Is EDGE laundering money?

[tanouryjr]

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Stay tuned!

[tanouryjr]

I guess the embedding thing didn't work. So here's the link...

[wcup102]

I've thought for a long time that EDGE was a joke. Never really saw any real successes come from it. What about this Million Air that wants to come in and take over fueling operations? I heard from a source that works at the airport that went to the meeting that the county people that are negotiating this are going to lose because they do not have a clue and do not want to upset current tenants that are housing planes at the airport for little or no rent? I was told that the county people that sitting on this committee are clueless as to the in's and out's of how to run an airport and this guy with ,Million Air has several facilities that he runs successfully around the country? Anything you can share with us Larry? I hate to see more wasteful spending or loss out on potential revenues for the lack of knowledge or savvy in landing such a deal.

[dgriffin]

Is EDGE a quasi-government organization, like an economic development commission? Or is it more like a private company to whom the county pays for services?

[tanouryjr]

Dave, EDGE is a not-for-profit agency that currently has TWO EDGE's registered with the Department of State and when I asked why, they denied it. However, I showed them the documents and Mr. Dimeo simply said "talk with our attorneys." They also have several shell corporations that are "FOR-PROFIT" corporations, one of which Steve Dimeo is listed as the CEO. We contract with them for economic development and they have no accountability. A selct few people get all of the benefits from our tax money. They are being protected because Mr. Destito sits on the board and has an enormous amount of control over the agency. All I have is questions, and if there is nothing wrong going on, I would think they would openly answer the questions.

wcup, You are right on target with your interpretation of the airport deal. The Republicans refused to allow the Democrats to be part of that committee, forcing us to form our own committee that came up with a detailed report with many suggestions that have still gone unanswered. It's all about arrogance and chest puffing, not doing what's right for the taxpayers. The most qualified and experienced memeber of the Board, regarding the airport, is Frank Tallarino D-Rome. They refused to put him on any of these committees because they don't like him and know that he will hold them accountable. It really is sad.

Again, I can't stress enough how important you all are to what happens in government. At today's Board meeting there was several disscussions regarding posts on this site and a couple others. You guys are making an impact. I wish other legislators would be willing to come on and debate the issues with me. I think it's a great oppurtunity for all of us. Several people actually questioned why I talk online with everyone. I said because that is who we represent and I get an idea of what the real people of this area feel about what we are doing. But I guess that makes me a "troublemaker" and "big mouth."

Today I had a resolution defeated in committee which simply called for EDGE to give the Board of Legislators written financial reports every six months and a cost-benefit analysis of what the taxpayers return is on their money. They defeated the motion unanimously. So I have come to no other conclusion than that there is something cynical going on there. I feel I am obliged to question where your money is being spent.

[dan]

Keep up the questions Larry. Sooner or later the "chipping effect" will take hold and the walls will fall.

[tanouryjr]

Thanks Dan! I will keep the pressure on and hope for some changes. If nothing else, we are at least shedding some light on issues that have long gone under the radar.

Thanks for the encouragement! It gets lonely at times, so I need that, lol. Thanks again.

[Clipper]

It is no secret that when it was announced that Griffiss AFB would be closing, Edge became the gravy train to climb aboard. It was a gravy train from the start., for those involved. All they did was feather their own nests right from the beginning.

I don't find it as much money laundering, as it is just plain larcenous patronage at a cost to the taxpayers.

Keep up the music Larry. Don't turn down the volume. Eventually they will have to dance to your tunes. Eventually the public will DEMAND that they answer your questions.

If you become a "one term wonder," it will be one hell of a "one term!" You will leave behind a legacy of trees that have been shaken, and rotten fruit that has fallen, or at least been exposed.

I damned sure wish I was a resident there right now. I would be attending meetings and standing by your side whenever the opportunity arose. I guess most know that I am an opinionated, and outspoken, miserable SOB. I have no qualms about letting it all hang out when someone pisses me off, or misuses my money.

I once got my ass chewed out when I told a LtCol. that I did not have time to answer bullshit memos and questions, because I had REAL work to do. haha. Outspoken was not real popular in a military environment.

Hang in there Larry. Keep up the good work, and keep the pressure where it needs to be applied. Eventually someone will be placed in a position of HAVING to answer your questions. As always,"I can't wait to come home."

[Swimmy]

Sorry you're the only honest politician in a county full of corrupt blowharts! I like what you are doing and accomplishing. I wonder if those discussions went along the lines of "how do we silence these annoying peons who question our motives."

I too wish to extend my support for what you are trying to accomplish.

