Assemblyman Karl Brabenec (R,C,I-Deerpark) has again called for the freeze of payments by the state to fund Gov. Cuomo’s cornerstone economic development initiative, START-Up NY, amid a report published late Friday afternoon that showed the $95 million dollar taxpayer-funded program has created only 408 jobs in its first two years. The report, uploaded around close of business Friday before the long holiday weekend, was due by April 1, 2016.

“When the START-Up report was already a month late, I said this is clearly a mismanaged program that demonstrates a gross and irresponsible use of taxpayer money,” Brabenec said. “In what other professional setting is it acceptable to submit a report three months late and cowardly try to sweep it under the rug right before Independence Day weekend when the press isn’t as attentive? If START-Up NY were a business, it would have filed for bankruptcy by now and investors would have likely lost a fortune. Spending over $230,000 to create one job is unacceptable and I am again calling for the immediate cease of payments to Empire State Development and an investigation into why our state programs are executed so inefficiently.”