It's Gonna Cost You
by Lynne Eckardt - pilfered from Brewster 10509

--- On Fri, 5/21/10, Lynne Eckardt <lynne.eckardt@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Lynne Eckardt <lynne.eckardt@gmail.com>
Subject: [Brewster10509] It's gonna cost you... Patterson Crossing
To: Brewster10509@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, May 21, 2010, 5:42 PM
 
Hi All,

Fasten your seat belts...

Okay, I admit it, I was all tingly with excitement because the county's desire to dump their toxic waste in Southeast had been foiled. David versus Goliath and all that. So this morning I was feeling pretty mellow and complacent thinking that Bondi's bag of tricks (although sometimes treats for certain favored developers) may finally be exhausted.

Ha,ha,ha,ha, ha,ha,ha, ha,ha,ha, ha. Really, I should know better.

In perusing the County Legislative calendar (I know, sad but true) I come across a full legislative meeting scheduled for next Wednesday evening at 7:00. That's a little weird in itself so I pulled up the agenda and under lucky number 7 I spy: Road Improvement District, Route 311 and I-84.  Hmmmmmmm...

I call the County Leg. office and they quickly and efficiently send me a lovely little piece of proposed home rule legislation. Legislation that has to be in front of the State Assembly and Senate before June 1st. So here's the latest slimy deal involving the always charming Mr. Camarda, Patterson Crossing, Putnam County and your tax dollars.

a) A transportation district will be formed.
b) The only parcels (4) serviced in this district belong to Patterson Crossing Development.
c) As promised Paul Camarda will dump millions of dollars into mostly state road improvements and Patterson Crossing interior roads.

Okay, now here's my favorite part...

d) Putnam County will provide a credit for the value of work performed or financed by the 'property owner' (who in this case just happens to be Paul Camarda). In other words we'll be reimbursing Mr. Camarda for possibly millions of dollars in road improvements that will service his shopping center. Improvements that he's promised to pay for himself. And to reiterate, this 'credit' would also count towards interior Patterson Crossing roads. I'm hoping not parking lots as well, but since this part of the deal remains unwritten, well, who knows.

Although we are told time and time again that commercial growth is what will make our county fiscally fit it seems that sweetheart deals with favored developers make this argument a complete and utter sham. And if this one passes I can only guess what we have coming down the pike for road improvements needed for 'The Crossroads' hotel/shopping complex proposed on Route 312 and I-84...

So, clamor away for Patterson Crossing, but remember that this legislation is a really, really bad financial deal for all Putnam County residents.

With Best Regards,
Lynne Eckardt

... and a response by Mike Santos:

[Brewster10509] Re: It's gonna cost you... Patterson Crossing‏
From:  brewster10509@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Mike Santos (villagetrustee2003@yahoo.com)  
Sent: Fri 5/21/10 10:30 PM
To:  Brewster10509@yahoogroups.com

 
This is an outrage.

We are told by Bondi & Company that commercial development will lower homeowners' property taxes, and generate sales tax revenue that will further lower property taxes countywide.

Just last night, at the Town Board meeting, we saw the assessed value of the Appleby's property reduced from $2.1 million to $1.1 million.  We were told that there are dozens more commercial properties waiting for reduction of assesments in Southeast.  So much for commercial development helping pay your property taxes!

Now, instead of "sharing" sales tax with the towns and village, or, heaven forbid, sharing sales tax with the taxpayers by reducing the sales tax rate, we are instead going to share the sales tax with Paul Carmada??

I wonder how many years of sales tax revenue from this new mall it will take to pay back this Conecticut multi-millionaire the cost of all that road work that many residents in the area do not want nor need.

I'd love to know which State Assemblyperson and State Senator sponsored that legislation in Albany.  

Only in Albany and Putnam County could a developer get bribed to build a mall during a dire economic crisis, when many taxpayers can't afford a visit to shop at malls that already exist.

Patterson Crossing has been a bad environmental idea for years, and now it suddenly has become a bad economic idea as well.  


