COMPTROLLER SENDS LETTER TO INCOMING GOVERNOR HOCHUL, ENCOURAGING HER TO HELP SAVE OUR SKYWAY

Honorable NYS Governor Kathy Hochul

New York State Capital Building, Second Floor

Albany, NY  12224

Dear Governor Hochul: 

All the best as you prepare to become Governor.  If you succeed, we all succeed.  Our once great state diminished greatly with the disgraceful exit of soon to be former Governor Andrew Cuomo.  Those dark days are behind us.  Good governance is about looking forward, never behind.  If there’s anything I can do to help in the noble mission of cutting taxes, reducing regulations and funding police, I will gladly work with you to achieve those goals. 

I wanted to share with you my concerns about potential plans to still tear down our beloved Skyway.  We have only heard those ill-advised plans are “on pause.”  You once lived in Hamburg.  Ashley and I are raising our family here.  We both know how critically important this roadway is for us Hamburg taxpayers to get to and from downtown Buffalo. 

When other elected leaders aggressively pursued its destruction several months ago, many people started raising their voices in an effort to “Save Our Skyway.”  Back in March I was the first elected official to condemn tearing down the Skyway in a letter to Congressman Brian Higgins.  Since then, I’ve crisscrossed Erie County encouraging Town Boards to pass resolutions opposing the tearing down of the Skyway. 

Many thanks are also due to taxpayer Rachele Schneekloth of the “Skyway Club” and all its members.  They were instrumental and influential partners in Saving Our Skyway, or at least in putting destruction plans on pause.  To date the towns of Alden, Collins, Concord, Eden, Evans, Hamburg, Sardinia, Wales, and West Seneca have passed resolutions to Save the Skyway. 

I pledge to work with you in a bipartisan manner to be in the “construction” business.  Let’s not tear the Skyway down.  Together we can collaboratively build up our dilapidated infrastructure.  Hamburg and Erie County are wonderful places to live, work and play.  Unfortunately there are many pipe, sewer, drainage, roads and bridges that need repair or replacement.  Funds first geared towards tearing down the Skyway should be spent repairing and improving our dilapidated infrastructure.  Together let us build up, not tear down.

Thank you in advance for prioritizing the many needs of Hamburg and Erie County. As soon as possible, please let us know you share our passion for this compelling cause; that you in fact don't forget your Hamburg roots.

Sincerely,

Stefan Mychajliw

Erie County Comptroller

For pdf of letter, click HERE