“NY City and Upstate NY have grown so far apart over the last 50 years.
“We used to share a common culture and economy, and therefore politics were more united. Now the two areas have gone in completely different directions.
“It would be ideal if somehow the state could be divided. Make NY City a district, like Washington DC.”
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One problem with seperating NYC from the rest of the state is that NYC and the surrounding suburban counties pay the majority of the taxes.
On the other hand, NYC water comes from the Catskills. The water is so good that it is a fair trade.
;-)
On the other hand, NYC water comes from the Catskills. The water is so good that it is a fair trade.
That's something I often hear. My answer is: There is no true accounting of this, and also - these things will sort themselves out after separation. We in Upstate pay higher taxes to Albany, who then deigns to give it back to us with transfers to their Gov't, education and business cronies in Upstate, and have the gall claim they are subsidizing us. We also suffer through rules, regulations and mandates made for NY City, which add to a high cost of living and doing business in Upstate. It is why jobs and young people are leaving, and most towns and small cities of Upstate look like Appalachia.
If this changed, Upstate NY could achieve a normal, balanced economy.
Also, does anyone count how much the NY State Power Authority (with a board comprised completely of downstate members) subsidizes NY City with cheap hydro-power from Niagara Falls?