By Tom Precious
ALBANY -- Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner has been causing quite the stir since she first began criticizing the budget ideas of Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Politicians with a future don't often like to criticize Cuomo. So have the barbs coming his way from the woman who he handpicked to be the co-chair of the state Democratic Party is just a tad unusual. [Lost, though, in much of the political whirlings is that Miner is elevating the issues that frustrated mayors of upstate cities have been complaining about for years with no results other than finger-in-the-dikes solutions from Albany.]
Today, in an op-ed piece in the New York Times, her criticism intensifies, as she suggests Cuomo's pension cost-saving plan could doom localities in the long term. Here is the piece, though a warning for Cuomo supporters: it contains the "G" word three times.
Cuomo to Cities: Just Borrow
By STEPHANIE A. MINER
Published: February 13, 2013
THE specter of financial collapse looms over New York State’s cities. For some the collapse is imminent, for others a few years off. Instead of confronting these realities, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s proposed state budget avoids them.
The plan, put forward last month, would not increase state aid to cities or do much to reform tax, pension or labor laws. Instead, it would let municipalities push payment of today’s ballooning pension costs into the future, in what amounts to an accounting gimmick.
The stress on cities like Syracuse, where I am mayor, results from profound economic changes but also past decisions by an array of leaders. Mr. Cuomo — whom I consider an ally, despite some differences of opinion — ought to use his substantial, hard-earned political capital to convene the Legislature, the state comptroller, and union and business leaders for an honest conversation about the multiple fiscal pressures confronting our cities.
Keep reading the piece here: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/14/opinion/new-york-states-cities-cant-borrow-their-way-to-solvency.html?ref=opinion&_r=0
tagged
Albany | Andrew Cuomo
