Indeed. Upstate is chained to policies made by, and for, NY City, and its turning upstate into Appalachia. We are moving in opposite directions. I've always felt the State should be divided. Make NY City a "special district" like Washington DC. Or make a brand new state from Albany South. Upstate NY would then become a normal state, like PA or OH.
I’ve been thinking that Upstate NY and PA’s Northern Tier would make a nice state :-)