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Posted on 02/25/2004 7:48:11 AM PST by bc2
Leaders upbeat on Renaissance financing
Johnson, Brooks take message to Albany, travel to D.C. today
By Yancey Roy Albany bureau
(February 25, 2004) — ALBANY— Rochester-area leaders emerged from an almost hourlong, closed-door meeting with state officials Tuesday, saying they made progress in obtaining funds for the proposed Renaissance Square in Rochester.
“This is just the top of the first inning,” said Rochester Mayor William A. Johnson Jr.
He and Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks met with Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, R-Brunswick, Rensselaer County, his top staff and the Rochester-area Senate delegation.
Brooks described the meeting as an educational one that brought Bruno up to speed about the importance of the project.
“The mayor and I sat at the table with our Senate delegation and told Senator Bruno this is truly a priority for our community,” said Brooks. She said that the project would mean economic development, job creation and would bring some excitement to downtown.
Brooks also met separately with Gov. George Pataki’s staff and said a meeting would be planned with local members of the state Assembly at a later date.
The Renaissance Square, near North Clinton Avenue and East Main Street, would contain a performing arts center, an underground bus terminal and a downtown campus for Monroe Community College.
Today, Brooks and Johnson will be in Washington, D.C., to try to get additional federal funds for this project. They will meet local members of the House of Representatives as well as Sen. Charles Schumer. They are trying to set up a meeting with Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The entire project is estimated to cost more than $150 million, and the Rochester delegation is trying to secure about $52 million in state funds.
That would take a bipartisan agreement. A united front, featuring Democrat Johnson and Republican Brooks, who squared off in last year’s county executive election, can help that effort, senators said.
“We believe that by working together we’ll be able to tap into the state’s discretionary funds for economic development,” said state Sen. Joe Robach, R-Greece.
YANCEYROY@Yahoo.com
Includes reporting by staff writer James Goodman
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Unemployment is over 9%.
On the other hand we have a fast ferry service between Rochester and Toronto starting in the spring. Rumor has it that Toronto has yet to build a dock for this ferry service but politicians can't be bogged down by such minor details.
When all these tourists, that we are assured will come, get off the ferry they will see 1 Custard Stand, 3 Restaurants, 4 Bars, And a Nightclub that has changed owners and names 34 times in the past 5 years.
Granted this could be a bit disappointing after paying to make the 3 hour trip from Toronto, but add 1 underground Bus Terminal and a Community College Campus to the mix and the sweet smell of tourism will fill the air here.
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