(Update 2 5/21/11 - more articles on Destiny/Citigroup)
Link to D&C article.
This time it's Vigilant Insurance Co. suing Bersin Properties for $18,277.00 - and they haven't seen a penny yet.
I wonder if he's paid Passero or the plow guy yet?
If it wasn't for David Andreatta - Congel probably wouldn't have paid the PILOT payment and the taxes to the special districts either.
I wonder why COMIDA, the Town Board at the time, and the SD thought giving him PILOT tax breaks for 30 years was a good idea?
Here is the article in the D&C about the lawsuit:
Syracuse's Destiny Mall has seen problems since the beginning - recently the IRS announced they will audit the $228 million in tax free "green" bonds that Destiny just got.......thanks to Schumer and Clinton.
Here are some articles on that -
IRS Audit Article.
Schumer "looking into" green bonds for Destiny.
Destiny's green promises.
Here's a couple of articles on the "yet to be done" expansion at Destiny - Here and here.
Here's a recent article on Daddy Congel wanting to keep details of the lawsuit/settlement secret from the press. Here.
From the article: "Sixty-three liens filed by contractors who say they were not fully paid for work on the addition were pending in court Tuesday. Destiny officials said that the majority of the liens have been resolved and that the paperwork discharging them should be filed with the court soon.
Congel himself has not publicly commented on the project in more than two years."
Like Father, Like Son. How wonderful.
UPDATE 2:
More articles on Destiny/Citigroup:
Schmoozing with the Governor.
Who made out in the Citigroup vs Destiny fight.
Details of the deal between Destiny and Citigroup made public.
Destiny Citigroup Settlement Agreement 1
UPDATE 1
Another article on Syracuse.com about the settlement - Syracuse agency rules Destiny can't keep settlement with Citigroup secret, but gives Bob Congel time to appeal.
UPDATE 2:
More articles on Destiny/Citigroup:
Schmoozing with the Governor.
Who made out in the Citigroup vs Destiny fight.
Details of the deal between Destiny and Citigroup made public.
Destiny Citigroup Settlement Agreement 1
As for any Medley news.....nothing except that Scott Congel paid the Special District taxes by April 30th, and is now up to date with that for the year, according to the Monroe County Tax Portal.
To look up all of the properties, Portal and click "I agree". Click on "Search non-residential properties" and then click on "Pay/View Taxes". Copy and paste one of the parcel id #'s below into the box where it says to do that, then select your municipality (in this case, Irondequoit) from the drop down menu, and then click the magnifying glass to search, and the info will come up.
092.05-1-85.111
092.05-85.2
092.05-1-87.1
092.05-1-20
092.05-1-84
092.05-1-18
092.05-1-17
092.05-1-19
092.05-1-16
092.05-1-9
Here are the screen shots of the first property only, to show that he is all paid up for the Special Districts:
8 comments:
Happy Easter!
I wonder why the "new" board isnt doing anything about this either. Yes, the pilot was written by another administration but the new majority campaigned on making sure something was done and Congel was held accountable.
There are protections in place, unfortunately the 5 board members dont like the alternative. We keep hearing about "hope" and "positive thoughts" but thats NOT getting anything done at Medley.
The time has come, pull the plug. He has had enough time to make something (anything) happen and he hasnt. It pisses me off that he is continuing not only to take advantage of the pilot and comida perks that he got but now he is also screwing over small businesses that need the money that was promised for services redured. To me, its just short of stealing (esp if you have no intention of paying it back)
Other businesses are getting money now. Banks have been open for business. We are seeing investments being made all over the place except for the Medley.
I am beginning to wonder if he bought the property and lied to the county, the town and school district in order to use the land as collateral for cash or other benefits because he sure as hell isnt doing what he is supposed to.
Hold him accountable. No more "gentle reminders." Either get him to start doing the work he promised or cut the ties and let him go into foreclosure so someone else can buy the damn property.
Enough is enough.
Honestly? I don't think the "new" board CAN do anything about this.
The PILOT was written, and agreed upon by all three entities, with many contingencies, and available deferments. As long as he makes his PILOT payment on time....there's really not much anyone can do.
Look at all the bullshit Syracuse has to put up with - and Destiny keeps on getting grants and deferments - yet hasn't followed through on much of anything that they promised.
Yet - Destiny keeps on getting the breaks.
When politicians get donations from the Congels - the Congels get to do whatever they want and nothing happens to them.
Go to Open Secrets and look up Congel. You'll see the family donates to many politicians like Clinton (a TON to Hillary over many years), Maffei, (a ton to him too) Gillibrand, the Democratic Committee of NYS, Schumer, Guliani, George W Bush, National Republican Committee, and Mitt Romney even.
When a family with the name of Congel wants tax free developments - they get it. They just get it.
They have the power because they give millions to the politicians - we don't have any power because the politicians don't represent US anymore....they represent the ones who line their campaign coffers.
There's really nothing the "new" administration can do - I'd like to think *I* could hold him accountable and rip that PILOT deal out of his hands and take his property away from him.....but I probably would not be able to do that. No matter how much I wanted to.
I do know one thing for sure, I would NOT have voted for that PILOT. No matter how much Irondequoit needed such a "great development" and all those jobs and tourists and revenue.
Somebody should ask the lawyer for COMIDA (who is also Chairman of the NYPA) Michael Townsend why he thought a 30 year PILOT for Medley would protect the taxpayers?
I hate to say it, but "podunk" Irondequoit is ripe for the picking of the "bigger fish" in the political pond. I don't think any administration has a chance against the rich and politically well connected people like the Congel clan.
