{"id":7554,"date":"2013-03-20T14:32:15","date_gmt":"2013-03-20T18:32:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org\/inbox\/?p=7554"},"modified":"2013-03-21T09:44:42","modified_gmt":"2013-03-21T13:44:42","slug":"afternoon-read-open-for-business-closed-to-accountability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org\/inbox\/2013\/03\/20\/afternoon-read-open-for-business-closed-to-accountability\/","title":{"rendered":"Afternoon read: Open for Business, closed to accountability?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

A map of New York’s Regional Economic Development Councils. Image: regionalcouncils.ny.gov<\/p><\/div>\n

New York’s Regional Economic Development Councils<\/a> have been good to the North Country, and many would argue very good for <\/em>the North Country. The REDCs pit New York regions against one another for economic development money from the state, and in the two rounds of awards given so far, the North Country has come out ahead<\/a>. Late last year, North Country REDC won $90.2 million from the state; in 2011, it got $103.2 million, both among the top awards. In his state budget address in January, Gov. Cuomo confirmed the REDCs would be back for a third round, with $220 million in state funds<\/a>, and has proposed giving those councils “a voice in how to spend new pots of money including a $50 million venture capital fund and several million more to support ‘hot spots.'”<\/a><\/p>\n

Now, it’s worth remembering that this money’s coming from somewhere. This isn’t brand new money the state’s giving away — the REDC application process, evocatively known as the “consolidated funding application”, effectively replaces a more centrally-controlled system of distributing economic development funding. Here’s what the regional councils’ web site has to say about why that’s better <\/a>(from the Frequently Asked Questions section):<\/p>\n

The Regional Council approach is a fundamental departure from New York\u2019s traditional economic development approach, which has been top-down and State-directed. The Governor\u2019s vision is that the State will rely on regional expertise to identify and prioritize significant projects that would maximize the State\u2019s return on investment.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But not everyone agrees it’s better, and in this case, by not everyone, I mean New York Assembly Speak Sheldon Silver. He’s in the Albany Times-Union’s Capitol Confidential blog<\/a> today, voicing some objections to the new system. Basically, Silver complains that the REDCs, in to some degree replacing the “member item” system (which is, inarguably, flawed) <\/a>take government out of the hands of legislators picked by the electorate, and put it into the hands of appointed councils.<\/p>\n

More from the Capitol Confidential:<\/p>\n

There was no discernible application process for the councils, which Cuomo aides stacked mostly with business leaders. Each council at least one representative of organized labor, and is co-chaired by a leader in higher education and business.<\/p>\n

Area legislators were at first granted ex <\/strong>officio status on the councils, and <\/strong>given voting rights a year later. <\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a concern that the governor is attempting to expand the role of regional economic development council to the exclusion of the Legislature,\u201d Silver, D-Manhattan, said.<\/p>\n

He said it was not a question of changing funding amounts or accepting the ability to appoint members, but rather, \u201cwe are part of an appropriation process here, and we should continue to be part of an appropriation process. If there is no legislative authority for economic development councils \u2014 members are not subject to any rules or regulations \u2014 this question of taking over appropriation authority entirely is probably not appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen there are results \u2014 I was sitting at every meeting \u2014 I had no idea groups were even applying,\u201d Silver continued. \u201cI don\u2019t know that there was any information offered.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Complaints about how Gov. Cuomo governs often fall under the category of “we didn’t know what was going on” (cf. the new”New York SAFE” gun law, a major objection to which has been that the bill was passed too fast, and without enough time for public input). The governor has also been criticized recently as taking a heavy-handed approach to press inquiries<\/a>, and for, it’s been alleged, forcing a DOT official into retirement <\/a>after he spoke without permission to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise (and NCPR) reporter Chris Knight for a story about the state’s response to Tropical Storm Irene.<\/p>\n

It seems that Assemblyman Silver’s criticisms of the Regional Economic Development Councils fall within those same lines. Of course, turf is turf and Silver’s complaints may just contain an element of sour grapes, but it seems worth thinking about, both in terms of the governor’s political career and in our future as a democratic body.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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