A Tale Of Two Testimonies

A statement by Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush (R,C,I-Black River)

“Yesterday, Empire State Development CEO Howard Zemsky delivered testimony during a joint budget hearing. He claimed that he ‘couldn’t be more comfortable’ with the oversight of the state’s economic development programs.

“Yesterday, testimony during the Joe Percoco trial from Empire State Development officials and administration employees meticulously detailed how Percoco and his wife received bribes in exchange for official favors. Percoco pressured Empire State Development officials to use state resources to build a parking lot for developers who bribed him. He used his power to secure a raise for a developer’s son who bribed him. He expedited taxpayer-funded payments to the developers of a $90 million state-constructed factory that currently produces nothing.

“Either Zemsky simply doesn’t consume any news about state government or he is not troubled by these things. I am.”