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Albany has failed us; now, progress relies on citizen groups pestering our leaders
Press Republican ^ | 5/2/06 | staff

Posted on 05/03/2006 8:01:18 AM PDT by qam1

What a disturbing statistic: Between 2000 and 2004, about 183,000 more people left New York state than moved here from other states. If that isn't seen as a signal that something has to change in the way this state conducts its affairs, then no signal at all will be recognized.

While New York was losing all those people in a mass exodus, Florida was gaining a like number. The repercussions of that kind of exchange are numerous, but the most important and crippling effect is economic.

We are losing tax revenue. The loss of residents indicates a loss of jobs. A loss of jobs betokens an industrial and commercial lethargy. It says that young people are less likely to find suitable careers in their home state and will have to look elsewhere, discouraging families and further adding to the flight.

And what does Albany do about it? Promise tax rebates amounting to a few hundred dollars per family.

We don't need rebates; we need a comprehensive plan to reduce personal and corporate taxes and fees so New York is attractive to businesses and industries, not repellent.

It's not as if New York state offers no promise whatsover. The Hudson Valley is on the cusp of a nanotechnology explosion because of great foresight on the part of some leaders. We believe that here, in the North Country, we have the potential to become a transportation center, as we pursue a number of avenues relating to the aviation industry.

But the divisive political fights in Albany among the governor, the Senate majority leader and the Assembly speaker keep feeding the realization that this state is so bound up in acrimony that real reform must take place in spite of the leadership, not because of it.

Upstate, groups are forming to take their battle to Albany, armed with blocs of voters who are dissatisfied with the pace of progress in the Capitol. They want to do away with red tape, bring salaries and benefits in state jobs back into line with the private sector and wring some useful, productive inducements out of Albany for industrial immigration and job growth.

Statistics show that New York's big cities experienced a 3-percent job growth the past 15 years, compared with 21 percent for the nation. That is not a coincidence. It is the result of the state being run in a way that discourages industry instead of encouraging it.

If government cannot or will not make the necessary corrections, citizens groups must take the initiative. Government representatives must be held more accountable than ever before.

The numbers underline the urgent need for significant change. It's just too bad it has to come from a grassroots movement instead of from the people we elect for such things.


TOPICS: Extended News; Government; US: New York
KEYWORDS: bluestate; newyork

1 posted on 05/03/2006 8:01:21 AM PDT by qam1
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To: neverdem; The Mayor

Ping


2 posted on 05/03/2006 8:02:15 AM PDT by qam1 (There's been a huge party. All plates and the bottles are empty, all that's left is the bill to pay)
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To: qam1
They want to do away with red tape, bring salaries and benefits in state jobs back into line with the private sector

But they are part of the problem. My neighbor works for the State of New York and has benefits like no other job I have ever heard of. He has more time off (personal days, sick days, vacation days, political correct holidays) than any private job would provide. I love when he complains that the State would like them to kick in for more of their health insurance i.e co-payments for doctor appointments. He feels he is entitled to free everything.

Agree with article though that the problem lies with all those liars in Albany.

3 posted on 05/03/2006 8:08:09 AM PDT by Gerish (Feed your faith and your doubts will starve to death.)
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To: qam1
"...now, progress relies on citizen groups pestering our leaders"

As it always has.

4 posted on 05/03/2006 8:08:19 AM PDT by Redbob
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To: qam1

I am ready to leave myself...if can get my significant other to go.

Here is a rosy little fact for you. I shoot Cowboy Action Shooting matches. If people come with their kids to shoot pistols at sanctioned matches....their kids can shoot. If my kid shoots in a santioned match he cannot touch pistols. He is a second class citizen...He is a New Yorker.

Thank you Silver, Bruno, and Pataki....

2 RINOs and a Jackass.

and thats just scratching the surface.


Most NY counties are RED but the population centers in NY, Buffalo, Albany etc. are Blue, so it is a Blue State.

I want to live and vote in a RED state.


5 posted on 05/03/2006 8:09:26 AM PDT by Vaquero ("An armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: qam1

Albany is a festering sore that will never stop stealing. Every decade an entire congressional district moves from NY to FL. The City is ok, but its burbs are pathetically expensive and offer little that similar communities elsewhere don't provide. Upstate has awful weather 9 months a year AND confiscatory taxation. No wonder folks leave for greener pastures.


