Leaders of Unshackle Upstate today voiced their concern over reports that Governor David Paterson plans to change the co-chairmanship structure of Empire State Development (ESD).

Coalition leaders from Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton and Utica said the more than 45,000 businesses represented by Unshackle Upstate feel strongly that the Upstate region has been much better serviced by the co-chaired structure, including both a Downstate and Upstate head of ESD, than it was in the days of the single, Manhattan-centric approach which controlled economic development initiatives for decades.

"The current structure provides the Upstate region with a government official with the power to hire and fire staff, approve projects and allocate resources – the powers necessary to effectively move the Upstate economy forward," said Sandy Parker, president and CEO of the Rochester Business Alliance, a founding partner in Unshackle Upstate. "To dilute those powers in any way would be a huge step backwards in terms of Gov. Paterson's commitment to Upstate business owners struggling to stay afloat and the people they employ. How can we have a revitalized economy if Empire State Development packs up its bags and heads home to mid-town Manhattan again?"

Coalition leaders said that under the current structure, Upstate Empire Development has been able to move projects along with greater ease and more speed, closing promptly on deals that will spur job creation by attracting new businesses as well as retaining companies that are already operating in the region.

"It's not about titles, it's about having the authority to make the deals and decisions necessary to move the economic needle in our fragile region," said Andrew J. Rudnick, president and CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, and an Unshackle Upstate leader. "We do not have confidence that our region will receive the attention it needs and deserves if we don't have someone looking out for our very specific concerns and issues."

"The Southern Tier of New York State is far removed from New York City," said Catherine Glover, president and CEO of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce. "Our economic development situation needs to be addressed by someone who is immersed in the area and, equally important, has the authority to do something without a negotiation with New York City. The Governor hasn't given the current structure time to work. His change in direction will not be good for Upstate."


Only last month Governor Paterson visited Upstate cities, and held events at ESD's new office in Buffalo as well as with the Rochester Business Alliance. The Unshackle Upstate coalition has been optimistic that the initiatives and attention pledged by Governor Spitzer would be honored by Governor Paterson.

"For the first time in our history, we had a Governor who gave a State of Upstate Address," said Darlene Kerr, president of the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce and an Unshackle Upstate leader. "There was so much optimism among Upstate business leaders that real change was going to take place. There appears to be a real disconnect on the part of the current administration and its advisors."

Unshackle Upstate leaders are reaching out to the state senators and assembly members who represent the region asking them to push Gov. Paterson to reconsider.

And this morning, Unshackle Upstate sent out email messages to the coalition's 72 partner organizations, encouraging their members to voice their concern directly to the Governor and his team of downstate advisors. Over the past year, the coalition has drawn thousands of voters to its website and in turn, been responsible for more than 180,000 email messages sent to officials in Albany.

For further information, visit www.unshackleupstate.com.