That's on top of the lower assessment for the Mall, the P.I.L.O.T. tax breaks, and the Empire Zone Credits....all of which enable him to basically pay nothing for the properties as it is right now.
Now he wants the taxpayer to help build his dream, financing it through sales tax from the mall. If they do approve this, and the sales tax doesn't generate enough money to pay the bonds....the general fund of the NYS budget will have to pay for it.
That means you and me and Joe/Jane Schmoe from anywhere in NYS - their taxes will help finance this project.
I'm not surprised - I wrote about Morelle advocating for Medley getting State Aid in a blog from 2010.
The YNN article where Morelle talks about advocating for State Aid was gone off their page shortly after they put it up....but I screen shot it, and you can read it at the hyperlink.
Rachel Barnhart's article also mentions that Congel is claiming that he has invested $93 million into the project already. I highly doubt that. It may not be "bricks and mortar" investment - but I highly doubt that the architectural drawings and consultants and whatever else he's claiming really adds up to $93 million.
Unless you're counting the political donations to both major parties and the numerous civil suits against Congel and his company for non-payment.....all the lawyer, court, and filing fees.....plus the judgements for the companies might add up to $90 million. There sure are a lot of them!
If ya don't believe me.....go to this link and sign up or log in. Then, select the "name" tab, type in "bersin properties" or "src development" and see the court filings.
I can't even believe there have been serious talks about the NYS taxpayer helping finance this development. I can't believe you are STILL discussing it - and even entertaining this "precedent setting" idea.
The poor taxpayers of NYS are being asked to finance a private development. It's HIS dream.....let HIM get financing. If he can't pull it off, it's not OUR problem....it's HIS problem.
NYS has asked public employees to take pay cuts or contribute more to their retirement funds because "NYS is broke" and "We can't survive financially in the future if we continue on this path." But, we can give away a quarter billion to a developer? Really?
Shame, shame, shame!
Update 5/16:
Here's an article and video from YNN which quotes former Mayor Duffy as saying "if any movement happens for state funding, he did not believe it would happen during this legislative session."
Maybe the next legislative session? Or, maybe when they think that everyone has forgotten about it and they slip it through next year or the year after?
Update 5/17:
Rachel Barnhart has an article about Medley and quotes Duffy in it as well.
One part of the article I found interesting was this part -
"Meantime, in order to keep tax breaks without penalty, Congel has to show he has invested $93 million in the property. The County of Monroe Economic Development Agency’s accountant initially found that he did. However, the verification is not complete, as COMIDA has requested additional information. COMIDA head Judy Seil said Congel doesn’t have to show he spent $93 million. The requirements for tax breaks would be satisfied if he showed he has “accrued” that amount in financing."
How nice. I'm a little confused about that part from Judy Seil though...this is what the administration at the time said about the milestones:
Link to FAQ's on Town Website Medley Centre Info.
"Why are there Development Milestones for the proposed Medley Centre project and what are the Development Milestones that the developer must accomplish?
It was important to the Town and the School District to have tangible measurement of the progress of the development of the Medley Center Project.To this end, a series of Milestones have been established which can be readily and objectively measured. The “targets’” involve both dollar investment levels in the project and the amount of square feet that must be built within specified time parameters. For example, by the Third Milestone, generally targeted at the end of 48 months, the developer must achieve the Target Achievement Levels $260,000,000 of investment and 350,000 square feet of developed area."
11 comments:
The mall Agreement created and signed by the 2008/2009 town board already financed the full project with real property tax dollars. Board Members can deny the facts again and again but the truth is they sold out the town for a few campaign dollars.
Residents are now to believe that 100% free financing with real estate tax dollars is not enough and that all the sales tax dollars are needed in addition.
Those who denied public access and time to discuss the contract in 2009, need to explain the details and "protections" to the public.
Who would grant future rights to one party without any performance, or guarantee of performance, whatsoever? 2009 Town Board is the answer.
OMG-Were we born yesterday? Congel has 93 million invested!?!?! Are we really living on Fantasy Island?
All of this so-called protection that we have in the PILOT doesn't protect the taxpayer's it protects the crook.
Hello politician's please step away from the con-artist. STOP throwing OUR money at him!
What blows my mind is that this hairbrained idea is even being contemplated.
Morelle/Alesi, it's really easy JUST SAY NO!
more cash to politicians will guarantee more tax breaks. That is what happened last time. The premise of the previous town board was that $36,000,000 in sales tax would be pouring in. That's what the town board approved as fact in their study dated February 2009
Comment 2.2.1: "The investment will help our schools with the taxes and provide better opportunities, enable to help us in the future with our libraries, help us with our senior citizens, and help other businesses. Franklin D'Aurizio, President of the Irondequoit Chamber of Commerce, Zoning Transcript, p. 8."
The town board accepted (by vote) the statement by ERA:
"The projected retail sales of $450 million would boost state and county sales tax revenues from the current $2.4 million to $36 million a year".
2009 Town Board gave a tax break of over $10 million per year. Now that's not enough.
Politicians will continue to take cash and continue to sell out the town. Irondequoit is now the total joke of the county.
i found it odd that the post had an article this week regarding medliey. Our supervisor has said she meets with congel "almost weekly" and yet she has never mentioned this? Its not mentioned in the article at all!
Could the $93 million investment include traveling "weekly" to do nothing?
