In 2011 Mark Poloncarz announced his “7 in 11” plan to turn around Erie County. Recently, WGRZ NBC 2 did an interview with Mark to go over his plan and see if he accomplished his goals, and you can watch that story HERE. Did he accomplish it: Yes! Here are the 7 points and the results:
1) Get a Bills Lease signed that keeps the team here. Did he? Yes.
2) Strengthen economy through creating jobs, focusing on the Canadian market for new companies, and the set up of a one stop shop for economic development. Did Mark? Yes to all 3, though he did hope to merge 6 IDAs into 1 as well. To accomplish that state laws must be changed.
3) Address increasing Medicaid expense by opening the Erie County Health Clinic for Medicaid recipients and creating the Medicaid Inspector General’s Office. Did he? Yes to both and he is most proud of opening the Erie County Health Mall at 1500 Broadway in Buffalo which is open to anyone, regardless of healthcare plan.
4) Stabilize and increase funding for the Buffalo and Erie County Library System. Did he? Yes and the library’s growth is even better than most county departments.
5) Increase funding to repair roads and bridges across the county and choose projects based on need, not politics. Did he? Yes as he spent more than the prior administration, more than $60m last 2 years alone, and the projects are based on road condition needs, not politics.
6) Invest in our formerly beautiful but then languishing Erie County Park System. Did he? Yes by hiring more staff and investing more than $5m in the county park system during the last 3 years and a planned $4.5 million this year alone!
7) Stabilize arts and cultural funding and set up an independent board to determine what groups should get aid. Did he? Yes on both counts.
Often people think politicians will say anything to get elected, but Mark Poloncarz has proved his campaign pledges were real and are now reality.