New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plan to pit seven upstate regions against each other in a competition for $1.5 billion in economic development funds has prompted some lawmakers and mayors to say the state shouldn't pick winners and losers.
The contest dubbed Cuomo's "Hunger Games" by some is part of ongoing budget negotiations between the governor and lawmakers. Senate Republicans have criticized the contest, saying regions shouldn't have to compete with each other for state help.
Cuomo's administration says the losing regions will continue to get regular economic development funds, and that the competition will spur innovation.
That's a common refrain for the Democratic governor, who has also announced business competitions in Buffalo, a clean-energy contest in the Southern Tier and an annual kayak race in the Adirondacks.
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