As Simple as ABC: Anyone But Cuomo

Note to readers: I have lived in five states in the last 35 years, all but one of them swing states (NJ, CO, PA, FL and, now, NY). New York is the deepest of Blue States and the sensibilities of most people I meet are decidedly liberal.  Our governor, Andrew Cuomo, is running for reelection to his third term.  Polls show him with a substantial lead.  I have written this post for a New York audience but think it relevant for national consideration.  Will failure of the Blue State model make a dent in Cuomo’s chances?  It’s not likely, unfortunately.

Andrew Cuomo

Governor Cuomo bolsters his argument for reelection by touting his economic record.  In truth, not only has the governor failed in his efforts to revive Upstate New York’s economy but also he has been dishonest in portraying his record of achievement. Upstate’s economic recovery has been among the weakest of any region in the nation. 

Let’s start with employment. The governor points to the creation of over 1 million jobs during his administration.  However, peeling back a layer or two of the onion, we find a more nuanced picture.  According to the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL), New York City, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley had the highest rate of job growth in the state while Upstate had job growth at about one third of both the downstate and national rate during the period from the first quarter of 2010 to the first quarter of 2018.  NYSDOL surveys employment quarterly in cooperation with the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.  From 2010, the quarterly census reports Upstate job growth at 6.3% compared to a US growth rate of 17.8% and a downstate rate of 21.2%.  Monroe County private payrolls grew a bit over 20,000 jobs or 6.6%, less than 1% per year. 

It might be said that, absent the improvement in Wall Street’s prospects, job growth would have been negative.  And, I doubt the millionaires and billionaires on Wall Street would give the governor credit for their success. 

Despite this dismal track record, the governor consistently doubles down on his approach to

Stephanie Miner

economic development characterized by high taxes and a central government creating criteria for distribution of the funds collected. This approach has taken the form of an effort to invest in a photonics center in cooperation with the federal government that has yielded little to nothing, a distribution of a half billion dollars to the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council that has yielded little to nothing, and myriad attempts to revive our downtown by sprinkling millions on a variety of projects. 

Most galling, perhaps, is the dishonesty that characterizes his rhetoric around such activities. Rather than transparently defining our economic challenges and listening to the concerns of business owners, he describes his approach to economic growth as “a ‘ground-up’ strategy that focuses on cooperation and investing in regional assets to generate opportunity.”

Marc Molinaro

This year, New Yorkers are spoiled for choice in the gubernatorial election.  While some third party candidates represent the political extremes, there are two that can only be described as moderate: Republican Marc Molinaro (who might have been described as a Rockefeller Republican in times gone by) and Stephanie Miner, a Democrat turned Independent who demonstrates a deep understanding of the challenges facing Upstate. 

And, that’s why I say you should vote for anyone… and I mean ANYONE but Andrew Cuomo. 

WHO WILL LEAD?