WXXI: Business and Labor Give Varying Degrees of Support to Governor's State of the State Address (2010-01-06)

The head of the Rochester Business Alliance likes what she heard in Governor Paterson's State of the State address Wednesday. Sandy Parker thinks the governor said a lot of right things. Parker says the governor "talked tough", identified the issues, and challenged legislators to work with him

Parker was especially happy with the governor's call for a spending cap. Parker agrees with the governor that it's time to do away with the Empire Zone Program, which provides tax incentives for companies that promise to create jobs. Instead, the governor is proposing a number of initiatives, including a small business revolving loan fund, a New Technology Seed Fund, and the Manufacturing Legacy Program--that's where the state would acquire and refurbish old industrial sites and market them to the private sector.

Clarke Conde, Director of the Rochester Building and Construction Trades Council, likes the governor's incentives for job creation--at least what he's seen so far. Conde says the incentives need to create local jobs. Ultimately, Conde wants to see the specifics.

Parker thinks the legislature will resist the governor's proposals. But, since this is an election year for the governor and the legislature, she thinks pressure from voters will help the governor's efforts.