Assemblyman John Ceretto (R,I-Lewiston) and Senator George Maziarz (R,C,I-Newfane) are calling on residents to sign and/or return “Empower Niagara” petitions urging Governor Andrew Cuomo to appoint a Niagara County resident to the New York Power Authority’s Board of Trustees by Friday, January 6. To date, over 1,000 signatures have been collected, which will be delivered to the Governor’s office next week.
“As I have argued for years, Niagara County deserves representation on the NYPA board,” said Ceretto. “The Niagara Power Project is essential to NYPA’s operations and a local representative will allow our region a seat at the table, where these decisions are made. The availability of low-cost power can make Niagara County a job magnet. We develop it here, so let’s keep it here.”
Assemblyman Ceretto has been an outspoken advocate for local representation on the NYPA board since his time in the Niagara County Legislature and has continued to lead this fight when he became the region’s assemblyman last year.
Senator George Maziarz said, “Having a local voice in the leadership of the New York Power Authority will help us empower our region. I thank all those concerned citizens and leaders who have signed our petition for change.”
“I look forward to working with Governor Cuomo, Senator Maziarz and my legislative colleagues to help bring this long-standing issue to an end in 2012,” said Ceretto. “By granting us local representation on the NYPA board, the Governor can demonstrate that he is committed to improving the local economy and quality of life for residents of Niagara County.
“A Niagara County board member will be an asset to NYPA and will be a strong advocate for the region’s concerns regarding energy costs and an aging power grid,” said Ceretto. “I am hopeful that the grassroots support for local representation will keep pressure on the Governor’s office to appoint a local representative to the NYPA board in 2012.”
Petitions can be returned to Assemblyman Ceretto’s district office at 1700 Pine Avenue, Suite 102, Niagara Falls, NY 14301 or Senator Maziarz’s district office at 175 Walnut Street, Suite 6, Lockport, NY 14094.
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