By WBFO News
Buffalo, NY – David Patterson's first visit to Buffalo as governor Thursday held both good news and bad news for the region.
At the future headquarters of the Empire State Development Corporation inside an old warehouse on Perry Street, Patterson pledged to protect the $1 billion earmarked for upstate revitalization.
Tops Markets is getting one of those state grants. Paterson said Tops will receive $1.2 million to assist with the creation of new jobs at the company's headquarters in Williamsville. Tops says it will add 140 jobs at the headquarters in addition to the 145 employees who already work there. Tops operates more than 71 supermarkets.
Paterson then held a private, 25-minute meeting with Mayor Byron Brown and Congressman Brian Higgins at City Hall Thursday. The Mayor says it was a chance to talk to the Governor about issues and priorities for Western New York.
At a news conference following the closed door meeting, Paterson stressed his deep concern about the state's fiscal troubles. He is asking cities like Buffalo to be prepared for less state aid than what was promised by former Governor Spitzer.
Paterson would not say how much state aid Buffalo stands to lose.