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Register Star, April 18, 2008
My
View: No tax breaks for more of the same
By Nina
Sklansky
Catskill
As the IDA ponders whether or not to grant a PILOT and other tax abatements to the Widewaters Corporation, I offer up the following.
During the imbroglio over the proposed megamall in my town of Greenport, much was made of the fear (planted by certain Planning and Town Board members) that people would be fleeing across the river in droves to shop at the new Catskill Commons mall.
I wondered, “for what?” After all, we already had a Wal-Mart.
Well, I have to confess that I’ve become one of those people who cross the bridge to shop.
No, not at Catskill Commons. I go in the opposite direction – to Columbia County.
A few months ago I moved across the river. So now I drive over to ShopRite for most of my groceries, just as I always did. I’m not a Wal-Mart shopper for lots of reasons, including finding the place soul-killing and exhausting. And, frankly, I get better buys at ShopRite, plus the scale and atmosphere are more human (and humane).
Now, I like Lowe’s and I shop there. But when it came time to spec new kitchen cabinets I went to Dunn’s in Hudson. Turns out I got as good a deal, as well as expertise, highly individualized attention and the satisfaction of buying from a local retailer.
What else? Along with many of my friends, I regularly pick up amazing bargains on basics at Peebles (75% off stuff they don’t have at the big boxes? Hard to beat).
My video store is in Greenport. We don’t have one half as good near where I live, and I bet Hollywood Video would like to keep it that way!
I’ve got my own short list of non-chain restaurants in Columbia County, too (the kind we don’t have too many of – yet – in Catskill), and I could go on.
What’s the point?
I go where I can find what I can’t get elsewhere, be it quality, assortment, price, ambiance or a combination of the aforementioned. And by every account, the Widewaters mall in Greenport won’t be offering anything new and different (what? No Marshall’s? Now THAT would have been great!) that might increase tax revenue, the conventional misapprehension repeatedly promised by the “experts” and swallowed whole by a hopeful, gullible public. Just a giant Wal-Mart.
As for those 1400 jobs we’re now hearing about, last year it was a grand total of 800 – and that was when all those top-secret stores, restaurants, banks, gas stations and such were supposedly clamoring to sign on. I presume “They” – the developer’s same marketing and financial experts – are making the current projections.
Meanwhile, Widewaters wants tax breaks to bring in the same old same old. Why not give the people of Greenport a break! If anything, Widewaters (with public input) should devise a well thought-out, non-cookie-cutter plan that makes sense for the area and brings in variety and the increasing number of shoppers who want it (and like I, will travel for it) rather than soliciting the IDA for inducements to get companies – any companies – to sign on (and leave citizens and small businesses holding the bag when Widewaters and whatever tenants they dig up decide to bag it!).
Oh well. I guess it’s not my business. After all, I moved – and was personally thanked for doing so by the Planning Board’s ever-gallant Don Alger after having asked way too many unwelcome questions about the proposed Greenport Commons. Silly me. I thought I was being a responsible citizen.
At any rate, I daresay there are lots of un-common businesses which could benefit from your help. In fact, I saw some surprising and impressive examples on the IDA website. I hope you are able to use your muscle to ”just say no” to this developer or to at least demand a whole lot more from them before you say yes.
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