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In 1978, the City of Buffalo established the Buffalo Economic Renaissance Corporation (BERC) as a public-private partnership organization eligible to receive federal economic development aid and designed to more appropriately involve the private sector in City economic development initiatives.

BERC is a Section 501(c)(4), not-for-profit local development corporation pursuant to the statutes of New York State. BERC also qualifies under HUD and EDA regulations to receive funding as a local development corporation. It is a membership corporation that meets SBA requirements. BERC was modeled after the Philadelphia (PA) Industrial Development Council (PIDC). Established in 1956, the PIDC was the most successful organization of its kind in the country at that time. BERC's semi-independent operation is representative of most urban economic development corporations nationally. Unlike many of its counterparts in other medium-sized U.S. cities, BERC is a comprehensive, effective and successful economic development corporation. It successfully places a high priority on creating jobs, recruits and maintains excellent and aggressive staff, and enjoys a close working relationship with the City of Buffalo, the ECIDA, New York State, the federal government and area banks.

Vision Statement

The City of Buffalo will be one of the best cities in North America to do business, create jobs and, ultimately, profit. Buffalo will be the hub of a vibrant and growing regional economy, with the private and public sectors working together in harmony and contributing toward accomplishing a shared agenda.

Mission Statement

The emphasis will be placed toward the development of small businesses and strengthening neighborhood commercial districts. Success will be measured ultimately by the amount of jobs created for residents in low-moderate income communities, our ability to leverage our diverse population and our ability to enhance trust through open and ongoing dialogue within BERC, amongst our strategic partners and the community.

We will develop simple tools and deliver them in a streamlined manner.

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'Retirement' sweet for 8 double-dippers in Congress who collect state pensions
BY GLENN BLAIN     
DAILY NEWS ALBANY BUREAU

Monday, August 30th 2010, 4:00 AM


Van Buren/Times Union
Congressman Paul Tonko is one of the 8 New York members of the House of Representatvies who collect a state pension in addition to their regular salaries from the federal government.

ALBANY - Eight New York House members are getting thousands of dollars in taxpayer-funded pension payments on top of their six-figure salaries, the Daily News has learned.

The double-dipping eight - including three House of Representatives members from the city - are collecting pensions for government posts they held in New York before being elected to Congress.

"You've got to be kidding me," said an incredulous Dick Dadey, executive director of the good-government group Citizens Union.

"Pensions are for when you retire, not when you are continuing to work," Dadey said. "In these tight fiscal times, elected officials are not setting a good example."

Rep. Paul Tonko, an Albany-area Democrat and former assemblyman, receives the biggest pension of the eight, taking $64,641 annually, state pension records posted online by the Empire Center for New York State Policy show.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_.....etwork#ixzz0yEOFnedU

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Keeping adult kids on health plans too costly

    As the parent of two unemployed college graduates, I welcomed President Obama’s health care reform that deluded me into thinking I would be allowed to continue providing health care coverage for my sons under the family plan of our current health insurance.
    One of the goals of Obama’s health care plan, called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, was to provide an option for adult, unmarried children to be carried under their parents’ policy until the age of 26 if the children are not covered under their own employers’ plans.
    I wonder how many other employed parents will be surprised in the next few months when they attempt to keep their under 26-year-old uninsured child under their current health plan and fi nd out what it is going to cost them monthly. We have just learned that my family’s health insurance through our employer — the state of New York — will cover our children through the Young Adult Option. This “benefi t” will cost us between $400 and $600 monthly per child, depending on which insurance company we chose.
    Is this really an option for most middle-class families, to add this kind of expense to their monthly budget? I urge parents to contact their employer’s benefits administrator ASAP and learn how much of the cost of this new benefit is being passed onto them — the employee.

    MAUREEN UTZ-MEAGHER
    Scotia

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SCHENECTADY
End-of-life care changing in N.Y. New law requires doctors to offer counseling
BY SARA FOSS Gazette Reporter

    When Dr. George Giokas was in medical school, he received no training in how to tell patients they were dying.
    “Many years ago, I felt uncomfortable talking to patients,” Giokas said. “As a doctor, you never want to take away a patient’s hope.” But in the years since, he has learned that “these conversations don’t destroy hope.” Instead, they can help patients live out their final days in dignity and comfort.
    Today Giokas leads the palliative care consultation service that was launched last year at Ellis Hospital. The service is a collaboration between Ellis and The Community Hospice, which serves the Capital Region, and Giokas’ team includes a nurse, social worker and pastoral care staff. Together, they attempt to determine what the patient understands about their illness, fi gure out what’s important to the patient, develop the best plan of care and set goals.
    More New York patients will soon begin receiving similar care at the end-of-life, or at least learning about it.
    Earlier this month Gov. David Paterson signed the New York Palliative Care Information Act, which requires physicians to offer patients diagnosed with a terminal illness or their representatives information and counseling on the available options for palliative and end-of-life care.
    Under the law, this requirement can be fulfilled by the physician, or by referral or transfer to another health care practitioner. Information and counseling will not be provided to patients who do not want it. ...................>>>>...................>>>>....................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01101&AppName=1

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Ground Zero Muslim center may get public financing

NEW YORK | Fri Aug 27, 2010 3:58pm EDT

(Reuters) - The Muslim center planned near the site of the World Trade Center attack could qualify for tax-free financing, a spokesman for City Comptroller John Liu said on Friday, and Liu is willing to consider approving the public subsidy.

The Democratic comptroller's spokesman, Scott Sieber, said Liu supported the project. The center has sparked an intense debate over U.S. religious freedoms and the sanctity of the Trade Center site, where nearly 3,000 perished in the September 11, 2001 attack.

"If it turns out to be financially feasible and if they can demonstrate an ability to pay off the bonds and comply with the laws concerning tax-exempt financing, we'd certainly consider it," Sieber told Reuters.

Spokesmen for Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Governor David Paterson and the Islamic center and were not immediately available.

The proposed center, two blocks from the Trade Center site in lower Manhattan, has caused a split between people who lost relatives and friends in the attack, as well as conservative politicians, and those who support the project. Among those who support it are the mayor, civic and religious groups, and some families of victims.

The mosque's backers hope to raise a total of $70 million in tax-exempt debt to build the center, according to the New York Times. Tax laws allow such funding for religiously affiliated non-profits if they can prove the facility will benefit the general public and their religious activities are funded separately.

The bonds could be issued through a local development corporation created for this purpose, experts said.

The Islamic center would have to repay the bonds, which likely would be less expensive than taxable debt.................>>>>................>>>>...................http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE67Q5BW20100827

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