MIKE SANTOS

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Ben Franklin

A Voice Your Disgust Template courtesy of Mike Santos:

In a message dated 5/23/2010 1:54:21 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, villagetrustee2003@yahoo.com writes:
 
I decided to take Lynne Eckardt's advice, and put my objections to the Corporate Welfare for the benefit of Patterson Crossing in writing to the County Legislators at:

putcoleg@putnamcountyny.com  

I provide a copy below as an example or template for anyone else who may be interested in voicing their objection to giving away millions of tax dollars in times like these.


MIKE SANTOS

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Ben Franklin


--- On Sat, 5/22/10, Mike Santos <villagetrustee2003@yahoo.com> wrote:


From: Mike Santos <villagetrustee2003@yahoo.com>
Subject: 26 May, Item 7 Road Improvement District, Route 311 and I-84
To: putcoleg@putnamcountyny.com
Date: Saturday, May 22, 2010, 1:46 PM


Ladies and Gentlemen of the Legislature:

In a recent post to the community Yahoo Mail Group BREWSTER10509, Ms. Lynne Eckardt made us aware of the proposed legislation in the Subject Line: "Road Improvement District, Route 311 and I-84."

I wish to register my opposition to adopting this Road Improvement District.

We are told repeatedly by county officials that commercial development will lower homeowners' property taxes by generating sales tax revenue.

Now, instead of lowering property taxes, or sharing sales tax with the towns and villages, or, Heaven forbid, sharing sales tax with the taxpayers by reducing the sales tax rate, we are instead proposing to share our sales tax with a Connecticut multi-millionaire to fund the cost of road work that benefits only that developer's bottom line, and that many residents in the area do not want.

I wonder how many years of sales tax revenue from this new mall it will take to pay back Mr. Carmada.  Is there an estimate?  I'm also told that there is no way to determine from the State of New York how much sales tax we earn from any one source, so exactly what mechanism does the Legislature propose to use to ensure that enough sales tax has been generated to justify paying any tax dollars to Mr. Carmada?

Only in Putnam County could a developer get tax dollars to build a mall during a dire economic crisis, when many taxpayers cannot afford to shop at stores that already exist.

Thank you.


MIKE SANTOS
Brewster, NY

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Ben Franklin  

Hi Lynne,

Thanks very much for discovering (once again) what some of our local officials are up to, explaining it so that I can understand it, and doing it with such good humor.  I need the humor part.  Without it, I fear that the top of my head would blow off.

I didn't comment negatively on Mr. Bondi's retirement because - I get it.  You're suppose to say nice stuff about somebody when they retire.  After all, the guy's an economic genius.  I dare say that among Mr. Bondi's complex financial equations, there may exist one in particular, involving the sum-total-lifetime- earnings of one Matthew Bondi.  I could be wrong, but I'm guessing that The Paver's not shy about laying his cards on the table, you know, with Mr. Bondi's usefulness compromised, and all.  It's tough finding a job out there.

I would like to know who else is carrying Mr. Camarda's water on this one.  We already know that the new County Executive is a huge fan.  Who is helping out in the legislature?  It will be interesting to see if anyone commits publicly at the presentation.
 
And for you Paul, how about for once...just once...keeping a promise that you made during an approval process.   Didn't you repeatedly state that you would shoulder any and all costs involving road "improvements" for the Mistake by the Lake?

While we're at it, does the Pulte project look anything like what was originally represented to the Carmel Planning Board?  Where is the YMCA that you promised before the land sale referendum?  Where is the hotel?  You meet secretly in a restaurant in Westchester with four of the five Carmel Town Board members, and then complain about delays in the project.  Gee, I wonder why folks are so suspicious.

"Mr. Dondero, did you ever call Mr. Camarda a cancer?"

Such was the question, during one of my depositions.  So I know that The Paver reads this stuff.  Feel free to answer, Mr. Camarda.

