[Alter Kaker]

A bigger problem is that there are huge areas of slums and burned out houses where thugs are on the second or third generation of welfare payments from taxpayers largely living in upstate NY, and where it’s unsafe to go.

Wait, you think Upstate NY subsidizes New York City? Have you set foot in New York State in the last 20 years? Upstate's economy is anemic - at best. Its population is shrinking. Upstate cities have all of the urban problems of NYC, but none of the economic activity.

[Alter Kaker]

Just to give you some numbers....

According to a Rockefeller Institute study, in 2009-2010:

NYC paid out $4.1 billion more in taxes to New York State than it received in services;

Suburban New York Counties (Rockland, Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk) paid $7.9 billion more than they received;

Upstate New York received $12.1 billion more in services more than it paid in taxes. Upstate, therefore, is the big welfare sieve in the state.