[Swimmy]

Is this what you were trying to do? You need to put the link to the site between the youtube tags. (click the "Tube" button on the bottom left of the Add Tags section)

[dgriffin]

OK, I'll play devil's advocate. A quick scan of the Internet yielded EDGE's webpages and also the legislature's resolution to fund EDGE. In 2007, lawmakers gave EDGE a bit over $400,000 for operating expenses. Assuming they have an office and staff, that doesn't sound like a lot of money. EDGE bills itself as a one-stop shopping resource for anyone thinking of locating a business in the county. They say they can help arrange financing, empire (shudder) zone assistance, etc. That would seem a good thing. So what is the problem? They're not accomplishing much? None of the state's counties with similar organizations and "development agencies" are succeeding, either. The whole concept may be a dumb idea and possibly duplicative of state programs, I suppose. Dimeo (sp?) may be just pulling down a big salary, as I suspect the head of a similar agency down here is doing.
But what is the basis of the charge of "money laundering?" Larry must have more on them.
If the agency seems like a bunch of self-promoters, well that's the business they are in.

[Swimmy]

Just one example. Marcy SUNY IT site. In 1998, or around that time, a computer chip manufacturing plant wanted to locate in Central New York. EDGE offered the ill-famed Marcy site. EDGE marketed the property as shovel ready. When asked by people curious to know how and when this was done, Dimeo ignored these concerns and assured us that the site was "shovel ready" and that it is only a matter of months before the company breaks ground. A few months pass without a word. A few more months pass and we learn that the company chose a site in Saratoga because of fewer startup costs. Everyone looked to EDGE for an explanation. After all, our site was shovel ready, what more costs could there be? EDGE had assured us that the site was shovel ready and this deal was all but sealed. EDGE explains that it was not so much start up costs but rather that the company needed a more land than the Marcy site offered. We bought it, hook, line, and sinker.

A couple years later, a wood pellet plant wanted to locate to central new york. Again, the Marcy site was tooted as "shovel ready." EDGE again assured us that the deal was all but sealed and construction should begin within a few months. I do not recall exactly what happened but I do know that there is no wood pellet plant at this Marcy site. The paper prints how this firm chose another location closer to Albany. We asked EDGE what happened and Dimeo blamed it on Sheldon Silver. After all he was boosting his own district and solidifying his re-election. He had Albany sweeten the deal if the firm located near Albany. The public, again, bought the story, hook, line, and sinker.

In 2004, AMD wanted to locate in Central New York. The firm narrowed it down to the Marcy site and a site in Saratoga. EDGE assured us that the site was really shovel ready this time. EDGE explained that there were some minor details that needed addressing and have been resolved. EDGE assured us that all AMD has to do is bring in the shovels and it can begin construction once the deal is official. Engineers in the area are stoked at the possibility of a major CPU manufacturing plant locating here. Hope is temporarily restored to the area. A few months later, the disgrace reports that AMD has chosen a site in Saratoga. Again, the company cites reduced startup costs. Again, EDGE blames Sheldon Silver and Albany.

I think it was in 2006, we are informed that since the fallout of the AMD deal, EDGE has spent over $300,000 to conduct environmental impact studies that are required by federal law before federal permits will be granted. We learn that without these federal permits the Marcy site can never be "shovel ready" and never really was "shovel ready". We also learned that the sites the Marcy site lost out to had their permits lined up years ago and were just waiting for a company to decide to locate there. Saratoga had sites that literally were shovel ready. We find out that EDGE developed a policy to wait until we had a company willing to locate before acquiring these necessary permits. To date, there has been no news on whether these permits have been obtained.

Now, I do not know what EDGE's mission statement is. But I do know that a lot of money has been dumped into EDGE to develop and revitalize the local economy. So far people like Dimeo and his friends are booming while the rest of us wonder if the ill-famed Marcy site will ever really be "shovel ready." It is a tragedy that the rest of us peons suffer because the leadership at EDGE and within all facets of government (present government officials excluded -- Tanoury Jr.) has failed to learn the lessons of the successful counties. Don't wait until something comes along before you act.

[Swimmy]

Another example.

In 2003, I believe, the federal government was looking to build a Bio defense research facility. The former Griffiss Airforce Base in Rome, NY was one of the top for candidates to receive this wonderful opportunity. Then Congressman Sherwood Boehlert and EDGE worked tirelessly to develop a plan to win the bid and capitalize on the opportunity. For months the congressman and EDGE officials paraded federal experts through the area. Articles appeared in the paper filling us with hope that high-paying technology jobs might return to the area. EDGE assured us that we were in the running, that the government expressed a sincere interest in wanting to build the facility in Rome.

