Elected officials are working to change New York state”™s business image ”“ but in the body politic, nothing happens overnight.
After a whirlwind three months and 59 meetings across the state with the 10 economic development councils assembled by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy gave Rockland Business Association members an assessment of the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council at its annual dinner Nov. 16.
“I have to thank the businesses here in the room for staying in New York,” said Duffy at the Pearl River Hilton event, “particularly since New Jersey ”“right on your border ”“ is one of our biggest competitors. I don”™t know where they get the money they are offering to induce our businesses to move there, but they are aggressively working to take the Hunts Point Market from the Bronx, along with its 2,000 to 3,000 jobs, out of New York.”
Duffy, former mayor and police chief of Rochester, “has witnessed Albany in action from both sides now. As an outsider ”“ a mayor who sat on the Council of Mayors ”“ and now as an insider, as lieutenant governor. I”™ve witnessed both parties working together in a nonpartisan way on several pieces of legislation. It”™s a start, not a 360-degree turnaround ”“ but it is a big step forward in making New York”™s government work.”
Duffy praised Cuomo”™s concept of the regional councils, saying it encouraged counties once battling each other for state dollars to work together for the good of its region. All 10 councils have submitted their regional economic development plans to Cuomo. In mid-December, four councils with the most effective plans will be awarded $40 million each; the remaining funds will be divided among the other six counties. Additionally, said Duffy, another $800 million in consolidating funding applications is available, translating into a total of $1 billion in economic development money for the state.
Calling the property tax cap a start, Duffy acknowledged mandate relief will take time because the programs are tedious to unravel and that some “have been in place for years.” One thing is certain ”“ the state will not assume the counties”™ cost of Medicaid, although there has been an unceasing call for relief from New York”™s most expensive mandate. “The Medicaid Redesign Team is working on that to change the system,” Duffy said. “It is an overwhelming challenge.” Consolidating governmental agencies is another priority, “so we can see where money is being spent ”“ and where it does not need to be spent.”
Duffy defended Cuomo”™s decision not to end the so-called “millionaire”™s tax” on Dec. 31. “He said there would be no new taxes when he was elected and is firmly entrenched in his promise. Governor Cuomo does not want to see any more business or residents leaving the state.”
With stiff competition coming from North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Texas, “we have our work cut out for us,” said Duffy, and the state plans to tweak the benefits of the Excelsior Jobs program to make it more attractive.
Like all the councils involved, the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council”™s focus was on permanent job creation and targeted the industries where funding would do the most to bring job creation to fruition. Among its chief recommendations are a cloud computing center at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, which would be supported by IBM and a biotech facility at New York Medical College in Valhalla.
Duffy said all 10 councils resume meeting once a month in January. He  thanked all in the room who have volunteered their time ”“ and will continue to do so ”“ to make New York a business friendly state. He thanked Rockland  residents who are participating voluntarily on the mid-Hudson council and told RBA members he would come back to Rockland “to meet business leaders face to face, listen to what you have to say and bring the message back to Albany. Both Speakers ”“ Senator Dean Skelos and Assemblyman Sheldon Silver ”“need to hear us.”
