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Empire Center

@empirecenter

Dedicated to making NY a better place to live and work by promoting public policy reforms grounded in free-market principles and personal responsibility.

 Albany, New York
empirecenter.org
Joined September 2010
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Photo by Empire Center (@empirecenter)Photo by Empire Center (@empirecenter)Photo by Empire Center (@empirecenter)Photo by Empire Center (@empirecenter)Photo by Empire Center (@empirecenter)Photo by Empire Center (@empirecenter)Photo by Empire Center (@empirecenter)Photo by Empire Center (@empirecenter)Photo by Empire Center (@empirecenter)Photo by Empire Center (@empirecenter)
It took 5 years to build the Hoover Dam with 1930s technology. A century later, New York needs 3 years to produce a piece of paper describing which power plants and transmission lines we need. I won't even try to guess how long it will take to build the actual things.
Aerial view of the Hoover Dam spanning a rocky canyon. The structure holds back a large reservoir of water, with surrounding barren terrain and access roads visible. Two bridges cross the canyon, showcasing the engineering marvel in a desert landscape.

ALT Aerial view of the Hoover Dam spanning a rocky canyon. The structure holds back a large reservoir of water, with surrounding barren terrain and access roads visible. Two bridges cross the canyon, showcasing the engineering marvel in a desert landscape.

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New Yorkers feel they are not getting value for money for the taxes they pay. Is Albany going to do something about it, or continue ignoring the taxpayers?
Bar chart titled "Value for taxes" with survey responses about tax value in New York. The responses are categorized by demographic groups and voter intent, showing levels of perceived value: "Definitely getting good value," "Somewhat getting good value," "Somewhat not getting good value," "Definitely not getting good value," and "Unsure." Data is provided for various groups such as total population, race, age, income, and political affiliation, and regions including NYC, Western New York, and Long Island.

ALT Bar chart titled "Value for taxes" with survey responses about tax value in New York. The responses are categorized by demographic groups and voter intent, showing levels of perceived value: "Definitely getting good value," "Somewhat getting good value," "Somewhat not getting good value," "Definitely not getting good value," and "Unsure." Data is provided for various groups such as total population, race, age, income, and political affiliation, and regions including NYC, Western New York, and Long Island.

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Using just 20 gallons of gasoline a week could cost you about $600 more per year than it did a year ago
Map showing U.S. states with extra gasoline costs for 20 gallons per week, October 2025-2026 vs. October 2024-2025. California ($725) and Washington ($672) have the highest increases. New York (up to $602) and Massachusetts ($621) also show significant rises. Other states with notable increases include Texas ($508) and Virginia ($544).

ALT Map showing U.S. states with extra gasoline costs for 20 gallons per week, October 2025-2026 vs. October 2024-2025. California ($725) and Washington ($672) have the highest increases. New York (up to $602) and Massachusetts ($621) also show significant rises. Other states with notable increases include Texas ($508) and Virginia ($544).

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Gasoline prices are 41 percent higher than a year ago. Is New York thinking about tax relief, or do taxes only go up for us?
Map of the United States showing gasoline price increases over the past year. States are color-coded based on the increase range: Missouri shows 3.76, Texas 3.98, Florida 4.17, California 6.36, New York 4.28, and Alaska 4.59. States with no data are in gray.

ALT Map of the United States showing gasoline price increases over the past year. States are color-coded based on the increase range: Missouri shows 3.76, Texas 3.98, Florida 4.17, California 6.36, New York 4.28, and Alaska 4.59. States with no data are in gray.

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New Yorkers want lower taxes. New Yorkers across all demographics support elimination of state income tax. Albany can follow Florida's example, or watch New Yorkers leave for Florida.
Bar chart showing survey results on eliminating New York state income tax, broken down by demographics such as race, age, income, region, political party, and 2024 voter preference. Categories include "Strongly support," "Somewhat support," "Somewhat oppose," and "Strongly oppose." Notable groups include NYC, Biden 2024 voter, and Trump 2024 voter.

ALT Bar chart showing survey results on eliminating New York state income tax, broken down by demographics such as race, age, income, region, political party, and 2024 voter preference. Categories include "Strongly support," "Somewhat support," "Somewhat oppose," and "Strongly oppose." Notable groups include NYC, Biden 2024 voter, and Trump 2024 voter.

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⚡ New York electricity prices rose 14% in a single year, nearly three times the U.S. average increase. Rising energy costs are a challenge for every state. The difference is that New York is failing this challenge spectacularly.
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This is how much more New Yorkers pay for electricity than the U.S. average. The price gap keeps growing, raising a simple question: Does New York have an energy problem, or are other states doing a better job at energy policy?
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The average New York household pays 63% higher electricity prices than the national average.
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New York's residential electricity prices are fifth-highest in the country. Again.
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In New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley, the leading concern is the high cost of living. Everywhere else, it is high taxes. Very interesting.
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Men cite high taxes as a top reason to leave New York; women cite the cost of living. But they are in near perfect agreement on crime and politics.
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Young are focused on housing. For those under 40, housing costs were among the biggest reasons to leave. Why is building anything in New York so complicated?
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Democrats cite the cost of living as a reason to leave. Republicans and independents cite high taxes. Albany can’t vote prices down—but it can cut taxes. Why does Albany insist on keeping taxes high, even at the risk of losing people?
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New York can't even make its own climate program work at home. Why should it be able to impose its rules on companies outside the state, let alone in other countries?
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For older New Yorkers, taxes topped the list of reasons to leave. After decades of working and paying into the system, some aren't sure they can afford to stay in New York in retirement.
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People have always moved. The problem is that leaving New York is becoming the default for far too many.
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New Yorkers usually disagree on how to fix taxes, prices, crime, and government. But New Yorkers across party lines are planning to leave, because of taxes, prices, crime and government. That is more than frustration, that is a loss of faith in New York.
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NY Education: ~$32,000 per student, $97,000 per teacher; Mississippi Education: ~12,000 per student, $53,000 per teacher. Mississippi outperforms New York in Grade 4 Reading and Mathematics.
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LIRR workers average about $160,000 with overtime, and some make $300,000+. Many riders or LIRR earn far less. If everyone in New York making below $160,000 walked off the job, the state would be paralyzed.
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NY corrections officers earning $500,000. Guess who’s paying? Taxpayers.
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