Two hundred and twenty million dollars. I had to spell that out, because it seems to have a better ring than putting it into numbers. That’s the amount of money the Albany Convention Center Authority (ACCA) wants to spend to build that beautifully rendered complex. The problem is: Albany needs a convention center like Vatican City needs more Catholics. The idea first popped into the head of Jerry Jennings in his earliest mayoral stint back in 1994, but it wasn’t untill 2004 that then Governor George Pataki, along with Shelly Silver and Joe Bruno established the ACCA. The were given $75 million and told to build a convention center. Now they’ve acquired almost all the property needed to build the center, but have seemed to have lost the backing of the politicos once so gung-ho including Jennings. Of course our current Governor Cuomo has stuck his head in the sand once again with his “all this convention center stuff wasn’t my idea” cop-out. Who does the ACCA think is going to come to Albany to fill up that 5000 person capacity center? State run functions? I don’t think so. If they did, where would they stay? Not downtown. Even with a new hotel, most of these supposed convention goers would stay in hotels closer to the airport, so the establishments along Wolf Road will flourish. The parking garage will turn into a facility for state workers to use, or stay mainly empty because the convention goers don’t drive to the convention. Hey, better use for the money that the ACCA has left: take the land you have and turn it into something constructive; how about, like in New York City, have “Albany Park” where people could enjoy green space and add in a touch of our history. We don’t have the money, we don’t need to borrow the money, and the taxpayers certainly shouldn’t have to shoulder the responsibility.……….The Governor has announced his choices for the new NYRA board. For one of his picks he has chosen celebrity chef and entrepreneur Bobby Flay. Interesting pick there Gov. Not a bad one though. He probably got his interest in horse racing cooking for that fat ass Charlie Hayward as he ate on NYRA’s dime in Saratoga in August. Did your girlfriend have any influence on that pick there Andy.……….Saw an interesting piece on Twitter the other day from a person I follow, concerning a “open streets” event in LA that closed down seven miles of streets, as tens of thousand of bikes were allowed to reign. Great ides Leah. Biking is a great way to get around, as long as you don’t disturb the cars getting to and from their destinations. I’ll bet that if you had a thousand bikes starting on Broadway and headed up State Street, ninety percent of those people couldn’t make it up that hill.
And that is “The Daily Take”