During the "gaggle" (that's what reporters call it) with Gov. Andrew Cuomo following his speech at GCC yesterday, I asked him specifically about Genesee County Economic Development Center providing tax incentives to the retail project at Batavia Towne Center.
In these mini-press conferences, reporters are only given enough time to ask a few questions and it's difficult to ask follow-up questions, so I fumbled through my question (which really should have been a two- or three-parter), trying to cram in as much information into a short time as possible (and it was still a pretty long-winded question).
Another media outlet has reported that Cuomo was critical of the retail tax subsidies given to COR. The quote used: “It wasn’t the smartest investment of money."
The quote, in my view, is being taken out of context.
Here's Cuomo's full response to my question:
Your case is fact specific and I would have to look at the actual facts to see what they did. We had proposed IDA reforms. I believe there are economies that I can find there and I believe there are incidents where you can find it wasn't the smartest investment of money. That's why, that's one of the reasons I like the approach we're talking about here today. It's simple. It's clean. It doesn't have a lot of bureaucratic red tape. It's very easy to administer. Very few government officials required to administer it. So I think it's preferable to a lot of things we've done in the past.
Included in Cuomo's budget was a reenacted law meant to curtail IDAs providing tax breaks to retail projects. I asked Cuomo what the intent of that law was. He said, "Just improve the process and address the kind of abuses you've been talking about." He then said thank you and turned and left.
I didn't report any of this because I didn't find it particularly newsworthy. He couldn't address the specific local issue (hardly surprising, but I had to ask) and his answer to the more general "intent" question referenced my own question, which by his own admission, he didn't know much about. That seemed like a kind of circular logic that didn't make a lot of sense.
However, given that another media outlet used the quote, and though I don't mean to be critical of a fellow reporter, I feel obliged to put the quote in context.
Howard.... Honestly this is
Howard.... Honestly this is what places The Batavian head and shoulders above the rest of the crowd. Your writing this article really harken's back to what news should be, not a medium to sway the public to conclusions in thinking. But just reporting facts as best as possible to allow the readers/viewers to make their own conclusions.
To be honest had I been there and heard the question and responses as you described them, I would have gone to that conclusion the other media outlet did, but the major difference is I only use that in dealing with meetings and lawmakers when as a citizen, giving them MY OPINION.
You however made the distinction between reporting the facts and giving an opinion. Opinions are what the discussion forums are for.
Kudos for writing this specific article and choosing to stand on an ethic that nowadays is very neglected in the News Media.
Way to tell the public, the
Way to tell the public, the gov was in Batavia, Ny Yesterday? That's how it's done in this community!
Jason, Had you bother to
Jason,
Had you bother to check, the governor being in Batavia was reported the day before he arrived.
What??? A career politician
What??? A career politician using circular logic that doesn't make much sense? Nah, come on Howard,
Dave, in this case I think it
Dave, in this case I think it was somewhat unintentional ... he was just eager to get out of their and catch his plane to Utica.
Or he just doesn't care. He
Or he just doesn't care. He can now say "I reformed IDA's" but will likely ignore those who, like The GCEDC , circumvent his own rules. He knows that it isn't politically smart to criticize the GCEDC in their house, and I don't think he cares anyway. He's onto his next great program and wanted to blow off any questions that don't pertain. Don't apologize for that grandstanding exaggerator.
Dave i also think that Coumo
Dave i also think that Coumo doesn't want to admit that IDA's in New York state are not producing the results for the money the state spends on them..Now he wants to create a whole new type of IDA without fixing the one we have now..When he Coumo make a statement that there is always winners and losers in the tax scheme in New York State just proves how out of touch they all are with us..The tax system is not to create winners or losers..We are all created equal so i would think we should all be taxed equal.I guess that doesn't hold true in Coumo world..
If GCEDC and other IDA's were working like they were spose to we wouldn't need this new program.......
Good points Mark. He wants to
Good points Mark. He wants to get all of the economic development dollars under his control. He does want to pick winners and losers. The guy yammers on about ethics and honesty in government, but then wants to have large sums of money up for grabs. That's like telling me I need to lose weight for my health and then taking me to lunch at the buffet.
Did someone mention buffet?
Did someone mention buffet? Count me in. Unless it's Warren. Oops, sorry! Warren has 2 t's in it. Whereas China Chef has 'unlimited' teas.
What was the original
What was the original question you asked of the Governor, Howard?
Was it about tax incentives for retail projects in general or sales tax exemptions for retail projects, specifically?
JoAnne, it was about COR
JoAnne, it was about COR Development tax breaks specifically.
While at the same time Cuomo
While at the same time Cuomo is attacking [along with the 2nd Amendment] the pact that NYS has with the native Americans.
This interview with Native American John Kane regarding Gov Cuomo's bully approach to Native affairs [especially the pact with the Seneca's]... is excellent.
Give a listen...
Part 1- http://audio.wben.com/a/75271636/sandy-with-john-kane.htm?q=john+cain
Part 2- http://audio.wben.com/a/75271637/sandy-with-john-kane.htm
Who voted for this jerk???