Klein's Comments on State's Woes Praiseworthy

An article in today's Democrat & Chronicle highlighted the RBA Small Business Council's Businessperson of the Year, award winner Joe Klein. Mr. Klein is a native Rochesterian who has built a customized steel manufacturing company here, Klein Steel, which employs about 135 people. During his acceptance speech he criticized specific legislators, union officials and companies doing business with state government whom he felt made New York, "not a fair, honorable state to live in." Amen!

New York has been hijacked by a bunch of power hungry, self righteous, pork barreling goons. They have managed to turn the state completely upside down. We are currently rated as having among the worst state governments, sales tax rates, property tax rates, income tax rates, highest, workers comp rates, and overall business climate. Why the heck is everyone else in the business community taking this lying down? I don't know Mr. Klein well, but I did have the privilege of serving with him on Bob Duffy's Economic Development Transition Team. Joe Klein loves this community and has been fighting hard for years to keep a business growing despite the obstacles of doing business in this state. I applaud Joe for standing up and making the case that New York is on its knees and unless more people stand up against the status quo, we're in for some serious hard times.

The Rochester Business Alliance and the Small Business Council president, Thomas Ioele, both distanced themselves from Mr. Klein and his remarks after it became clear that feathers were ruffled. It is a shame to see an organization created to help businesses thrive in Rochester, NY pass on the opportunity to build support around Joe Klein's comments.

Admittedly I have not yet heard the full content of the speech and will be making every effort to find it and make it available to you.