The five upstate Democratic senators have written to Gov. David A. Paterson asking him to release $120 million from an economic-development fund that has been sitting idle for more than a year.

“Despite an overwhelming need for an upstate-focused economic-development strategy, the Upstate Fund has continued to lie dormant,” said the letter, signed by Sens. Neil Breslin of Albany, William Stachowski and Antoine Thompson of Buffalo, David Valesky of Syracuse and Darryl Aubertine of Watertown. “We hope you will move quickly to issue these much-needed funds.”

Democrats say the funds have been held up as the state considers whether to combine them with another program for projects across the state.

The five upstate Democrats have been eager to try to allay fears of their constituents that their region will be shortchanged with the leaders of the Assembly and Senate, as well as the governor, from New York City for the first time since the Depression. The New York City-dominated Senate Democratic conference wrested control from Republicans this year for the first time since 1965. But Republicans still hold 22 of the 27 seats north of New York City.

An upstate business leader said getting the money from the fund spent upstate is a key in efforts to turn around the regional economy. “This absolutely has to get out the door,” said Brian Sampson, executive director of Unshackle Upstate. “What upstate needs is a huge investment in job creation. That’s what the $120 million was for.”

Sampson said that while much of the federal economic-stimulus money that is coming to the state is to be used on roads, bridges and other transportation projects, the state money would likely be used on downtown revitalizations, shovel-ready business parks and others tied more directly to job creation.

“There are lots of projects ready to hit the street,” he said. “Everything is in place. We just have to get the governor to release those funds.”

A Paterson spokeswoman said the money will be spent upstate, although she provided no timing details. “The state of New York remains committed to the allocation of $120 million towards upstate revitalization as announced in last year’s Upstate Blueprint Fund,” Erin Duggan said. “This money is 100 percent committed to upstate projects.”

Source: Press Connects