NY Gov Cuomo announcement of REDC – Round 3
Several of my tweets this week looked at selected goodies dispensed by Santa Cuomo from his sack of Regional Economic Development Council (REDC 2013) gifts, um, grants this Christmas. Many of the projects seem tangentially related to job creation, job training or regional economic development. As I tweeted, Cuomo’s grants resemble the much maligned legislative member-item grants of years past. Governor Cuomo has cleverly marginalized individual legislators’ ability to direct state grants and to take credit for tangible projects in their home districts.
A few of the REDC projects I cited have a holiday theme. Another grant reflects a failed Cuomo policy. I take the Governor to task for shortchanging NYC –especially the Bronx, which has the state’s highest unemployment rate. One veteran Bronx political veteran says that the borough’s elected leadership and corporate leaders only have themselves to blame for their unimaginative projects.
Here now are Santa Cuomo’s holiday #REDC gifts in 140 characters or less.
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Just in time for Christmas, Santa Cuomo’s Holiday Wish Book. As kids, my brothers & I dogged eared the Sears catalog. http://t.co/Qwxi3mZvaX
— Michael Benjamin (@SquarePegDem) December 11, 2013
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BX on Santa Cuomo’s naughty list: 7 projects/$1.062M of $57.4 million/60 projects NYC Regional pot. http://t.co/Qwxi3mZvaX @EmpireStateDev
— Michael Benjamin (@SquarePegDem) December 11, 2013
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NYC got stocking full of coal from @NYGovCuomo: 50% of population, >8% of #REDC grants. Bx has highest jobless rate. Ignoring NYC vote base.
— Michael Benjamin (@SquarePegDem) December 12, 2013
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Santa Cuomo nice list includes $250K for Skydive Long Island “Indoor Skydiving” facility. Whee! http://t.co/Qwxi3mZvaX @EmpireStateDev
— Michael Benjamin (@SquarePegDem) December 11, 2013
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While Cuomo didn’t get his 10-pt Womens Agenda passed, Seneca Falls is getting the Natl Womens Hall of Fame, $150K. http://t.co/Qwxi3mZvaX
— Michael Benjamin (@SquarePegDem) December 11, 2013
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Just in time 4 Xmas: $360K to bring the Toy Industry Hall of Fame to Rochester/Finger Lakes. http://t.co/Qwxi3mZvaX @EmpireStateDev
— Michael Benjamin (@SquarePegDem) December 11, 2013
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Sweet @EmpireStateDev grant: $537K to Hansel n Gretel Brand bldg renovation project. That’s a lot of gingerbread! http://t.co/Qwxi3mZvaX
— Michael Benjamin (@SquarePegDem) December 11, 2013
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Another Cuomo doozy: $100K Denim on Demand program in Chinatown. What no GAP or Ralph Lauren stores on the Lower East Side?
— Michael Benjamin (@SquarePegDem) December 11, 2013
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Love it! $70K to the French Institute Alliance Francaise for 2D/3D film projector. Viva La France! Viva la IFC! http://t.co/Qwxi3mZvaX
— Michael Benjamin (@SquarePegDem) December 11, 2013
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#REDC grants look like a duck, quack like a duck therefore must be member-items minus the Member.
— Michael Benjamin (@SquarePegDem) December 12, 2013
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<script><blockquote class=”twitter-tweet” lang=”en”><p>Member items by another name. How is this raid on the state treasury any better the Legislature’s? Where’s 2012 eval? <a href=”http://t.co/Qwxi3mZvaX”>http://t.co/Qwxi3mZvaX</a></p>— Michael Benjamin (@SquarePegDem) <a href=”https://twitter.com/SquarePegDem/statuses/410898931401248768″>December 11, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Related articles
- NYC is big loser at REDC awards (crainsnewyork.com)
Will you do a story on how there is fuzzy math going on at the Bronx Econ Development Corp? This has been an ongoing problem for years. The oversight stems from Rev/preacher Marion Phillips at ESDC who is in charge of supervising the agency. We all know that ESDC is a dumping ground and that is why Ray Salaberrios works there.
Okay. Explain your “fuzzy math” allegation. Or email me at ask@corruptioncrusher.com.