Unshackle Upstate Advances Important Questions for Gubernatorial Debate

October 22nd, 2018

BUFFALO, NY – In an effort to ensure that the concerns of Upstate taxpayers are addressed in the upcoming Gubernatorial debate, Unshackle Upstate has advanced the following five questions to the debate moderators as well as Andrew Cuomo and Marc Molinaro:

– While New York’s 2% property tax cap has saved homeowners billions of dollars since its enactment, high property taxes continue to burden homeowners. As Governor, what’s your plan to actually reduce property taxes?

– From 2010 to 2017, 42 Upstate counties experienced populations decline. As Governor, what’s your plan to attract people back to these Upstate communities?

– New Yorkers pay some of the highest energy costs in the nation – due in part to our high energy taxes. As Governor, what’s your plan to reduce costs for energy consumers? Will you support private-sector investments that will make more natural gas available throughout the state?

– While Upstate employers have struggled to create jobs, businesses in New York City have accounted for 70 percent of the state’s new jobs since 2011. As Governor, what’s your plan to bring good paying jobs to Upstate communities?

– The New York State Assembly has approved a bill called the New York Health Act which would impose an expensive single-payer health insurance system in New York. A recent study found that this proposal would require $200 billion in new taxes to implement. As Governor, would you support this proposal and the tax increase that it would require? 

Citing the absence of Upstate-centric questions during the Democratic primary debate, Unshackle Upstate executive director Michael Kracker stressed the importance of including these questions in Tuesday’s debate, “Voters across Upstate New York deserve to hear directly from Andrew Cuomo and Marc Molinaro about their plans to address key Upstate issues including high taxes, good paying jobs and our declining population. The concerns of millions of hardworking Upstate New Yorkers must not be ignored.”