Press Releases

Citing a recent audit from Comptroller DiNapoli, Upstate United requests members of the Senate and Assembly to hold hearings. ROCHESTER, NY – Upstate United, a non-partisan pro-taxpayer organization, released a letter to Senator James Skoufis and Assemblyman John McDonald today urging them to hold hearings involving the New York State Department of Labor’s mismanagement of […]

The following statement is attributable to Justin Wilcox, executive director of Upstate United  “The damning report released today by Comptroller Tom DiNapoli must be a wake-up call for Governor Hochul and legislators. The New York State Department of Labor’s numerous failures show a total disregard for New Yorkers who needed help during the pandemic as […]

The following statement is attributable to Justin Wilcox, executive director of Upstate United “Upstate United congratulates Governor Kathy Hochul on her historic victory. Now, more than ever, we need leaders in Albany to step up and do everything in their power to get Upstate communities and our economy growing once again. Moving forward, Governor Hochul […]

The following statement is attributable to Justin Wilcox, executive director of Upstate United. “For overburdened employers across New York, the Tax Foundation’s new 2023 State Business Tax Climate Index is anything but surprising. New York’s business tax climate — the second worse in the nation for the fifth year in a row — makes it […]

The following statement is attributable to Justin Wilcox, executive director of Upstate United “IBM, which has a long-standing history of innovation and job creation in Upstate New York, is strengthening its New York roots with this $20 billion investment over the coming decade. IBM’s high-tech projects will spark job growth and economic activity in the […]

The following statement is attributable to Justin Wilcox, executive director of Upstate United “This historic $100 billion investment by Micron will create good-paying jobs and provide a major boost to Central New York’s local economies. We applaud the collaborative efforts of Senator Schumer, Governor Hochul and Onondaga County Executive McMahon as well as Micron President […]

The following statement is attributable to Justin Wilcox, executive director of Upstate United  “There’s no doubt that Commissioner Reardon’s disastrous decision will lead to fewer family farms, smaller paychecks for farm workers and higher costs for consumers. The fact remains that New York has been losing farms for decades – more than 3,800 over the […]

The following statement is attributable to Justin Wilcox, executive director of Upstate United  “The August 2022 Consumer Price Index published today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that sky-high inflation is still squeezing struggling consumers and employers across the nation. The rising costs of food – 11.4 percent over the last – year […]

The following statement is attributable to Justin Wilcox, executive director of Upstate United  “The report advanced today by the Farm Laborers Wage Board is a death sentence for many family farms across the state. Wage Board members Brenda McDuffie and Dennis Hughes ignored the pleas of hardworking farmworkers and farmers – the majority of whom […]

The following statement is attributable to Justin Wilcox, executive director of Upstate United “Micron’s decision to build its new $15 billion chip plant in Idaho shows that New York can’t compete with other states for major, transformative projects. The state’s new Green CHIPS program simply can’t overcome its massive tax burden and harsh business climate. […]