The Medley Centre project in Irondequoit isn’t held in high esteem by the public. Neither were the state’s Empire Zones — businesses in these designated areas were entitled to tax incentives. Even state officials agreed the zones were so flawed the whole system had to be junked. But combined, Medley and the zone program make […]
Empire Zones
Posted inNews & Opinion
Movin’ on out
New York’s Empire Zone legislation expires in a few days. Republicans and Democrats alike want it extended, but critics find numerous problems. Articles on this subject: Movin’ on out ‘They level the playing field’
Posted inNews & Opinion
Movin’ on out
Between the towns of Malta and Stillwater, just northof Albany, local developers have been itching to get their hands on an Empire Zone designation for years. They see a neat set of computer-chip fabrication plants, or “chip-fabs,” in part of LutherForest. SaratogaCounty was granted an Empire Zone in 2001. The zone does not include any […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
‘They level the playing field’
New York’s Empire Zones have fierce defenders and fierce critics. While the zones are intended to boost New York’s sagging economy, there’s little evidence that they have. Defenders say things would be worse without them. Critics say they’re doing more harm than good. The City of Rochester and MonroeCounty each have an Empire Zone, but […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
The Empire (Zone) strikes back
Some rules are meant to be broken. The state recently made an exception to one of its own policies and allowed the Brighton Town Board to expand the county’s Empire Zone boundaries several months before schedule. The measure, which was approved during last week’s town board meeting, redrew the zone’s borders to include an […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Just business, nothing personal…
The Town of Brighton’s public works committee held an informal meeting with several businessmen who would like to fast-track an application to redraw the town’s Empire Zone boundaries to include an abandoned office building on 200 Canal View. The building, which contains 59,000 square feet of office space, has been vacant for four years, […]
Posted inNews & Opinion
Such a deal! You’re subsidizing upscale offices
It is, to quote journalist David Cay Johnston’s book, all “perfectly legal.” MonroeCounty is offering lucrative tax breaks — originally designed to create jobs in distressed, high-poverty areas — to businesses in upscale suburban office parks. Some of them won’t create a single job and haven’t said they ever will. State Assemblymember Richard Brodsky, […]
