NEWS from Deborah Bush For State Assembly
For Release: IMMEDIATE Contact: Deborah Busch
Tuesday, May 18, 2010 (518) 928-1591
“NYC kids enjoy their new merry-go-round while Albany families get the
runaround,” Busch says
ALBANY – State Assembly candidate Deborah Busch today called on Assemblyman Jack
McEneny to explain to the people of Albany County his vote to earmark $21
million in state funds to build a new waterfront park in Manhattan while the
state was facing the economic crisis that would ultimately force the closure of
John Boyd Thacher State Park in Albany County.
Busch’s call comes after the New York Daily News reported in its May 18 edition
that on the same day Thacher Park and more than 50 other state run facilities
were closed due to the state’s budget crisis, Governor David Paterson was in New
York City cutting the ribbon on a brand new waterfront park, complete with
skateboard ramps and a new merry-go-round.
According to the Daily News article, the new section of the Hudson River Park
was built with $50 million from the city and state, including $21 million in
state funds earmarked by Governor David Paterson two years ago. The State
Legislature approved the funds.
“For years Jack McEneny and the career politicians in control of our state
government have been piling on new spending when we couldn’t even afford to
maintain what we already had,” Busch said. “They spent $21 million in tax money
so kids down in New York City can enjoy a new merry-go-round and now they can’t
afford to cut the grass at Thacher Park?”
Busch, who lives in the Town of Berne, just minutes from Thacher Park, said she
and her neighbors have been offended by McEneny’s attempts to distance himself
from blame for the park’s closure.
“Instead of standing up for the taxpaying families in his district, Jack McEneny
voted right along with the downstate politicians for bloated budget after
bloated budget,” she said. “So when he talks about how upset he is that Thacher
is closing, he knows full well that he has voted for all the spending and all
the misplaced priorities that created the budget deficit and forced the
closures,” she said.
“He’s as responsible for the closure of Thacher Park as anyone else and the
people of Albany County deserve an explanation,” she said.
