Here’s what Unshackle Upstate has been doing in the past couple weeks:

 

First, Unshackle Upstate has had a series of meetings with a delegation of downstate business leaders in an effort to apply the concerns and anger of Upstate over Albany’s actions to a statewide voice. With common interests like never before, a bigger, stronger and louder coalition is in the process of forming. You will be hearing about the very positive outcome of these meetings shortly.

 

Second, Unshackle Upstate released a viral video on May 19, asserting the coalition’s (including our new friends from Long Island and Westchester and Rockland counties) priorities for the next several weeks – and more importantly, for the next 17 months leading up to Election Day, 2010.

 

Third, this week, Unshackle Upstate unleashed a communication campaign taking offense for the “sucker punches” from Albany that business and individual taxpayers continue to endure. That message is being conveyed through a series of web banner ads (as above) and a radio commercial that kicked off yesterday.

 

Finally, with your involvement, Unshackle Upstate continues to bring the grassroots message directly to our representatives! I urge you join the effort and send a message to the governor and the state legislature telling them enough is enough. Enough tax increases, enough government spending, and enough of our loved ones following jobs outside of New York’s borders..

 

Unshackle Upstate is branded throughout New York State. From Montauk to Massena to Niagara Falls, the name Unshackle Upstate increasingly is a household one – particularly in political circles. In just over three years, we have done a good job of highlighting Upstate’s plight and lack of sufficient attention from Albany and even have been successful in influencing some pieces of key economic development legislation along the way.

 

Earlier this year, Unshackle Upstate added what all of our partners agreed was a critically-needed expanded capacity by hiring an executive director – Brian Sampson, formerly of Empire State Development. I’m pleased to say that Unshackle’s work never has been more focused, as Brian’s presence and efforts have enhanced the coalition’s ability to carry out its mission through a single, dedicated point-of-contact.

 

That being said, it’s obviously time for better results. Taxpayers across New York State took one on their chins in the deficit reduction package/state budget combo earlier this year. Albany – not to fill a budget gap, but instead to increase spending over 9% (!) – raised a host of taxes, many of which were aimed at the state’s employer community. Every advocacy organization across the state was blindsided by a “three men in a room” budget that was done with somehow even less transparency and input from our supposed representatives than before.

 

And it doesn’t end with the budget. Currently making their way through various Albany committees are pieces of legislation that would further expand unemployment benefits, inflict wage mandates on private employers and stall economic development. In addition, our staff on its most recent lobbying trip to Albany was told that the state budget is already over $2 billion out-of-whack. In other words, it’s time to step up the pressure even further – both in policy and politics.

 

Again, I urge you to get involved. It’s vitally important for our elected officials to understand that taxpayers are paying attention to what they do (especially because re-election after re-election tells them they’re not!). Take 90 seconds to remind them.

Andrew J. Rudnick