MsKreed

I'd have to say that the "rescue" funds should go to places that had a direct negative impact from the pandemic and the governor's response. 

The nursing facility was on the edge before the pandemic....and already being evaluated.

With that said, it should only be eligible for "rescue" funds if the county incurred extra costs due to covid (OT, PPE, etc etc) and not reimbursed through some other program. 

Similar to the airshow situation....if not enough are going to show up due to NON-weather reasons (low demand act, parking, overpriced, inconvenient scheduling, etc) certain improvements won't ever be cost effective.

On the other hand, when venues are profitable enough, there is money to re-invest in that sort of thing (please see a small tavern a few miles away that used profits to build a Summer Stage and multiple buildings as the years have gone by).

It's also important to remember that like restaurants and a lot of businesses, entertainment often runs on a razor thin (or even negative) margin.....But sometimes, savvy businesspeople understand running at a negative margin on one side.....in order to turn a profit elsewhere. They pay to offer a 'draw' that brings in sales for something else.

Cover charge at a bar may not begin to pay the band, but the drink sales that band generate more than make up for it. The band is the 'draw' but drinks are the product. Why do we think concessions at theaters and stadiums are so expensive? Because the 'draw' (sporting event or movie) isn't usually a moneymaker in and of itself.

And a product needs to be offered that the target audience for the 'draw' will want. We would expect higher ice-cream and pizza sales at a Youth League than a alcohol sales.

His defensive 14 minutes of excuses is absolutely jaw-dropping...particularly in light of the fact that it's almost verbatim to the "justifications" that were cited as being rejected by courts.

https://www.c-span.org/video/?513912-1/ny-governor-cuomo-denies-sexual-harassment-allegations-independent-report

15 hours ago, Kevin said:

I also think the should invest some money into Dunn Field.  I like Dunn Field and would like to see more use out of it. Maybe a concert or exhibition games. 

Unless we can identify (and remedy) why this wasn't happening before the shutdowns, ARP funds would be just an expenditure rather than an "investment". 

Were events offered that the public did or didn't show up for? Why or why not?

Were those events poorly advertised, cut-rate [low demand, low interest] acts, high interest but low prices that didn't cover expenses, bad weather, parking/location inconvenient, scheduled at bad times of the day/week? 

Does anyone recall when Chemung County hosted a wildly successful air show every year? Where near-NASCAR sized crowds came from across the eastern seaboard to see the Blue Angels and Golden Eagles? And many local businesses boomed from the influx? And it made the news in Buffalo and Albany?

Then we cut expenses and replaced the Blue Angels with a big Truck as the main attraction, and started charging out of state vendors to set up their concessions inside the fence. Then they changed dates around because they blamed plummeting ticket sales on the hot weather. 

Then we invested in The Wings of Eagles facility....because that would bring the crowds back. But never proposed to bring back the Blue Angels and see if the crowds might return for the event that they'd actually turned out for in the past.

Personally, I don't want to see this pandemic become like the flood of '72 to be blamed for everything going forward. Other communities, equally devastated by Agnes, have managed to recover while we languished for 50 years. 

Many businesses were flailing (and some already receiving taxpayer bailouts) before the Governor's shutdowns. Covid shutdowns hastened their demise....but were not the the underlying cause. Some due to poor visibility/traffic flow, crippling taxes, licensing, codes and/or regulations....or simply lack of market demand.

I think any lump sums of "Rescue" funds for any enterprise without considering whatever pre-existing challenge contributed to decline would be a horrible plan.

This says a lot about public opinion of the Arena:

1 hour ago, TwinTiersLiving said:

New York State is working with state unions to implement the requirement quickly and fairly.

Yeah...at least one union (the one that represents nurses who would be subject to the full mandate -- without any testing or masking options) was not consulted and just heard about this on Wednesday during his press conference.

When CAN-USA entered into the $125/month lease and agreed to pay to maintain and repair building systems, structure and premises....I don't think they were prohibited from having an inspection done to determine what type of costs that could entail. 

They should have been kicked out sooner for defaulting on the agreement. 

