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05062005
Our Waterfront Position Clarified
The local media has badly misrepresented the Partnership’s position on Buffalo waterfront development, and I’m writing to clarify where we stand, and why.
I certainly do not consider myself or the Partnership “at odds” with Congressman Brian Higgins on this matter, and we definitely do not support “business as usual” to fulfill already-funded development commitments.
Below you’ll find a letter I sent Congressman Higgins last week. It explains that the Partnership, which has diligently worked to streamline the development agencies in our region, does not see adding yet another agency, and more cost, to manage waterfront projects, as the preferred option. That said, we definitely agree with the Congressman that leadership committed to completing funded and planned waterfront projects is absolutely critical.
If the waterfront is an issue of particular interest to you (or others at your company) please consider getting involved with the Partnership’s Buffalo Development Council, which has an active waterfront sub-group. For more information, please contact Monique Cunningham at mcunningham@thepartnership.org or (716) 852-7100, ext. 123.
The waterfront has been, and continues to be, a top priority of the Partnership. It’s an issue that tops our annual lobbying efforts in Albany and Washington, and one that we are actively engaged with locally, advocating for appropriate development, based upon a comprehensive strategy, rather than a series of uncoordinated efforts. We also sponsor a number of events each year to educate the public about the economic potential of Buffalo's waterfront -- in order to retain, and attract businesses to Western New York. (For example, on March 23, Greg Bulkley, manager of Bass Pro’s Auburn location, visited the Partnership to discuss the store’s potential impact on the waterfront and economic development in Buffalo as a whole).
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments, and again, consider joining our waterfront efforts.
Sincerely,
Andrew J. Rudnick
President & CEO
April 28, 2005
Congressman Brian Higgins
Larkin Building
726 Exchange Street, Suite 601
Buffalo, NY 14210
Dear Brian,
Because I very much hope the unfortunate, adversarial, and inaccurate comments regarding the Partnership attributed to you in Doug Turner’s April 28 Buffalo News article were either incorrect or taken out of context, I also think it is quite important for me to communicate directly to you regarding Buffalo waterfront development.
I do not feel we are at all “at odds” about what needs to happen going forward. The Partnership – which has been a longstanding advocate for waterfront development since (as GBDF) we conceived of the Horizons Waterfront Commission and then provided extended assistance to the Knox family leading to the development of HSBC Arena – strongly agrees with you there needs to be leadership for a commitment to completing funded and planned waterfront projects to an extent which has not existed to date.
Moreover, the Partnership is not opposed to creating a new entity to provide this leadership and commitment. That option, however, is not our preferred choice. Why?
• The business community is committed to reducing the size and complexity (and reducing cost to taxpayers!) of government. We also have worked hard to streamline and coordinate the local development delivery system so that it is customer friendly and development savvy. Adding yet another development agency to the region appears to fly in the face of those efforts.
• The governments and related development agencies that requested and received funding for waterfront development projects should be held accountable for completing those projects and completing them well. They have the experience and capability to do so. If they are unwilling or otherwise not able to utilize that capability for these critical development projects, there must be changes made.
It may well be necessary, for what we both want to happen (and soon!) on Buffalo’s waterfront, for something new to be created. Hopefully, existing leadership will rise to the occasion. We are eager to work with either option.
Sincerely yours,
Andrew J. Rudnick
/jev
cc: WNY Delegation
George Pataki, Governor
Joel Giambra, County Executive
Tony Masiello, Mayor
Luiz Kahl, Chairman, NFTA
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