TONIGHT!

WE CONTINUE WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES WITH J DANIEL PLUFF.

THE CENTRAL NEW YORK REGIONAL MARKET TRACES ITS ORIGINS TO THE 1930'S - THE FACILITY IS EASY TO TAKE FOR GRANTED BUT ITS LONG-JEVITY AND GROWTH CAN'T BE IGNORED.

AS A SOURCE FOR LOCAL, FRESH PRODUCE, ALONG WITH ARTS AND CRAFTS, THE MARKET REMAINS A BUSY GATHERING PLACE WITH LARGE WEEKEND CROWDS ALL YEAR LONG.

BUT RECENT CONCERNS REGARDING THE MARKET'S FINANCES AND FUND MANAGEMENT WERE BROUGHT TO LIGHT WITH A SCATHING REPORT FROM NEW YORK STATE'S COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.

NOW, THE MARKET LOOKS TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE WITH MORE VENDORS, AN IMPROVED LOOK AND ALL NEW IDEAS FOR ENTERTAINMENT.

ON THE MONEYS DANIEL PLUFF MET WITH BILL FISHER, THE NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, WHO APPEARED BOTH UPBEAT AND READY FOR CHANGE!

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HISTORY, YOU KNOW,ER WITH WE ARE.

SO 1938, I MEAN THIS HAS BEEN-- F.D.R., THE NEW DEAL.

>> YOU CAN SEE PHOTOS AND THERE ARE SOME CHANGES BEHIND THE COMMISSION HOUSES WHERE WE HAVE OUR DISTRIBUTORS.

>> SAME LOCATION.

>> USED TO BE TRAINS COMING IN.

THE TRAINS DON'T COME IN.

EXACT SAME LOCATION.

>> DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE THIS LOCATION BEEN HERE CLOSE TO 90 YEARS, THIS IS STILL THE BEST SPOT?

>> IT IS A GREAT LOCATION.

YOU HAVE A BASEBALL STADIUM OVER THERE.

PEOPLE DRIVE BY THAT ALL THE TIME.

DESTINY IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET.

WE ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE INNER HARBOR, WHICH IS ABOUT TO HAVE A HUGE INVESTMENT IN THE AQUARIUM.

WE ARE NOT FAR FROM THE LOOP THE LAKE TRAIL ON ONONDAGA LAKE.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A FANTASTIC PLACE FOR THIS MARKET.

>> LET'S GET SOME OF THE TROUBLES OUT OF THE WAY FIRST.

NEW YORK STATE COMPTROLLER OFFICE CITING POSSIBLY FUND MANAGEMENT ISSUES.

WAS IT A CASE OF MAYBE JUST WASN'T TRANSPARENT OR WAS THERE ANYTHING WRONG DOING THAT YOU HAVE DISCOVERED?

>> SO THERE IS A BOOK BY EARNEST HEMINGWAY, THE SUN ALSO RISES, ONE CHARACTER ASKS THE OTHER CHARACTER, HOW DID YOU GO BANKRUPT?

AND HE ANSWERS I WENT BANKRUPT IN TWO WAYS.

FIRST GRADUALLY AND THEN SAUDI SUDDENLY.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED HERE THERE.

WAS ALWAYS PROPERTY HERE THAT WAS LEASED OUT TO FOLKS THAT EITHER BUILT THEIR OWN BUILDINGS OR PAID RENT ON THE BUILDINGS.

THERE WERE ALWAYS A LOT OF FARMERS DOING THINGS HERE AND PAYING TO USE THE STALLS SO THE GRADUAL PART OF THE UNWINDING WAS THEY WEREN'T PUTTING MONEY BACK INTO THE FARMER SHEDS AND THE PAVING AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT YOU SEE AROUND US.

THE MORE IMMEDIATE THING WAS THEY MADE SOME ILL-ADVISED ACQUISITIONS, INCLUDING A WAREHOUSE RIGHT OVER THERE.

IT'S A 50,000 SQUARE FOOTWEAR HOUSE.

THEY PAID $2.3 MILLION FOR IT.

AT THE TIME IT WAS A VARIABLE RATE, 2.75%.

AND THEY HAD A COUPLE TENANTS.

THE TENANTS HAVE SINCE MOVED OUT SO IT'S VACANT.

AND THE INTEREST RATES HAVE SINCE GONE FROM 2.75 TO 8.25.

