Cuomo details budget plan for Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Governor Andrew Cuomo arrived in the Queen City to push his billion dollar plan to boost Buffalo's economy and is urging everyone to jump on board to make the vision become a reality.

Cuomo got a standing ovation from a Buffalo audience grateful for his pledge of a billion dollars to help revitalize the Queen City and bring back business. But he said real change must come from within.

"We're going to invest with you, but change starts when you decide to make the change. This is an historic opportunity," said Cuomo.

Cuomo said there's also an opportunity to change and improve the state's education system, which he called a $20 billion "industry" filled with lobbyists who fight change. School districts he warned must evaluate their teachers if they want increases in state aid.

Cuomo said, "You're not going to get the funding if you don't have a teacher evaluation system in place next year, period."

In the Buffalo district the sticking point with the teacher's union is how to factor in students with major learning problems when evaluating a teacher's performance. The governor says that's part of the equation.

"Of course. That's part of the evaluation system, factors in the students, and the degree of difficulty that the student is having," assured Cuomo.

When it comes to keeping the Bills in Buffalo, the governor said despite no extra money in the budget for that purpose, he will work to keep the team in WNY.

"We want to keep the Bills here," Cuomo said. "I'm looking forward to being part of a cooperative effort to keep them here."

Another "potential economic engine," said the governor, is casino gaming. He says there are already 29,000 Racino electric gaming machines in New York. He wants state lawmakers to vote for a Constitutional amendment this year and again next year and then put it to a public referendum.

Cuomo argued, "I say let's acknowledge the reality. We're in the business anyway. Let's do it right, and let's make the money."

Outside the Convention Center, a small group of protesters carried signs on a variety of issues. But inside, the popular governor was greeted with handshakes and smiles in a city to which he has made a billion dollar promise. 

Joel Rose, chairman of the Coalition Against in Gambling in NY, says a new campaign against gambling interests will soon be launched in response to the governor's call for a state constitutional amendment to make gambling legal.