.....are trying to censor this community. Plain and simple! This is the message them O'l Boyz are sending....JC you were not born and raised here, your not a local, shut up, keep your opinions to yourself and don't let those idiots post stuff on your blog. The other message being sent by the indigenous bullies is: Line up, conform, follow our lead, vote us in, ignore what goes on at the meetings.....everything will be ok!The Good O'l Boyz have been living inside of a box for so long they have no friggin clue what is real, what is right. Somebody that moves into the community just might have a fresh perspective on village and tourism issues. But the Boyz want to suppress opinions that might be found in this blog or others. The bullies do not want the sun to shine on their little empire. They oppose Freedom Of Speech. To that, I simply say to the bullies, Fuck You!
I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. ~Voltaire
The test of democracy is freedom of criticism. ~David Ben-Gurion
I am thankful for all the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech. ~Nancie J. Carmody
This is in response to an email I received today. The author felt the need to tell me why he dislikes the blog and my negative attitude. He further stated it is {his} opinion that {I} allow people with an agenda or an axe to grind a venue that they do not deserve. Lastly, he also requested that I not reply to his email.......Yah Right!
36 comments:
I wish you would call him out and tell us who he is. All tax paying residents of Alex Bay village have a right to voice their opinions. Unfortunatly many non residents voice their opinions in Village Politics also. They should keep their mouth shut. Maybe one business owner I talked to the other day was right. Maybe we should abolish the village government.
I disagreed with him but my reasons are disappearing everyday.
I hope he is not an elected official or an officer of the real government of the Bay. The Chamber of Commerce. I challenge anyone to F.O.I.L. the town and village government and see if they have ever transfered any money from the Town or Village to the Chamber for any reason. Anyone up for it?
JC you've chosen to live here, not by circumstance. Good for you. I like how luck of the draw birth supposedly gives them more credibility.
When I moved to Clayton, I was told my great-great grandchildren MIGHT be considered locals as long as we all stayed that long. Is the Bay like that?
John,
Apparently so.....
4:49, that makes alot of sense, any dingbat knows the village and town support the chamber yearly in their budgets. Wake up, get involved, got to a public budget hearing and quit complaining. Actions not words my boy!
There is a columnist in Western New York, Budd Schroeder. His political commentery hits it right on the head 99% of the time. his latest on Albany. "we might as well send two village idiots and a town drunk to replace the three men in a room".Reading your blog and the comments , these three might be helpfull to you in A-Bay
Acta Non Verba is my code too. U.S.M.M.A.
Why should tax payers fund an organization that promotes business? That is not what tax money is for. Do residents really know they fund the Chamber with tax dollars? Does anyone really know the amount? I believe it is under the publications part in the town budget but can not find any specific mention of it directly?
Do you know? How much is it? What line is it under. Should tax dollars from residents really fund the promotion of business? Should tax dollars make it free or cheap to use the docks for visitors and residents pick up the tab?
why should village residents pay twice to use the dock? Taxed and then charged.
Sales tax is not an arguement it goes to Jefferson County and then comes back how they see fit.
Meetings are not anounced how they should be according to law. Public meetings are sometimes scheduled with invite only. Jim and I have more than one example. So come to the meeting arguement does not work either.
Does the village really fund the Chamber? And the town too? I would like to see that in a budget statement.
I wonder how much?
Dean Erck
Resident
village of Alexandria Bay
J.C. I sure don't agree with your liberal views, but I am thankful that you take your time to do this site. People just like to keep thinks quiet, no matter how much people are getting screwed!!!
The people need to be heard!
Dean and Poor John; it's been in the town and village budget for years, nothing new, read the budget, go to the hearings and meetings, get involved!!
This Blog is Liberal. I am actually a conservative. Take this questionnaire Conservative Vs. Liberal. I took it and your wrong and I am right, I am a conservative. Damn the blog!
9:49
Dean mentioned the funding of the chamber. Not Poor John.....get involved and pay attention to the blog....
