Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino took New York state”™s business community to task, saying it needed to “stop being so shy” and stand up to Albany policymakers.
“Whoever gets elected gets the business community”™s support in New York and rarely your criticism,” Astorino told business owners and executives Sept. 18 in Bolton Landing at the New York State Business Council”™s annual meeting.
Astorino”™s 20-minute speech focused on his view of New York as one of the least business friendly states in the U.S. He also mentioned New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio.
“New York City arguably elected last year the most anti-business mayor in its history, yet many in the business community jumped on his bandwagon once they thought he might win,” Astorino said. “Now he”™s calling the shots statewide. I”™m sorry, but that”™s ridiculous, it”™s suicidal.”
Astorino, the Westchester county executive, had strong support from the Westchester business community in his 2009 and 2013 county elections but made a pitch for broader support over Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat seeking his second term. The Business Council endorsed Cuomo in 2010 and the governor has touted initiatives to reduce spending, eliminating a state government deficit and reducing the tax burden as contributing to a turnaround of New York”™s business climate.
“We fundamentally changed a 50-year pattern of spending that was out of control and special interest dominance, and that”™s what has turned around the finances of the state,” Cuomo said in his own address Sept. 19. Cuomo said he had kept spending growth at 1.2 percent, the lowest figure since the state kept such numbers. Gov. George Pataki, a Republican, had seen 5.2 percent growth. Cuomo said slowing growth is the way to reduce the tax burden and reducing the tax burden is how to spur economic development.
Astorino though said state policies continue to dictate the local tax rate due to mandates and contributions to the state pension fund. He told business leaders he”™d support the legalization of hydraulic fracturing, the much-debated form of natural gas extraction that has been an economic boon to some economically distressed areas in other states but has drawn the ire of environmentalists. Cuomo has yet to take a stance on fracking either way.
“But my God, someone might protest if it”™s allowed, so this administration stalls and stalls and stalls,” Astorino said.
John Ravitz, the executive vice president of The Business Council of Westchester, which is a member of the state Business Council, introduced Astorino prior to his remarks. He said the candidate”™s comments weren”™t taken as offensive by attendees. “It was a call to action and it was done in a very respectful way,” he said. “He obviously has different opinions from the governor as to what is working and what isn”™t working in New York state. ”¦ But it”™s a good sign both candidates are focused on economic development as a top priority; you want them to be laser focused on creating jobs.”
Ravitz said he did think his organization had a strong voice in policymaking, noting the group holds a monthly Government Action Council meeting and puts together an annual legislative agenda for Albany policymakers.
When reached for comment on Astorino”™s remarks, the Westchester County Association, the county”™s other large business membership group, didn”™t address the specific speech but released a statement from its president, Marissa Brett.
“Although the Westchester County Association does not endorse political candidates, we do hope that whoever wins the election makes business attraction and retention a top priority for New York state,” she said.
Cuomo continues to hold an advantage over Astorino, with $35 million in the bank as of last campaign filings and a 25-point lead in the latest Wall Street Journal/NBC 4 New York/Marist College poll released Sept. 23.
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