Sentences with phrase «upstate economic»

Both development corporations were controlled by Alain Kaloyeros, the so - called nanotech guru and Gov. Cuomo's point person on upstate economic development projects.

On May 15, jury selection for the trial of former SUNY Polytechnic Institute President and CEO Alain Kaloyeros, whom Cuomo empowered and praised over several years as a key architect of his upstate economic development efforts, and executives from LP Ciminelli, a construction company tied to the factory and Cuomo» campaign coffers, will commence.

As Schwartz and Bharara investigate, upstate economic development initiatives are pressing forward.

Bart M. Schwartz, a former federal prosecutor, is to conduct the review; it involves the Buffalo Billion, a signature Cuomo administration program meant to revitalize that long - suffering city, and other elements of the governor's nanotech initiative, on which he has hinged much of his upstate economic policy.

The attorney is assigned to look into the Buffalo Billion program and other upstate economic development initiatives that have fallen into the crosshairs of federal prosecutors, according to Schwartz's contract with the Executive Chamber released on Friday.

The federal investigation into one of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's signature upstate economic development programs has come to focus on one of his former top aides, several people familiar with the matter said on Friday.

Critics note he made no mention of the fact that some of his signature upstate economic development programs have been under a federal probe that led to criminal charges against 10 Cuomo associates.

Joe Percoco, who the current governor's father Mario Cuomo regarded as a «third son», is charged with extortion and bribery, while the former head of SUNY Polytechnic Alain Kaloyeros is charged with bid rigging in connection with major upstate economic development projects, including the Buffalo Billion.

The governor says he's met with federal prosecutors since his former top aide Joe Percoco, a former lobbyist who was a close Cuomo associate, the head of SUNY Polytechnic and six others were charged with bribery, bid - rigging and other corruption charges in connection with the governors» upstate economic development programs.

Earlier this month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo paid a visit to the centerpiece of his upstate economic development strategy: a massive, still - unfinished «gigafactory» taxpayers spent $ 750 million to build and equip for SolarCity, a money - losing company with a foggy future.

Republicans hoping to end Andrew Cuomo's run as governor this November say he has failed taxpayers, despite his large - scale investment in upstate economic development.

Reforms of the state procurement process have emerged in the wake of an upstate economic development corruption scandal that involves men with long - standing relationships with the governor.

The inquiry into the Democratic governor's upstate economic development programs turns in part on whether Mr. Percoco and his wife, Lisa Toscano - Percoco, failed to properly disclose income they received from companies that were doing business with the state.

Another bill introduced in the wake of a corruption scandal that hit Cuomo's signature upstate economic development projects would reinstate the state controller's ability to review potential contracts before they are approved.

Kaloyeros, the former president of the State University's Polytechnic Institute, faces charges involving bid - rigging in «Buffalo Billion,» Cuomo's signature upstate economic development project.

Last fall, 10 people were arrested and charged with corruption while working on upstate economic development projects initiated and promoted by Cuomo.

Howe is a registered lobbyist of a major Buffalo Billion developer, Syracuse - based COR Development, and Percoco is being investigated for making between $ 70,000 and $ 125,000 from two development companies, Clough, Harbour & Associates of Albany and COR Development, both of whom received state contracts on upstate economic development projects.

And nine Cuomo associates, including a former top aide, and the former architect of his upstate economic development programs, are facing multiple charges, including bribery and bid rigging.

Under Dr. Kaloyeros, the school has amassed at least $ 475 million in debt to banks and bondholders, partly because he and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who decided to split off the college from the University at Albany, set up SUNY Poly to lead an upstate economic development scheme.

Non-profits such as the Fuller Road and Fort Schuyler management corporations have emerged as a focus in U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara's allegations that these groups served as vehicles for bid rigging and kickback schemes relating to large construction projects that are part of Cuomo's efforts to use the State University system as a platform for upstate economic development.

When first introduced more than two years ago, Gov. Andrew Cuomo's strategy for upstate economic revival was dubbed «the Andrew Cuomo 21st century high - tech innovation canal,» echoing the role the Erie Canal once played in upstate's growth.

And he hit Cuomo for ongoing federal investigations into the governor's signature upstate economic development programs.

The charges are a permanent stain on Cuomo's upstate economic development — one of the centerpieces of his tenure as governor.

Just a few weeks before, the administration used the same time slot to put out a statement on the pending federal investigation of Cuomo's upstate economic development plan.

