The Greenway Commission, created to revitalize the riverfront from Buffalo to Youngstown, relies on funding from the New York State Power Authority.  The plans could be sunk by Niagara County entities who want to use the money for other projects.

I am not going to discuss the merits, or lack of, for the Greenway Commission’s plans.  The more important issue is why we continue to let the New York State Power Authority overcharge us for electricity.  It is this legalized robbery that enables the NYSPA to dole out money for non-electric producing projects.  It is funding part of our waterfront development as well as donating hundreds of millions of dollars to New York State.  The value of our money is being diluted as it is filtered through various authorities and levels of bureaucracies.  It is a highly efficient government jobs creating program for the politically connected and highly wasteful for the taxpayers.

We, the taxpayers, need to put the pressure on our elected officials to eliminate the New York State Power Authority and all other wasteful public authorities.  Electric rates for Western New York could probably be cut in half, that would benefit everyone and help nurture an economic upswing for the area.  The ultimate result would be the completion of waterfront projects, and others, through the creation of wealth instead of the legalized extortion we are currently experience.