From Speakupwny.com

Politics
Is the ECHDC Locally Controlled and Operated?
By Gary S. Howell
Feb 17, 2006, 13:12

Jim Ostrowski
During a February 14th press conference, Free Buffalo founder James Ostrowski expressed his belief that the Erie County Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) is not locally controlled. The following information was uncovered by Speakupwny in a search of internet records.

On May 19, 2005 the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) issued a press release announcing that their board approved the next phase of the Erie Canal Harbor Project. The press release states, “This project will reconfigure and redevelop a new commercial harbor, with an emphasis on inter-modal transportation, at the foot of Main Street along the Buffalo River near its mouth at Lake Erie.”

According to the press release, “Empire State Development is responsible for the planning, design, environmental review and construction phases of the project.”

On July 14, 2005, the Empire State Development Corporation issued another press release. This document announced Empire State Development Corporation’s creation of a subsidiary group called the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation. In the press release, Charles A. Gargano, Chairman of the Empire State Development Corporation, said, “Creation of the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. will allow us (the ESDC) to move the Bass Pro project to the next phase and plan other projects that are vital to the future of Buffalo’s waterfront.”

The press release further states: “Gargano said the new subsidiary will be governed by a seven-member board of directors. The new corporation will oversee all aspects of various projects and be the single interface on those projects with various other federal, state and local agencies.”

On July 26, 2005, the Empire State Development Corporation announced the names of seven individuals recommended for membership to the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation.

According to the press release, the seven individuals are:

- Anthony Gioia – the head of Gioia Management and former U.S. ambassador to Malta
- Maureen Hurley – Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Rich Products.
- Charles A. Gargano – Chairman of the EMPIRE STATE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
- Michael Powers – An attorney and partner in the Buffalo office of Phillips Lytle
- Jack Quinn – Former Congressman
- Larry Quinn – Managing Partner of the Buffalo Sabres
- William Ransom – General Manager of WKBW

On August 22, 2005, the Empire State Development Corporation issued a press release announcing that the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation approved the designation of Anthony Gioia as Board Chairman, Larry Quinn as Vice Chairman, and Charles Rosenow as President.

A recap of the press releases shows:

- The Empire State Development Corporation, a state agency, is responsible for the Erie Canal Harbor project.
- The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation was set up by and is a subsidiary of the Empire State Development Corporation, a state agency.
- The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation will oversee all aspects of various projects and be the single interface on those projects with various other federal, state and local agencies.
- The individuals appointed to the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation were chosen by the Empire State Development Corporation, a state agency.
- Six of the seven appointments made by the Empire State Development Corporation are residents of, and have strong business connections in Western New York.
- The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation exercised local control by choosing its own officers.

Is the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation locally controlled and operated?

It depends on how you define those terms.

Even though the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation will “oversee” all aspects of various projects, The Empire State Development Corporation is responsible for them. Overseers supervise projects. Construction projects are often supervised by development groups or architects who are subcontracted to “oversee” projects.

In this case, it appears that the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation, a subsidiary of the Empire State Development Corporation, is similar to a subcontractor put in place to supervise the Erie Canal Harbor project. The ultimate responsibility for the project is in the hands of the Empire State Development Corporation, a state agency.


All Rights Reserved


© Copyright 2003 by Speakupwny.com