I will be listening to his State of the State speech, I think it’s on WNED..

RENEW NEW YORK AGENDA SEEKS UPSTATE TURNAROUND

Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced a major new effort to spark an economic resurgence in Upstate New York.

“We are making a commitment at the start of the new administration to do something about a long-standing problem that affects millions of New Yorkers,” Governor Spitzer said. “The turnaround we seek won’t be easy and won’t occur immediately, but we will keep at it until the job is done.”

As part of the effort, the new Governor promised to report each year on the State of the Upstate in conjunction with his Annual Message to the Legislature. This presentation will track the progress of specific initiatives designed to strengthen the region’s economy.

In 2007, the administration will focus on a series of measures that emerged as top priorities in consultation with regional officials during the gubernatorial campaign. These measures will be aimed at creating an innovation economy, reducing costs and investing in infrastructure. These measures include:

* Implementing a major property tax reduction targeting most of its benefits to the middle class;

* Designating an Upstate Chair of the Empire State Development Corp (ESDC) and Upstate headquarters in Buffalo;

* Significantly expand State aid to distressed upstate cities and towns. With this new aid, we will require municipalities to practice better financial management and make stronger efforts to achieve governmental efficiencies;

* Reforming mandates like Wicks Law and Workers Comp;

* Launching a Universal Broadband Initiative that will ensure that New Yorkers in upstate cities and rural towns have access to affordable, high-speed Internet service;

* Expediting key infrastructure projects that will help the entire region, such as the Peace Bridge expansion;

* Fixing the State’s brownfields program that prepares former industrial sites for redevelopment;

* Providing new assistance to small businesses that create the majority of new jobs;

* Implementing a comprehensive plan that promotes enjoyment of outdoor activities and stimulates tourism in Upstate New York;

* Convene an emergency preparedness summit of state and local officials; and

* Expanding aid to Upstate schools.

“The vision and goal of this effort is to tackle the underlying structural problems, make strategic investments and develop new engines of economic growth throughout the region,” Governor Spitzer said.

On January 1, the Governor signed a series of executive orders establishing higher ethical standards for the administration. The Renew New York Agenda is the first program announcement for the new administration.