NY region wants to secede

Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York has earned himself a singular distinction. Conditions in parts of NY are so bad that the people want to become part of Pennsylvania.

New York State is Rust Belt plus NY City. While The City prospers the rust thickens. Upstate NY is an economic disaster. But across the state line in Pennsylvania there is growth. Growth! The bordering parts of NY could have the same growth for the same reason. Gas in the Marcellus Shale. Gas produced by hydraulic fracking.

But Gov. Cuomo killed off fracking. After he won reelection. He is afraid of it. But he claims it was not his decision: Cuomo leadership? NOT. The reasons his environmental department guy gives are backwards logic. The Wall Street Journal says:

In other words, all of the Governor’s men couldn’t find conclusive evidence that fracking presents a significant risk to public health or the environment. So they’re going to ban fracking until they do.

The truth is that fracking has been taking place around the country for many years without evidence of environmental harm. Even the federal Environmental Protection Agency, which desperately wants to find it, has uncovered no credible evidence that fracking causes groundwater contamination.

Taxes are also a problem. WBNG TV

Also being considered are things like workers comp, surcharges, unemployment and health insurance. The association's understanding is that the secession would have to be approved by the New York State Legislature, the Pennsylvania State Legislature and the U. S. government.

"We're comparing the taxes in Pennsylvania compared to those in New York," said Finch. "There's a great, great difference. Right now, we are being deprived of work, jobs and incomes."
Action News spoke with two local business owners in Conklin about the proposal. John Gage, owner of Reliable Market, said he fully supports the idea.

"The tax structure in New York is just horrible to do business in," said Gage. "Whether it's fracking, or other reasons to secede, it sounds like a good idea to me."

Fifteen towns in the NY counties of Broome, Delaware, Tioga and Sullivan are actively talking about moving.

I saw another source that quoted people as saying across the line in Pennsylvania people are buying new cars and upgrading their homes or building new ones. But there in NY they sit and rust: no jobs. And another sore spot is that they wanted but were denied gambling; that’s short-sighted.

The graphic is from North Central PA.com.