ALBANY -- The billions of dollars New York sends to corporations each year stand in stark contrast to the current state deficit, noted a Buffalo lawyer who is trying to halt the long-standing practice of pork barrel spending, or giving grants to targeted industries in hopes of spurring economic growth.
"Schools are being closed. Parks are being closed," said James Ostrowski, who was appealing an earlier dismissal of his suit in state Supreme Court in Albany County.
He was requesting that the state's Appellate Division, Third Department, allow the suit to proceed.
Ostrowski's opponents, including New York state and IBM, had moved to dismiss his suit. Among other points, they say economic development grants aren't actually "gifts" that are constitutionally prohibited, but are instead deals in which companies agree to take certain actions in return for public funds.
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