Brunogate, Troopergate and now Licensegate.
Since taking office on January 1st, Gov. Eliot Spitzer has been enmeshed in political machinations that are taking his focus off business, literally. Business down here ”“ south of Albany and above New York City ”“ anyway.
Including his inaugural address, Spitzer has made 16 public speeches so far. Of those, five were specific to business and in only one did he mention the Hudson Valley. He did that in his State of the State all the way back in January, and it was just in passing, as witnessed here: “And we must have the vision to expand Stewart Airport to become the fourth major airport in the downstate region and to serve as an economic engine for the Hudson Valley.” Actually, it was a telling double-dip ”“ downstate and the Hudson Valley in the same breath. Which brings up three interesting questions: What is downstate? What is the Hudson Valley? What is upstate?
The answer is probably akin to the amorphous Tech Valley.
They say the squeaky wheel gets the grease and that seems to be the case for that massive region known as upstate. According to three speeches he gave on Oct. 10, 16 and 18, the region stretches from Buffalo to Plattsburgh. The titles of his speech were the aptly named Rebuilding the Upstate Economy: City by City, with Buffalo, Rochester and Plattsburgh slotted to the appropriate day.
Business and economic development leaders in the lower Hudson Valley ”“ Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Dutchess, Putnam and Ulster counties ”“ complain the state ignores this region, which is not quite downstate or upstate.
Some are growing frustrated with the state”™s apparent shunning of the region when it comes to development, be it manufacturing, pharmaceutical or high-tech.
The lower Hudson Valley is attractive and prospering and has all the right attributes for helping the state return to its Empire State status. However, all efforts and energies are being focused on the upper section of the state that is currently faring poorly economically.
In his address to the Business Council of New York State on Sept. 19 in the upstate town of Bolton Landing, Spitzer lauded Dan Gunderson of the Empire State Development Corp. for “zeroing in on revitalizing upstate.”
“Under Dan, upstate ESDC is getting results. Over the past eight months, they have secured commitments to create 2,900 jobs, retain 9,400 jobs, and invest $1.45 billion in private dollars in the upstate economy.”
OK, if that wasn”™t enough to make the lower Hudson Valley leaders grimace, he added, “But we are not resting on our success. Today, I want to announce a new effort that upstate ESDC will undertake over the next several months.”
All together now for one big collective growl!
We realize Gunderson, as head of the “upstate” office, is looking out for his own. But we want to know more about what the governor has planned for these parts. And we”™ll be checking in with Pat Foye, who heads the “downstate” office of ESD.
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We”™re starting to feel like Rodney Dangerfield by the way we”™re not getting any respect.
What incentives are being offered in the lower Hudson Valley to attract businesses?
Why are financial companies making Stamford, Conn., a powerhouse and yet just 10 miles away White Plains can court the same companies and yet end up lonely at the altar?
Why are the tech corridors outside Boston so attractive and constantly growing and yet Tech Valley is based primarily in Albany?
And please let”™s not point to Stewart International Airport as something that can be attributed to a state initiative. The airport”™s growth has been inevitable as residents of New York City fled the crowded neighborhoods for a shot at the American Dream and found Stewart to be much easier to fly out of than the other three airports. Stewart”™s growth has been organic and with the help of area chambers to market it to major airlines, Stewart has grown without much state initiatives.
Economic development should not be viewed as an upstate/downstate/sidestate issue.
The lower Hudson Valley has dozens of attractive components from location and infrastructure to activities and demographics. This is where companies want to locate.
It”™s easy to play the blame game and point to the missteps leaders upstate failed to avoid. But as they rise out of their ashes, let”™s not forget this area of New York  that can help return the luster to the Empire State.
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