How the state spent $25 million on the WNY Welcome Center

[WNYresident]

How the state spent $25 million on the WNY Welcome Center

“It’s sad the waste of taxpayer dollars,” said Assemblyman Angelo Morinello, a Republican who represents Grand Island.

https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/lo...bbUWjJ3egk6204

[grump]

This waste of taxpayer $ money was supported by Nate McMurray, the halfwit supervisor of Grand Island. Better be careful criticizing it. McMurray has a gun and he’s not afraid to use it.

[WNYresident]

I wonder how long they will keep it open if it continues to bleed money.

[WNYresident]

ALBANY - A series of new highway rest stops championed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo may violate the law, adding a new layer to an ongoing dispute with the federal government and potentially jeopardizing millions of dollars in highway funding for the state.
The Federal Highway Administration has raised legal concerns over 10 newly opened or proposed rest areas.

That includes a much-heralded $20 million "Taste NY Welcome Center" that opened last month on Long Island's busiest expressway, as well as upgrades to existing facilities in Broome and Dutchess counties.

On Wednesday, state Transportation Commissioner Matthew Driscoll sent a letter to FHWA Administrator Gregory Nadeau acknowledging the federal government has raised legal concerns over the rest areas — as well as hundreds of tourism signs erected on state highways.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1827...1240629502584/

[sharky]

I'd never consider Grand Island a good place for a welcome center. Just after the state line coming from PA near Ripley would be a better choice.

[WNYresident]

I'm also surprised they sell stuff that would complete with private companies unless they are leasing out the space. But then in the end that seems wrong because politics might come into play.

[WNYresident]

Portion of ceiling collapses at Thruway's welcome center on Grand Island

Bob Dickie said he heard a "huge bang" as a portion of the ceiling in the state's new $25 million Western New York Welcome Center collapsed, nearly hitting him.

He was heading home Monday morning to Plattsburgh from a weekend visit with his daughter in Youngstown when he stopped for a cup of coffee at the year-old center on Grand Island "because I thought it was beautiful."

https://buffalonews.com/2019/10/16/p...box=1571228928

[grump]

Well, the lucky guy can actually take a piece of the ceiling home with him to remind of its “beauty”. Who could ask for more? The corruption and waste in this state under Cuomo are so wide spread and all-encompassing that he’s actually becoming a parody of himself.

[WNYresident]

A thruway rest stop who's entrance isn't literally on the thruway...

[grump]

These visitor centers are a statewide disgrace. Out of fear of Cuomo they actually built one without any connection to a sewer system. It cost millions more to retrofit the repairs. Do you suppose that suitable graft was nonetheless involved?

[WNYresident]

Yet if he runs for an office we'll see the ecdems.com supporting him hook line and sinker. I just don't get .