Driving from Jamestown to Saratoga Springs for the New York Conference of Mayors, I was disheartened to see the communities that are suffering the same fate as our own city. I met with a number of representatives of their communities. The consensus was the same — high taxes, fewer services, low property values, poor infrastructure, high unemployment, higher crimes and illegal drug activity. The state of New York is in neglect. Though the discussions were not publicly made, the distrust and the failure of our Governor to address upstate New York real problems were freely expressed at the dinner tables.

The initiatives to enhance downtown areas were welcomed, but noted that it did nothing to address the problems in the surrounding neighborhoods.

The governor is more interested in running for president and the national agenda, than he is in making New York state stronger. Highest taxes, hostile environment to manufacturing, commerce, new business and a focus on sanctuary state status, have had a profound effect in the migration of many New Yorkers. The weather has nothing to do with the migration of people leaving.

Albany and New York City legislators treat the rest of the state as the grandparents of the spoiled child always asking for money to indulge in their spendthrift whims. They never ask their grandparents if they could use some help. There was a time in the not so distant past that we had governors that focused on maintaining our state as the beacon to the rest of the country. First in education, commerce, manufacturing, finance and business.

I spent a lot of time talking to everyone about the National Comedy Center and Lucy Fest, the vast majority of whom had no idea. It was strange that so few knew about these events. Strange because with all the money being spent, it was not promoted statewide.

I am proud to represent Jamestown. I am proud of our past contributions to New York state. I am proud that we have our own power plant. I am proud of the Department of Development, the Parks Department and our Fire and Police Department. I’m proud of the local businesses that are hanging on because of their true grit and stubbornness to persevere.

Not so proud that we are the highest taxed community in the state, the highest unemployment, the 3,000 substandard homes that are inhabited, the broken roads and sidewalks. The fact that people that have lived in their homes for many years, in the same neighborhood, that keep up their property have to accept the decline in property values. I am not proud that residents frequently are told “there is nothing we can do about it.”

Roughly 46 percent of houses are owner occupied, the rest are rented or empty. The burden of meeting the city’s obligations is on a disproportionate number of people. The shrinking tax base because of pilot programs coupled with deferred tax abatement, only widen the gap. We could attract more business by lowering the tax rate and forgoing the give away enticements. There is not a very good return on the businesses that receive these incentives and their longevity once they are termed.

NYCOM needs to do a better job representing Upstate New York to get our fair share of the taxes that the state receives from us. The voters need to do a better job getting to the polls. It’s true that the metropolitan areas outnumber the rest of the state. Not all of them vote. If we had a higher percentage of voters turn out, we would have a better chance of changing the course of New York state politics. We want change. We have to vote.

Locally, we could try helping each other in our neighborhoods. Extending a helping hand to the neighbors that don’t maintain their residence might go a lot further than calling the housing inspectors to write citations. Our time is valuable. The health of our neighborhoods is more valuable.

I’m proud to call Jamestown my hometown. I want our children to feel the same someday.

Andrew Liuzzo is a Jamestown resident.