Press Releases

The following statement is attributable to Upstate United Executive Director Justin Wilcox: “Senator Kevin Parker and Assemblymember Didi Barrett get it. Their commonsense proposal (S6030/A6039) is a significant step toward providing greater equity for businesses, consumers, and ratepayers who will bear the costs as a result of the state’s zero-emissions goal. This proposal puts New York […]

With progressive legislators in the Capitol pushing bills that will drastically hike the state’s minimum wage and lead to significant job losses, reduced worker hours, income reductions, and closures across New York, business groups gathered in the Capitol this afternoon to urge caution and common sense. Earlier, hundreds of small business owners and advocates from across the […]

The following statement can be attributed to Upstate United Executive Director Justin Wilcox.   “The Senate’s proposal to create a Climate Change Superfund is not only reprehensible and irresponsible, it is outright dangerous. How can legislators make the conscious decision to penalize companies for supplying necessary heat and energy to families across Upstate New York? On the heels of historic […]

The following statement can be attributed to Upstate United Executive Director Justin Wilcox.   “We appreciate both the Senate and Assembly’s commitment to providing unemployment insurance relief to business owners across New York State – 98% of which are small and many family-owned. Relieving employers of the burden of UI debt, along with the assessments that go along […]

The following statement is attributable to Upstate United Executive Director Justin Wilcox: “Upstate ratepayers should not be forced to subsidize downstate as a result of downstate’s over-reliance on fossil fuels. The rushed decisions being made to meet the state’s unrealistic climate goals will make New York State even more unaffordable, send New Yorkers packing, and put […]

The following statement is attributable to Upstate United Executive Director Justin Wilcox: “While the Executive Budget includes necessary investments to expand broadband access and improve the state’s infrastructure, the Governor’s proposal falls short in addressing New York’s population exodus, mounting UI debt, and the viability of our small and family-owned businesses. In fact, the UI […]

As reported by Spectrum’s Susan Arbetter, a letter was sent to the New York State Department of Labor on Friday, January 13 asking for all information relating to fraud in the state’s unemployment insurance (UI). Small businesses have been shouldering the burden of New York’s massive UI debt for too long, and without any state […]

The following statement is attributable to Justin Wilcox, executive director of Upstate United  “The proposals outlined in Governor Hochul’s State of the State don’t meet the magnitude of New York’s population decline. New York’s sky-high tax burden and harsh business climate have played a role in driving out roughly 300,000 residents to other states over […]

New York State Dept. of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon discussed Unemployment Insurance fraud on Capital Tonight, reiterating that approximately $4 billion was lost to fraud, not $11 billion as indicated in Comptroller Tom DiNapoli’s audit. The Commissioner also discussed the impact on businesses. National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and Upstate United released the following statement […]

ROCHESTER, NY – Upstate United, a pro-taxpayer education and advocacy organization, released its 2023 Advocacy Agenda today. Highlighting New York State’s population problems and lagging economic recovery, Upstate United is calling on Governor Hochul and legislators to focus on pro-growth policies. “Our economy is struggling to recover from the pandemic and New Yorkers are fleeing […]