SO YOU ARE CARRYING A LOT OF DEBT SERVICE ON A PROPERTY THAT IS VACANT.

SO THAT WAS THE SUDDEN PART.

>> THAT'S ACTUALLY A GREAT ANALOGY BECAUSE NO ONE, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WE HADN'T HEARD OF ANY ISSUES.

ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WAS FRONT PAGE NEWS.

I WANT TO ASK YOU, WHAT WAS JOB ONE?

OBVIOUSLY YOU FOUND YOUR OFFICE, FOUND THE MEN'S ROOM.

WHAT WAS THE FIRST THING YOU HAD TO TACKLE?

>> THE FIRST THING I HAD TO TACKLE WAS SIT DOWN WITH THE STAFF AND FIGURE OUT WHO WAS DOING WHAT?

THE GOOD NEWS IS THE STAFF IS EXCELLENT.

THEY'RE VERY WELL TRAINED, YOUNG, ENTHUSIASTIC.

THEY RUN A GREAT MARKET ON SATURDAYS FOR THE FARMERS, THERE IS A FLEA MARKET ON SUNDAY THAT IS THRIVING.

THURSDAY MARKET AND WE CAN BUILD FROM HERE.

THEY PERHAPS DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT COACHING OR THE RIGHT ENCOURAGEMENT.

MAYBE SOME OF THE IDEAS THEY HAD WERE OVERLOOKED.

LOOKING AT WHAT THEY HAD ALREADY THOUGHT OF AND MAYBE FOCUSING ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE COULD DO WITH THE RESOURCES WE HAVE LEFT MIGHT HAVE BEEN JOB ONE.

JOB 2 WAS REALLY LOOKING AT THE FINANCES AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE TURN THIS AROUND.

HOW DO WE FILL SOME OF THE VACANT SPACES?

WHAT DO WE DO WITH THAT WAREHOUSE?

HOW DO WE GO AND FIND SOME MONIES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN APPROPRIATED TO THE STATE BUDGET.

THE STATE COMPTROLLER MENTION THERE HAD WAS A $2 MILLION GRANT ASSEMBLYMAN MAGNARELLI HAD, FIRST THING WE DID WAS SIT DOWN WITH ASSEMBLYMAN MAGNARELLI AND HIS TAF.

WHERE THIS IS APPROPRIATION?

IS IT STILL THERE?

THE GOOD NEWS IT'S STILL THERE.

BAD NEWS IT COMES WITH STRINGS ATTACHED.

YOU HAVE TO PUT IT INTO CAPITAL INVESTMENTS WITH A USEFUL LIFE OF 10 YEARS OR MORE.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF THOSE THINGS WE CAN DO AND WHEN YOU HAVE AN INVESTMENT MADE, YOU START TO GENERATE INCOME.

>> IT'S A LOT.

BUT YOU ARE GETTING YOUR HANDS AROUND IT.

DID YOU SPEAK TO THE VENDORS.

>> THEY HAVE GIVEN US A LOT OF ADVICE AND THOUGHTS.

A LOT OF THEM HAVE FAMILY FARMS AND HAVE BEEN SELLING HERE AS PRODUCERS FOR 30 OR 40 YEARS.

THEY WANTED TO HEAR FROM ME AND THE STAFF THAT WE WEREN'T GOING ANYWHERE, THAT WE WERE GOING TO MAKE CHANGES AND FILL IN THE POT HOLES.

SO ON THURSDAY, ONE OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS AND HER ASSISTANT WALKED AROUND AND IDENTIFIES THE POT HOLES THAT NEED TO BE FILLED AND ON FRIDAY, WE'VE GOT A CONTRACT CONTRACTOR COMING IN AND FILLS THE POT HOLES EVERY MORNING.

>> SOUNDS SILLY BUT IMPORTANT.

IF YOU ARE DOING SPECIAL PROJECTS LIKE FILLING POT HOLES, YOU NEED CAPITAL FOR THAT SOMEHOW.

>> WE HAVE TO GENERATE ENOUGH MONEY OFF OF THE RENTS THAT WE CHARGE TO PAY FOR THOSE POT HOLES TO BE FILLED, FOR THE LIGHTS TO BE REPLACED WHEN THEY NO LONGER WORK.

>> WHAT IS THE RUNNING COST HERE?

WHAT IS THE BUDGET?

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO KEEP THIS PLACE RUN RUNNING?

