Yesterday, Democratic state senate candidate Rick Dollinger had a press conference in which he talked about his economic plan for the 56th senate district in great detail. There are two overarching themes to his “Jumpstart Rochester” economic blueprint: investment in innovation and reform of the failed state policies.

There are numerous components to each of the policies he has outlined, but here is a quick summary:

• Green Jobs Investment Fund which will combine private and public investment for the top universities, colleges, and research institutions which will advance the technologies and other components that allow for the expansion of alternative energies. Not only would it get us off foreign oil, it will help clean up the environment and create many new opportunities for businesses and job creation.
• Emerging Technologies Research Institution would in turn help coordinate the efforts of schools and universities with local businesses in the Rochester area to work in many areas which will advance the wellbeing of the community. In particular, the proposed institution would be focused on public policies like health and stem cell research, technology, and infrastructure.
• PRIDE (Public Roads, Infrastructure, Development, and Efficiency) Authority would be the combination of three separate state agencies — the Thruway Authority, Bridge Authority, and the Department of Transportation. It would help create infrastructure jobs, as well as streamline state bureaucracy.
• Reform “Industrial Development Agencies” (IDAs) which continue to dole out tax giveaways to companies which ship jobs out of New York state. Dollinger will stop giving out these tax breaks to companies which outsource good jobs, and instead give tax cuts to companies and businesses which create good paying jobs in the area.
• Fiscal responsibility is another major priority for Rick Dollinger, and he will fight for a property tax cap and cut spending for inefficient or unnecessary programs. The primary emphasis is placed correctly on reducing the deficit and getting the budgetary situation under control.

(Special thanks to stlo7 for letting me borrow his camera and voice recorder for the press conference.)

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3. Brain Drain in Rochester
4. Irony Alert - Maggie Brooks calls State action “a money grab”
5. Imagining a progressive future for Rochester