Why Are We Still Paying for Skate Time?

I don't have high hopes when it comes to O'Halloran and the IDA board getting off their keesters and holding the Bernardos accountable for their mendacious claims about jobs:

Industrial Development Agency Chairman David O’Halloran said it’s important to hold businesses accountable for their promises in order to protect the credibility of the agency with the communities that are asked to accept lower property tax payments.

O’Halloran said the board will decide whether to seek a voluntarily reduction in the PILOT deal from Skate Time 209 at its November board meeting.

The question of whether Skate Time was living up to its job creation predictions first was raised in 2008, when Len Bernardo and Michael Hein vied to become Ulster County’s first county executive, but nothing ever came of those concerns.

Well, it appears something is coming from it now. And let's see whether this "voluntary reduction" actually makes sense mathematically. The Bernardos are enjoying a tax subsidy that amounts to two-thirds of this annual expense, according to the article. Again, why are we paying for this when the majority of the patrons of Skate Time already live in the community? How is this a tourist attraction? The Bernardos can try to re-frame this debate all they want, but it doesn't change the fact that their job estimates were either wildly optimistic or downright dishonest.