I would have loved to have known Skelos was coming to town, not to meet him but to see if he could get a tour of the 190 from Dingens Street to the Grand Island Bridges. Hopefully while traffic was heavy and the wait time to get over the bridge and pay the tolls was 20 minutes or so. Then maybe he could see the ridiculousness of this commuter tax.

Skelos pledges to aid Upstate - Business First of Buffalo:

In his first visit to Buffalo as new state Senate Majority Leader, Dean Skelos pledged that Albany lawmakers — at least in that chamber — will not ignore the vast array of issues facing Upstate New York.

“No one is giving up on Upstate New York,” Skelos said following a brief meeting with Erie County Executive Chris Collins.

Skelos, the Long Island Republican, was named Senate Majority Leader last week replacing longtime New York icon Joseph Bruno, who held the post for 13 years. Skelos’ appointment raised concerns that New York’s political power thrust was based in Downstate and Upstate communities would suffer.

Not so, Skelos said.

Skelos said he remains committed to creating some form of property tax relief for all New Yorkers as well as supporting economic revitalization projects and initiatives that would specifically aid Upstate. Skelos pointed to Wednesday’s ceremonial grand opening of the $53 million Erie Canal terminus site in downtown Buffalo as one such example. The extensive project will rely heavily on aid from Albany as it progresses.

“Yes, I will pledge to support that,” Skelos said.

Skelos’ Buffalo visit was one of several the veteran lawmaker is making as he acquaints himself and his staff with Upstate. Skelos also met with Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and had a private meeting with both key lawmakers and business leaders at the Buffalo Club. Among those Skelos met include fellow state senators Dale Volker, R-Depew, George Maziarz, R-Newfane, and Mary Lou Rath, R-Williamsville, who is retiring at the end of 2008.

Skelos said the state Senate will remain sympathetic to the plight of Upstate. He could not make the same promise for the Democrat-led state Assembly.

“The Assembly looks at the (New York) city only,” he said. “And, not this part of the state. We have to work together as unified body. Each region of the state has its own unique problems and each needs to be treated fairly.”

Collins, for his part, said he came away from the meetings impressed.

“He has shown his concern for Western New York,” the county executive said. “Western New York, I don’t think, will be the forgotten end of the state. I’m not going to be bashful about calling him.”