Press Releases

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United “Whether it’s the initiatives being implemented to achieve the aggressive goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) or other pieces of legislation that pass costs down to ratepayers through state mandates, policymakers should acknowledge the role they have […]

Read the Upstate United 2025 Affordability Agenda here. With the 2025 Legislative Session scheduled to end in the coming weeks, Upstate United is releasing its 2025 Affordability Agenda. The non-partisan organization representing businesses and trade organizations focuses on being pro-taxpayer and pro-economic growth, with a strong emphasis on the needs of Upstate New York. “The buzzword of […]

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United “Today the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) released its annual Power Trends report, which once again points to the importance of maintaining grid reliability during a time of rapid transition. Public policies are driving more fossil generation into retirement to […]

“Legislation by two New York City lawmakers to regulate the number of cows on a dairy farm is just another example of why Upstate United was created in the first place, to speak out against poorly crafted policies driven by downstate legislators that impact the viability and success of Upstate families, industries and communities. They […]

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United “The Assembly and Governor’s agreement to pay off billions of dollars in pandemic-era Unemployment Insurance (UI) debt is a major victory for businesses and business owners statewide. For too long, businesses have struggled with labor shortages, supply chain issues, record-high inflation, […]

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United “Yet another data-driven analysis by the reputable experts at the Citizen Budget Commission (CBC) paints a bleak reality for New York City’s ability to compete with other parts of the country when it comes to affordability and quality of life. With some of […]

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United “While many policymakers and advocates are holding out hope that the Heat Act will be part of the final budget discussions, we urge New York State leaders to take note that Governors of other states, like Connecticut, Maryland and Pennsylvania, are simultaneously […]

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United “Igniting a trade war with some of our state’s closest allies will have a profoundly negative impact on Upstate business owners, industries such as farming and construction, and families alike. Tariffs are taxes. Period. And these chaotic double-digit tariffs could potentially […]

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United “According to a newly released study from Wallethub, New York is ranked at the top of the list for having the highest individual income tax burden (5.76% to state and local governments), second highest overall tax burden (13.56% of personal income), fourth highest in […]

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United “Recent calls by members of the Legislature to overhaul the state’s Public Service Commission (PSC) are misplaced and misguided. Whether it’s the initiatives being implemented to achieve the aggressive goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) or other […]