Unshackle Upstate Aims to Protect Locals

To the Editor:

Unshackle Upstate was founded to sound the alarm and force our elected officials in Albany to address the problems that have diminished our once-vibrant Upstate region: anemic economic growth, population decline and, most disturbing, outmigration of our young people.

Many of these problems were downplayed; others were made worse by the poor decisions of our state government.

In the three years since its founding, Unshackle Upstate has grown in membership – from two chambers of commerce to a bi-partisan coalition of more than 75 business and trade organizations that represents upwards of 45,000 companies, employing more than one million people. And it’s grown in voice, now with one of the largest social networking organizations empowering taxpayers in Upstate New York.

Unshackle Upstate’s message is simple: before all of our children leave New York for greater opportunities in other states, let’s create a New York in which they can thrive. Let’s change the laws that hinder Upstate’s growth and give our region a fighting chance in today’s global economy.

Unshackle Upstate’s commonsense agenda aims to reduce the cost of living and doing business in New York state and reverse the loss of private sector jobs that is forcing our taxpayers to go elsewhere.

The first step: urge all elected officials to pledge that legislation they support and vote for will not increase taxes, add fees, introduce new assessments or increase the state debt.

Decades of reckless spending combined with a failure to pursue effective economic development strategies, have left our state particularly vulnerable to the effects of the global recession. The 2009-10 state budget exacerbated those policy failures by increasing already-unsustainable spending and taxation. Spending totaled about $132 billion – up nearly 9 percent from a year ago, and increased taxes and fees by $8 billion.

Last April, 78 of the Legislature’s 212 members heard Unshackle Upstate’s concerns and voted against the traditional “three men in a room” budget (http://bit.ly/6lpnCv). Unshackle Upstate commends those members and will encourage more legislators to vote against unsustainable practices.

In the coming weeks and months, a variety of special interest groups from across the state will release their 2010 legislative agendas under the guise of creating “quality” or “green” jobs and a strong economy. In reality, the opposite occurs, as many of the items on these agendas actually place onerous burdens and mandates on private businesses, resulting in job-killing taxes and fees, as well as other impediments to economic development across Upstate.

Unshackle Upstate has taken its message directly to our legislators in Albany, and will continue to advocate until the overall business climate has improved and the cost of living, working, and running a business in New York is dramatically lowered.

For that to happen, New York state will need real leadership.

In November 2010, New York voters will determine the outcome of every statewide office and all 212 legislative seats. Unshackle Upstate pledges that between now and then, we will keep voters informed on the issues that matter, as well as on whom they can count to truly represent taxpayer interests in Albany.

Jim Walter

Executive Director, Madison County Tourism

Member, Unshackle Upstate

Unshackle Upstate Aims to Protect Locals

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