Anon 9:49,
I am Poor John and I have made no comment on this topic, to date.
However, I am aware of how much the village gov't gives to the C of C. and I have no opinion on that either, as I am not a member of the C of C.
On another issue...I also enjoy my first amendment rights, which incidently, transcend local boundaries.
How much money does the town and village give the Chamber of Commerce. I have copies of both the Town and village budgets and do not see it anywhere. I do a lot of volunteer work and am not always able to go to a meeting. I want to know how much it is.
So as a village resident I give tax money to the chamber twice? What is more communist then taking my money and giving it to another to promote their businesses? Use tax money to fix docks, roads, fund social programs. Tax money is not for promoting one business over another.
Think about this. Some businesses have their own docks so why should I fund with TAX money the elimination of THEIR competitive advantage over another business. Why should bars and restraunts who do not have docks have tax payers fund the elimination of a competitive advantage another bar or restraunt has over them. I use bars and restraunts as an example. You can use two ice cream stands in the village verses the new one outside the village if you want to.
Tax money should not be used to fund the Chamber of Commerce period. I am surprised it is not illegal.
Dean Erck
The village and town give a small amount of money to help fund the Chamber. Residents of the village and town should realize that businesses pay higher taxes than residents. Without a chamber there to promote the village (not just businesses) the sole burden of the budget would fall upon the homeowner/property owner. It seems to me a lot of you think the Bay should just close itself of to its only industry and main source of employment for many - tourism.
Mr Erck, The village also funds the Hearts for Youth program, as you should know.
Are you saying they should go out and work for their money instead of getting it from the taxpayers?
Anon 11:54, the village taxpayers give the C of C a lot more than a "small amount." Howz the number $10,000 strike you? If that's a small amount, you got a lot more than me...
JTick
So Mr Dean Erc you obviously think that heart for youths is more important to the community than tourism and the livelihoods of the local businesss. Quit causing controversy and be realistic. Do the math deanoboy, commercial town/county, school and village real estate taxes, local employment and sales tax revenues would change negatively without supporting our local businesss. Those changes would skyrocket the local tax rates.
Anymore ideas Dean !!!
True 10:32.......We would be like that small mining town in the Adirondacks..Tahawus NY. They ran the mining company out of town......now it is ghosted..
Mr Erck, After listening to your spiel at the VB meeting tonight, I gotta tell you, your anti- business stance, your comments about "the downtown business lobby", etc are going to cost you votes when you declare yourself a candidate for something.
Any taxpayer who can read or watch TV knows that the downtown (and all over town) businesses generate over $300,000 a year for the Town of Alexandria, in sales taxes alone.
Do you also want villagers to be exempt from parking meter charges as well as dock charges?
Your rant tonight, sir, gives one the impression that you are consorting with idiots.
If you want a town with no businesses, may I suggest you consider moving to Antwerp, NY.
Signed,
A Downtown Business Owner
I sign my comments so I encourage you to do so also. By the way. I never mentioned Hearts for Youth once. I do not appreciate village trustees and others in the community "making threats" to the funding of the town and village youth programs because I have a different opinion. You should be ashamed of yourself making veiled threats to the funding of kids programs because you dont agree with my opinion. I am not on the Hearts for Youth board and have not been on it for a while since the last time it was put out that my opinions might cost the kids. It is obvious why now. If you have a different opinion the business interests and the C of C someone will take it out on the kids.
The town budgets 10000 dollars a QUARTER to the Chamber of Commerce. That is not the village budget but the towns. It has actually been higher than the budget in the past.
I choose to live here and pay to do so. I do not think it is unreasabale to think visitors and business pay also.
You should do more than just watch TV. You dont understand the sales tax system.
By the way your 300000 dollar sales tax number is not just tourism even though you try to claim it. I know how much I spend in Garlocks and in the businesses in this town also. You should educate yourself that money is set by the county and we have no impact on what we get from them. We collect far more than we are reimbursed. The reason being we choose to have Mr. Reed sit on the county board and represent us rather than the format where our Town Supervisor would have a seat. That was decided here long before I arrived.
