The lieutenant governor for New York says the state has money for infrastructure investment in sources other than the economic development competitions.
Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul said during a recent visit to Syracuse she understands the need for infrastructure upgrades in upstate, but disagrees with some leaders, including Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, who say fixing pipes and roads is necessary for economic development.
"It doesn’t help to have great pipes and infrastructure underground with vacant buildings above them, it just doesn’t work," she said. "We need to stimulate this economy like never before."
Hochul didn’t specify just infrastructure funding could come from instead. The lieutenant governor says the jobs need to come first. Using the bank settlement windfall money to stimulate economic growth and education reform, the lieutenant governor said, is a once in a lifetime opportunity and the governor doesn't want to keep throwing good money at bad.
"Because we know that in the state of New York, we have a system that’s not serving everyone, we have a lot – 178 failing schools, and yet we spend more money per capita on students anywhere in the nation," she said.
Miner and others say that one time cash infusion should be investment in long term upgrades, not more regional competitions.
