Links roundup—extended edition

The budget

• What’s in the proposed state budget for public authorities? [Div. of Budget]
• State budget plan carves out $5 billion for new Tappan Zee Bridge. [Journal News]
• Questions surround Cuomo’s $15 billion fund for infrastructure. [Star Gazette]
• Cuomo’s $15B infrastructure plan hailed, but some question funding sources. [Journal News]

Economic development

• A company that received tax breaks from the Erie County IDA for decades and then moved to Rochester with help from the Monroe County IDA is being accused of job piracy. [WNED] [YNN]
• Hundreds of union members protested this weekend about the Niagara County IDA’s subsidy policies. [Niagara Gazette]
• Bronx in a ‘food fight’ with New Jersey over potential site of new Fresh Direct headquarters. [NY Daily News]
• Report: States Lack Sound, Consistent Policies to Enforce Job‐Creation and Other Performance Requirements in Economic Development Subsidy Programs [Good Jobs First]

MTA

• MTA chief Joe Lhota wants to tackle the subway’s “broken window” problems by repainting stations, making other cosmetic improvements, and getting rid of rats. [2nd Ave. Sagas]
• Lhota also says that the MTA needs new tax revenues, which could possibly come from an expanded MTA sales tax, public private partnerships, or tax increment financing. [Streetsblog]
• Speaking of rats, the Transport Workers Union launched an online subway rat picture contest. [Animal NY]
• And speaking of the Transport Workers Union, talks between the union and the MTA have stalled, with the union accusing the authority of bad faith negotiations. [NYT]
• Transit agencies grapple with the need for wider seats. [NYT]

NFTA

• The ABO has agreed to audit the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority and investigate the cause of its budget problems. [Artvoice] [WGRZ]

Port Authority

• Port Authority chief Pat Foye wants the authority to return to its core mission after the “mission drift” that followed 9/11. [Capital NY]