<p>AP
March 8, 2007 – ALBANY - State University of New York Chancellor John Ryan announced yesterday he will step down May 31, a move that took state leaders and SUNY employees by surprise. </p>
<p>The resignation could lead to Gov. Spitzer getting more involved in the university system, despite a majority of Pataki-era appointees on SUNY’s board. </p>
<p>Spitzer has created the Commission on Public Higher Education, which is expected to help plan the future of SUNY and the City University of New York. </p>
<p>“It’s surely a sign that Gov. Spitzer wants new leadership,” said SUNY Trustee Candace de Russy, who has long sought more accountability for SUNY’s academics and finances. </p>
<p>“Chancellor Ryan, unfortunately, has been a quintessentially status quo chancellor.” </p>
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<p>I hope he can make the system much better.</p>
<p>"PRESSMAN: What do you hope to accomplish in the immediate future, in the first year, as far as economic reform?</p>
<p>Gov. SPITZER: The first thing we need to do is bring back our upstate economy. The economy here in New York City is doing very well. We are very fortunate. Downstate, we need to invest to permit the economy to grow. It means more money for education, transportation, housing, critical investments that we will make in New York City. The upstate economy needs to pivot towards an innovation-based economy, which means investing in our university system, getting high-tech companies to invest, getting the jobs in Rochester and Buffalo and Syracuse and Binghamton that we know companies want to bring there.</p>
<p>PRESSMAN: Concretely, what are you going to do?</p>
<p>Gov. SPITZER: We are going to cut property taxes. We are going to make government more efficient, lower the cost of health care. We are going to invest in our university system because companies these days, when you ask them, where do you bring their jobs, will tell you over and over again, jobs go to those communities with the best universities. That is what we’re going to use as magnet. We have the best universities. So if we lower our cost structure, lower property taxes, make health care more affordable and better, which is part of the health care debate we’re having right now…</p>
<p>PRESSMAN: Right.</p>
<h2>Gov. SPITZER: …then we will become a magnet for jobs."</h2>
<p>This is an excerpt from an interview that the Governor of NY did with Gabe Pressman from News Chanel 4. It seems that he has pretty lofty goals. :-)</p>
<p>I would like to see him succeed.</p>