Assemblyman Christopher S. Friend (R,C,I-Big Flats) is urging Gov. Cuomo to reconsider an additional $25 million marked to continue advertising the START-UP NY program. Earlier this month, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said the advertising had “no tangible benefit” to the program.

“The Southern Tier and the state as a whole are over-taxed, and Albany has so much money, they’re spending it on a program they heard two weeks ago doesn’t work,” Friend said. “This should serve as a wake-up call. START-UP NY has failed, the advertising has failed, and it’s because you don’t grow an economy from the top-down. Government doesn’t create businesses. Businesses grow organically in environments that suit their needs. Until Albany gets serious about eliminating much of the regulatory burden and abusive tax structure, we won’t see real results across the board. We cannot continue to fund these failed advertisements.”