State of the State

Here are the highlights from Governor Spitzer’s State of the State address...a property tax cap, not a new idea…but a bi-partisan commission will take a serious look at it again.  Free tuition at SUNY schools for returning Iraq war veterans, and a billion dollars to help upstate cities like Rochester, create attractive building sites for new businesses.

"If we can come together around this plan, we will have the capital to fulfill it.  Together, we must enact this one billion dollar Upstate Revitalization Fund, and create an Upstate whose best days aren't behind it, but ahead of it," said Spitzer

That upstate development fund is music to the ears of Rochester Mayor Bob Duffy. He, along with other local politicians, has been fighting for more money to the region.

"I think one of the things I would look to is supporting projects that we identify.  I think the best way to do this, I'd say for all the upstate mayors, have the mayors, the county executives, identify very specific projects that would have the most impact," said Duffy.

State Sen. Joe Robach said, "It really is unfair that Syracuse and Buffalo get so much more money per capita than Rochester, but these will be things we'll be working on as the session progresses."

Governor Spitzer will give another address, the State of Upstate, focusing on problems plaguing upstate. It's a first for any governor. That will be next Monday in Buffalo.