Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced a major new effort to spark an economic resurgence in Upstate New York.

“We are making a commitment at the start of the new administration to do something about a long-standing problem that affects millions of New Yorkers,” Governor Spitzer said. “The turnaround we seek won’t be easy and won’t occur immediately, but we will keep at it until the job is done.”

As part of the effort, the new Governor promised to report each year on the State of the Upstate in conjunction with his Annual Message to the Legislature. This presentation will track the progress of specific initiatives designed to strengthen the region’s economy.

In 2007, the administration will focus on a series of measures that emerged as top priorities in consultation with regional officials during the gubernatorial campaign. These measures will be aimed at creating an innovation economy, reducing costs and investing in infrastructure.  These measures include:

* Implementing a major property tax reduction targeting most of its benefits to the middle class;

* Designating an Upstate Chair of the Empire State Development Corp (ESDC) and Upstate headquarters in Buffalo;

* Significantly expand State aid to distressed upstate cities and towns.  With this new aid, we will require municipalities to practice better financial management and make stronger efforts to achieve governmental efficiencies;

* Reforming mandates like Wicks Law and Workers Comp;

* Launching a Universal Broadband Initiative that will ensure that New Yorkers in upstate cities and rural towns have access to affordable, high-speed Internet service;

* Expediting key infrastructure projects that will help the entire region, such as the Peace Bridge expansion;

* Fixing the State’s brownfields program that prepares former industrial sites for redevelopment;

* Providing new assistance to small businesses that create the majority of new jobs;

* Implementing a comprehensive plan that promotes enjoyment of outdoor activities and stimulates tourism in Upstate New York;

* Convene an emergency preparedness summit of state and local officials; and

* Expanding aid to Upstate schools.

“The vision and goal of this effort is to tackle the underlying structural problems, make strategic investments and develop new engines of economic growth throughout the region,” Governor Spitzer said.

On January 1, the Governor signed a series of executive orders establishing higher ethical standards for the administration. The Renew New York Agenda is the first program announcement for the new administration. 

2007 Upstate Agenda
Renew New York

Upstate New York used to be an economic leader. Its cities and towns were vibrant manufacturing centers that powered the nation’s emergence as an industrial giant.

But today, the once roaring factories are silent and plywood on storefronts is an all-too common sight. There has been a decades-long decline in the region, an exodus of jobs and people that has left scores of communities on the verge of bankruptcy.

Perhaps the most telling statistic is that the region lost more than 30 percent of young people between ages of 25-34 during the last decade.

No one disputes these difficult conditions and everyone wants to see change. And yet, little has been done to address the negative economic and demographic trends that plague the region.

It is a top priority for the Spitzer administration to reverse this decline and bring about a true resurgence in Upstate New York.  As part of this effort, the Spitzer administration will take the following administrative and legislative actions in 2007:

1. State of the Upstate

The Governor will report each year on the State of the Upstate in conjunction with his Annual Message to the Legislature. This report will be prepared by a group senior administration officials dedicated to implementing programs and policies that address the underlying structural problems in the region.

2. Property Tax Cuts

The administration will implement a 3-year, $6 billion property tax reduction plan that targets most of its benefits to the middle class. Middle class young people have left the state in large numbers in recent years.

3. Job Creation

The Governor will appoint an Upstate Economic Development Czar, who, working from offices in Buffalo, will be responsible for refocusing economic development programs and resources to meet upstate needs.

4. Aid to distressed upstate cities and towns

The administration will significantly expand the States Aid and Incentives to Municipalities program and concentrate that aid on Upstates most struggling cities. This new aid will be tied to critical belt-tightening measures that will set the municipalities on a path toward long-term fiscal stability.

5. Reforming Mandates

The State will do its part by reforming mandates such as the Wicks Law and Workers Comp that impose undue costs.

6.  Small Business

The administration will take a number of steps to assist small businesses, which are the source of most of the job creation in New York today. It will work to reduce workers compensation and health care costs, and create a Stem Cell and Innovation Fund to help create and retain start-up firms.

7.  Universal Broadband Initiative

The administration will launch a universal broadband initiative to ensure that New Yorkers in distressed upstate cities and rural towns will have access to affordable, high-speed Internet.

8. Infrastructure Enhancement

The administration will prioritize and advance regional infrastructure initiatives including: the Peace Bridge expansion, Fort Drum connector and the conversion of Route 17 into Interstate 86.

9.  Energy

The administration will revamp low-cost power programs and look to expand generating capacity throughout the state. In addition, it will make a concerted effort to increase the number of wind turbines sited in upstate New York and other renewable technologies.

10. Brownfields

The Governor will direct the Empire State Development Corporation and the Department of Environmental Conservation to fix the lagging brownfields program to ensure shovel-ready land for development, while also protecting public health and natural resources.

11. Upstate Crime Initiative

The Governor will create an interagency task force and expand state assistance to combat violent crime, drug trafficking and gang activity in upstate cities.

12. Agriculture

The Governor will create a Pride of New York Wholesalers Market in New York City for upstate farmers to connect to downstate markets.  The Governor will also expand the Environmental Protection Fund to protect prime farmland from being consumed by suburban sprawl.

13. Outdoor Agenda

The administration will implement a comprehensive plan for promoting enjoyment of outdoor activities and tourism in upstate New York.
 
14. Emergency Preparedness Planning Summit

The administration will convene a summit of state and local officials to develop plans to deal
with persistent flooding in the Southern Tier. The effort will be led by the State Emergency Management Office.

15. School Aid

The administration will significantly increase education investment to distressed cities and towns under a new school-aid formula. 

***

Details of these and other initiatives will be provided in the Executive Budget presentation later this month.