So - old administration and new administration can't do much of anything. Although, the old administration could have said "no" to the PILOT in the first place and not lied and said that the PILOT protected us, and "they want to get their shovels in the ground and create jobs" and all that other bullshit.
I don't expect the Town or School District to understand the minute details of such a deal...really....who is qualified to know this stuff in those two entities? The County though, should have (since they deal with this stuff regularly) Michael Townsend, the counsel for COMIDA - look at all the wonderful entities he is involved in.....Rochester-Genesee Regional Transit Authority, Monroe County Empire Zone, Rochester Sports Authority to name a few.
I'm sure you know how those entities operate, and how trustworthy Authorities/Agencies etc. are.
Still, if I was a TB member, out of principal alone, I would have voted against the PILOT "officially" because I don't believe that they EVER protect the taxpayer.
I don't agree with COMIDA for the most part either. While they say that they "create jobs"....do they really? Isn't it more of a "shift jobs" than create jobs? All that COMIDA does is "steal" a company from one area and put it in another area.
Take the recent move of Ideal Nissan. They went from Irondequoit to Greece with a lot of COMIDA incentives. That didn't help Irondequoit out at all. It helps Greece now though.
Does that seem right? I don't think so.
@Anonymous -
You'd written above, (w/ quotation)
"gentle reminders"
Please refresh my memory for me - who is it that you are quoting? (original author)
DAY 3:
Hmmm. No follow up. Thank you for confirming my suspicions - much appreciated. You're off the hook, I will no longer hold you to answering the question (it's ok!) To my credit (yay me) I knew the answer before I asked it.
I'm sorry - I should have followed up with a link to the articles where the "gentle reminders" quote was first referenced.
It was an article in the D&C from 2009. Here's page 1. The "gentle reminders" quote is on page 2.
Here are the comments from the campaign in 2009. Page 1 and Page 2.
Debbie Essley is the one who said she thinks it's "time for more than 'gentle reminders'" - not MJD - and maybe, as a board member, she still feels that way and really does want to yank the property out of Congel's hands.....but she is one member of a board, and the board is one entity of three involved in this PILOT deal, and she can't (nor does she have the power to, individually) do anything other than what the Town Board, EICSD, and County all agree upon doing. Besides, she said she wanted to see RBTL move there - so obviously she wanted to see the property developed and not rip the property away from them.
I've said it once, and I'll say it a million times more.....the Town Board that signed the PILOT had the power to delay voting on that PILOT until the residents had a longer look at it and considered all the information in it. 3 business days from release to voting on it. It was released on what, a Friday and then signed on Tuesday. Rushed because "they want to get their shovels in the ground and create jobs."
COMIDA publicly stated in a D&C article (I have it on here somewhere and I don't have time to look right now, but I'll link to it later) that they never reviewed Congel's history when considering the PILOT. I believe they pretty much said "Why would we?"
That made me fall out of the chair when I read it.
MEH was quoted in one of the articles I linked to above - the interview in MPN campaign - that "It is critically important to remember that Medley Centre is private development. The Town has no control over the manner in which Medley Centre is developed."
Then, I ask, with a quizzical look on my face....what the &$*# good is a PILOT deal then? Why would you repeatedly say that it "protects the Town"...when it really doesn't?
Do I hold the past administration soley responsible for the PILOT deal? No. Of course not. But, I don't blame this current administration for it either. More than gentle reminders would be nice, but maybe the rest of the board doesn't feel the same way. Maybe they really can't do anything about it. Maybe our representatives at County and State level can do more to "influence" Mr. Congle on keeping his word, and moving forward....or "penalize" him for not keeping his word, and moving forward.
There's plenty of blame to go around, but the fact is....it doesn't really fall on MJD, Essley, or Marasco's head....they weren't involved in the negotiations or the vote....and apparently, the "Town has no control" over it either. So, if they have no control over it, there's nothing that anyone at the Town level can do.....even though I think it's ridiculous to sign a document that doesn't give the Town any control over it.
Foils,
One thing that can be done by townspeople re. Medley is to NOT RE-ELECT current members of the town board who signed off on the PILOT. They failed in their responsibility to protect their constituents. They shouldn't keep their jobs. (and no, I can't run ... I live in Fairport :).
Ginny,
You moved?!?!?! MOVE BACK!!! :)
Well - it would be nice to be able to vote out the town board members who were in on the PILOT deal....but....um.....Republicans are not offering up any candidates for TB and they are cross endorsing John and Stephanie (maybe - we'll find out this week if they do) and the Democrats have cross endorsed MJD for Supervisor, and they are not running anyone against her....and their candidates for TB are John and Stephanie.
Why even bother having the BOE come and set up all the machines and pay all that money for an election that is pretty much decided already?
Unless - a few people decide to throw their hat in and collect signatures to challenge them
and give the voters a choice.
It sounded like too big a deal to be real, and they werent considering what the peole would like, for instances that is where they should build senior housing not take 33 acres of open land and build there!!! so what you are saying it a tax shelter for this company ?? i'not political savey just a Iron resident that sees potential for growth, but WHY always for the very wealthy?? I mean you dont want to build homeless shelters but why cant anyone see we are on a lake and bay almost all land is off limits to the general public, I have friends from Tornont Ca. that come here to visit Seabreeze amusement park , just because it is small and managable , easier to keep tabs on their kids ,Bigger is not always better. we need to have more articles in paper how about a rally at the Melody ?
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