I miss the real empire state.

We need to get rid of a lot of authorites Ie THRUWAY COMPARE TO COSTS PER MILE TO THE NORTHWAY. GONE, HRRB UNECESARY AND UNPRODUTIVE GONE PORT OF NY NO GOOD SINCE ROBERT MOSES LEFT. APA CAN BE RUN BUY ECON.NYS POWER RUN BY LOBBYISTS. DMV MAKES UGLY LICENCE PLATES CALLS IT NECESSARY. PARKS AND REC FAILURE. THIS ONLY A BEGINNING

Bummer. How can I become a rich, uncaring banker?

With existing home sales down 27% I would say it is a problem of confidence among those with money. Among the top 5% of tax paying wage earners (those making over $210,000.) belts are being tightened due to uncertainty. It's the National Health care plan, eliminating the Bush Tax Cuts, Government takeover of private industries, the threat of cap and trade legislation, plus the borrowing and printing of fiat money. The goose that laid the golden egg will soon be cooked and eaten by the 51% that found out they can vote themselves money by electing pandering politicians.

There is plenty of cheap gas in Fulton County. If you don't believe it, attend a stuporvisor's meeting and listen.

Yes do not wait for the $8.00 gallon plus gasoline prices as this area will be completely shut down, no matter what mass transit you provide without cheap gas this area is dead.

Well put, C&P. But I wonder if it is still possible for anyone to do anything here in NYS to return us to economic sanity. I'm actively shopping to get out of here, not because I want to but because it makes good economic sense, and if I go, I'll be taking a successful small business with me.

Then, as editor, I would expect that you are asking your reporters to ask the tough questions of the incumbents, Right? Cuomo comes to town - NOTHING. Tonko, Schumer, Farley have made recent visits -NOTHING. You have the power of the media - why not use it to show your readers the ACTUAL voting records of these incumbents and how those votes have taken the Large E out of Empire State. Ask them some tough questions rather than fawn all over them like a groupie at a rock concert. You owe that to your readers.

With our states debt and no cure for such debt, a lot of things are going to cost a lot more. How do they expect to gain any ground when they have their feet dragging for every venture be it private or business every venture is overtaxed and drawn out to the point that many give up or go elsewhere. Is this the direction the EMPIRE state should be taking? I believe not.