Reinvent Albany testified today before the State Assembly Committee on Economic Development. The gist of our testimony was that the legislature should not appropriate any new funds for discretionary economic development programs until there are major transparency and accountability reforms, including a Database of Deals, Clean Contracting reforms and restrictions on campaign contributions from state vendors. (“Pay to play” controls.) In January and June of 2018, nine of the governor’s top aides and campaign contributors will go on trial for allegedly rigging over a billion dollars in state economic development contracts.
Reinvent Albany Testimony November 13 2017 Assembly Hearing on NYSTAR programs