Of course there were the naysayers who put fear into peoples' heads about outbreaks and making us a bigger target for terrorists. Neither the congressman nor EDGE did much to alleviate these public fears.

Soon the federal government announces that it has narrowed the list of candidates from four to two. Oneida County celebrates as it has been announced as one of those two candidates. People are filled with hope and dreams. There is a real positive sense of self pride that the Congressman and EDGE have put Oneida County back on the map. The paper publishes articles about the great opportunity and that we the people have a civic duty to promote the area so that the feds will select our humble abode for this facility. More federal officials are paraded throughout the area and EDGE trumps up the talent pool in this area that is itching to be tapped into.

A few months pass by and the federal government announces it will announce the winner in a week. We all wait eagerly with anticipation. It is either us or Texas. Did we do our job? Did we successfully fulfill our civic duties? Did EDGE and Congressman Boehlert save our region and make a huge step in a positive direction?

NO! The federal government announced its decision and Rome, NY was NOT the site for this new opportunity. Questions amassed. People wondered why? The federal government did not offer a scintilla of reasoning to support its decision. Dimeo's silence was deafening. A week passes while the public struggles to swallow the harsh reality of more broken dreams, broken hopes, and broken promises.

In the aftermath, Congressman Boehlert writes an editorial that is published in the od. His editorial offers an uncomfortable explanation. The government wanted to see plans of how to actively attract private sector firms to locate around the bio-defense research facility. The government wanted a proactive plan on how to attract private firms to locate in the area and develop a mutually beneficial relationship with the facility and the surrounding area. Turns out Texas (I think that's the state that ultimately one) had a wonderful plan and even had several firms ready locate at the site. All of the necessary permits were in order and all that the site was waiting for was for the federal government to announce it won the bid.

EDGE on the other hand developed a different plan with the attitude that if we build it they will come. EDGE claimed that the mere presence of the bio-defense facility would attract all the private firms in the country and all permits and other red tape would be sorted out after they had offers. According to Congressman Boehlert, the government really liked the idea of using Griffiss Air Force Base and that the Rome Research Labs were next door. So the government sent the experts there to try and convince EDGE officials to develop a better business plan. When EDGE failed, the government had to do the right thing and give the bid to Texas.

It was another major let down for the area. EDGE once again failed the area. It had no permits lined up, it had no potential firms willing to locate in the area. It had done nothing but claim that once the facility is built the private firms will come through magic.

[Swimmy]

So, EDGE might not be laundering money per se, but its lack of accountability and failure to produce the results we taxpayers were promised is alarming. What is even more alarming is the news that Mr. Tanoury shares with us: that a county committee unanimously voted to refuse to require monthly reports from EDGE with a cost-benefit analysis breakdown. Much shady activity is afoot.

[dgriffin]

OK, Swimmy, U-N-C-L-E ! Ha Ha!! I can't help but compare those stories to what's going on here downriver from Albany. Same bullshit ... bait and tease. Hold out hope and pay someone to sing it out loud and take the flack when nothing happens.

What Oneida County really needs, what Ulster county really needs, what anybody in New York State really needs is their own Joe Bruno. (And he's now for sale, since he's retiring next week. And I do mean for sale.) He (and not Shelly Silver, from NY City by the way) is the guy who stole all of our projects and development to give to his home (Troy) area, Albany county.
Your posts actually leave me sort of feeling sorry for the poor sap who heads EDGE. Sounds like he may have made a lot of mistakes, but a perfect angel and an economic miracle-worker wouldn't win against Albany. Of the "three men in a room," one or two are always from NY City and the other has been from Albany. No one has ever been able to convince Silver, Bruno and whoever is the current governor (and it doesn't matter) that there are more than two cities in NY State ... Albany and New York.
Here in Ulster, we talk about "Tech Valley" and we pay an EDGE-like guy to carry around a tom-tom and beat it in front of the newspapers and get on a train and travel to Albany as he sings Kum BayYa, dressed up like St. George ready to kill the dragon. This is all terrific comedy, I think.
But back to "money laundering." I would say that is misappropriation of funds and that is a serious charge. I was thinking maybe Larry was getting at something like EDGE dealing contracts to its friends or something like that. I wonder what he means?

And here's an offer that I might even be able to pull off. Have the BOL give me a cool million and I'll give 950,000 to Joe Bruno and your fortunes will do a complete turnabout. Really!