Still riding high on the euphoria inspired by his year-end, fast-tracked sweeping legislation that raised taxes on those earning $2 million a year and all but eliminated the much-hated MTA payroll tax for small businesses, Gov. Andrew Cuomo presented his “economic blueprint” for growth during last week”™s State of the State Address.
And while Long Island will get the “largest convention center in the nation” and Buffalo a billion dollars in economic development incentives, Westchester and the mid-Hudson region won”™t be entirely shortchanged as in years past.
The foundation of his plan is to create public-private partnerships.
For his proposed 3.8-million-square-foot convention center, Cuomo is seeking the aid of the Genting Group, a gaming development company in Malaysia.
And speaking of gambling, the governor said it is one major untapped source of revenue.
“We have been in a state of denial. It”™s time we confronted reality. It”™s not a question of whether we should have gaming in New York ”“ the fact is we already do. Native Americans have five casinos in New York and we have nine racinos at our racetracks. We don”™t fully realize it, regulate it, or capitalize on it, but we have gaming. In fact, New York State now has
29,000 electronic gaming machines ”“ more than Atlantic City and more than any state in the Northeast or Midwest.”
So, what can be done? Amend the state constitution to allow it, he said.
He estimated that more than $1 billion of economic activity can be generated from gambling in New York state.
Fast track that and Yonkers Raceway could be an even bigger destination spot with trickle-down economics for Westchester. And we also know of a certain developer who would be happy to see gambling legalized to allow the site of the former Concord Hotel to rise up from its debris-strewn land near Kiamesha Lake into a gambling mecca as well.
Some of the highlights of Cuomo”™s speech were:
Ӣ Repairing infrastructure. Improving or replacing 100 bridges, including the Tappan Zee, repairing 2,000 miles of roads, upgrading 90 municipal water systems and repairing major dams.
Ӣ Having Minority- and Women-Owned Business participation in state contracting double to 20 percent.
Ӣ Change the way election districts are formed.
Ӣ Creating a Tax Reform and Fairness Commission to propose additional, long-term changes to our corporate, sales and personal income tax systems.
Ӣ Creating a meaningful teacher evaluation system and hold schools accountable for their performance.
Ӣ Freeing up more money for farmers seeking loans.
To make this all happen, Cuomo said, “We have to fundamentally reimagine how government operates. We need a government that performs better and costs less.”
And he said “we” have to keep taxes down and implement mandate relief.
It all sounds great.
We would like to see it come true.
Make it happen, governor.
