Endicott Mayor Frustrated over Lack of Communication, Action

11/21/2012 (Updated 11:23:13 PM)

(Source: Jason Weinstein)

"Let's not let Endicott know anything until they read it in the paper, and that's discouraging," said Endicott Mayor John Bertoni.

That's Endicott Mayor John Bertoni's reaction to news of what he calls 66 layoffs at Endicott Interconnect. He says hearing about such moves second-hand is indicative of a larger problem. EI's creation from an old IBM division 10 years ago was a much-heralded event.

But, Bertoni says, the same officials who celebrated the company's beginning have been unresponsive to the needs of the Village since.

"In six years I have not been called once by Senator Libous. And I've contacted his office but it's like, 'that's past. Let's move on.' I find fault even with Broome County. They're building a $10 million incubator. I mean, we've got buildings here," said Bertoni.

Bertoni is referring to a $22 million dollar high-tech business incubator to be built in downtown Binghamton to help bring technologies developed at Binghamton University to market.

"Why don't we come here and work with the Huron Campus to help EIT basically re-incubate, if there is such a word, themselves?" asked Bertoni.

What Bertoni wants is for the Village to be included in talks with state officials to come up with a game plan to turn under used buildings from IBM/Endicott's golden age into space for modern manufacturing.

"We can incorporate with let's say the Huron Campus and how we can utilize that for the future. Otherwise there's no sense in having those buildings. Let's tear them down," said Bertoni.

****In Endicott, Jason Weinstein, FOX 40 News****