>> ARE 2 MILLION A YEAR GIVE OR TAKE.

TWO SOURCES OF OPERATING REVENUES.

THE FARMERS AND VENDORS SELLING AT OUR MARKETS THEY CAN TAKE OUT A LICENSE FOR THE ENTIRE GROWER SEASON OR THE ENTIRE YEAR AND THOSE LICENSE FEES ARE THE CORE REVENUE FROM THESE FARMER SHEDS.

>> TO OFFSET THE EXPENSES.

>> AND YOU ALSO HAVE DAILY FEES.

SO IF SOMEONE WANTS TO USE A STALL JUST THIS COMING SATURDAY, THAT MIGHT BE $80 FOR THE DAY.

THOSE FEES THAT WE GET FROM OUR SHEDS ARE PROBABLY HALF OF OUR REVENUE.

THE OTHER HALF IS FROM THE REAL ESTATE THAT WE HAVE.

SO WENDY'S IS A TENANT, BYRNE, RUSSO PRODUCE IS A TENANT.

ALL THESE TENANTS ARE LEASING LAND FROM US OR BUILDINGS FROM US.

>> IF WE LOOK AT A YEAR LIKE 23-2 4-RBGS PROJECTING 25, WHAT ARE THE SALES HERE?

HOW MUCH WOULD WE SALE?

>> WE DON'T KEEP TRACK OF WHAT THE FARMERS SELL.

THEY DON'T REPORT TO US.

CERTAINLY IN THE MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

>> THAT'S WHAT I WAS GETTING AT.

I SAW A REPORT SOMEWHERE IT WAS A LARGE NUMBER.

AND I THOUGHT GEE, THAT'S GOT TO BE AN ECONOMIC IMPACT WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR.

THIS PLACE MAKES AN IMPACT ON THE CENTRAL NEW YORK ECONOMY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE HAVE CLOSE TO A THOUSAND PARKING SPACES AND BY 7:15, THEY'RE FULL ON SATURDAY.

THEY'RE HERE FOR AN HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF AND WHEN THEY LEAVE, ANOTHER CAR TAKES ITS PLACE.

>> THIS PLACE IS POPULAR TO SAY THE LEAST ON SATURDAY.

YOU HAVE COMPETITION.

THE GROCERY STORES IN YOUR AREA, WEGMAN'S WE TAKE FOR GRANTED.

QUITE A STORE.

WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE ARE STILL COMING HERE FOR PRODUCE THEY CAN BUY AT THESE STORES?

>> FOR A COUPLE REASONS.

ONE IS THE VALUE IS FANTASTIC.

YOU'VE ALL SEEN IF YOU HAVE SHOPPED THAT YOUR PRICES AND WEGMANS AS GREAT AS THEY ARE, YOU ARE PLAYING 20 TO 30% MORE FOR THE SAME TOMATOES OR THE SAME PRODUCE, SO COMING HERE AND LOOKING FOR BARGAINS IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN DOING.

THERE IS A LOT OF PROCESSED FOOD AND WE ARE AWARE THAT'S NOT THE BEST THING FOR OUR HEALTH.

THIS IS NOT PROCESSED FOOD HERE.

THERE IS FRESH GROWN FOOD THAT YOU CAN TAKE BACK TO YOUR TABLE.

>> I LOVE IT.

I'M NOT SURE IT FALLS TO YOU BUT WILL ASK ANYWAY.

IS THERE A WAY THE REGIONAL MARKET CAN GET SOME OF THIS PRODUCT, SOME OF THIS PRODUCE TO PARTS OF THE CITY THAT MAYBE GO WITHOUT?

>> WHAT USED TO BE CALLED FOOD STAMPS ARE SNRAP BENEFITS AND THEY'RE ON PLASTIC CARDS.

NOT ALL THE FARMERS TAKE THE CARDS, SO WE RUN AWE CURRENCY SYSTEM.

YOU CAN COME DOWN HERE WITH YOUR EBT CARD AND COME OVER TO THE WELCOME CENTER ON SUNDAYS OR COME TO THE SHED ON SATURDAY AND YOU CAN CONVERT YOUR EBT BENEFITS INTO OUR DOLLAR TOKENS.

>> THAT'S BIG.

>> YOU CAN TAKE THE DOLLAR TOKENS AND SPEND THEM HERE.

