Brighton Lodging COMIDA benefits award crashes and burns
Is that it? This paragraph in the D&C took my a bit by surprise
The COMIDA board also voted to revoke benefits for the Brighton Lodging project and Eber Bros. in Ogden, which is no longer in business.
I don’t know who the Eber brothers are other than they are out of business but Brighton Lodging was a big deal here. Recall this is the Wellesley Hotel across from the Jail on East Henrietta road. Manish and/Andy Patel applied for a COMIDA grant. There was a public hearing, Brighton residents via elected officials said this case makes no sense, The COMIDA board approved it in a manner similar to the lockstep legislature approving the U.N.F.A.I.R. plan. there is even this terse exchange when the COMIDA board was asked if they even vet the businesses before they award benefits.
The big question is the property up for sale or will it change owners? Recall Manish Patel said that the Business deal did not make sense unless they got a COMIDA tax break.
Well - what will they do with the hotel?
I don’t think we have heard the last of this.
Eber Bros: Used to be a produce company at the GVRMA, Then became liquor distributors with a place on Monroe Avenue. Currently, I am in the process of finding out what their latest venture is/was.
I’m pretty sure that there were two separate companies owned by the same family, probably different members. They co-existed for a number of years, if memory serves.
I worked for these guys at EconoLodge in Big Flats, NY
Maybe I’m just dense on this– but what’s the point of COMIDA?
I thought it was about using tax abatements (refunds? subsidies?) to support businesses that will create new jobs.
If so, then using then those $$ ought to be targeted, very carefully, at businesses that don’t have to be here and aren’t displacing current businesses.
So– subsidizing a hotel makes no sense. All they’re doing is cannibalizing (income which equals jobs) from existing hotels.
Here’s the latest list I’m aware of: D&C yesterday. On that list, maybe, maybe the Maven and PAETEC awards might make sense. I’m saying “maybe” because with out more details I can’t be sure.
Yeah you are just dense (kidding)
More to the point you are highlighting the issues with COMIDA,.
The other point with COMIDA is that the COMIDA board redirects tax revenue away from towns so give Brighton Lodging a tax break the revenue is taken from Town coffers and the gap is picked up by tax payers.
Nothing is free - someone is paying for those subsidies.
[...] the brief mention in the D&C covering the withdrawal of COMIDA monies from the Wellesley hotel. Follow this link to background information. What that article missed the City News paper covers the quite well - the “why”. The [...]