Unshackle Upstate Releases 2021 Advocacy Agenda
January 25th, 2021
Pro-taxpayer organization advocates for pro-growth measures to rebuild the state’s economy.
Unshackle Upstate, a pro-taxpayer education and advocacy organization, released its 2021 Advocacy Agenda. Citing widespread business closures, job losses and the state’s economic crisis, the organization seeks to promote pro-growth measures that accelerate New York’s recovery.
The organization’s key priorities for the 2021 legislative session include:
- Reducing the income tax rate, corporate tax rate and sales tax rate for localities with fewer than 1 million residents;
- Creating of an Upstate legislative caucus;
- Enacting COVID-related protections for employers;
- Pausing future minimum wage increases until the Upstate economy recovers;
- Reforming Prevailing Wage calculations; and
- Enacting a 5-year moratorium of the Scaffold Law.
“Given the state of New York’s economy, embracing a pro-growth mindset in 2021 is essential to the future. Over the last year, countless businesses have closed, more than 1 million New have lost their jobs, and more than 100,000 residents have fled to other states. We’re not just dealing with a public health crisis – we’re also in the midst of an historic economic crisis,” said Justin Wilcox, executive director of Unshackle Upstate. “Our 2021 advocacy agenda offers a map that will get New York on the road to recovery. Fast-tracking the proactive measures in this agenda will provide relief to our small businesses and revive our communities. It’s time to stand up for Upstate and get our economy growing.”
Statewide, roughly one in four small businesses remain closed since January 2020, according to an analysis from Opportunity Insights – a joint effort between Harvard University, Brown University and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Additional data from the U.S. Census Bureau found that New York lost nearly 1.4 million residents to other states since 2010. According to the latest unemployment figures from the New York State Department of Labor, more than 1 million jobs have been lost since December 2019.
“The facts about New York’s business closures, population decline, job losses speak for themselves,” said Justin Wilcox. “The question now is simple and stark: Will Albany take the necessary actions to rebuild the state’s shattered economy and reclaim our status as the Empire State?”
Unshackle Upstate encourages all New Yorkers to read its 2021 Advocacy Agenda and share their thoughts through the organization’s website, Facebook page or Twitter account.