The following is part of an editorial in today’s Buffalo News which states the many reason why The Business Council of New York State and the Buffalo Niagara Partnership must maintain their member-relationship with the University at Buffalo.

“Members of the Buffalo Center Chapter of United University Professions, a union representing academic and professional staff at the University at Buffalo, evidently are unable to see clearly out of their ivory towers.

In a referendum passed 191-172 last month, they called on UB to drop out of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership and the Business Council of New York State.

The university has done a lot for Buffalo, and Buffalo’s private sector leaders have done a lot for the university.

Over the years, the University at Buffalo Foundation, the nonprofit arm of UB that develops private sector support, has given tens of millions of dollars to the university.

The university benefits greatly through the various partnerships and alliances it participates in. Much of what impacts UB, good and bad, comes out of the state Capitol. Buffalo’s business leaders have traveled to Albany many times to lobby on UB’s behalf.

Pulling out of the partnership and business council, or becoming a second-class member not paying dues, would diminish the status of both groups and hurt their ability to work for UB in the private sector and Albany. You can’t have it both ways: ending membership while expecting the groups to continue working for UB.

The UB union is not only shortsighted, but is wrong in basing its stand on the belief that membership in the organizations means UB is supporting fundraising, lobbying and endorsements of political candidates. Political actions by the partnership come out of its political action committee. None of the university’s money has gone or will go into the PAC.

The university’s standing has been greatly enhanced by having its president, Satish K. Tripathi, serve as co-chairman of the Western New York Economic Development Council with developer Howard Zemsky. Their leadership won $100 million in state funds for the region, and now the council will supervise the $1 billion economic development bonanza offered by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. Tripathi now works closely with the most important person in the state. Instead of reducing ties with the community, the UUP should be putting its efforts into improving them.

The stronger the relationship between “town and gown,” the more both parties will benefit.

To read more from the Buffalo News click here.

The Associated Press reports in the Times Union - “The number of available jobs in the United States jumped in December to near a three-year high, supporting other data that show a brighter outlook for hiring.

Companies and governments posted 3.38 million jobs in December, the Labor Department said Tuesday. That’s up from the 3.12 million advertised in the previous month and nearly matches the three-year high reached in September.
Job openings in the private sector reached the highest point in almost three and a half years.”

To read more click here.

The Hill (2/5, Restuccia) reported that in order to counter the Republican push to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, Democrats in both the House and the Senate “revived long-standing concerns this week that oil from the project will be exported to other countries.” The Hill adds that Democrats, “keenly aware of recent polls showing that a majority of Americans support the pipeline…are trying to change the Keystone narrative and blunt GOP attacks on Obama for rejecting the project last month.”

Glen Blain of the NY Daily News writes:

“The Senate’s top Republican warned Tuesday a raise in the state’s minimum wage could be a ‘job killer.’

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos (R-Nassau) hasn’t reviewed the Assembly’s plan to raise the wage to $8.50 an hour, but cast doubt on whether it would pass muster.

‘It’s always been about jobs,’ Skelos said. ‘This could be a job killer rather than a job promoter.’

Skelos’ concerns echo those of state business groups that also warned against raising the minium wage because of its impact on the state’s economy.”

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In a NY Post article, Erik Kriss cites a study showing that raising the minimum wage hurts private sector employment:

“The study compared employment trends in New York between 2004 and 2006 — when the Empire State raised its minimum wage twice — with those in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New Hampshire, where there was no increase.

While prior studies suggested every 10 percent increase in the minimum wage led to a 1 to 3 percent drop in employment for less-skilled employees, the authors said the new study found a 7 percent dip for young high-school dropouts.”

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Business Council President and CEO Heather Briccetti today gave testimony at the economic development budget hearing.

Heather Briccetti, President and CEO of The Business Council, is joined by Vice President of Government Affairs Ken Pokalsky

Briccetti emphasized the organization’s commitment to working with the Governor, Senate and Assembly to continue moving New York in the right direction. She touched on several key points from The Business Council’s agenda, which include:

• Enacting the Governor’s Tier VI pension reform proposal;
• Fostering VoIP innovation;
• Extending the MTA mobility tax reforms to professional business organizations;
• Spurring New York’s travel and tourism sector;
• Moving forward with a constitutional amendment to allow for enhanced gaming;
• Reforming New York’s overly rigorous regulatory climate; and
• Improving the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process and making it more user-friendly.

During the Q&A portion of her testimony, Briccetti noted that corporate tax reform was a top priority for The Business Council.

To view her full written testimony, click here.

Justin Sarjeant of the Legislative Gazette writes:

“Gov. Andrew Cuomo has launched the “NY Youth Works” program, a statewide effort to fight the high unemployment rates among inner city youth in communities across New York.