In order to augment upstate economic growth, the governor has set aside $ 7 million in the budget for promotion and marketing initiatives.

Cuomo is directing $ 1.5 billion to an upstate economic development competition, $ 500 million to develop broadband internet and $ 1.3 billion to the state's Thruway Authority.

But DeFrancisco said «new facts arise» — and he has been particularly critical of Cuomo's scandal - scarred upstate economic development programs, including projects in Syracuse.

Bharara's office is still looking into Cuomo's signature «Buffalo Billion» upstate economic development initiative to see if there was any bid - rigging.

Though not accused of any wrongdoing, Cuomo will have to react to two trials that will now drag on over at least the first half of 2018 and involve either close former advisers or major upstate economic development projects that he spearheaded.

Cuomo has previously outlined other uses for the surplus, including $ 1.5 billion to upstate economic development, and $ 250 million for affordable housing.

Given long - standing state fiscal history, Andrew Cuomo's calling his upstate economic development plan Tax Free New York, the name since quickly changed to Start - Up New York, was ironic.

Those under scrutiny include Joseph Percoco, a top Cuomo aid and political enforcer who recently left the administration; longtime associate and lobbyist Todd Howe; and Alain Kaloyeros, the so - called nanotech guru who the governor has entrusted to quarterback the Buffalo Billion and several other big - ticket upstate economic development projects.

Bharara, meanwhile, has a number of ongoing investigations, including into Gov. Cuomo's handling and abrupt shutdown of the Moreland anti-corruption commission, as well the governor's signature Buffalo Billions upstate economic development program to see if there was potential bid rigging.

«a repudiation of the way [Gov. Cuomo's] prized upstate economic development programs were managed» — have sparked calls not just to scrap the dubious practice at the heart of the scandal (channeling hundreds of millions of public dollars through «private,» state - created nonprofits) but also to rein in or rethink New York's aggressive business subsidization practices.

Voters last year agreed to allow casino gambling in New York as part of an upstate economic development strategy.

He said Cuomo's upstate economic - development spending has failed to create jobs and triggered a corruption scandal.

Both of those entities are caught up in the ongoing federal probe into Cuomo's Buffalo Billion upstate economic development initiative.

After decades of upstate economic malaise, credible, achievable solutions had better be forthcoming.

A former top aid and several former associates have been indicted for bid rigging, bribery and extortion in connection with upstate economic development contracts, including the Buffalo billion, a situation that the governor calls «sad».

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara's probe involves the Buffalo Billion project and other upstate economic development programs.

Skelos said he wanted to see Cuomo's proposal for an upstate economic development funding competition modified.

He is proposing to use $ 1.5 billion for an upstate economic development competition, send $ 1.3 billion to the Thruway Authority to defray the cost of the Tappan Zee replacement bridge and spend $ 500 million to develop high speed internet connections in rural areas.

Bob McCarthy notes that the Buffalo Billion was not only Cuomo's signature upstate economic development program, but also a potential vehicle for him to ride to higher office, arguing that he is capable of restoring struggling Rust Belt cities to their former glory.

He is committed to upstate economic development.

Todd Howe, president of WOH Government Solutions, this week was included on a list of lobbyists from his parent firm, Whiteman Osterman & Hanna, who are representing COR Development and SUNY Polytechnic Institute, two entities that have been caught up in the federal probe into Cuomo's Buffalo Billion upstate economic development initiative.

ALBANY — The federal probe of New York development initiatives is broader than the Buffalo Billion projects, the highest - profile piece of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's upstate economic strategy.

A former top aide and several former associates have been indicted for bid rigging, bribery and extortion in connection with upstate economic development contracts, including the Buffalo Billion, a situation that the governor calls «sad.»

«The Fair is an upstate economic engine and an important cultural outlet that is intended to serve all New Yorkers.

Mr. Kaloyeros, who is accused of being part of a wide - ranging scheme that involved bid - rigging and bribery related to upstate economic development projects, is suing to force Fuller Road Management Corp. and Fort Schuyler Management Corp., which oversaw that economic development work, to pay his legal expenses as he fights the state and federal charges.

In May, just as the session winds down, a trial is scheduled for former SUNY nano mastermind Alain Kaloyeros and a host of upstate developers, although as much on the block for scrutiny will be the governor's upstate economic development schemes, and those who carried out his wishes.