Upstate New York?

Let's start with the article - Upstate New York ranked worst place to live.

First of all, please get your facts straight - Upstate does NOT have 8 months of winter. To quote my Uncle John Kinsey (may he rest in peace):

     "New York has 3 months of winter, and 9 months of damn late Fall!"

He smiled when he said it. Were you smiling Mr. Spooner when you wrote that? I suspect not.

Oh - by the way - one of your arguments was that people are leaving due to a lack of jobs. How about the SAFE act, Mr. Spooner? Did you Google how many manufacturing jobs are leaving New York because of the SAFE act? Here - you can google it yourself - Gun manufacturers leaving New York. Oh wait, that would have been too easy, wouldn't it? And those who live in Upstate/Western New York are responsible for that, eh?

My wife and I have lived in Upstate/Western New York all our lives - married for 43 years. We learned to work hard and invest in our communities. We learned these lessons from our parents, who lived and worked through World War II, who learned it from their parents, who lived and worked through the Great Depression, who learned it from their parents and grandparents who lived and worked through the Civil War, a conflict which nearly destroyed this county. We don't quit, we don't give up or give in, we pay our taxes - period. Upstate/Western New York is our HOME, not someplace we are passing through in search of a greener pasture. (Which almost always never exist - here - did you know you can Google that as well - Is the grass always greener?)

The disconnect you are experiencing Mr. Spooner has been more eloquently expounded elsewhere - the divide between Upstate and Downstate New York (also searchable via Google - who knew? - Upstate vs Downstate New York Divide). Downstate policies dictate life in Upstate/Western New York and you can seriously wonder why Upstate/Western New York is in the condition it is? (Insert laugh track here.) And puh-lease, do not equate Albany with Upstate/Western New York! Seriously, disconnect anyone? One more thing on this topic, my generation and my wife and I have created this problem? Excuse me, it hadn't occurred to me that we were in control of the State and County Legislatures? You, sir, are blamestorming the wrong people!


Parting shot across the bow - also from Google - multiple plans to revitalize Upstate/Western New York - Revitalize Upstate New York. Why haven't these plans been effective Mr. Spooner? Simply put, more of the same disgusting politics as usual from Albany where Downstate is in control of the Legislature, and frankly, Downstate Representatives think that Upstate begins just outside of White Plains. Upstate/Western New York continues for about another 350 miles to the north and to the west.

Look in your own back yard.