John Dondero

May 26, 2010

Hon. Vincent Tamagna, Chairman
Putnam County Board of Legislators and
Hon Members of the Board of Legislators
County Building
40 Gleneida Avenue
Carmel, New York 10512

Dear Mr. Tamagna:

The proposal to alleviate Mr. Camarda  of infrastructure expenses connected with Patterson Crossing is contrary to the Findings Statement (FEIS) ), Appndix K issued by the Town of Patterson Planning Board (attached) the approval of which was based on the premise that Mr. Camarda would take sole responsibility for all infrastructure improvements on Rte 311 and I84 Intersection.  On this basis alone, the legislature should deny Mr. Camarda's request.

Instead of easing the tax burden, the legislature is considering diverting sales taxes for the sole enrichment of one developer.  Sales tax revenues, as I not need to remind you, are to be used for the benefit of the welfare of all the people not the private welfare of non-resident who now comes to the people's representatives for a handout.  Are we to acquiesce in a new slogan: Shop Putnam - Save Camarda?

The legislation as written patently misrepresents the current situation.  "Residential and commercial development in the vicinity of the Route 311 and I-84 Intersection, Putnam County, has resulted in such intersection being inadequate to efficiently serve the needs of the residents of the county,"... decreasing the quality of life of residents...and ... attractiveness of the surrounding parcels."  Only one factor is illustrative of the conditions portrayed in Section 1 and a "contributing factor to traffic congestion"  and that is the proposed introduction of a mega-retail 400,000 square foot enterprise, Patterson Crossing into a bucolic area, characterized by heavily forested steep slopes, rock outcroppings, a haven for wildlife surrounded by small residential homes, whose peace and tranquility will be a thing of the past, shaken by years of  unremitting blasting, jackhammers, earthmovers, construction trucks.  He now seeks to transport this destruction to the slopes of Kent, "decreasing the quality of life of residents and attractiveness of the surrounding parcels."

Camarda's effort to mask the transformative, destructive nature of Patterson Crossing by peddling the putative tax benefits, should be spurned by the legislature.  Instead the legislature should impose impact fees as remuneration for the destruction of the environment, the forests, wildlife habitat and the "pain and suffering," and threats to health that residents will have to endure from years of blasting, pollution from airborne particulates, noise, increased truck and vehicular traffic (see attached) and devaluation of their property and peace and tranquility.  Last but not least are the costs associated with emergency, fire and police services, a necessity since the project is adjacent to residential area and easily accessible by shopper, visitor and villain alike.   All these are offsets on the balance sheet to the so-called tax benefits of his project.  Incalculable millions but off the books.

What I have detailed for you are the hidden costs of projects that should not be in anybody's backyard - not in Phillipstown and certainly not in Lake Carmel.  We should not be subsidizing Mr. Camarda or any developer for the costs of doing business.


Sincerely,

Ann Fanizzi, Chair
Putnam County Coalition to Preserve Open Space

From Jeff Green:

Just when you think it's safe to trust the Putnam County Legislature again....


Sources say that the County Legislature, led by Philipstown's Vincent Tamagna, and the Physical Services Committee which is headed up by Kent's Richard Othmer, is now actively working with the State DOT to get them to pay for the road improvements developer Paul Camarda had promised to make on his own dime. Apparently the $3.7 million is a make-or-break deal for him and that without someone footing the bill Patterson Crossing may be mortally wounded.

What we need to do now is to shift our collective efforts to the State level to make absolutely certain they don't play this game. Corporate Welfare is Corporate Welfare no matter how you spin it.

Call:

Acting Regional Director for NYSDOT Region 8, William Gorton at (845) 431-5750
Sandy Galef (914) 941-1111 (GalefS@assembly.state.ny.us)

Greg Ball, (845) 279-5301 and,

State Senator Vinnie Leibell (845) 279-3773

And tell them that in order to get the necessary approvals the developer had promised to pay for these improvements out-of-pocket and there's no logical reason for that to change.

__._,_.___

I finally figured it out why CONmarda wants the bailout.  He's got to pay his high priced Mt. Kisco attorney for every word he writes to the Kent Planning Board and Supervisor Kathy Doherty, the latest an incredible response to resident comments, including me.   He is outdoing War and Peace.  Have got to get another filing cabinet.