A huge, but not a biased, mistake

Keep your head up Jessica. I was a reporter at a local paper several years ago. Its a rewarding profession, but one with big responsibilities and risks. Learn from this and you'll be fine.

Jess...please do not make the assumption those supporting the project do not understand the financials. Perhaps you have not taken the time to meet with Developers to gain a better understanding of the "insight-out financial picture." Also, you're not alone messing up!

X

Ignorance and bliss, albeit reporter error. Too many people don't understand the project from the inside-out financial picture. So, enough said at this juncture, until Jess messes up again!!! Lol

I wonder what future developers and entrepreneurs are thinking reading Ms. Collier's ill-produeced expose. I personally will reconsider making an invenstment in the Tri-Lakes knowing that I could be trashed by a yocal reporter who doesn't know how to do her homework and uses old data she doesn't remember analyzing. Shame, shame. This is a time when all need to unite for development, and not chase off those willing to bring in the business.

TLERSIWH, We need a chance, not a savior. First recognize the difference between a developer and an investor. Developers line up investors.Investors are ready to fund the project but will not commit before the Article 78 is struck down. Second of all, the current tract of land in question generates about $63K in total taxes to the county, town and school system today. With or without the PILOT, ask the county, town and school if they would rather have the ACR or not regardless of its final buildout size.

TLERSIWH, You are in a position to know- how is the unemployment picture here in the North Country? How does it look for the next few years to come? What is your solution to replace the ACR? How will your spouse contribute to the future of TL? I'll stick with Tom. What is your beef? Is it about a hunting camp or tranquility on Lake Simond Pond?

LOL...just the other half.

ctd. especially the school system could certainly use.

No, not Jack. And this is not mud slinging, just factual info. If the developers are portraying themselves as saviors of our area their actions should match their words. Pointing out that the Emporer has no clothes is not getting personal. Here is a good example: Jan 14th 2011 at a meeting of the North Country Workforce Investment Board. Mr Lawson and a couple ARISE members presented info on the ACR. From the minutes of the meeting(not my interpretation):Tom Lawson asked to make a few remarks. "He noted that he and his partners purchased 10 square miles of woodland adjacent to the golf course"... "Mr Lawson said he is prepared to hire 300 people and he is fully funded." "He has 11 million he is willing to invest". This was only 2 yrs ago, if he had all that capital why is he in such financial difficulties now? And don't forget they stll want a PILOT program which will use tax revenue to pay for his infrastructure costs. Tax revenue that the town and espec

Ha...guess I should have put it, "square your shoulders" or something!

Caligal, thanks for the reality check. You're right...this is very sad. TLerswih, are you using this forum to sling more mud? Could you have written the email referred to in the Free Press yesterday?

We need to stop this. Move ahead, don't tear things down. APA decided. Respect that. We're a struggling community that needs to work together. Be adults,*****it up, get to work!

To report a finacial (albeit legal) situation from a 'Managing Partner', is absolutely not relavent, as you have suggested. Lawson is not a 'Financial Partner', so retreat from your mudslinging position. Further; are many dependancy counselors not recovering addicts? or marriage counselors not divorsed? There's a theme here..........

Mistakes happen all across society. Some are true and honest, some are blatant and malicious. A reporters' duty is to accurately REPORT based upon fact. When over-zelous reporting misinforms the public due to error of FACT, it is unacceptable at any level of journalism. And this is Biased, regardless of the excuses!!!!!

I’m saddened to see the continued belief that the merits of the proposed project equate to dragging every detail of the private investors’ lives through the mud. I respect everyone’s right to voice their questions and concerns, but in return expect that respect be given to those who can and will provide the answers. To breed hatred and spew it with the belief that it is an effective method of approaching a topic like an adult, is just sad and I feel sorry for anyone who succumbs to this method. There has been a lot of time and energy invested into this project by many. We’re all tired, we’re all a bit on edge. Regardless of your stance on this project, on the largest level, we’re all human beings. Take it down further and we’re New Yorkers, Adirondackers and Tupper Lakers. Have some humanity.

TLerswih- is that you Jack? Now you don't have to do your "research" on county time.

ctd, non payment. Your story just scratches the surface of the financial difficulties of the developers.

Jess, I'm sure it wasn't hard to get a property ownership wrong with all the LLCs the ACR has set up. Your overall subject of the story, the developers' financial difficulties, is the important part especially for the taxpayers in Tupper Lake. His home forclosure and non payment of taxes is part of a pattern that has been ongoing for years. The non payment of taxes from 07,08,09 on the ACR properties for over $149000. The county put them on a payment plan and they even defaulted on that and just finished paying those in June 2011. Would any other taxpayer get special treatment like that? He is also behind by $37000. in taxes on his house in Tupper, the "Cat House" is behind $7000. His house in FL is also for sale and behind by $37028. for the past 2 yrs in taxes. He supposedly just paid off a federal tax lien for over $500,000. for not paying income tax for 3 yrs. His electric service was disconnected and the meter removed from his house in Tupper in April 2010 for non payme

Hang in there, not the first error you will make in your career or life. I’m sure all of your critics have experienced some mistakes in their lives. Continue what you do best. ADE reporter.

"The mistake happened because I was working with a list of what I thought were ACR-owned properties that I drew up a few years ago. I don't remember how I compiled the list, so I'm not sure how I included the unrelated properties." You thought wrong!!! You prematurely reported (AGAIN) and need to be held accountable. You have opened up the potential for a slander suit against the ADE. Congrats!

You make far too many mistakes. This one is unacceptable at any level and completely unprofessional. Further, your attack against Lawson proves your complete inability to understand. Lawson is a "WORKING" partner, not a Financial partner, so to bring up his personal finance is absolutely inappropriate! Under your logic, where is your story about Cafrey's recent DWI? You are pathetic and need to go write for the NCCC newsletter the "snowflake" or something like it. No more excuses for lousy, poor taste, and non-factual reporting.

Jessica Collier it is time for you to go! You call yourself a reporter.......it's time you did more than a little investigating on the the obligations of a GOOD reporter. To be very clear you have much to learn about your craft. There are two areas that you need much improvement in before you call yourself a reporter. First....get your facts correct! I don't know who or what you use for getting your facts, but more often than most you don't get it right! Second, good reporting comes from a reporter who is open to the facts, and doesn't make it personal.....that is your biggest failure!!! Wake up Enterprise, time to bring on a Real Reporter one who will give us the truth without their personal side of it!

WOW...DeepSpruce you sound like a lawyer. As you well know, checking the facts before publishing information is a #1 priority in journalism. What was the hurry in getting this being published on Saturday? To those reading this and take pleasure in someones misfortune I hope the tables are never turned on you!!

Bravo, Jessica! A Free and Independent Press is not infallible. We all sometimes make mistakes, especially in the haste of meeting deadlines. But when we do: immediate retraction of the mistake with clarifying factual material as to how it occured, accompanied by total corrective action being taken, joined with dedicated and renewed efforts with assurances not to repeat the error is the only ethical path to take. Responsible journalists maintain our confidence in the profession and in the periodicals within which it is practiced only when they take those same steps. Although you erred, you have satisfied all of those critical needs and objectives. I bet you agonized and lost sleep over this. You may not have totally safisfied your critics in this blog or by the printed retraction and correction...but after the Saturday article you have done more than enough to satisfy me regarding your highest and ethical practice of the profession of journalism.

What "bag" TupperTime? Have you been listening to the debate for the last eight years? This is private development by private developers with private investments. Even if IDA bonds are used private investors will buy them. There was no need to bring there personal finances into this. Has anyone at the Enterprise been late on a payment? Let's list their names.