The federal government warned the governor that if those signs don't come down, it's holding onto $14 million in highway money.

So that's what we wanted to ask the governor when he was in Rochester on Wednesday. What are you prepared to do?

The governor took lots of pictures but he left downtown without taking any questions from local reporters. However, News10NBC got his answers on the topic when he took questions in Buffalo.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, (D) New York: "We are still discussing with the federal government what changes they want to the signs. But the I Love New York campaign itself has run its course. I think we've run that campaign for a few years now."

News10NBC investigated the sign story for more than a year. That's why we know the governor said the "I Love NY campaign had run its course" about a year ago.



The signs tell people on the thruway about tourism opportunities in the area.The federal government says they're illegal because they don't give specific directions like the green highway signs do.

The deadline for the signs to come down is Sept. 30. The governor will only say this.

Cuomo: "The federal Department of Transportation has some technical issues with the signs that we're working on."

When we asked the New York State Department of Transportation what the governor meant by "technical issues" the department spokesman, Joe Morrisey, wrote in an email, "We continue to work cooperatively with [Federal Highway Administration] to resolve any remaining issues and will provide an update soon."

Based on median salaries, here's what $14 million can buy.

- 22 teachers for 10 years in Monroe County.

- 26 police officers for a decade in Rochester.

- 32 social workers over the same period of time in New York State.

News10NBC asked the federal government for a comment on what the governor said, but we have not received a response yet. News10NBC will also be watching the signs when the deadline comes Sunday.