Some members of the region's state delegation disagree over Governor Cuomo's $145 billion budget, though the reactions are generally mixed along party lines.
"It's one thing to say you have one big initiative...building the Javits Center," said Republican Assemblymember Jane Corwin, who shared her concerns regarding the costs and scope of the proposals.
"It's another thing to have the Tappan Zee Bridge, the Javits Center, the Thruway...LaGuardia Airport, JFK. He enumerated more than a dozen major projects."
Cuomo's proposal would increase total spending by nearly two percent or $1.7 billion.
"These infrastructure projects are usually worth the investment," argued Democratic Assembly member Sean Ryan.
"Imagine if we had said no to building an airport in Buffalo because it was too expensive. We have tens of thousands of Canadian travelers coming through. Hotel rooms are filled up. People are able to conduct business because we have a modern airport, " Ryan said.
Cuomo said he wants to spend massively on roads and bridges and other upstate needs. Democratic State Senator Marc Panepinto says he hopes the governor has a plan on how to pay for his wish list.
"Hopefully, it will be a mixed use of funding from settlement funds, bonds, and from general fund monies. I'm hoping it's a long-term infrastructure plan for New York State, which is something that's been sorely needed for am long time," said Panepinto.
That need for a long-term plan applies across the political aisle, with Republican State Senator Patrick Gallivan agreeing.
"We do need a long-term plan, a five-year plan like we've had in the past, and we need to ensure that there's parity with transportation funding that's gone down to New York City," said Gallivan.
Gallivan says he is studying the budget plan to see how all of this will be paid for.
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown says there are a lot of good things for the city in the State of the State message. He noted more money for schools and for infrastructure and says the push for higher goals for women and minorities will spread the benefits of the city's economic resurgence.
Brown says the city is ready when the proposed infrastructure money is ready.
"The great thing about is in Buffalo...is that we have a ready-to-go list of projects and certainly could be very quick to respond to the funding once it's put in place," Brown told WBFO.
Brown says the area will benefit because one of the key Albany people handling the budget and state spending is the chair of the Senate Finance Committee and its new chair, Olean Senator Cathy Young.
