It has been quite a year for upstate New York. Unshackle Upstate is pleased that the state is beginning to recognize that the upstate economy needs special attention. The Cuomo administration has been working hard to attract new businesses through the START-UP NY initiative, promote upstate tourism and support efforts to bring upstate's food and wine offerings to New York City restaurants.
These are all worthwhile efforts. Upstate has long struggled to meet the challenges of industrial and demographic decline in a state seen as difficult in which to do business.
We need lawmakers to take a look at what has been holding the economy back. It's time to address the problem of high taxes.
Earlier this year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo compared New York's high tax rates to having an anchor hanging around our necks. This is an all too apt metaphor.
That is why we proposed our "New ERA for Upstate" plan. We are urging lawmakers to provide broad-based tax relief to people in economically distressed areas.
The plan calls for lowering the income tax rate for low and middle income workers; eliminating the corporate franchise tax; ending the energy "surcharge" on manufacturers; reducing state sales tax in the upstate counties that suffer the most economically; and safely extracting natural gas from the Marcellus Shale.
This plan, whose details are on our website (http://www.unshackleupstate.com) will cost less than 1 percent of next year's state budget.
Though we limited the New ERA plan to upstate because we represent upstate taxpayers and businesses, we are not opposed to implementation of this plan statewide if that is what it takes.
The New York City-area's service economy, which includes finance, real estate, entertainment and media, is doing well, and this has benefited the rest of the state. This was not the case during the 1970s.
In 1975, upstate lawmakers responded to New York City's economic crisis, even though it did not impact their communities. State government took steps to prevent New York City from going into bankruptcy, setting the stage for its recovery.
Now, upstate families and businesses need the governor and Legislature to step up and deliver much-needed tax relief. Once elected officials review our New ERA for Upstate plan, we are confident that they will join Republicans and Democrats who have voiced their support.
New York's famously inhospitable business climate has been an economic burden for upstate for far too long. It is time for Albany to start making changes that will enable upstate to thrive.
Brian Sampson is executive director of Unshackle Upstate.