Hoyt Calls Public Hearing

Hoyt Calls Public Hearing

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May 14th, 1:19pm By Eli George

Think Financial Student Loans

Yet another opportunity for Buffalonians to voice their opinions, albeit a little more complexity is involved then there was with the last opportunity. Assembly member Sam Hoyt will be hosting a public hearing this Friday, May 16, to review the 73 recommendations made by the New York State Commission on Local Government Efficiency and Competitiveness (LGEC).

The report by the LGEC was released in April and can be viewed here. The fifteen member board, which Hoyt is a member of, was created by executive order and conducted their review over a period of 12 months.

Their findings include several recommendations that will be advanced as state legislation. Some of the major recommendations are the centralization of several local government functions, encouraging the sharing of services and the consolidation of costly duplicative government services.

This is not the first time a public forum has been held and even local newspapers took part in helping the commission. This opportunity to speak will allow citizens to air their views concerning the findings of the commission, whether praise for what they found or criticism for what they may have missed.

Anyone wishing to present testimony at the public hearing is requested to contact Melanie O’Malley, Committee Assistant, Assembly Committee on Local Governments, Room 520-Capitol, Albany, NY 12248 or e-mail omallem@assembly.state.ny.us. Ten copies of any prepared testimony must be submitted at the hearing registration desk, and the committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements sent to the email above.

It may make it a little more difficult to give your opinion, but it's an opportunity nonetheless.

Friday, May 16
10:30AM
Buffalo and Erie County Public Library
One Lafayette Square

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What Others Have To Say

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  1. thinker

    1 ratings12345
    May 14th, 13:59

    Sadly, no recommendations on the Taylor Law (maybe bacause poeple like Kate Foster benefit from it?!!!) so as good as much of it is, it failed to address the state's biggest problem.

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  2. TBone

    3 ratings12345
    May 14th, 15:14

    This is rich. This is a state funded project aimed at telling local governments to be more cost effective when the most taxing (no pun intended) problems exist at the state level... where is the commission telling the state how to get its house in order... The funniest part of the whole thing is that Sam Hoyt is the host- Sam... if you're reading, you (and similarly situated elected officials) are a HUGE part of the problem.

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  3. freeman

    1 ratings12345
    May 14th, 16:48

    The two previous posts have it exactly right. It is so exacerbating to have elected officials like Sam Hoyt and an apathetic electorate. It is refreshing to see that at least three voters….. Get it!

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  4. AtwaterLouse

    1 ratings12345
    May 14th, 17:26

    If it helps any, there's at least four. Somebody at the meeting should complain to Hoyt about this, too:

    Albany stalemate over low-interest IDA funding delays WNY projects By Tom Precious News Albany Bureau Updated: 05/14/08 9:09 AM

    ALBANY -- Construction should have started by now on a permanent home for Buffalo's Tapestry Charter School - not to mention several other big projects at schools and hospitals throughout Western New York.

    But due to a political fight in Albany, the work is on hold as state legislators debate whether and how to extend a law that permits local industrial finance agencies to provide low-interest loans for construction projects by nursing homes, colleges, libraries, hospitals and other civic and nonprofit groups.

    ... A chief sticking point is whether groups getting IDA loans must pay higher, union-level wages for construction workers on projects, such as a new school.

    ...Sponsoring the union-backed measure is Buffalo Assemblyman Sam Hoyt. ...But critics, including groups from the New York Conference of Mayors and the Business Council, say provisions like the union-level wage requirement make the Hoyt bill unaffordable for upstate.

    ...Further, it requires "living wage" salaries be the minimum for employees of any private or nonprofit entity getting IDA financing. In Western New York, that means a minimum pay of $14.59 an hour, according to the Fiscal Policy Institute, a labor-funded think tank that is supporting the bill. Critics say that would force groups like YMCAs or libraries or nursing homes that get IDA financing to pay that rate. ...

    Whole thing: http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/346293.html

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