October 9, 2025Oct 9 In a letter to the Chemung County Industrial Development Agency ( CCIDA ) that was shared on social media on Wednesday, Chemung County Executive Chris Moss voiced some concerns he has pertaining to a deal that the IDA has made to allow the LECOM Event Center, formerly known as First Arena, to change hands.In July it was announced that the owners of the Elmira Aviators hockey team,Stemerman Sports Entertainment, LLC, would be taking over the arena.Image courtesy LECOM Event Center Facebook page In the letter, dated October 8th, Moss states that while he is not totally opposed to the CCIDA transfering ownership of the arena to Stemmerman, he rased concerns about what he calls a "lack of transparency" surrounding the finances surrounding the arena, which he states has operated at a loss over the past two years. Moss also says that while the deal IDA intends to sell the building to Stemmernan for $1,390,000, that no money will change hands. Instead, Moss says that the CCIDA will transfer ownership of the arena to Stemmerman in exchange for the IDA being released from the monthly payment of $40,000 to Stemmerman for the Elmira Aviators hockey team until 2029.According to a July 2025 letter from CCIDA Executive Director Joe Roman, the arena operated at a net loss of $2.7 million in the fiscal year ending 2024 with a projected additional loss of $1.3 million for the fiscal year 2025. "As such," Roman wrote "The Premises are best owned/operated by a private entity.""While this may be technically be considered a sale, the CCIDA has no other choice but to accept the offer as they have depleted their own fund balance and at this particular point are unable to meet their contractual obligations with Stemmerman Sports Entertainment LLC," Moss wrote. "It's important to note that if it weren't for Stemmerman Sports Entertainment LLC allowing the CCIDA to settle the matter in this manner, the CCIDA would be facing financial ruin and would have to sell off multiple key assets in order to have any operating capital."
October 10, 2025Oct 10 he isnt wrong in being concerned regarding the financial housekeeping of the IDA, though his timing is quite suspect
October 10, 2025Oct 10 I thought I heard on the local news something about a 50% tax abatement for this.
October 11, 2025Oct 11 16 hours ago, Ann said:I thought I heard on the local news something about a 50% tax abatement for this.yup Stemmerman got a sweet heart deal. 1.39 sale for NO cash outlay and the IDA dipshits figure what the hell and give away 50% of property tax value as welland of course you have Mr. Margeson making excuses saying things were much worse before his tenure and its much better now....that does not excuse giving up the property tax value sorely needed after we have subsidized that millstone for decades now, that entire Board has got to be replaced
October 12, 2025Oct 12 There are too many tax exempt properties in the City of Elmira. Just my opinion, but I think taxes should be paid by everyone, including 501-c3’s. Create a different tax rate but all should pay something.
October 12, 2025Oct 12 I believe the folks that were elected, entrusted to make decisions for the betterment of the taxpayers need to be taken to task on this issue and held accountable for their actions! A 50% tax abatement… here , let’s just Give Away Half of the Farm so that a Certain Few can Enjoy the Milk ! Damn , I hope to be around to hear the Bulldozers warming up to bury that “ millstone “ that has been a Money Suck from day one !
October 12, 2025Oct 12 I don’t care what it took to make it happen, but it’s about time the taxpayers are shed of that thing once and for all.
October 12, 2025Oct 12 4 hours ago, Chris said:I don’t care what it took to make it happen, but it’s about time the taxpayers are shed of that thing once and for all.Totally agree ! I just hope there is no “ agree to buy back “ clause , and that it is once and for all !
October 14, 2025Oct 14 On 10/12/2025 at 6:42 PM, Hal said:I just hope there is no “ agree to buy back “ clause , and that it is once and for all !i posed that question to a Legislator in a recent FB thread...no reply as of yet
October 14, 2025Oct 14 1 minute ago, ADAM said:i posed that question to a Legislator in a recent FB thread...no reply as of yetThere only two that have provided answers/ information, one on a regular basis. And I am surprised he hasn’t gotten back to you … yet .
July 13Jul 13 Author Chemung County Executive Chris Moss posted the following on social media today:The Chemung County IDA finally releases the Arena draft audit after multiple requests from the Executive's Office so that the County's audit could be completed. Important to note that this audit was conducted by the IDA's own auditing firm (see attachment). Missing boxes of materials required to complete the audit is inexcusable. The IDA is maybe a 1 million dollar a year operation, the county is a 300 million per year operation, are we really going to turn over county finances to this type of mis-management? Read the report, get the facts. The IDA friends and family plan.Follow the money Examples of IDA Procurement/RFP/Purchasing policy violationsCovermaster Eastern Energy Solutions Empire Access Meck Tech Outfitters Johnson Controls Bobby K EntertainmentMore information can be found here.
July 14Jul 14 If Moss is going to make the race about flinging feces about IDA business, then I hope Mark gets ahead of it with some answers.He needs to be prepared to explain what his role has (or has not) been regarding the issues it's faced and openly state what actions/behavior that he does or doesn't support.He's been a vocal defender and cheerleader so far. That's understandable, as Chair.... it's not appropriate to air any internal disagreements. But as a candidate for change, voters will want to know if that change will include CCIDA accountability (that doesn't entail lawsuits at taxpayer expense. LOL). Edited July 14Jul 14 by MsKreed
July 14Jul 14 quite the Candidate in Moss...he announces hes going to stay in the race and not a few hours later hes slinging mud...he can add hypocrite to his resume; Roman has been his man for years and NOTHING occurs in COunty governance without Moss either knowing about it or giving the go-ahead so as hes been in office the last 7 years whats his excuse?
July 14Jul 14 Individuals run for various elected offices promising to do this or that, fix this or that. Once elected, something happens; the position, title, control goes to their head and it becomes what’s best for me. I can’t remember any elected official where power didn’t corrupt in some way.
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