To The Reader’s Forum:

I can’t think of any other state that is more beautiful than New York State. You can do just about anything you want here in terms of recreation. The four seasons allow us to enjoy the beauty of our state and provide us with just about every opportunity to do so. However, can you afford to live here?

New York State is ranked number one for overall tax burden and for individual income tax burden. Businesses are leaving in record numbers as a result. No wonder the state is labeled tax hell. What a shame. Why would anyone want to relocate here.

Census data from July 2020 to July 2021 shows that our net population decreased by hundreds of thousand of residents. The most significant state population decline in the country . Texas, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee are some friendlier states where people are relocating to. And keep in mind they are taking their billions of dollars with them which creates a bigger tax burden for the rest of us.

What’s puzzling is the lack of enthusiasm to recognize and correct the problem. Or have we created a juggernaut and it’s impossible to stop. I think we have the right to know. I have not seen any movement to correct the situation. You would think that Albany would make this a bipartisan priority. Or maybe it’s impossible to fix. Silence will not make it go away.

This is not the time to be asking for money on any level of government. It’s just not right, it’s not justifiable and certainly not performance based. Concentrating on our population exodus and the taxing situation should be our highest bipartisan priority. Bringing down inflation would give us all a raise. The future is questionable. Taxing and spending is not the solution.

I have lived here all of my life. I have seen the beauty of New York State and I have witnessed the decline. I think I have earned the right to speak out about the short falls. “I LOVE NEW YORK” has not done much for us. It’s all talk and no action.

We are in a tunnel and there is a bright light coming at us and the light is getting, bigger and brighter. That bright light is a train and it’s coming right at us and we can’t move out of it’s way.

“When the people find that they can vote themself s money that will herald the end of the republic.” Benjamin Franklin January 17, 1706-1790.

Jamestown