NEW WINDSOR – The executive director of the Orange County Industrial Development Agency charged on Tuesday that the state-appointed monitor vetoed the Amazon Wawayanda financial incentives only after he was pressured by State Senator James Skoufis (D, Cornwall).
It was Skoufis who passed the state law requiring that a monitor be appointed for three years at the IDA’s expense to pass judgment on all of its decisions.
The IDA’s Bill Fioravanti said monitor Brian Sanvidge vetoed the PILOT agreement the board approved, which was 15 days after his deadline to take action.
“This was a political win the senator wanted; got it. We’ve looked to work with them,” he said. “We thought it would be validation for us, frankly, because we have been doing everything properly, but unfortunately, he is clearly influenced by the senator. He has become an extension of his efforts, and to say that is disappointing is an incredible understatement.”
The PILOT would have saved Amazon $80 million over its five-year life, money that would have gone into the pockets of local taxpayers without the incentive, Skoufis maintains.
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