Is the best that the myriad of industrial development agencies of Auburn and Cayuga County can do is entertain another Indian casino proposal?
And why is it that our IDA outfits seem to be bottom fishing? I have mixed feelings on these gambling joints and guess if everything else fails, then so be it. But have we really tried to catch a better species of fish?
As George Fearon, Cayuga County Legislature chairman, said “Let's go after the real stuff.” My sentiments exactly, George.
Have our IDAs really pursued anything with focus and vigor, which will actually bring prosperity and good jobs to Cayuga County? If yes, why is it such a big secret? We don't need these IDAs to be “stealth” organizations but loud, visible, aggressive and tenacious.
I don't understand why we still have an empty POWEREX (GE) plant on West Genesee Street. This has been vacant for 15-20 years. Yes, it has some contamination issues but it's the ground that's contaminated and not the inside of the plant.
Back in July, 2005, I wrote Jon Christopher, Cayuga County director of economic development, about the possibilities and potential of GE moving into this vacated plant. The reason was that GE just bought out Welch Allyn's Everest VIT unit, “which manufactures devices for non-destructive inspections of hard-to-reach places.” Additionally, GE stated that “they will continue to work at the Jordan Road facility while the company finds another site in Skaneateles Falls to build its own facility.”
My point was that who said GE's new plant really had to be in Skaneateles Falls and not in Auburn since we're only 20 miles or so away and GE owns the plant in Auburn? The silence is deafening in that I haven't heard nor read anything in the papers about this situation. Stealth IDA at work or is it no work at all?
There is also the empty Auburn Spark Plug plant on York Street that's been vacant for about 10-plus years. And soon we'll have the huge Bombardier plant (that was formerly American Locomotive) vacant too. And did you IDA people know GE also builds locomotives? Maybe someone should write to Jeffrey Immelt, GE Chairman and CEO, and make him an offer he can't refuse?
When the county's largest employer is the county - which produces nothing - its time for all you IDA people to get out of the office and start beating the bushes unmercifully.
Maybe we should consolidate all of these IDAs under one head to make this work? I realize we have to protect our fiefdoms, but don't you guys and gals think that it's about time that someone got some good manufacturing jobs back into Auburn? We've got the talent, resources and infrastructure. Now all we need is a place to go to work and make a decent living. The choice is yours.
It's your money.
Bill Balyszak's column appears each Monday in The Citizen
As George Fearon, Cayuga County Legislature chairman, said “Let's go after the real stuff.” My sentiments exactly, George.
Have our IDAs really pursued anything with focus and vigor, which will actually bring prosperity and good jobs to Cayuga County? If yes, why is it such a big secret? We don't need these IDAs to be “stealth” organizations but loud, visible, aggressive and tenacious.
I don't understand why we still have an empty POWEREX (GE) plant on West Genesee Street. This has been vacant for 15-20 years. Yes, it has some contamination issues but it's the ground that's contaminated and not the inside of the plant.
Back in July, 2005, I wrote Jon Christopher, Cayuga County director of economic development, about the possibilities and potential of GE moving into this vacated plant. The reason was that GE just bought out Welch Allyn's Everest VIT unit, “which manufactures devices for non-destructive inspections of hard-to-reach places.” Additionally, GE stated that “they will continue to work at the Jordan Road facility while the company finds another site in Skaneateles Falls to build its own facility.”
My point was that who said GE's new plant really had to be in Skaneateles Falls and not in Auburn since we're only 20 miles or so away and GE owns the plant in Auburn? The silence is deafening in that I haven't heard nor read anything in the papers about this situation. Stealth IDA at work or is it no work at all?
There is also the empty Auburn Spark Plug plant on York Street that's been vacant for about 10-plus years. And soon we'll have the huge Bombardier plant (that was formerly American Locomotive) vacant too. And did you IDA people know GE also builds locomotives? Maybe someone should write to Jeffrey Immelt, GE Chairman and CEO, and make him an offer he can't refuse?
When the county's largest employer is the county - which produces nothing - its time for all you IDA people to get out of the office and start beating the bushes unmercifully.
Maybe we should consolidate all of these IDAs under one head to make this work? I realize we have to protect our fiefdoms, but don't you guys and gals think that it's about time that someone got some good manufacturing jobs back into Auburn? We've got the talent, resources and infrastructure. Now all we need is a place to go to work and make a decent living. The choice is yours.
It's your money.
Bill Balyszak's column appears each Monday in The Citizen
