Empire Page Commits to "Improving New York"

ALBANY, NY (09/21/2008)(readMedia)-- Citing the lack of sufficient places where solutions to New York State's problems can be presented, discussed and read by decision makers and the general public alike, the Empire Page website is launching “Improving New York” – a web section devoted to promoting solutions via interviews and dialogue.

The interview subjects will be chosen by Empire Page editor Peter Pollak. "I believe there is no lack of people across the state who can offer insights and solutions to New York’s pressing problems," Pollak stated. "I hope to give people who have answers a venue to reach the Empire Page's audience."

Pollak argues that the severity of the problems facing New York has increased in recent weeks. New York has been highly dependent on Wall Street to spin off tax revenue in a volume that may not return for many years.

“The number of problems that New York faces these days requires a new environment for identifying viable solutions,” Pollak stated. “We can’t keep waiting for the current system to address such problems as the state’s unsustainable cost of local and state government coupled with the exodus of educated professionals.”

“We need solutions no matter where they can be found without regard to partisan considerations,” Pollak said. “I believe the Empire Page can stimulate discussion of solutions that can impact the decisions made by the governor and legislature.”

The first interview Pollak conducted is with Secretary of State Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez concerning the state’s program of promoting shared services by local government. The Secretary of State recently announced a series of technical workshops and the opening of grant applications for local government agencies ready to begin sharing services.

“We’re focusing on the issue of shared services to start this new section,” Pollak said, “because it represents a clear way that local government can become more efficient in the short run. However, that is not likely to be enough. We’re going to look for other answers.”

The Empire Page is published by PoliticalNewsToday.com, LLC, which seeks to provide information and opinion on the key issues of the day through websites that aggregate content and provide useful features for people active in government and politics. The partnership consists of Peter G. Pollak, who is the majority shareholder and actively manages the company, Schwartz-Heslin Group and Wynantskill Capital.