Quoted from Smoking Bananas

economic development is not measured by how many retailers u bring in idiot... it is measured by growth in sales tax, jobs, income,. etc

No one is disputing that as an economic fact. But the fact is that schenectady's renaissance is false/fake/empty. It is the government, with taxpayer's money that has relocated, bribed with no interest or forgiven loans and/or tax exemptions that has businesses falsely propped up. It IS a false sense of economic security that is built on an empty foundation.

And all the while the folks who do live in the city are over burdened with taxes fees, crime and crumbling infrastructure. AND THAT IS A FACT!!

As far as sales tax....of course there is an increase....prices have gone up on EVERYTHING!!! That is a no brainer!!
As far as jobs.......now let us be honest here....are we suppose to count the businesses/and state jobs that have been relocated from one end of the county to the other? MVP that use to be in the rotterdam industrial park, just to name one?

Really smokey........it doesn't take a rocket scientist here!

Quoted from Smoking Bananas

economic development is not measured by how many retailers u bring in idiot... it is measured by growth in sales tax, jobs, income,. etc

Sales, jobs and income, not taxes.  

Sales tax revenue is UP in Schenectady County --- that is a sign that Metroplex has been successful.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Sales tax revenue is UP in Schenectady County --- that is a sign that Metroplex has been successful.

Successful for the county at the city's expense.   Cannibalizing the city's tax rolls to do it.  

Sales tax is up because prices are up.

What use to be $5.00 = .40 tax......is now $10.00 = .80 tax!!!

Food, clothing, gas, cigarettes, heating costs and every other essential and non essential product/service has sky rocketed. THAT is why sales tax EVERYWHERE is higher!

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Sales tax revenue is UP in Schenectady County --- that is a sign that Metroplex has been successful.

Sales tax revenue reflects inflation.  I'd like to see total gross receipts and total sales.  Sales tax revenue isnot an accurate measurement.

u points are valid bumble.. but what u cite could be a lot worse were it not FOR the progress made... so u need to think outside of the box -- what would the area look like without 5000 jobs, sales tax up, people working, etc... it certainly is not perfect, but it is not a hellhole that some here -wacko-wallach// titbits -- present it as.

Unemployment up 93% in 6 years as documented in this report. Keep the seven separate agencies going. Real success-lol.

Quoted from Smoking Bananas

economic development is not measured by how many retailers u bring in idiot... it is measured by growth in sales tax, jobs, income,. etc

you have not answered my question....so if sales tax income went up, where does it go?

income? you can not own a home in Schenectady county making $10/hour or even $15/hour with a family.....at least not without government assistance....and a large amount of assist at that...

Quoted from Smoking Bananas

u points are valid bumble.. but what u cite could be a lot worse were it not FOR the progress made... so u need to think outside of the box -- what would the area look like without 5000 jobs, sales tax up, people working, etc... it certainly is not perfect, but it is not a hellhole that some here -wacko-wallach// titbits -- present it as.

Its about one year away from a hell hole.   I have a lot of money invested in Schenectady.  In the last year the admin had a chance.  The blew through a lot of money.  We spent over hundreds of millions of dollars.   Have over $100 million in debt and have an aging infrastructure.   No rainy day fund.  Empty office space and we have pissed of the neighboring mayor who will not forget it.  He will steal jobs.  He has connections with the state.   He will make McCarthy pay.

It's such a huge success the State wants Metrograft dissolved. Seven different groups and they those thousands of jobs. Did you read about the 5,000 jobs they lost since 2005? Keep lying together. Sure the bus terminal park and SCCC dorm will produce popcorn jobs Gary Hughes- lol. Just what we need for the basketball team.

Quoted from Smoking Bananas

u points are valid bumble.. but what u cite could be a lot worse were it not FOR the progress made... so u need to think outside of the box -- what would the area look like without 5000 jobs, sales tax up, people working, etc... it certainly is not perfect, but it is not a hellhole that some here -wacko-wallach// titbits -- present it as.

Smokey, the point here is that when the government, through taxpayer's dollars 'create' an economy that is not realistically based on the true economic market.........it will fail and fall flat on it's face. The government can NOT 'create' a booming economy....the market does that based on true market values and the economic environment along with people's ability to support these businesses. And the government can NOT 'create' a booming economy by raising taxes/fees so high on the residents that it forces them to either move out, walk away or apply for public assistance. THAT is what is happening in schenectady. That is why there is no retail downtown. The 'market' knows that the city can't support it do to high taxation and crime and a crumbling infrastructure. The dss building alone is proof that retail can not be supported in the city.

You ask what the city would be like without the plex? It would be no different then it is now. You need to think outside the box. Most of these businesses are relocations that pay little to none in property taxes. There are non-profits everywhere. Marcellas, villa italia, mvp.......all relocations within the county, not 'new businesses'. Sales tax revenue is up because PRICES ON EVERYTHING HAS SKY ROCKETED!!

It is a hell hole.......just ask the residents!

bumble u are a libertarian.. govmint is the enemy to u, so nothing it does is gonna change your mind ... i see it otherwise..

i disagree with wacki wallach and titbits because they are basically hacks who argue along straight political lines and fail to see anything else.. if a dems does it, it is evil, if a rep does the same thing, they are silent..... which makes them horribly bad people

Quoted from Smoking Bananas

bumble u are a libertarian.. govmint is the enemy to u, so nothing it does is gonna change your mind ... i see it otherwise..

i disagree with wacki wallach and titbits because they are basically hacks who argue along straight political lines and fail to see anything else.. if a dems does it, it is evil, if a rep does the same thing, they are silent..... which makes them horribly bad people

I never said I'd be silent if the reps were raping the taxpayers and creating a false sense of economic security. I'm discussing the 'issue' here. And if the dems happen to be in control of this 'issue'....then the blame lays at their feet....obvioiusly!

Quoted from Smoking Bananas

bumble u are a libertarian.. govmint is the enemy to u, so nothing it does is gonna change your mind ... i see it otherwise..

i disagree with wacki wallach and titbits because they are basically hacks who argue along straight political lines and fail to see anything else.. if a dems does it, it is evil, if a rep does the same thing, they are silent..... which makes them horribly bad people

making a playground does not make for sound economic developement.....it's an artsy-fartsy college town district.....with a small number of rulers who hope to 'rub elbows' with the court jesters of
our time,,,then put their signed photos in their establishments.....