Business should survive on its own not with a public handout from my tax dollars. The outragous funding of the Chamber is out of line.
Consider Tax money is given to a private organization that uses its power to lobby local politicians. Those politicians give power to business owners to make groups to write public policy on funding of village and town projects. Why do our elected reps give the C of C money and then give them the power to craft policy that is in their best interest not in the best interests of the residents that elect them? I am not antibay business. Ask any of the business owners who I patronize quite often.
By the way I offered to serve the village as a nonpaid person on more than one occasion and have been rejected. I DO NOT receive any money from anything I do. the swimming I teach, the baseball and softball I coach and represent the town. The veteran work I do. You attack me but it is I many times who volunteer to help the residents of this town and village. I guess that is why you dont have the courage to sign your piece.
By the way Mayor and Trustee Jarvis. Your veiled threats on the funding of Hearts for Youth worked once to get my silence it wont work again. I am not on that board. All I do is volunteer to teach kids to swim and play baseball and softball. It is too bad that makes me a liability for the kids but I will not shut up.
Dean Erck
A business owner challenged my why we have a village government and how much some businesses would save in taxes if it were eliminated. Maybe they are correct. If the Government is for sale anyway to nonresidents. Maybe the elimination of the village government is in order. The businesses would save a boat load and the costs of running the village would be spread throughout the whole town. Since the whole town has influence on village politics anyway it might be time for a public vote on the dissolving of the Village Government. (only village residents get to vote on it) I intially rejected that idea put forth by a business owner I think highly of but his idea has a lot of merit if elected official can threaten youth programs because they dont agree with my opinion.
I spoke at public comment because I was told that is were I needed to do it. Now I know why people do not. Dont have a different opinion you might pay for it.
Dean Erck
Dean Erck
$10,000 a year to the Chamber is not that much when you look at the total operating budget of the chamber. How much do you think it costs the chamber to run events such as Pirate Days or the fireworks for the 4th of July? Since most locals benefit from being able to attend these events - FOR FREE - stop complaining. The Chamber works hard to promote your village and your businesses which saves the property owner a lot more in taxes than what the village budgets to the chamber each year.
By the way. People have been coming to enjoy this river long before the Chamber of Commerce talked about it. The river is the draw not the business that profit from it. I only wanted something special done for the village residents because we will pay twice. You think I was asking to burn down a building. Come on folks everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Just not their own facts. Look up the definition of lobbiest. It does fit. Some of these business dont even shovel their sidewalks during the nonprofit time even though there is a law. Selective enforcement?
Dean Erck
Oh, the Twerp! As someone from that small little town, I can tell you that what was once a booming little town is now a sad little town. You start making it difficult for people and businesses to expand and cut off their livelihood then Antwerp is what they turn into.
We are not a "downtown" business, but we also rely on tourism dollars during the summer months. We are a year-round business just outside the Village and we love our year-round regulars, but we also welcome newcomers, and travellers. Giving the Chamber a few bucks every year to help promote our business is not a big deal. They do a decent job of promoting. We all have to work together to keep this community running smoothly so that all are happy. Why is it that people just can't get along and help each other? One hand washes the other. Let's keep it that way. Biting the hand that feeds you? Not a good idea.
Jean.
wow, nice topic jim, it starts with a rant on the " good ole boys" and ends up a with people trashing the Chamber of Commerce. I would just like to voice an opinion that many people work hard at the Chamber, paid and unpaid to create events that everyone can enjoy. Those events create an atmosphere that encourages our guests to enjoy our village and maybe return to visit again. One would hope people could look at the big picture and realize we are all in this together. One last point, the percentage of the town and village budgets that go to support the Chamber are very small and I believe we have bigger fish to fry in our search for fiscal responsibility.
