By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Erie County Executive Joel Giambra will be delivering his annual State of the County Address Thursday. There will -- no doubt -- be much interest in what he has to say given the magnitude of the county's fiscal crisis.
The annual State of the County address is normally delivered in February. It sets the agenda of the administration. But as Giambra found himself embattled in a fiscal disaster, he postponed his speech. However, he's now ready to face the public and explain how he will try to steer the county through the financial mess.
Many local business leaders and area business owners attend the address, hoping to hear about new initiatives that could improve the local economy. John Polvino, owner of Commercial Print and Imaging in Cheektowaga, says he's attended the past four or five years. But this year he's not attending. Polvino says he's not interested in Giambra's remarks.
"I think there is little the County Executive can offer in terms of forward progress of the county right now," Polvino said. "I think there is still too much dysfunction between Giambra, the Legislature and State of New York to be able to put anything feasible out there to the Western New York population."
Polvino says he and other area business owners are pleased to finally see taxpayers fighting back, but they are all very concerned about the region's future.
"I think we are all scared to think where we are going to be next year," Polvino said. "We're wondering if any changes are going to be made, not only in the county, but on a state level that might help us."
Joel Giambra would not provide a sneak-preview of his State of the County address. He would only tell WBFO that he will touch on "all the issues" affecting this community -- especially the budget crisis. But Giambra says he's not giving up, just yet, on his proposed merger for the county and city of Buffalo.
"You are definitely going to hear about my pet project we are going to talk more about the need for regionalism and consolidation," Giambra said.
The Rotary Club of Buffalo is sponsoring the speech at the Buffalo Convention Center. They say it is "sold out."