6 posted on 05/03/2006 8:11:53 AM PDT by NativeNewYorker (Freepin' Jew Boy)
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To: qam1

I feel sorry for New Yorkers for the most part. Having silly gun laws, tax burdens and your two Senators must be a large pain in the butt.


7 posted on 05/03/2006 8:13:07 AM PDT by alarm rider (Irritating leftists as often as is humanly possible....)
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To: alarm rider

It could be worse, they could have MY two California senators!

Of course, the weather is still better here. :)


8 posted on 05/03/2006 8:18:42 AM PDT by bordergal
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To: bordergal

Yeah, after I wrote that I thought of the People's Republic of Maryland, where I live. Almost as bad, but I still would not move to NY.


9 posted on 05/03/2006 8:22:37 AM PDT by alarm rider (Irritating leftists as often as is humanly possible....)
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To: qam1
What a disturbing statistic: Between 2000 and 2004, about 183,000 more people left New York state than moved here from other states.

Disturbing? Maybe predictable and about time! I remember discussing this at TheAtlantic Online forum several times. New York taxes + New York City taxes are so high that it's amazing people live there at all. Why? Well -- ever stop to think that it's because there are so many people in the city area? There should be a natural cause and effect -- economics of population that tends toward balance. But of course there will also always be people who cry that the sky is falling whenever their assumptions about what is good fail.

New York grows and grows and grows -- not really good.

New York population in check, splits at the seams and bleeds people -- probably the only way to keep it from exploding so powerfully that it destroys the rest of the country.
10 posted on 05/03/2006 8:25:41 AM PDT by RogerFGay
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To: qam1

There is no turht to the rumor that there is NO prosperity in New York......the politicians have benefitted greatly.


11 posted on 05/03/2006 11:11:11 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: Gerish
tell me about it....my slightly older sister just retired last June from teaching.....she got to take in almost 6 months "sick" leave pay and she was among the lucky people to have the old type pension which was quite lucrative, plus the great medical retirement....

she's in her 50's....

multiple her by thousands and thousands and there you have it......its like being in Communist Russia...if you play the game, and follow the communist manifesto, and support the good old union and the Democrap maifia.....you will be rewarded for being on the right side......

recently back in New York state, and I was amazed that they wanted to cut the taxes on some things like clothing and shoes, yet were planning on increasing property taxes, etc.....

12 posted on 05/03/2006 2:17:33 PM PDT by cherry (.)
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To: alarm rider

having been born and raised in New York state, I will say this......its a beautiful state with wonderful natural resouces similar to California in its wealth IMO....lakes, mountains, lots and lots of forests.....yet here stands California and New York......pitifully liberal states with diminishing returns for the common Joes' out there....


13 posted on 05/03/2006 2:29:03 PM PDT by cherry (.)
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To: qam1; neverdem

http://albanysinsanity.com/

We need to find candidates to run against all these a$$es.


14 posted on 05/03/2006 7:22:56 PM PDT by The Mayor ( We are moving in on Albany! http://www.newyorkcoalition.org)
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To: The Mayor
SCHOOL DISTRICTS AGAIN PLAN TO RAISE SPENDING AT TWICE THE INFLATION RATE, STUDY FINDS

The proposed 2006-07 school budgets submitted for voter consideration on May 16 would raise average spending 6.2 percent, to $16,469 per pupil. That figure represents an increase of nearly one-third in per-pupil spending, more than 2.5 times the rate of inflation, over the past five years.

Housing track could get faster at 2 campuses

Housing for Erie Community College's North and City campuses could happen sooner than originally scheduled.

They have money to burn for community college housing. What am I missing? I thought at least part of the rationale for a community college's reason for being was that you eliminated the cost of paying for board with the students still living at home in his or her community.

15 posted on 05/04/2006 9:41:43 AM PDT by neverdem (May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows that you're dead.)
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To: neverdem

I blogged about both those articles.

The Erie county legislature wants PLA's for union only construction.......

We are sliding down hill fast my friend.


16 posted on 05/04/2006 5:26:23 PM PDT by The Mayor ( We are moving in on Albany! http://www.newyorkcoalition.org)
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