The Democrat & Chronicle reported today that Governor David Paterson has vetoed $10 million in “spin-up” funding for the City of Rochester.  Spin up funds are advances on state funding for municipalities.  It comes out of funding already planned so it’s not extra cash on top of funds the City would have already received.

Gov. David Paterson has vetoed a $10 million “spin-up,” or advance in state aid to the city that would have helped accelerate work at Midtown and improvements to the Port of Rochester.

Paterson vetoed a similar advance the Legislature had put forward for Syracuse a few weeks ago.

The funding was to go to two City projects.

At Midtown, the money would have been put toward infrastructure related to a new street grid. The state already has committed more than $50 million to raze the downtown complex. Asbestos removal should begin next month.

At the port, where the city plans to build a new marina and attract private development, Walker said the money would have “jump-started” construction of new parking to offset the loss of parking anticipated when construction begins.

Most surprising was the reaction from City Hall:

The spin-up would have been “welcome resources to do more, faster on both projects,” Walker said, “but we understand the governor’s position and the financial crisis facing the state.”

“We understand?”  Why do we get the feeling had this been a republican Governor, the all Democrat City Hall would not have been so understanding.

This understanding leads me to believe one of two things are true – either Bob Duffy never really needed this funding in the first place.

Or, it’s deperately needed but the Democrat Mayor is providing some political cover for the accidental Democrat Governor.