Press Releases

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, executive director of Upstate United “Today, as Governor Hochul delivered her fourth State of the State address, she highlighted some new and relatable initiatives while many sounded all too familiar. “It’s important for New Yorkers to feel heard in their calls for driving costs down at […]

Asks the Governor and Legislature: What Increase in Gasoline Prices Are You OK With? Today, Upstate United released a fact sheet highlighting the increased gasoline costs associated with Cap-and-Invest. Troubling Trends – Cap-and-Invest Means Higher Prices at the Pump demonstrates the increases in energy costs under the state’s current proposal. “The numbers shared in our […]

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, executive director of Upstate United “Governor Hochul’s decision to sign the Climate Change Superfund Act law is a misguidedmove that does a disservice to all New Yorkers, who already pay enough to fund the short-sighted measures linked to the CLCPA. This legislation, while aimed to address […]

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United “The Department of Public Service’s failure to produce a second annual report containing a cost analysis of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) as required by order of the Public Service Commission continues to be a glaring red flag. […]

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United “The irony of Governor Hochul cautioning residents ahead of winter storm warnings while also contemplating amendments to retroactively penalize the very companies that keep homes warm during the coldest months should not be lost on Upstate residents. Regardless of the resounding […]

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United “While New York State is leading the country in population loss and is projected to lose as many as 2 million residents in the next twenty-five years, the Tax Foundation has also recently ranked New York dead last in its 2025 […]

The following statement can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United “The most recent US Census Bureau data showed us that New York continues to lead the nation in population decline. Nearly a year later, researchers from Cornell University found that the Empire State Exodus is projected to only worsen with the state’s population declining as much as […]

A statement from Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United. “In representing trade groups and regional chambers of commerce throughout Upstate New York, we know firsthand that many industries, business owners, and consumers are still recovering from the pandemic and battling inflation. This is the first strike of its kind since 1977, and in only […]

A statement from Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United. “From Wall Street to…Y’all Street? The latest moniker for the major shifts happening throughout the financial sector is proving to be a possibility in the future as growth across the industry in Texas outpaces New York by an alarming percentage. A recent article in the […]

A statement from Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United. “Following the release of the New York State Comptroller’s most recent audit, we reiterate our calls to pause the implementation of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) until critical issues are addressed. Moreover, the report shared today highlights what we have been saying publicly for years […]