The Buffalo Niagara Partnership and the Unshackle Upstate coalition will host a special forum designed to give New York lawmakers an up-close look at the region's ongoing economic challenges through the personal stories of their members.

On October 1st from 3 to 5PM at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, this forum will present a critical opportunity for the region's business leaders to directly address Senator George Maziarz and Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak (or submit written testimony), describing how the state's business climate, including tax, assessment and fee structures, is hurting the ability to stay in business in Buffalo Niagara. Scheduled participants are as follows:

·       Jack Bertsch, Owner and President, Polymer Conversions
·       Deanna Alterio Brennen, President & CEO, Niagara USA Chamber
·       Rich Couch, Director of Advocacy, The Crisis Program
·       Assemblyman Dennis H. Gabryszak
·       John Leonardi, CEO, Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors
·       Senator George D. Maziarz
·       Rudi Rainer, General Manager, Adam's Mark Buffalo
·       Roberta Rifkin, Director, Government Affairs, Independent Health
·       Andrew Rudnick, Chairman & CEO, Buffalo Niagara Partnership
·       Jim Sabio, President, Dual Printing
·       Brian Sampson, Executive Director, Unshackle Upstate Richard Shine, CEO, Manitoba Corp.
·       Renee Terreri, Cameron Compression Systems

Organizers of the event say that this past year has been especially troublesome for the taxpayers of New York, who have had to shoulder massive tax, fee and assessment increases, witness a record increase in the amount of state spending, and watch a frustrating legislative and budgetary process. The failing state economy has made it even worse.

As all 212 legislative seats are up for grabs in the 2010 election, along with the offices of the governor, attorney general and comptroller, the public must use every opportunity they can to inlist elected officials to lower taxes and improve New York's business environment.

All are welcome to attend.

Thursday, October 1, 3PM - 5PM

Buffalo & Erie County Cenrtral Public Library

716.858.8900

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Comments

4 Comments Leave a comment

Mike Puma

September 30, 2009 4:18 PM

Hmm I wonder what it would be like if NYC was it's own seperate state from the rest of NY? Wow that would be really nice for the rest of the cities left out in the cold in NY due to bigger interests in NYC...

[ Reply ]

Score: 0 ( 0 votes )

Greg

September 30, 2009 5:58 PM

The folks from downstate do complain how most of the money they pay in taxes does return to expenses near them, but to support "Upstate."

I would like to see if there is any data of a relation to their tax money going out and the power and water we provide them.

Even with this conference, I doubt the majority of lawmakers in Albany will take Upstate seriously until we're all bussed in together and protesting.

This conference will help us get some things off our chest, but I'd hold my breath before thinking something will actually be done about our complaints.

replied to Mike Puma

September 30, 2009 6:10 PM

I'm sorry correction, "doesn't return to expenses near them..."

replied to Greg

sonyactivision

September 30, 2009 10:53 PM

This whole 'Upstate vs Downstate' argument is idiotic. Anything you do to improve the business climate in Upstate automatically improves Downstate as well. You think Buffalo lost much of its manufacturers? Try NYC which once boasted of thousands of factories and now has a scant few. Downstate's decline has only been masked by the soaring property values and the Wall Street-fueled investments in the area economy. With unemployment there now at 10% and virtually all construction halted, Downstate needs to reexamine changes that would benefit everyone. And they are saying the same things to Albany but no matter what they think, they can't stop voting for the same politicians that have ruined NY State. That's the real problem.