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**hojutok** · 07-25-2006, 07:00 AM

dtloman,
That's fine. This forum seems to move rather ....slow and deliberately. It goes against my better judgement to mention this, but if you want to take a minute and view a local message board that looks very much like this one, and reflects Broome County's unfiltered attitude, check out the "message board" at www.bcvoice.com. You don't have to register, so people tend to post from the hip. Your post could be on page 2 by tomorrow. Sometimes we even bad mouth New York City.

I do crazy things sometimes. Seeing as how, we are looking for a high of about 40 degrees, I took a New Year's day motorcycle ride up to Greek Peak to watch some skiing this morning. Our local ski resort is first rate for one with only a 900 foot drop. It looks like lifts 1 and 3 are open at least. Perhaps I will do some skiing tonight. Motorcycling and skiing on the same day. Don't think you can do that in the City.

Yes, in contrast with Vestal, Binghamton is in poor shape. Binghamton itself seems to be in the middle of a perfect storm of high taxes, high utilities, lost manufacturing and political corruption. Binghamton is also the urban center of the county where immigrants gravitate to, mostly for the generous benefits that are mandated by Albany. Just spoke to my county legislator. He said, if it wasn't for Albany's mandates, Broome wouldn't even have a property tax. The largest private employer now is a group of businessmen who are trying to use IBM's old facilities, in Endicott, to manufacture electro/mechanical equipment. Of course, they have Empire Zone status, so they claim they will stay as long as the tax breaks hold up.

http://www.state.ny.us/governor/pres.../feb5_2_04.htm

Still more about IBM and New York taxes. Thought I had, maybe, gotten ahead of myself and made some remarks about them without getting my facts together....about them having a "similar, permanent deal to stay interested. Otherwise, we just aren't a competitive state." Turned out that research wasn't even necessary.

http://www.gorr.state.ny.us/gorr/10_10_00gov_ibm.htm

What a fluff piece.

"Increased Empire Zone incentives available to IBM totaling $475 million, substantially enhanced New York State's position against aggressive incentive packages from competing states and countries. In addition, IBM will benefit from $28.75 million in State grants and loans, and is eligible for $156 million in sales tax and local benefits/exemptions."

It probably won't end there.

Just proves that New York is a fine place for business if you're one of the DOW 30, with enough clout to make the state make an exception for you to keep you around. I spent part of Christmas with a retired IBM engineer who said IBM threatened to go anywhere, even just over to Connecticut before they got their tax breaks.

07-25-2006, 07:00 AM	#13
hojutok Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 516 Senior Member	dtloman, That's fine. This forum seems to move rather ....slow and deliberately. It goes against my better judgement to mention this, but if you want to take a minute and view a local message board that looks very much like this one, and reflects Broome County's unfiltered attitude, check out the "message board" at www.bcvoice.com. You don't have to register, so people tend to post from the hip. Your post could be on page 2 by tomorrow. Sometimes we even bad mouth New York City. I do crazy things sometimes. Seeing as how, we are looking for a high of about 40 degrees, I took a New Year's day motorcycle ride up to Greek Peak to watch some skiing this morning. Our local ski resort is first rate for one with only a 900 foot drop. It looks like lifts 1 and 3 are open at least. Perhaps I will do some skiing tonight. Motorcycling and skiing on the same day. Don't think you can do that in the City. Yes, in contrast with Vestal, Binghamton is in poor shape. Binghamton itself seems to be in the middle of a perfect storm of high taxes, high utilities, lost manufacturing and political corruption. Binghamton is also the urban center of the county where immigrants gravitate to, mostly for the generous benefits that are mandated by Albany. Just spoke to my county legislator. He said, if it wasn't for Albany's mandates, Broome wouldn't even have a property tax. The largest private employer now is a group of businessmen who are trying to use IBM's old facilities, in Endicott, to manufacture electro/mechanical equipment. Of course, they have Empire Zone status, so they claim they will stay as long as the tax breaks hold up. http://www.state.ny.us/governor/pres.../feb5_2_04.htm Still more about IBM and New York taxes. Thought I had, maybe, gotten ahead of myself and made some remarks about them without getting my facts together....about them having a "similar, permanent deal to stay interested. Otherwise, we just aren't a competitive state." Turned out that research wasn't even necessary. http://www.gorr.state.ny.us/gorr/10_10_00gov_ibm.htm What a fluff piece. "Increased Empire Zone incentives available to IBM totaling $475 million, substantially enhanced New York State's position against aggressive incentive packages from competing states and countries. In addition, IBM will benefit from $28.75 million in State grants and loans, and is eligible for $156 million in sales tax and local benefits/exemptions." It probably won't end there. Just proves that New York is a fine place for business if you're one of the DOW 30, with enough clout to make the state make an exception for you to keep you around. I spent part of Christmas with a retired IBM engineer who said IBM threatened to go anywhere, even just over to Connecticut before they got their tax breaks.
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