SHERBURNE – Speaking at Lewis’ Restaurant in Sherburne Saturday afternoon, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo told area officials that New York’s local and state governments are too big and Albany’s way of business needs to be fundamentally changed.
“The changes we need to make we’ve been talking about too long,” said Cuomo. “I think the planets are finally lined up now where change is going to happen.”
“How do you know it’s out of control? You can’t even get a list of the 1,000 state agencies, that’s how you know it’s out of control,” he said, adding that there are more than 10,000 governments in the state.
Cuomo attributed over-sized government to the state’s increasing property tax which he told the audience was higher than any in the country, rising 5 to 6 percent annually in recent years.
“It has to stop and it has to stop now,” he said, calling Albany’s current management of the state an “embarrassment.”
Cuomo was welcomed by dozens of local Democratic and some Republican officials at 11 a.m. Saturday, when spoke to a select crowd of about 60 people for around 30 minutes. Following his remarks, the candidate mingled with the audience, taking pictures and holding brief conversations for about another half-hour before speaking with the media.
Cuomo said he understood the economic importance of gas drilling in the upstate region, but added that an eagerness to make money should not speed up the process of evaluation relating to possible environmental concerns.
“Let’s get the information, let’s get the reports before we make a decision,” he said.
Democratic Supervisor James B. Bays of Smyrna and Chenango County Democratic Committee Chairman Patrick McNeil made their own comments at the event before introducing Cuomo.
McNeil said the visit was a fulfillment of Cuomo’s campaign pledge to tour each of New York’s 62 counties and was organized by the Chenango County Democratic Committee.
“I feel that Andrew Cuomo has the qualifications to bring New York State back to the state it used to be. He has shown his leadership abilities through his position as Attorney General to lead this state. He’s served in both federal and state government at high levels which has given him the negotiation skills needed to bring all state leaders together for the betterment of New York,” said McNeil.
“There are extraordinary challenges to face, but all we have seen from Albany is an utter inability to address the issues, like unemployment, high taxes and an ineffective government,” added Bays.
“He will unleash bold new programs to create jobs throughout upstate New York, train our young people to compete in the economy of the future and make sure that our property taxes do not soar so high that we are forced to leave our homes,” Bays told the crowd.
McNeil said Cuomo also made stops Saturday in Oneonta and at the State University College of Technology at Delhi.
During hid remarks, Cuomo called his leading contender in the election, Republican and Tea Party Candidate Carl Paladino, an “extremist.”
He urged the people of New York to find a “commonality in community,” and embrace diversity on election day.
Many recent polls reported by the Associated Press show Cuomo with a double-digit lead over Paladino.
“The fear will drive people, there will be a certain negative voice on election day. We have to ensure a reasonable, practical voice comes out on election day,” he said.