Did all 3 parties approve of the 2 six month extensions? Were they public meetings? Didnt the extensions stipulate that a certain amount of money had to be paid to the 3 parties before any extensions were granted?
it is often mentioned here that "cash to politicians will guarantee more tax breaks" what was the cash that was given to politicians? Are you saying that the comida group, the school board and the 5 town board members received cash "donations"?If so, how much, where is this documented?
"Our supervisor has said she meets with congel "almost weekly" and yet she has never mentioned this?"
Nope. She hasn't mentioned what the three entities were doing to "modify the PILOT" either....I read that in an article a couple of months ago.
"Could the $93 million investment include traveling "weekly" to do nothing?"
Maybe? I don't know. I haven't seen the Boandio Group's audit of what he claims he's invested.
"Did all 3 parties approve of the 2 six month extensions?"
I don't know that either. No public meetings were announced by the Town or SD - but COMIDA meetings are public, and that's where it's approved.
"Didnt the extensions stipulate that a certain amount of money had to be paid to the 3 parties before any extensions were granted?"
I don't think so. He could use the extensions any time as far as I understand it. Now everything is "delayed" a year because of those extensions.
"it is often mentioned here that "cash to politicians will guarantee more tax breaks" what was the cash that was given to politicians?"
The Congel's donate millions to politicians.
"Are you saying that the comida group, the school board and the 5 town board members received cash "donations"?If so, how much, where is this documented?"
No - I'm not saying COMIDA, or the School Board received cash donations (although, I don't know if they did or didn't receive cash donations from him).
I'm saying politicians. Your Town reps, your County reps, your State reps, your Congress reps....all receive campaign donations.
Easy to look up too.
Go to the NYS Board of Elections and on the left hand side click on "campaign finance" and search away.
Or, go to Open Secrets to search campaign donations for Presidential candidates, and your representatives in Congress.
Jax said; "I haven't seen the Boandio Group's audit of what he claims he's invested."
Are we going to be able to see the Boandio Group's audit? Do you think this is something we can foil?
I would hope that some news outlet is already foiling it if it is foilable.
Who the heck believes that Congel invested 93 million?????
In essence he can just keep pretending that he's investing and keep extending the PILOT over and over.
This also lets the TB member's off the hook too. They can just say, "see we asked and Congel's complied so there is nothing we can do."
Can't get much more pathetic...
Sorry - forgot to add:
Search Scott R. Congel, or just Congel.
Search Bersin Properties, LLC (He owns that company).
Search SRC Development.
Scott's father, Robert Congel, is the Developer of Syracuse's Destiny USA Mall. If you'd like to read the multitude of stories going back yeeeeeaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrssssssssssson that shit hole Destiny USA Mall, go to Syracuse.com's page....you will be amazed at the millions this guy is receiving in "subsidies" and "incentives".
I say that Destiny is a shit hole because it was originally proposed to look like this, (seriously - that's what he proposed it would look like).
It honestly looks like this.
"Schiesters" doesn't even begin to describe this family.
Congel Sr. is good friends with our former Mayor Duffy. He even said so in the article.
This is what will happen.
They'll give him just as much money - but under a different type of "incentive" package. They may even say "We're going to have to do this sales tax thing because...."
1. Nobody else is interested in redeveloping it.
2. If the stars align we will see magical things happen and it will be magnificent for the whole County, not just Irondequoit.
3. If we don't do this he won't develop anything, and we'll be left with an empty mall. (Kinda like we've been for the past 3 years.)
4. The amount of money the development will pump back into the area justifies the expense now.
5. He's successful, the whole family is successful with developments. Just have patience.
6. At least we're getting SOMEthing for the properties instead of nothing.
Blah, blah, blah.....
"Are we going to be able to see the Boandio Group's audit? Do you think this is something we can foil?"
I don't know - I'm going to go search a bit now.
I don't think we could do an FOI request on that....COMIDA might not fall under the same "umbrella" for FOI requests like other Government entities do...I'm not sure on that.
We can try though.
Here is a link to COMIDA's meeting on April 17th.
On page 3 it states:
"Executive Session
On a motion made by H. Stuart and seconded by S. Moore, the board entered Executive Session to discuss matters which could involve potential legal matters regarding the Medley Centre/LakeRidge project. All Aye.
On a motion made by A. Burr and seconded by H. Stuart, the board exited the Executive Session. All Aye.
On a motion made by H. Stuart and seconded by A. Burr, a resolution was adopted authorizing the Executive Director to negotiate, with the advice of counsel, and execute an agreement to provide for the reimbursement of costs and expenses associated with the Agency's use of its corporate powers in connection with Bersin Properties LLC's request for the Agency's assistance in securing alternate financing for Medley Centre. All Aye
There being no further business, on a motion made by A. Burr and seconded by R. Gerbracht, the meeting was adjourned."
Here's a link to the page of all the meeting minutes and agendas.
I haven't been able to find anything on the audit of the supposed "$93 million he's invested into the project so far."
lol Just saying that makes me laugh.
You said it....like anyone is going to believe he's invested $93 million.
Why do we allow this to happen? Over and over and over again?
It makes me so mad.
Jax,
Love your 6 excuses. I've heard them all before somewhere...
Congel must be laughing while he's counting his money. Another community that fell for his fantasy development and tax breaks.
I wish one politician would step up and be vocal about the situation. But of course none of them will be because they don't want to step on Congel's political donation toes.
Great system we have in place. Just love it!
Correction:
I said to go to NYSBOE and click on "campaign finance".
Don't do that unless you want to - if you want to see contributions made by Congel, Bersin, Pyramid etc. go to "view disclosure reports" and enter search criteria.
Sorry for any confusion.
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