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“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 […]

The state’s leading business organizations – Unshackle Upstate and NFIB – renewed their collective opposition to proposed legislation that would impose new energy mandates on consumers and businesses across New York. The Climate and Community Protection Act (S2992/A3876) is currently under consideration by the state Senate and Assembly would eliminate all greenhouse gas emissions by […]

ALBANY, NY – More than a dozen pro-business, pro-taxpayer organizations have sent a letter to legislators and members of Governor Cuomo’s administration voicing their unified opposition to the Farmworker Fair Labor Practices Act. The proposal, which is being sponsored by Senator Jessica Ramos and Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan, would force sweeping new labor mandates onto New York’s agricultural […]

“Upstate, agriculture remains a significant driver of economic development and an important piece of our regional identity. With over 33,000 farms spread across the state, the men and women in this industry work tirelessly to put food on the table for people across New York, the nation and the world. Unfortunately, the proposed Farmworkers Fair […]

“The findings of today’s Siena poll (https://scri.siena.edu/2019/04/16/voters-strongly-say-permanent-property-tax-cap-plastic-bag-ban-are-good-for-ny/) should serve as a major wake-up call for our leaders in Albany. New Yorkers recognize that the State’s business climate and fiscal outlook are troublesome at best. Improving New York’s harsh business climate starts by rejecting proposals including an expanded prevailing wage mandate, a single payer health scheme […]

“Before legislators advance any new bill relating to farm labor, we urge them to commit to additional hearings to get feedback from New York’s diverse agriculture industry. There are more than 35,000 farms across every region of New York State. Farmers and farm workers in Western New York, Southern Tier, North Country and Capital Region […]

“The enactment of a permanent 2% property tax cap is a massive win for hardworking taxpayers across New York State. We’ve been advocating for this measure for more than a decade and we’re grateful that Governor Cuomo and the members of the Legislature finally delivered on the promise to keep the cap for good. Economic […]

“Today’s report from the Department of Labor is another sad reminder of the stark differences between the Upstate and Downstate economies. Of the roughly 100,000 new jobs created in New York in 2018, more than 90 percent were created in the New York City region. As the state budget negotiations move forward, these numbers should […]