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The other day I asked when those who have presided over the economic devastation of the upstate economy for over a century would ever be held accountable. I mean, Republicans have been running the show up there for as long as anyone alive can remember and running the state Senate for almost as long. They've been the ones in power as the region has lost not only millions of jobs, but literally millions of people over the decades. They've witnessed entire towns decimated by depopulation and economic decline and yet they still keep coming to voters every two years and telling them that they are the only ones who can look out for their interests. Otherwise, ya know, things could be even worse!
The last Republican Senate Majority Leader of our lifetimes, Dean "Chemung County is just like Nassau County" Skelos of Long Island, has an op/ed in this morning's Rochester Democrat and Chronicle that is simply stunning to read. Skelos promises yet another plan to revitalize upstate (this time we really mean it!) and basically begs for folks not to turn out Joe Robach and Jim Alesi. Skelos even has the gall to title his missive "State Senate is poised to improve Rochester's fortunes", to which I ask, "Um, what the hell have you been waiting for?"
We soon will unveil a new economic development plan to strengthen the upstate economy because while we have targeted $1 billion in capital investments across the state as part of this year's budget, more needs to be done.
As I traveled to cities and towns across upstate, I saw many economic success stories of businesses that are planning to grow.
The Institute for Sustainability at Rochester Institute of Technology is a shining example of the good that can come out of cooperation between private institutions and the government. The Senate has always been supportive of job creation efforts throughout the region, and led by Sens. Robach and Alesi, we have always fought for programs and incentives to encourage job creation so children and grandchildren can stay in New York.
We know that it's more important than ever that we redouble our efforts to cut property taxes and create jobs so that upstate can build on the talent and determination of its people.
Apologies for the repetition, but, seriously, wht the hell have you been waiting for? Have you just now noticed that the region has been in economic distress for decades? Have you just now come to realize that all those upstate constituents "represented" by GOP senators have been on the short end of the stick since the Truman era? I know you've noticed that many of those same constituents are now represented by other folks in other states because you've done everything you possibly can to inflate the numbers of "residents" in these ever shrinking communities, even to go as far as to count prisoners in upstate prisons, prisoners who are largely from NYC, as "residents."
What the hell have you folks been doing for those you were elected to represent all these years? Is this the same song and dance you guys shovel every two years, or is it different now that two of your incumbents are in real, genuine jeopardy? Is that it?
In Skelos' defense, however, at least he didn't trot out the whole "We're the only thing standing between you and NYC" thing again. I mean, it would be a rather cynical thing to do considering that he spent time just last week begging our Mayor for $10 million bucks so as to save his majority and his party's grip on power in a region that quite simply no longer afford to be represented by Republicans.
On the web: Rick Dollinger for State Senate
David Nachbar at ActBlue. |
