Local officials react to Governor Spitzer's State of Upstate address
By
Joleen Ferris
Story Created:
Jan 16, 2008 at 5:00 PM EST
Story Updated:
Jan 16, 2008 at 6:52 PM EST
Local leaders didn't have to wait long for references to their hometowns that might never come. During the first ever State of Upstate address at Buffalo State College, the references were flying.
The governor mentioned Marcy, Oneonta, Herkimer. Cash was flying, too. The governor talked about his $1 billion upstate revitalization fund, and millions more for infrastructure, housing, and agriculture.
"The governor stood before the entire state of New York today and said 'I'm gonna invest fifty million dollars in agriculture,'" said Patrick Hooker, the State Agriculture Commissioner. ""That's never been said before."
Assemblyman Dave Townsend wants to know how the governor plans to pay for all the programs he laid out today, and still not raise taxes. He's afraid he has a pretty good idea...
"The only place he's going to get money is raising tolls on the thruway, raising fees for people to do business with the state," Townsend said. "It's the same old game."
Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito also traveled to Buffalo for the governor's historic address. She's confident that, together, the legislature and governor will find the money to deliver the promises of a very ambitious state of upstate address
"I think we have to keep an open mind to all of the projects...all of the proposals the governor has set on the table," Destito said. "And let's make sure that all of our heads are in the final solution and make sure the budget reflects what our needs are in the Mohawk Valley."
What about the money to pay for all the incentives outlined at the address? Even lawmakers haven't yet been made privy to that. it's possible that more of those details might be revealed on Tuesday when the governor releases his budget proposal.
Most Popular