Tom Reed's campaign has issued a press release (reprinted in full after the break) where he accuses Eric Massa of "mudslinging".
Here's a choice quote:
“Anyone who has actually taken the risks to begin and operate businesses in New York knows how difficult it is to create jobs in our state,” Reed continued. “Job creators find some of the highest taxes and most severe regulatory burdens."
“When Massa criticizes folks for taking advantage of public incentives, it clearly demonstrates that he doesn’t understand these challenges.”
I don't know what Massa said at his press conference today, but the notion that someone getting a $1.18 million grant from New York State is a victim of high taxes and regulatory burdens is a laugh-out-loud statement.
A person getting those grants is a perpetrator. Small businessmen like me, who aren't looking for a state handout to make a profit, are the victims, since we're paying higher taxes to support recipients of this kind of crony welfare.
It's not too tough to put together a group of investors to "risk" $820K to get $1.18 million in free money. Those investors know full well that there's an excellent chance that they'll make a profit when the newly renovated Bath Masonic Temple is sold, since your money and mine is serving as a $1.18 million cushion to protect their investment.
Here's the press release:
REED CALLS MASSA’S MUDSLINGING
TYPICAL OF WASHINGTON POLITICIANS
Congressional candidate Corning Mayor Tom Reed today called Congressman Eric J.J. Massa’s
mudslinging both “sad” and “disappointing proof that he has been co-opted by Washington
politics.”
“It’s disappointing that Congressman Massa used his conference call with the media to sling mud
at me for trying to create jobs in the Southern Tier,” Reed said. “Only a Washington politician
would attack an entrepreneur for trying to create jobs here in our community. In less than a year
into his term, it appears that Congressman Massa has adopted the self-preserving Washington
approach to politics.”
“Anyone who has actually taken the risks to begin and operate businesses in New York knows
how difficult it is to create jobs in our state,” Reed continued. “Job creators find some of the
highest taxes and most severe regulatory burdens.
“When Massa criticizes folks for taking advantage of public incentives, it clearly demonstrates
that he doesn’t understand these challenges.”
Reed, who already owns four businesses, has purchased four vacant commercial buildings over
the last year in the Southern Tier to rehabilitate them and attract new businesses. “Over the years
I am proud to have created more than 40 jobs and I plan to help create many more despite
Washington politicians like Eric Massa,” Reed said.
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Comments
Thank you for your disclaimer before you started reading off your talking points:
I don't know what Massa said at his press conference today
At know what sources to cite.
The reason I said that is because what Massa said at his PC doesn't have anything to do with whether the grant was legitimate. It's classic misdirection, just like your comment.
The Masonic Temple building is probably worth $150,000. Why he's getting $1 miilion plus to restore it is beyond me.
He said this morning that he bought it at public auction, so I'll bet it was pretty cheap.
It indeed went cheap----but it's a prime piece of smalltown property, right there on quaint Pultney Park and just steps from the county courthouse and County Clerk's office. There is a backstory, I hear: The Bath Village Board, headed by Republican Mayor Wallace, decided to back Reed's application for state funds over a similiar request, but on behalf of the "Save The Dana Lyon School" movement. I don't have the details, but there is more to this puzzle, I believe.
I'm sure we'll be hearing more on this before the election.