N.Y. Public Authorities Law § 2675-b: Statement of legislative findings

§ 2675-b. Statement of legislative findings. It is hereby found,

determined and declared that there is an immediate need to institute a

comprehensive, coordinated program of convention activities in the city

of Albany. It is further found, determined and declared to be desirable

to create an Albany convention center authority to provide the city of

Albany with the capability to effectively and efficiently develop,

renovate and undertake certain transformational economic developmental

projects in the historic downtown area to optimize the economic and

social activities of the city and its environs. It is further found,

determined and declared that the construction, transformation and

improvement of new and existing facilities for a convention center

consisting of trade exhibition, hotel accommodations, transportation

infrastructure, tourism, theatre facilities, retail business, commercial

office space facilities, including services for the operation and

maintenance thereof, will provide significant economic and social

benefits to the city and county of Albany and the entire capital

district region and, that, consistent with social, economic,

environmental and other essential considerations of state policy,

locating and renovating these new and improved facilities in the

historic downtown area of the city of Albany is in the public interest,

given the convenience and accessibility of the city, its significance in

the history of the state and nation, its designation as a heritage area,

its stature as the capital city of the state and the seat of state

government, and the immediacy of the needs of the people of the state

for the realization of the significant economic and social benefits to

be derived from this convention center.

It is further found, determined and declared that the development of

the area is a matter of essential state and city concern, and that the

establishment and creation of an Albany convention center authority is

necessary to provide for the economic prosperity and general welfare of

the people of the city of Albany and the state of New York for the

construction, development, location and operation of a convention center

consisting of these facilities.

It is further found, determined and declared to be the intent of the

legislature that the Albany convention center authority shall carry out

its purposes and responsibilities directly and through agreements with

local entities, and that the Albany convention center authority shall be

created as a public benefit corporation and that the corporate programs

and powers conferred under this title and the expenditure of public

monies pursuant thereto, are in furtherance of a valid public interest

and public purpose.