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Governor's signature would be transformational
August 24, 2010

There is a piece of legislation on Governor Paterson’s desk right now that could pour millions of dollars – on an ongoing basis – into Buffalo Niagara for economic development. He’s contemplating whether to sign it, or veto.

We think signing it is a "no brainer."

For a number of years, the Partnership’s Regional Agenda has called for the money the New York Power Authority (NYPA) makes from the sale of our region’s Lewiston hydropower plant to stay in our region. Currently, NYPA retains those millions of dollars, and spends them statewide.

Partnership staff has worked closely with the Western New York state delegation on legislation to fix that. It’s an example of the kind of work our staff does behind-the-scenes and with little fanfare each day – drafting and analyzing legislation, lobbying for policy that’s in the region’s best interest, building coalitions to influence the legislative process. It’s work we’re able to do because of our members’ investment and support of our mission.

The bill, sponsored by Assemblymember Dennis Gabryszak and Senators William Stachowski and George Maziarz (and co-sponsored by most members of the WNY delegation), specifically requires the millions of dollars made from the sale of our region’s unused hydropower to go into a Western New York Economic Development Fund. Local businesses, not-for-profits and municipalities could apply to a local body of economic development professionals for grants from the fund, to be used to clean up brownfields, rehab old buildings, invest in site infrastructure to make land more attractive for development or support private sector investments that drive job creation. Good criteria would ensure the precious asset is put to its highest and best use.

The legislation overwhelmingly passed the Assembly 132-3 and the Senate 51-8.

Now, we call for the Governor’s signature. We’ve heard NYPA doesn’t like this legislation because it wants to keep the proceeds from our region’s designated hydropower pool at its White Plains, NY headquarters to spread at its discretion throughout the state.

We believe Buffalo Niagara’s hydropower = Buffalo Niagara’s proceeds. Period.

And we’re not alone – labor unions, local elected officials, members of the Western New York state and Congressional delegations, the Buffalo News editorial board, economic development professionals and other local stakeholders have joined us in calling for the Governor’s signature. And the New York State Legislature even gets it – legislators from regions that have nothing to gain from this bill understand the meaning of "local asset."

In the face of so many obstacles to economic growth, including the deferral of many critical economic development incentives as part of this year’s state budget, and in a year that has seen unprecedented challenges, the governor’s signature on this bill can create a fund that can have a long-lasting and transformational impact on Buffalo Niagara.

Tell Governor Paterson to sign the bill! 

Andrew J. Rudnick