Press Releases

BUFFALO, NY – Today, Unshackle Upstate released a letter to Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislature in opposition to the proposed Transportation Climate Initiative (TCI). The TCI is a regional collaboration of 12 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia considering participation in a “cap and invest” program. The goal of the initiative […]

“The results of this Minimum Wage report run counter to the concerns we hear from business owners throughout Upstate New York. In our recent Business Climate Survey, Upstate employers listed minimum wage increases among their top concerns in the upcoming year. These hardworking New Yorkers know firsthand that burdensome employer mandates hurt their ability to […]

“Overburdened taxpayers across New York should be outraged by the recommendations in this report. Spending one cent of public money on robocalls, lawn signs and campaign mailers is one penny too many. New York has far too many other needs – aging infrastructure, lack of rural broadband and underfunded workforce development programs – to be […]

BUFFALO, NY – Taxes, mandates and state spending are just a few of the issues that Upstate employers say impact their ability to operate and succeed according to a new survey released by Unshackle Upstate. The findings, collected from 100 businesses across Upstate New York, highlight employers’ perspectives on the impact of the 2019 legislation session as […]

“The Tax Foundation’s new 2020 State Business Tax Climate Index should serve as a wake-up call to every elected official across the state. In this year’s rankings, New York moved backwards from 48th in 2019 – achieving the second-worst business tax climate in the nation. This dishonorable distinction will make it more difficult for New York to […]

Today in Albany, the un-elected New York State Public Campaign Financing Commission will hold their second meeting to discuss a plan to spend $100 million of taxpayer money on political campaigns. According to an April 2019 poll conducted by the Siena Research Institute, 63 percent of New Yorkers oppose public financing of political campaigns.   […]

“Today’s signing of the new farm labor mandates is another blow to the Upstate economy. New York State has lost thousands of farms in recent years and under these new mandates, more closures and job losses are on the way. Additionally, families will pay more for farm goods at the grocery store and their local […]

“At the start of the year, Governor Cuomo declared himself the voice of Upstate. But with this latest proposal on prevailing wage, he might as well hang a ‘Going Out of Business’ sign across Upstate New York. Expanding prevailing wage in the state’s most economically distressed communities while carving out New York City makes absolutely […]

ALBANY, NY – “With just three legislative measures, our leaders in Albany have wreaked havoc on the Upstate economy. The advancement of new mandates on farm labor, energy and expanded prevailing wage requirements will devastate Upstate communities for years to come. These radical policies will undoubtedly drive up the cost of living and drive out […]

ALBANY, NY – With less than one week remaining in the 2019 legislative session, Unshackle Upstate and its partner organizations are urging the Legislature to support inclusive and transparent discussions on potential prevailing wage legislation. Given the significant impact this proposal will have on the state’s economy, particularly Upstate, stakeholders deserve the opportunity to voice […]