Brooks delivers State of the County address

Posted at: 05/23/2012 6:48 AM
By: Amanda Ciavarri | WHEC.com

Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks said we are a community poised for greatness. She said that during what could be her last "State of the County” address.

Brooks is running for Congress, challenging incumbent Louise Slaughter.

Tonight she spoke about everything from jobs, to county finances, bullying and education.

“Monroe County's economy is absolutely on the right track.” Brooks struck an optimistic tone in her 2012 “State of the County” address. She touched on Kodak’s bankruptcy filing but said the company's many successful spin-offs have saved hundreds of jobs in our community. “All of these out standing local companies are outstanding examples of Kodak moments living on.”

Brooks says precision manufacturing is one area that has been booming. “Forty-percent of all manufacturing jobs are still in manufacturing and precision manufacturing accounts for 20-percent of all jobs in Monroe County.”

She says employers in this field are having trouble finding skilled workers. So this year, she wants to launch a new "Summer Precision Manufacturing Student Training” program. “Students will learn hands-on machining skills at BOCES-2 CENTER in Spencerport. These local 10th and 11th graders will also spend three Fridays visiting Monroe County manufacturers to see how their newly acquired skills can be applied.”

During this evenings address, there were a lot of thank-you’s and talk about things that have been done, but not a lot of talk about new initiatives for 2012.”

“I hope this is not a sign we are going to relax.” County Minority Leader Ted O'Brien, who is running for state Senate, says he's concerned with Brooks' optimistic tone on County finances.

She touted her record of holding the line on property taxes but O’Brien says she's done that by selling off County assets. “Since that time we've sold parking garages, we've sold power plants, we've sold real estate properties and development and now 10 years later, our net County assists are about$ 500 million so we've sold about half out assets in 10 years and that obviously is not sustainable.”

Brooks also called for legislation to make cyber bullying a crime in Monroe County. Those who use electronic devices to harass or threaten minors would face a $1,000 fine and up to a year in jail.

Have a story you want our news team to investigate? Call us at 585-232-1010, click here to send us an e-mail or leave us a Facebook post or tweet.

Print Story