 LEASE AGREEMENT (found here) :

A quick review of the minutes from July 2019 seems to look like they only reimbursed for the properly documented expenses:

Quote

On Motion No. 2019-69 by Ms. Burlew, seconded by Mr. Kraft and unanimously carried, the Chemung County Industrial Development Agency will reimburse CAN-USA for capital expenses incurred with proper documentation per the lease agreement within a two-week time limit. A follow-up letter will be sent to Mr. Robbie Nichols.

 http://chemungcountyida.com/meeting-minutes/

Later meetings referred to Nichols spending $140,000 of "his own money"....and discussed CCIDA's responsibility to replace the boiler that appears to have been approved for $66,000 in November 2019.

It does occur to me that I could hunker down in the RV anytime also.

As long as it has gas and I'm starting/running it often enough to not have a dead battery after it's sat ignored for several months. 

1 hour ago, KarenK said:

Welp, since power outages happen in Erin when a squirrel farts in the woods I'm ready!  lol.  I have a drawer full of candles and an oil lamp which usually suffice.   We do have a generator however it weighs 500lbs and is out in the shed so no much help to me if I'm here by myself. 

Basically the same. I think mine is only 300lbs, but may as well be 3,000 since I'm not a power lifter. 

13 minutes ago, Chris said:

Does one need to be a reporter to do that?

I guess anyone can make requests, if they know the correct place to send requests for various information....and have the time/patience to try again when things are rejected for lack of specific detail or not addressed to the exact office/entity.

Before filing that, I imagine taking time to comb through what is available on http://chemungcountyida.com/ could be helpful. I suppose just because we didn’t see a press release on f/or how much they paid CAN-USA, doesn’t necessarily mean it isn’t published someplace there. I might scour that site over the weekend.

I can't recall ever hearing the final outcome of the money he was asking CCIDA to reimburse him for (all or most of which appeared to be quite clearly maintenance and upkeep for which he, as a "tenant" paying obscenely low rent, had agreed to pay for in the contract).

I sure wish there was a news reporter willing to dig up and/or FOIA that information.

Well...I sure didn't get a chance to email my thoughts - let alone attend in person last night to talk about it.

2 hours ago, Kevin said:

I have always heard the arena has a tinny sound to it when concerts are there. I have never been to a concert there, so I don't know. I just remember hearing someone say that. 

1 hour ago, Hal said:

Been to just 3 concerts there and never heard it tinny but i can see a problem if the sound people weren’t up to the task ! 

1 hour ago, Chris said:

Sound wise it presents some challenges, but a lot of places do. A good sound person can make it work.

So...the take away I'm getting is that facility (as it sits) is not good for concerts, which in all likelihood would have more demand. But, as a sports venue, there is not enough demand. 

So...whether the answer is renovations that would improve sound quality, or razing the place to build whatever is in demand ......those changes should be made by (and expenses incurred by) whatever private entity decides to take on whatever private enterprise that may be successful in that space. 

Government (local or otherwise) should not exist to prop up private enterprise. 

If there is a demand for whatever events are offered, consumers will show up and pay enough to cover operations/utilities, staffing, improvements, maintenance and [get this].....property taxes.

It is abundantly clear that public demand is lacking for hockey, supplemented by electronics road shows and such. I'd think Tag's is living proof that people will show up and shell out $$ for stuff they actually want. 

28 minutes ago, KarenK said:

Do you know when this topic is expected to be on the agenda for the full legislature to review/vote on?

Not sure...I would assume possibly not planned to be scheduled on the agenda until after the Committee concludes and recommends and the standing committee does what they do.

However, it seems like in the past, some committees have been disbanded early if/when the body discusses it further. Even when something isn't on the agenda, it seems like some groups/individuals have made an impact by reiterating their concerns at full meetings. 

I don't think it's a bad idea either way to bring topics up and get public opinion on the record at any and all meetings like others have done for topics they feel strongly about. 

Public comment for the meetings of the Full Legislature may be submitted via email at: PublicComment@chemungcountyny.gov or by mail addressed to Chemung County Legislature  John H. Hazlett Building, 203 Lake Street P.O. Box 588 Elmira, NY  14902-0588.  All public comment received prior to the meeting will be read into the record. 