WHAT IS BETTER THAN THAT, IS THAT THE STATE MATCHES THE FIRST $50 EVERY TIME YOU ARE EXCHANGING TOKENS SO THEY GIVE YOU COUPONS.

SO FOR $50 OF EBT BENEFITS, YOU CAN GET $100 OF BUYING POWER THANKS TO NEW YORK STATE MATCHING THE FEDERAL PROGRAM WHICH IS THE SNAP BENEFITS.

>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FUTURE THEN DOWN THE ROAD.

WHAT CHANGES DO YOU SEE COMING SO FAR SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN HERE?

WHAT IS GOING TO LOOK DIFFERENT HERE DOWN THE ROAD?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW IS OTHER MARKETS LIKE THE EAST MARKET IN DETROIT THAT HAS REALLY REVITALIZED THEMSELVES WITH THE UNIQUE MIX THAT WE HAVE.

SOME OF THESE MARKETS ARE STRICTLY RETAIL, WHICH IS WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT MAINLY.

OTHERS ARE MORE WHOLESALE IN NATURE.

WE ARE A HYBRID THAT HAS THE RETAIL AND WHOLESALE.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE WHOLESALE FOOD BUSINESSES?

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN FOOD PRODUCTION?

WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH COLD STORAGE?

THE COUNTY AND THE STATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARM JUST AWARDED A CONTRACT TO A CONSULTING FIRM.

THEY'VE GOT A TEAM OF EXPERTS THAT HAVE HELPED REVITALIZE THESE TYPES OF PUBLIC MARKETS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE MORE GREEN SPACE.

I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE MORE FLOWERS.

I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A MORE COMFORTABLE-- >> THAT, IF I MAY, THAT WOULD BE GOOD.

IT IS A LITTLE BIT MAKADAM.

THAT WOULD BE NIGHT JUST VISUALLY.

DID I READ THERE IS A PROPOSAL OUT THERE FOR A LARGE FOOD PAVILION, NOT A FOOD COURT BUT SOMETHING OF THAT.

>> YOU DID.

THE REGIONAL AUTHORITY AND STAFF WERE BRAINSTORMING AROUND WHAT THEY SAW.

THEY WERE DOING SOME SMART THINGS LIKE TRAVELING TO OTHER MARKETS.

A LOT OF THE THINGS YOU SEE AT THE ESSEX MARKET IN BALTIMORE OR PHILADELPHIA OR THOSE KINDS OF IDEAS ARE THINGS THAT WE CAN BRING HERE AND THE STAFF HAD ALREADY BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT.

THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDING FOR IT SO IF WE CAN PULL TOGETHER A VERY COHESIVE PLAN, PRESENT IT TO THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, LATE THIS YEAR, EARLY NEXT YEAR, I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE A READINESS OR WILLINGNESS TO FUND SOME OF THE IDEAS.

>> PHILADELPHIA HAS A BIG, YOU KNOW, IT'S A PLACE TO GO.

>> THE READING TERMINAL IS AMAZING.

>> THIS IS A PLACE TO GO.

IT COULD BE THAT.

IT COULD BE EVEN BETTER, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, YOUR ENTHUSIASM AND ALL THAT BUT AS YOU LOOK DOWN THE ROAD, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS HURDLES?

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?

WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT THESE ARE GOING TO BE PROBLEMS FOR US?

>> SO THE INFRASTRUCTURE HERE IS VERY DATED.

>> THAT'S NOT CHEAP TO FIX.

AND THINGS UNDER THE GROUND ARE NOT SEXY BUT YOU STILL NEED TO REPLACE THEM?

>> ANY OTHER EVENTS THAT WOULD BE MAYBE NON-PRODUCE ORIENTED OR SOMETHING DIFFERENT HAPPENING BILL?

>> WE ARE LOOKING AT DOING FESTIVALS, PERHAPS ONCE A MONTH FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER NEXT YEAR, WE MAY BE ABLE TO PULL ONE OR TWO OFF THIS YEAR, PERHAPS AROUND HALLOWEEN.

SO THE IDEA WOULD BE, HAVE A THEME LIKE PUMPKINS, LET'S SAY AND BRING IN LIVE BANDS, MAYBE BRING IN SOME ARTISTS.

>> BRING IN SOME NEW PEOPLE.

>> YES, BRING IN SOME NEW PEOPLE.

LOOK FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS AROUND MONTHLY FESTIVALS, HOPEFULLY BEGINNING THIS FALL AND BEING A