Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says if laws were broken people need to be held accountable. But Poloncarz says, he doesn't think a federal probe will hurt the region's economic development program.
Investigators are scrutinizing Gov. Andrew Cuomo's former aides, Joe Percoco and Todd Howe, for possible conflicts of interest with Cuomo's Buffalo Billion program. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says, he doesn't think the region's revitalization, or reputation, will be harmed by the negative publicity.
"The projects have gone well, whether it's the Medical Campus, IBM, Solar City, the workforce project that's going at the Northland Park," Poloncarz said.
And the County Executive says, the probe is not so much directed at the Buffalo Billion as it is the way contracts are awarded under state law. He says, investigators could have focused on any project across New York.
"So, I don't think it's as much as a bad thing about the projects here in this region as it is for political reasons people are taking shots at the Buffalo Billion knowing that it is a major initiative of the governor's. And it would be, in effect, taking a shot at the governor," Poloncarz said.
Cuomo has also launched an internal investigation. And he said, on Tuesday, that he will "be the first to throw the book" at anyone with ties to his administration if investigations find any wrongdoing.