8 minutes ago, KarenK said:

This was probably answered previously but can the legislature eliminated elected positions or would that be something that would have to be on the ballot for a vote? 

The Charter and New York's Municipal laws indicate that any changes to the elected positions are subject to a public referendum.

Either the actual legislative redistricting that is the duty of the body to address after each census (including eliminating or adding any legislative seats)....as well as this unrelated suggestion of eliminating county-wide elected position(s) that are completely separate from the Legislative task at hand. 

Not only is there a requirement for a public vote, the track record for coming up with what the voters want (without voter input) is poor.

Very poor. The voters of this county have historically opposed plans that the legislative body has attempted to thrust on them without public input and participation....carrying over to as many as three different election years before an acceptable plan has  been put on the ballot.  

It's extremely short-sighted (and arrogant) for some the legislators to keep insisting on excluding members of the public from the drafting process. Because that approach has failed so miserably for the past half a century....but this legislature has it all figured out and they know that they know what's best for their 'subjects'. 

49 minutes ago, Chris said:

I haven’t given a lot of thought to this issue in a while, so I’m sure many others haven’t either. Good call bringing it up again.

Last I recall, it sounded to me like they legislature was looking increase their “power” by eliminating the county executive position and replacing it with, for lack of better words, a lackey to do what they say.

Complete B.S. of course, but hardly surprising. 

Yes, that was the speculation when this topic was last touched upon, when the committee was first appointed. 

Reviewing the links in my previous post, it is no longer speculation.  It was overtly stated (after 15 minutes of secret discussion in Executive Session) that the agenda is to pursue ideas for an alternative form of government (i.e.: no elected Executive) instead of any work whatsoever toward the (legally mandated) task of reviewing legislative districts in relation to population. 

I sincerely hope this is brought to public light and weighed in by the public commentary at the next full meeting. I've begun to draft some thoughts to submit myself, but my personal obligations may not allow me to complete anything by the next meeting (which I know for sure I will be unable to attend).

Can we please talk about this some more?

As noted above......Some citizens (particularly OUTSIDE the city) have expressed concerns that the City represents the MAJORITY of the 5-member “Legislative Redistricting and Efficiency of County Government Operations Advisory Committee”.  There was further concern that the objective of the Committee should be focused on LEGISLATIVE redistricting as outlined in the Charter (and mandated by SCOTUS in Reynolds v. Sims) rather than the vague (and somewhat dubious) question of “efficiency” to be derived from hiring a consulting firm to research the entire structure of government that the Charter defines.

After listening the audio and reviewing the minutes from the first two meetings of this committee, those concerns have deepened.  During the most recently published meeting on April 30th (HERE: Minutes dated May 3 ), it seems clear that the Committee has abandoned the legally MANDATED task of legislative redistricting and has instead dedicated itself to a self-serving mission to find ways to eliminate elected positions outside the Legislature (namely the County Executive and Treasurer).

The over half the meeting (HERE:  15 of 27 minutes ) was un-recorded "executive session" while they talked with their lawyer. The remaining 12 minutes included complaining that their CGR Consultant withdrew, ostensibly due to Moss's "push back" and then devising ways to claim "cost savings" of eliminating positions of duly elected officials' outside the body whose representation is ACTUALLY mandated to be reviewed. 

6 hours ago, Kevin said:

What I like about Ollie's is the selection of discount books. All the one's I have been to have a large selection and I always find a new book.

14 minutes ago, Kevin said:

I am also happy to see them coming. Usually the books and rugs are the only things of quality,  but sometimes you find something else hidden on a shelf somewhere.  I never even bother with the food or snacks.

This makes a huge difference to me! 

I don't remember seeing a book section on the occasion I shopped there. As packed as it was, I'm guessing we missed that aisle. 

13 minutes ago, Hal said:

So basically a Big Lots store only bigger ! At any rate it will bring business to an empty building and a failing plaza .  

I hate to knock it because it does at least make one less empty business... But yes.  When we browsed through the one in Ithaca, the quality of merchandise didn't impress us. Seemed like there was probably good reason why the stuff hadn't sold at regular retailers.

Of course, Kmart had become a dilapidated building that offered mostly junk.....so not like this is really a step down.