Press Releases

Governor Paterson Address (1/6/2010)

OLEAN – The Reform and Recommitment plan outlined Tuesday by Governor David Paterson in his State of the State Address may hold hope for Olean’s revival, said Olean Mayor Linda Witte.

Mayor Witte viewed the Governor’s State of the State Address live on the Internet from her office in the Municipal Building, stating afterward that she is looking forward to hearing more details about several aspects of the plan.

“Today, Governor Paterson laid out his plans for stabilizing the state’s finances and rebuilding our economy--two areas of critical importance to the City of Olean. Clearly, there is much to be done and as my administration gears up I will be eager to hear how the Governor and other state leaders propose solutions to move our city and our state forward.”

“I like the concept for fiscal reform as a means to control state spending and stabilize the state’s finances, because in the long run it will help our city. Anyone who is familiar with the city of Olean can think of industrial sites and vacant manufacturing businesses that could use an infusion or a retrofit for modernization. This can only have a positive impact in our area because it will attract new businesses and open up jobs in the existing ones,” she said.

“Also, the new Excelsior Jobs Program for tax incentives and creation of these much-needed jobs will replace the outdated Empire Zone system that did not always result in new employment. There is a lot of potential here and we have six months to get used to the idea before the Empire Zone sunsets June 1.”

The Mayor expressed enthusiasm for systemic ethics reform with an independent Ethics Commission at its center.

“It’s important to get control of the money that has been flowing through the state,” she said.

“I look forward to working with the Governor in the days to come and hearing more about his proposed Reform Albany Act,” said Mayor Witte.