Press Releases

“As summer tourism season draws near, hundreds of thousands of visitors will flock to enjoy our Upstate communities, lakes, parks and festivals. It’s important for business that residents and visitors have access to modern and reliable transportation options. This will help boost Upstate tourism – a key component of the regional economy. We thank Senator […]

“This year’s state budget achieves some progress on long overdue reforms that will benefit Upstate’s communities and its economy. By green lighting ride-hailing services in Upstate New York, Governor Cuomo and the Legislature have created opportunity for Upstate cities and towns, and small businesses. Upstate New Yorkers will finally have the same modern, reliable transportation […]

“Unshackle Upstate applauds Majority Leader Flanagan and his Senate colleagues for putting forward a budget resolution that follows a path of fiscal discipline and specifically addresses several key items of importance to the Upstate economy – including long-overdue Workers’ Compensation reforms and allowing ride-hailing Upstate. Last year, Unshackle Upstate and our partners conducted a survey […]

“Unshackle Upstate is proud to join with fifty-eight other organizations in pushing for sensible and long-overdue reforms to New York State’s costly and outdated Workers’ Compensation program. Employers across the state pay the third highest workers’ compensation costs in the nation. Unnecessarily high workers’ compensation costs are a hidden tax that place Upstate employers at […]

“Since being established in 2011, New York’s Regional Economic Development Councils have played an important role in revitalizing the Upstate economy. We recognize that there is much more work to do on this front. However, enacting burdensome financial disclosure requirements will dissuade private sector volunteers from participating in the REDC process. These volunteers already abide […]

“Allowing ride-hailing services to operate in Upstate communities is long overdue and we thank the members of the Senate who voted in support of this proposal. Services like Uber and Lyft will provide Upstate residents and visitors with a safe, reliable transportation option that is already available in New York City and 47 states. Providing […]

“We thank the members of the Senate who voted in support of a permanent 2-percent property tax cap. Since it was enacted in 2011, the property tax cap has saved hardworking taxpayers more than $7 billion dollars. We call on the members of the Assembly to join with their Senate colleagues and pass a permanent […]

ROCHESTER, NY – Unshackle Upstate, a pro-taxpayer advocacy organization, has released its 2017 Legislative Agenda. In the comprehensive document, Unshackle Upstate calls for continued fiscal discipline, reforms to New York’s Workers Compensation program, ride-hailing in Upstate and action on other pro-growth measures. “The sensible reforms and proposals contained within this year’s agenda will get the Upstate […]

“We’re in the process of reviewing the numerous proposals advanced by Governor Cuomo but we’re certainly encouraged by the governor’s support for ride-sharing services in Upstate New York. Upstate residents, visitors and businesses will all benefit from greater access to safe, reliable and modern transportation options. We hope to see more proposals from the Governor […]

Unshackle Upstate (www.unshackleupstate.com), through its political action committee UPAC, today announced its endorsement of Sue Serino’s re-election campaign in the 41st Senate district. “We’re proud to support Sue Serino’s campaign because she’s demonstrated a strong commitment to easing New Yorkers’ tax burden and promoting job growth in the Hudson Valley,” said Greg Biryla, executive director of […]