Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi is calling for the state to give New York businesses a fair shot when it comes to subcontracts for state projects to manufacture 'I Love New York' signs for the Department of Transportation.

His comments stemmed from media reports that an Arkansas firm printed 'I Love NY' road signs promoting state attractions and products. Brindisi said in a release,

"At a time when the upstate New York economy is still struggling, many New York workers are not feeling the love with the news that a series of ‘I Love NY’ highway signs were printed in Arkansas.  I have written to the State Transportation Commissioner, asking for more stringent guidelines to ensure New York companies are given priority in the awarding of contracts in the future.  There are enough New York State companies looking for projects that we should not be exporting work for state projects to out of state firms.  It’s simply a bad sign when New York picks Arkansas for a project promoting our state."

There were three contracts awarded for the manufacturing of the signs. One of those contracts went to a Long Island company, and when they were unable to complete the project, it was then subcontracted to the Arkansas company.

Many of the signs promoting 'Taste NY,' 'The Path Through History,' and other programs were manufactured by Interstate Sign Ways of Arkansas. Brindisi did say that some of the signs were made by the Hermosa Corporation of New York Mills. Brindisi has written a letter to NYS Department of Transportation commissioner, Matthew Driscoll, to voice his concerns.

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