Cuomo in Potsdam Thursday to unveil development councils

Gov. Andrew Cuomo will visit Potsdam Thursday to unveil the north country's regional economic development council, part of his highly touted effort at "jobs, jobs jobs."

The councils are an effort to localize economic development — what does Albany, after all, know about Ogdensburg?

The panels have generally been made up of academic types, so don't be surprised when you see school presidents heading the north country's council (which is exactly why this announcement is happening in Potsdam).

The councils will compete over $1 billion in funds from the state for economic development projects. (I wonder how wind could play a role in this.)

Interestingly, lawmakers have not found their way on the panels. Legislators had balked at even approving the councils, because, in their opinion, who knows their districts better than they do?