Advocates gather at Syracuse City Hall to seek state money for roads, pipes and bridges

By Tim Knauss on December 09, 2014 at 12:36 PM, updated December 09, 2014 at 12:40 PM

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Anticipating a "feeding frenzy'' over New York state's $5 billion windfall, a dozen public officials, union leaders and contractors gathered this morning at Syracuse City Hall to advocate spending all of the money to repair roads, bridges, water pipes and other infrastructure.

Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner, state Senators John DeFrancisco and David Valesky, Assemblyman Al Stirpe and others said the state should use the money from a one-time settlement with banks to make long overdue infrastructure repairs.

"When money comes in to the state of New York, there is a feeding frenzy that you can't imagine,'' said DeFrancisco, who chairs the Senate finance committee. "It's very, very important to keep your voices loud and clear, so that when the feeding frenzy begins the right thing is done. And I'll do my darnedest to make that happen.''

DeFrancisco said it's likely that some of the settlement money will siphoned off for other uses, but he anticipates that the majority will be used for infrastructure.

The news conference was organized by Rebuild NY Now, a coalition of industry groups and trade unions that is conducting a statewide media campaign to publicize the need for infrastructure spending.

Similar events were held in Rochester and Buffalo. Rebuild NY Now also is sponsoring radio and TV ads and a social media campaign.

Carly Hill, of Union Concrete and Construction Corp., a Buffalo company, emceed the event. Representatives from two unions, C&S Cos., and several towns and villages also spoke.

Tim Hunt, highway superintendent for the town of Cazenovia, said local governments in New York need help maintaining the 97,000 miles of roadway and 8,600 bridges they control. Maintenance of those assets will cost $35 billion over the next 15 years, more than double what local governments can spend, said Hunt, citing statistics from the New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways.

Infrastructure spending will be a top priority when the state Legislature puts together a budget next spring, or possibly before that, Valesky said. He said the governor and the legislature "will be focusing like a laser on the infrastructure needs all across New York state.''

In response to a call for proposals by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Miner recently submitted a $1 billion wish list that included $726 million to repair the city's century-old water system. Miner also proposed to spend money on a chilled-water energy initiative, broadband, road repairs and other needs.

New York received about $5 billion from banks and insurance companies to settle allegations of wrongdoing that contributed to the 2008 financial crisis. 

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