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February 13, 2009
Back and Forth: Developing Agenda with Marisa Lago
The Capitol
by Andrew J. Hawkins
A sharp-eyed reader tipped us off to this November interview with the president and CEO of the Empire State Development Corporation.
Over the summer, Gov. David Paterson (D) began to put together a team to run the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC), first appointing M&T Bank chief executive Robert Wilmers to chair the economic development agency. Two months later, he nominated former Citi executive Marisa Lago to be president and CEO.
Since then, Lago has been traveling to communities upstate and down in an effort to better acquaint herself with the state’s dire economic conditions. She agrees that times are tough for major development projects like Moynihan Station and Atlantic Yards, but sees opportunities for job growth and retention.
Lago talks about the search for a downstate chair, the need to improve infrastructure even during tough times, and the criticisms of Wilmers as a reluctant executive.
Posted by eric at February 13, 2009 10:02 AM