Weeks after Christmas, Gov. Cuomo is still playing Santa Claus — and boy is his bag big.
In the runup to Wednesday’s State of the State Address, the governor’s been promising huge new construction projects all across the state.
The big mystery: how he’s going to pay for it all. A partial list:
- Major expansion and improvements to the LIRR.
- Free Wi-Fi throughout the MTA.
- Another overhaul plan to extend Penn Station to the post office across Eighth Avenue.
- A $1 billion Javits Center expansion.
- A $5 million “study” of building a Long Island Sound crossing.
- A freeze on Thruway tolls — even though the Thruway Authority’s supposedly covering the $5 billion tab for the new Tappan Zee Bridge.
This, on top of the billions he’s promised for a new rail tunnel beneath the Hudson, plus billions more for various bridge and highway projects outside the metro area.
Heck, there’s still no hint where the state’s getting the billion-plus needed to finish the East Side Access project to bring the LIRR into Grand Central.
The Penn Station work, Cuomo says, will be covered by the private sector in one of those miraculous “public-private partnerships.” We look forward to seeing the fine print on that one — and the full details on the rest of these “gifts.”
Mind you, the governor still hasn’t explained how he’s going to finance the Tappan Zee work — already well under way.
This infrastructure spree is part and parcel with other Cuomo giveaways — minimum-wage hikes for all! Tax credits for small business! Pie in the sky, by and by!
In his address last week, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said outright that he wants big tax hikes. That’s a terrible idea in an already overtaxed state — but give him points for honesty.
Many of the governor’s ideas are welcome — but not the Santa act. At day’s end, Mommy and Daddy Taxpayer will still end up paying big time for the presents on Uncle Andrew’s list.