The program is part of Cuomo’s urban agenda which is designed to revitalize communities across the state and address the needs of people living in poverty. Cuomo and legislative leaders designed the program to provide permanent employment for youth aged 16 to 24.

…Cuomo has also received praise from the Business Council of New York State, Inc., which represents the interests of large and small firms throughout the state.

‘We are extremely pleased to support this project,’ said Robert L. Lillpopp, director of communications for the Business Council. ‘We think it will be very helpful to businesses that employ disadvantaged youth in the major cit(ie)s across the state.’

To read more click here.

In a Buffalo News article, David Robinson, Tom Precious and Emma Sapong examine employees’ and employers’ views on the proposed minimum wage hike. Businesses contend that the Speaker’s proposal would result in less jobs and higher payroll costs:

“Business groups denounced the Silver plan, saying it would cost the state jobs by driving up payroll costs at a time when the economy is struggling.

‘We think it would be a sure-fire way to stifle job creation as New York struggles to emerge from the recession,’ said James Calvin, president of the New York Association of Convenience Stores.

‘When you drive up the cost of an entry-level position, it makes it harder to justify that position,’ Calvin said. In addition, a higher minimum wage would have a ripple effect that would push up the hourly pay of other workers at the bottom end of the pay scale, further adding to payroll costs, he said.

‘That would be devastating,’ said Michael F. Newman, the executive vice president of Noco Energy, which oversees the Noco Express Shops chain. He said a higher minimum wage would mean fewer part-time positions and less flexibility for both employers and the workers who fill those jobs.

‘It misses the whole point about what that introductory wage is meant for,’ said Newman, who estimated that about 40 percent of the workers at Noco Express Shops earn minimum wage. ‘These are part-time people who are looking for extra work.’

A small-business advocacy group, the National Federation of Independent Business, had a similar reaction. “The proposal is based on good intentions, but it’s going to have a very damaging effect on the people whom its advocates want to help,” said Mike Durant, the group’s state director.

‘The way to improve our state’s economy and the lives of all New Yorkers is to create more private-sector jobs,’ said Heather Briccetti, president and chief executive officer of the Business Council of New York State.

‘Raising the minimum wage would only hurt New York’s small businesses, farms and not-for-profits that are struggling to make their current payrolls, and reduce job opportunities in this difficult economy,’ she said.”

To read more click here.

James Odato of the Times Union writes:

“Assembly Democrats are close to unveiling a plan to raise the minimum wage in New York after talks with an alliance of labor and political groups pushing for a $9.50-per-hour rate.

Rob Lillpopp, a spokesman for the Business Council of New York State, expects a presentation this week. The council is wary of a hike, and questions the logic of raising minimum wages during a weak economy. “The way to improve the state’s economy is to increase the number of jobs,” Lillpopp said.

A coalition that includes the Working Families Party and some labor unions, particularly New York City-based SEIU 1199 and 32BJ, as well as the progressive advocacy group Citizen Action is pushing the increase. Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, began pushing for an increase in his first speech of the year, made before Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State address earlier this month.”

**Update: The Assembly has introduced a bill to increase the minimum wage to $8.50/hour (A.9148).

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According to a release from the Governor’s office:

“Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that Xerox Corporation will establish a call center in Webster that will create 500 new jobs over the next two years.

‘Xerox is a global leader that could have gone anywhere in the world to expand their business, but they chose New York because our state is rapidly becoming the place to be for businesses,’ Governor Cuomo said. ‘By forging successful public-private partnerships like we have with Xerox, we can leverage state resources to generate sustainable economic growth and long-term job creation.’

Utilizing $5 million in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits and a $1 million Economic Development Fund grant from Empire State Development, the company will invest $4.3 million to renovate a portion of Building 200 on the Webster campus, as well as purchase IT systems and equipment to create a 23,000 square foot state-of-the-art call center space. The Monroe County Industrial Development Agency (COMIDA) has also approved a local tax abatement package totaling $271,040.

The plans call for the creation of 500 new jobs, including 350 jobs in 2012 and an additional 150 jobs by 2013. In addition to the 500 new jobs being created, the company will retain 70 existing employees at the project location. Renovation is expected to begin in February, with completion projected by the end of 3rd quarter 2012. Xerox expects to begin hiring employees in March. Positions will include call center agents and managers.

Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Kenneth Adams said, ‘It is through Governor Cuomo’s efforts that home-grown companies, like Xerox, are choosing to stay here and grow here. This commitment to Xerox ensures that investment and jobs stay in the Greater Rochester region.’”

To read more click here.