Well 8:22 I do not know what to tell you. The comments come in and they take on a life of their own. Would you have me censor them or maybe I should censor you!....because I will not. But 8:22, I will agree with you that their are bigger fish to fry other than the COC
Full Disclosure, Honesty and Transparency with No Conflict of Interest is what we want Mr Erck. So how long has your wife worked for HFY and what is her gross pay annually for the last how many years ??? What are her reimbursed expenses annually for the last how many years ?? What is the total annual cost of payroll/wages for HFY recently and what was it years ago when it was run by all volunteers who did lots of fundraisers ??
Come on Ercks...give the Village and Town back the money you've sucked from HFY.
Or, don't and just stop biting the hand that feeds you.
Um Mr. Erck get a clue. The Chamber does not get sales tax money from the town. It is bed tax money. Taxes that are collected to put back into tourism. You aren't from the Bay originally and maybe you need to leave. That would certainly be a HUGE step in the right direction for our village.
You took the words right out of my mouth! I wish someone would put a cork in that man's mouth.
As a former employee of the Chamber of Commerce I take a lot of offense to the attack on the chamber. The chamber isn't there to control law or policy. It is to promote where you live - not just the businesses -and to provide a service to both the community and the tourists. The chamber does a lot with very little money and a whole lot of volunteers. Often the chamber has to ask the businesses for donations and handouts during the year to keep events running - businesses that pay taxes, pay chamber dues and still give on top of that...
I don't live in the Bay anymore - I've grown up and moved on but in trips back home I know the Bay isn't the Bay it was when I was a child. Maybe some of you who are new to the village don't know how the Bay used to boom in the summer. It doesn't anymore. It's sad. I would be afraid that without groups like the chamber to put on events a lot of small business owners would be out of business because they just wouldn't have the tourist business to keep them going.
People should remember not to bite the hand that feeds you or your family or rather employs you, your kids, your spouse, your niece, nephew, aunt, uncle, etc. There isn't much year round industry (that is why I didn't move back after college) so everyone should want to promote what industry there is - even if it means the chamber getting bed tax dollars and a little help from the village, town, county, state, etc.
Instead of worrying about the Good Ol' Boyz in the Bay perhaps you should focus on the Good Ol' Boys in Albany because if things don't change all of Northern New York will be completely forgotten. Don't let New York City buy your elections again. Elect locals who really care about the state of the state and about Northern New York.
Go ahead and disagree with me now...
Mr Erck,
I worked for the Chamber many years ago and every three months we invoiced the towm for BED TAX MONEY that was collect by Jefferson County and given back to the town based on the percentage that they collected. This is a tax on lodging which local people do not pay unless they rent a hotel or motel room. It is not included in sales tax money. It is separate tax. You will not be charges bed tax at Garlock's. The bed tax was established to help promote tourism in the area. The Thousand islands International Council receives bedtax money also. The Village of Alexandria Bay has given the Chamber a small amount of money for as long as the Chamber has existed. It does cost money to run the chamber not everyone can work for free. You need a few people in the office all the time. When I worked for the Chamber the pay was $6.00 an hour with no benefits. Luckily, I moved away and now work for a non-profit that pays well with benefits. I still have contact with many of the business people that I worked with during my time at the Chamber and I know that they are only interested in helping to keep the Village alive and healthy. I wish that all a very good Summer season. Evie in Albany
Dean, I think you're barking up the wrong tree, maybe you should go back and harrass the golf course again about spending millions on ball washers!
Well Dean, I guess you've ercked a few people with your skewed vision of society at large.
Now I'd like to bring up another point that has nothing to do with this topic.
Who exactly do you think works in the local businesses? During the last ten years, I have employed over fifty people in the village, mostly kids between the ages of fourteen and eighteen. Where exactly, do you plan on taking your kids when they want summer jobs?
How about you driving them to Watertown, to work nights at the Wing Wagon on Public Square? No?
What is your plan, just keep sucking money out of Village and Town funding for HFY?
Most of kids I know want more out of life than playing ping pong and church basketball.
Actually, I think you've gotten a lot more attention than you deserve...
On that note!
These comments have strayed way to far from the original topic. Comments on this topic are now closed.
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