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Review of New York State Division of the...

We went on a weekday tour. It was just after a lar...

We went on a weekday tour. It was just after a large High School group, and the guide took care to avoid them and the noise that came with them. Our group was just a few folks, so made for a very relaxed and quiet experience that encouraged observation and learning. We saw a good portion of the building and also lingered afterward to poke into a few spots we passed earlier for a closer look. There are lots of inconsistencies in the story of the Capitol's construction that prompt questions these days. Such as, how is it possible to be 8 million dollars over budget (total spent $12mil) after spending the initial 4mil, before the governor "notices"? Why did nobody "notice" after the project was $1mil over budget? How is it possible to lose a huge portion of historical records in a fire which specifically targeted the library, with a single victim who did not make it out? Weren't there fire safety precautions in place in case of such event? Was the fire an accident? How can you leave just a few stone carving elements unfinished, becoming an instant eye sore and looking embarrassing in the most important Chambers of the building, while the carvings on the staircases are finished? How can you make ceiling decoration out of paper when you know the roof leaks and you've got buckets on the floor to catch the water? Why install giant non-working fireplaces, when you know you need to heat the building in winter, so could use real working ones? There are still lots of questions to ponder and research, and the tour is just the beginning.