Upstate Exodus?

  |  January 7, 2014

map of upstate

Last week, we read an AP article about folks leaving upstate New York in droves, more than are moving there, the article states. “The trend has helped lead to New York losing four congressional seats in the last two Census counts and is about to cost the state some prestige,” it goes on to say, and that Florida is poised to beat out NY as the third most populous state in the nation. Of course, this is referring to true upstate New York, places like Buffalo and Rochester. The article even points out that the Hudson Valley and, vaguely, “some other areas” (could they mean the Catskills?) have sustained growth. So, what gives? High taxes? Lack of jobs? The article speculates both are at play in upstate New York’s population stagnation. What steps could NY take to lure people (particularly younger populations) back to upstate New York? Sound off in the comments.

About Kandy Harris

Kandy is a writer and musician/music teacher living in Saugerties, NY.

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