Spitzer's first State of State to aim at upstate economy

ALBANY - Gov. Eliot Spitzer's first State of the State address on Wednesday is expected to include plans to cut taxes and ease business laws to revive the upstate economy while forcing Albany to abide by a higher ethical standard.

Spitzer released his upstate agenda Tuesday as he was finishing off the speech. It includes a property tax cut of $6 billion over three years aimed at middle class homeowners, state aid for “distressed upstate cities and towns” in exchange for restraints on local spending; and creating an “upstate economic development czar.” The high-level appointment would coordinate new and existing programs to help keep, expand and attract jobs upstate, which he compared to Appalachia during his campaign.

“We are making a commitment at the start of the new administration to do something about a long-standing problem that affects millions of New Yorkers,” Spitzer said. “The turnaround we seek won't be easy and won't occur immediately, but we will keep at it until the job is done.”