Spitzer pledges more economic help for Buffalo

Eliot Spitzer showed his populist side for an appreciative union crowd Thursday in West Seneca, alluding to his record of corporate crackdowns as attorney general and pledging more economic help for Buffalo if he wins the race for governor.

Of Buffalo’s fiscal problems, he said that “New York state is going to show up - we’re going to be here to invest - the (Empire State Development Corp.) is finally going to realize where Buffalo is.”

He aimed barbs at Republicans in Washington and Albany without taking sides in contentious local issues, saying the pay freeze for Buffalo city workers requires compromise from both sides.

Spitzer faces Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi in the Democratic primary Sept. 12, and is the favorite to go on to face Republican John J. Faso in November.

Spitzer called for a speedy decision on expanding the Peace Bridge, a popular stand with unionized construction workers.

“The Peace Bridge is a metaphor for all that’s wrong in New York State,” he said. “Just do it - how long have we been talking about it?”

The remarks came at a campaign stop before a crowd of union leaders and members at the Ironworkers Local 6 hall.

“You are the friends I’m counting on,” Spitzer said. “When there’s an upside to benefit from, we’ll benefit together.”

Union leaders expressed support for the reform-minded attorney general.

“I think we need change,” Teamsters Local 449 President Richard Zak said.

While Spitzer pledges to cut state spending, “I don’t think he’s going to cut back against labor,” Zak said.

The Teamsters unit represents construction industry workers as well as truck drivers.

Ironworkers Business Agent William Bohen said he expects the Democrat to reform corporate tax breaks that don’t benefit workers.

“What we want is a level playing field,” he said of union builders.

So just exactly who is he catering to anyway? What eaxctly is he planning on reforming? I watch his commercials and I get sick as I listen to the lines of BS. If he really cared about us he would have been at the debates and would be giving us details of his plans.