Empire Zone abuses afford millions to a lucky few

The (Syracuse, N.Y.) Post-Standard's Mike McAndrew and Michelle Breidenbach expose abuses of New York's "Empire Zone" tax breaks which negate the programs intended purpose:"
to create jobs in targeted impoverished areas." One mall owner was able to cash in on about $14 million in tax breaks by paying the city of Geneva to expand the boundaries of its zone to include his property located over 30 miles away. Lawmakers and other business owners are disgusted by these abuses of a program meant to encourage economic development. The Post-Standard found that "none of the 10 businesses that claimed the biggest property tax refunds for 2003 created more than 20 jobs."