As New York Governor David Paterson prepares to deliver his first "State of the State" address on Wednesday many western New Yorkers are reacting to his budget proposals. Some local leaders are even heading to Albany to make sure their concerns are heard.

The governor is expected to talk about the diversity of New York state in his address as well as the importance of coming together as one unified state, but what can't be ignored is the state's current financial crisis. The prospect of a state budget that shifts the costs of mandated programs to the county level is driving Erie County Executive Chris Collins to make the drive down the thruway. "Social services, department of health, department of mental health, some of youth programs," says Collins, "The worry is they're going to continue to mandate that we provide the services but in cutting their portion of the funding the cost shifts (to the county)."

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown is also driving to Albany where he hopes to meet personally with the governor to push for items Brown says will help Buffalo help itself. That includes red light cameras to generate money for the city through traffic tickets. "To protect intersections and as we protect those intersections we would also be able to generate revenues," explains Brown.

Something else the mayor and others are concerned about is the future of the Empire State Games. Buffalo's scheduled to host the Olympic-style competition in 2010. "We bring in $4, 5, 6 million to the hotels and restaurants, and to various shops," says Lou Reuter, Western Region Director for the Empire State Games.

The Games could be in jeopardy if they lose state funding and one option to save the Games is to start charging athletes $300 each to participate. "The Empire State Games we're told there is no money available," say Reuter, who encourages concerned citizens to contact the governor and their state lawmakers to express their support for the Games.

Governor Paterson will not be doing a separate "State of Upstate" address. Instead he's planning a series of town hall meetings and that will likely include at least one stop in western New York.