To read Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos remark’s given before yesterday State of the State Address click here.

Michael Gormley of the Associated Press reports in the Kingston Daily Freeman - “Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a plan Wednesday by a private gambling enterprise to build the world’s largest convention center and hotel complex at New York City’s Aqueduct racetrack as part of his push to expand gambling for more state tax revenue and jobs.

The proposed $4 billion, nearly 4 million-square foot convention center with 3,000 hotel rooms located in Queens between New York City’s major airports would replace the Jacob Javits Center on Manhattan. The Javits Center was considered too small almost from the outset and poorly suited for the kind of bold, glitzy convention center that would be appropriate for Manhattan as a world destination.”

To read more click here.

Michael Regan of the Tonawanda News reports - “he City of Buffalo is set to receive $1 billion for economic development initiatives, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced during the State of the State address on Wednesday afternoon…

“New York is stronger when every region of the state is strong,” Cuomo said. “We must address the crisis in Western New York, and Buffalo specifically. This is another issue that has gone on for many, many years, while the state sat by and did not take dramatic action.”

Though he did not elaborate, Cuomo said he would like to create a publicly-funded system for state political races and continue to push for an extensive overhaul of performance based assessments for teachers, while implying that the entire educational system is held hostage by lobbyists and self-serving union demands.

“After years of overspending and overtaxing in Albany, it is clear that this governor gets it,” said Heather Briccetti, president and CEO of The Business Council of New York State.”

To read more click here.

Click here for the Governor’s  State of the State press release, and click here to watch video of the event.

NorthCountryNow.com reports - “New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State address today outlined proposals he said will create jobs while keeping state spending and taxes in check.

Cuomo’s speech built on the theme of bipartisan accomplishment over the last year to urge continued cooperation to improve the economy and education in the state, as well as the state’s governing reputation.

For the North Country, the governor held out hope for success in a second round of regional economic development funding for local projects and programs. He said $200 million would be available for the second round. The first round concluded in December with the North Country Regional Economic Development Council winning an additional $40 million in aid after competing programs from all regions were evaluated….

Anthony Collins, president of Clarkson University and co-chair of the NCREDC, (also a BCNYS board member) who attended the governor’s address, said, “For the first time, the North Country has a true partner in progress thanks to Governor Cuomo’s Regional Council initiative. Those who know their regions best were given the power to design an economic development model that works for their area and in just a few short months, we are already seeing that planning process pay off through a better collaboration between public and private sector efforts. Regional Councils provided the North Country with the support to advance our vision for economic growth through the development of innovative partnerships in agriculture, energy, small business development and tourism that will benefit our communities for years to come.”

“Governor Cuomo’s State of the State address shows his strong commitment to creating jobs and reviving New York’s economy,” said Heather Briccetti, president of The Business Council of New York State in a statement after the speech. “After years of overspending and overtaxing in Albany, it is clear that this Governor ‘gets it.’”

To read more click here.

“Governor Cuomo’s State of the State address shows his strong commitment to creating jobs and reviving New York’s economy. After years of overspending and overtaxing in Albany, it is clear that this Governor ‘gets it.’ Governor Cuomo and business leaders are on the same page when it comes to creating business opportunities, retaining skilled workers, encouraging private-sector jobs and investment, as well as reducing the cost of doing business in New York.

The Governor’s continued call for spending restraint, mandate relief, health care reforms and reducing the tax burden on businesses, together with public and energy infrastructure investments and legalized casino gaming, will do a great deal to create jobs across New York.

We applaud the Governor’s proposal to improve the effectiveness of an education system and create new ways to improve an aging energy infrastructure throughout the state.”

To read more click here.

Click here for the Governor’s State of the State press release, and click here to watch video of the event.

Ken Lovett writes in the Daily News - “Gov. Cuomo will urge state lawmakers Wednesday to look at the successes of 2011 as a down payment toward moving the state forward this year.

In his second State of the State address, Cuomo will highlight the bipartisan cooperation that resulted last year in the legalization of gay marriage and the passage of a property tax cap, ethics reform and an on-time budget that cut spending.

“The theme of his speech will be building on the success of last year,” a source with knowledge of the address said. “Using the accomplishments, momentum and credibility generated last year to create jobs and grow the economy.”

To read more click here.

In an interview with the Gannet News Albany Bureau Chief Joseph Spector Heather Briccetti, president of The Business Council states - “The speech will “be about jobs and economic development and beating the curve nationally,” said Heather Briccetti, president of the state Business Council. “I think right now we are(beating the curve). It has been sort of a reversal of the past, where Washington was functional relative to New York.”

In the a story in today’s Democrat and Chronicle Spector writes - “The Democratic governor will look to capitalize on a successful first year in office and propose initiatives to spur job growth amid the economic malaise plaguing the state and the nation.

He is expected to pledge an overhaul of state government and reforms to the hundreds of state agencies and authorities. He plans to continue the work of the state’s 10 regional economic-development councils that aim to build regional cooperation among private- and public-sector leaders.

“The government structure we have is still from a different time. It doesn’t work well. It doesn’t work efficiently,” Cuomo said in an interview last month with Gannett’s Albany Bureau.”

To read more click here.

Greg Clary writes on Lohud.com - “…But I suspect there are a couple things coming this year, based on developments from 2011, that will matter to me and a lot of other people.

The Tappan Zee Bridge is one, after Gov. Andrew Cuomo and President Barack Obama put it on the list of 14 major building projects that will both improve the nation’s infrastructure and create jobs.

Since this issue’s been bouncing around Albany, Washington and the Hudson Valley for more than a dozen years, it bothers some that the primary motivation now comes down to jobs.”

To read more click here.

Governor Cuomo released Building a New New York, a one-year progress report chronicling the strides the state has made in 2011. According to the report:

“In the 12 months since his inauguration, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has
transformed Albany and made government work once again for the people. Passing a balanced, on-time budget, capping property taxes, driving innovative regional economic development, and enacting historic, fair tax rates, Governor Cuomo has restored New York’s position as a leader among states, restored confidence in state government, and put New York back on a path to job creation and economic growth.

From his first day in office to the close of this year’s extraordinary session of the State Legislature, Governor Cuomo worked closely with legislators and leaders from across the state to move New York forward. Through leadership and cooperation, they showed that progress is achieved when New Yorkers put aside their differences and come together.”

To view the full report click here.

Adam Sichko of the Capital District Business Review (a subscription-based publication) writes:

“Heather Briccetti watched from her office as members of Occupy Albany, including a couple dressed as Scrooge, protested outside her offices at The Business Council of New York State Inc. last month.

“I wanted to go out and talk to the Occupiers. No one here would let me,” Briccetti said.

What would Briccetti—promoted as the new president and CEO of the Business Council (more on that move in this week’s paper)—have said?

“Listen, I think we want the same things. I don’t know why you are protesting me,” Briccetti said. “I want an environment where it’s easy to start a business, easy to hire people, where you can grow and have success and create high-paying jobs.

“It’s just Economics 101, more prosperity for everyone,” she said.”

To read the full article click here.