New York State Assembly

Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb (R,C-Canandaigua) today wrote to Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul to express concerns with the governor's Upstate Revitalization Initiative, a proposal that would award a total of $1.5 billion in state funding to only three of seven upstate regions. Leader Kolb has repeatedly voiced his opposition to economic development measures that choose winners and losers at the sole discretion of the governor, rather than providing equitable funding that includes legislative input.

In his letter to the Lt. Gov., Leader Kolb states:

"Over the last four years, Governor Cuomo's administration has distributed roughly $3 billion in taxpayer money at its sole discretion. Elected representatives who live in the districts and have greater local knowledge have had no role in selecting award recipients. Before the new upstate initiative is implemented, Gov. Cuomo should commit to an open, transparent and equitable opportunity to provide needed resources in the seven regions. I hope that you will encourage the governor to consider a new approach that helps every region of Upstate New York."

Last week, Lt. Gov. Hochul sent a letter to every member of the Legislature defending the Upstate Revitalization Initiative. A recent poll conducted by the Siena Research Institute revealed that 77 percent of New Yorkers disagree with the governor's approach and believe that funding should be divided evenly among upstate regions.

A copy of the full letter is available here. http://ppl.ug/4xoJA8H9tO4/.