many lives. They have 15 Classes in June Alone.

Go here to see the training calendar http://www.dhses.ny.gov/SPTC/

Thanks,
Ryan

Unknown said...

Yes, “building for the sake of building”, but it is even worse - it’s politicians building with billions of taxpayers’ current and future earnings. #NoHospitalDowntown Learn more at www.NoHospitalDowntown.com and www.BetterUticaDowntown.com

Anonymous said...

You were right all the way down the line you warned about this at least as far back as 8 years no?

You need a bipartisan no-vote hit list to finally remove these bad actors. They've wasted years and millions enriching themselves while everyone else is left to starve and put up with poor infrastructure, high taxes and arrogance.

Anonymous said...

I would venture to guess that most people around here will not know the company is leaving and certainly do not know how much taxpayers have sunken into Griffiss and the hanger buildings. The lack of concern of so many residents over what their government does or does not do enables the top to down decision making that has so often failed.

Anonymous said...

Wait! NANO is coming & a beer museum too!

Anonymous said...

The discouraging aspect of this on the money Strike Slip comment is that not many here will even know that yet another airline related company folded or how much of our tax dollars have gone into our phantom airport.

Rodger Potocki said...

I apologize for not paying attention enough to any plans or reporting of what will be done to our existing hospitals. Driving by St. Luke's this morning, for the first time, the immensity of it was striking. Will it all be emptied? Will offices and specialized services remain? If it is emptied, I cannot imagine any reuse of the existing complex. I would hate to think how long it may remain empty. When we look at the old state hospital site, envision other hospitable buildings that could be stand alone empty buildings for the foreseeable future, serious re use questions are raised. Does anyone have a complete plan? Please inform or direct to the appropriate place to digest it. Thanks.