N.Y.'s 'Open for Business' ads are closed to scrutiny

[hrmjustin]

Joseph Spector, Journal Albany bureau

ALBANY – The state's ads touting New York's economy, tourism and business friendliness have been ubiquitous around the country for over a year. How much tax money is spent on the ads isn't as apparent.

For the past year, Empire State Development, the state's economic development arm, has delayed a Freedom of Information request by Gannett's Albany bureau that seeks details about the spending on New York's "Open for Business" marketing campaign.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration and state legislators allocated $150 million over three years through the agency to market the state's business climate and tourism industry. The program was extended in the current fiscal year with another $50 million from the state Power Authority.

Late last year, Cuomo began a national ad campaign to promote Start-Up NY, which eliminates taxes on businesses for 10 years if they relocate to specified zones in New York, mostly surrounding upstate colleges. In March, the state revealed it spent $15.2 million in the prior three months of the Start-Up NY ad campaign, including $8.9 million in out-of-state markets.

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/local/new-york/2014/07/12/nys-open-business-ads-closed-scrutiny/12583125/

[Hoppy]

1. N.Y.'s plan for open for business ain't nothin'. New Jersey got one, too.

Tubby gives tax breaks to businesses moving into the state or from one part of the state to another part of the state. The latest is one to a company to build nuclear reactors.

He also guaranteed a billion to build a new casino that is in the process of going bankrupt.

Meanwhile, the rest of the citizens get nothing.