Bingoloid Posted February 12, 2020 Report Share Posted February 12, 2020 https://wbng.com/2020/02/11/state-government-auditing-city-of-binghamton-over-sewage-plant/ https://wnbf.com/nys-launches-audit-of-binghamton-jc-sewage-treatment-project/ "The city of Binghamton did not respond to a request for comment." The previous audit, in 2015, concluded that costs were already out of line, leading local officials to complain that the state was trying to create a "a false and unfavorable impression" of them and "kick ’em while they’re down". (Actual quote.) https://www.pressconnects.com/story/news/2015/12/22/audit-sewage-plants-costs-out-line-service/77764808/ At that time, the plant was supposed to be completed by 2017. To borrow a phrase from the Emperor of Japan after the atomic bombs dropped, the situation has developed not necessarily to Broome County's advantage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanCooper Posted February 12, 2020 Report Share Posted February 12, 2020 Up to a year to complete the report - More cost to the good tax payers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19April1775 Posted February 12, 2020 Report Share Posted February 12, 2020 2 minutes ago, Bingoloid said: https://wbng.com/2020/02/11/state-government-auditing-city-of-binghamton-over-sewage-plant/ https://wnbf.com/nys-launches-audit-of-binghamton-jc-sewage-treatment-project/ "The city of Binghamton did not response to a request for comment." The previous audit, in 2015, concluded that costs were already out of line, leading local officials to complain that the state was trying to create a "a false and unfavorable impression" of them and "kick ’em while they’re down". (Actual quote.) https://www.pressconnects.com/story/news/2015/12/22/audit-sewage-plants-costs-out-line-service/77764808/ At that time, the plant was supposed to be completed by 2017. To borrow a phrase from the Emperor of Japan after the atomic bombs dropped, the situation has developed not necessarily to Broome County's advantage. Perhaps the City of Binghamton politicians got a little greedy while laundering the money back to themselves, friends and family and the regulators got pissed? Not because they were ripping us off or laundering taxpayer money, because the regulators weren't getting their cut. Watch this go away with a slap on the wrist after Binghamton politicians donate some of their spoil to all the right people. This is why and how NY is so corrupt. All about taxpayer money laundering making it into the right hands to keep the machine happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginger Posted February 12, 2020 Report Share Posted February 12, 2020 Are we not being extorted with fines? Since 2011? $15,000 a month, $30,000 a month, $5,000 a month....what is it today? You do the math. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19April1775 Posted February 12, 2020 Report Share Posted February 12, 2020 18 minutes ago, ginger said: Are we not being extorted with fines? Since 2011? $15,000 a month, $30,000 a month, $5,000 a month....what is it today? You do the math. One of the links Bing posted says they expect it to take a year. Plenty of time for people to forget and the right skids to get greased. The audit is just another New York con job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bingoloid Posted February 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2020 43 minutes ago, ginger said: Are we not being extorted with fines? Since 2011? $15,000 a month, $30,000 a month, $5,000 a month....what is it today? You do the math. Not correct. DEC was able to begin imposing a fine only after the board failed to complete the project on the agreed-upon deadline, in 2017. This is a nearly-$300,000,000 project and the $15,000 monthly fines amount to about 1% of that. At one point, the plant was so far behind schedule that it was in danger of being fined as much as $37,500 per day. It's not unreasonable that local government be basically competent and move at a reasonable pace to minimize the dumping of human feces directly into the river like some third-world - literal - shit hole. This is water upstaters drink and that contaminates homes and streets when it rises. 52 minutes ago, 19April1775 said: Perhaps the City of Binghamton politicians got a little greedy while laundering the money back to themselves, friends and family and the regulators got pissed? Not because they were ripping us off or laundering taxpayer money, because the regulators weren't getting their cut. Watch this go away with a slap on the wrist after Binghamton politicians donate some of their spoil to all the right people. This is why and how NY is so corrupt. All about taxpayer money laundering making it into the right hands to keep the machine happy. It's more like we have to keep some slugs on the payroll for as long as possible to keep the kickbacks to local politicians on track. I seem to recall Councilman Livingston pointing out one employee bragging on Facebook about how the construction was so bad that he was planning on getting paid twice - once to do it and once to fix it. You're certainly right that they're hoping people "forget". That's why Rich David was so desperate to have Livingston's original video pulled. In fact, I can't find any reporting about the DEC fines until this mess was exposed in 2019. They're doing everything in their power to bury their gross mismanagement and how hard it's going to hit ratepayers. Some interesting quotes from an article at that time: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/binghamton/news/2019/07/26/sewage-treatment-project-delays-could-cost-more-money "Nobody's taking ownership; nobody's culpable for the problems. So I don't see it as anybody but the rate payer funding it and maybe years down the road, some legal settlement where a portion comes back that they split with the lawyers." - Joint Sewage Plant Business Manager Charles Pearsall "It's not just the rate payers of Binghamton and Johnson City, it's the rate payers of Vestal, the rate payers of the town of Union, the rate payers of Port Dickinson, it's rate payers of all municipal users." - Binghamton Councilman Dan Livington "[not available for comment]" - Binghamton Mayor Rich David "[not available for comment]" - Project Manager Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PARMELEE Posted February 12, 2020 Report Share Posted February 12, 2020 It's about damn time....How many times do we have to pay for the thing.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19April1775 Posted February 12, 2020 Report Share Posted February 12, 2020 1 hour ago, PARMELEE said: It's about damn time....How many times do we have to pay for the thing.... As many times as you let them. This little audit stunt is just a bridge to make you happy to pay them another couple of times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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