Have you been watching ABC’s “Good Morning, America” show? I don’t watch television, so I am a little out of the loop. Apparently the media morning show has been having a “Whistle-Stop Tour” across the country, and they came to New York State. They took some time in Rome (only 30 minutes from where I live) to be greeted by posh politicians; but then they dug a little deeper into Rome’s population and saw deplorable conditions. Welcome to Upstate New York, ABC. Home of the over-taxed, over-regulated, Appalachian hillbillies. All we have left is our land, and even that is going to be taken from us soon.
ABC’s story started out as a flag-flying, anthem-singing train stop, but quickly developed into a down-and-out Kleenex-wringer when they started talking to Rome residents. There are two Romes here– one the politicians want you all to see, and the other that the people live in.
You can watch the “Good Morning, America” segment here. You can also read the news story about this at our local news outlet online here. Read the comments– read what the people are saying, they are amazing. One guy took the words right out of my mouth:
Sad part of all of this is, it’s not just Rome it is the whole area. Open your eyes and drive around the area it is depressed runned down and basically every third house is for sale. Utica has literally become a dumping ground for refugees since 1990’s. Herkimer County lost all their manufacturing as well as Oneida County over regulative state government with all the overburdening laws and taxes has chased many away. There isn’t too much that is positive. You can’t blame Good Morning America for the troubles we face. If it is any consolation we can slightly point our finger of blame at NAFTA and Government regulations, and high taxes.
What is amazing now is the whole country is starting feel just like we all have been through for the past 25 years.
The mayor of Rome was upset when he saw the ABC segment, and Douglas Bartell, the president of Rome’s Chamber of Commerce, wrote an open letter to ABC here. The funny thing is that I think ABC got it right. I’m no lover of the major media, and ABC sure does milk events, but Rome IS in deplorable conditions. All of Upstate New York is. Sorry, but that’s the truth! We are the most taxed people in the country and we have some of the lowest wages in the country. All our manufacturing jobs have left the state, and property taxes rise more and more every year. All you have to do is go to Yahoo’s Real Cities and look up an Upstate New York town. You’ll see that the average yearly income for central New Yorkers is right around $35,000, and the average cost of living per year here is around $45,000, and growing. That means that in order to live in New York State, New Yorkers, on the average, incure a yearly debt of $10,000. That’s ridiculous!
I’m sorry Rome got bad press. I love Rome, it’s one of our favorite cities to visit because it has such great historic sites. But New York State leaders really need to get out of their cushy offices and pretty mansions and see how the rest of the people are living. It’s not a pretty site.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
September 19th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Thanks for the link. We heard about the whistle stop but the piece aired while I was at work. It’s not just Rome & Utica, it’s most of the Upstate region. Many of my nieces and nephews have left NY and family is all that holds the rest of us here. I have job security but my sons are seeing jobs at the company they work for being moved out of state.
September 25th, 2008 at 11:52 am
“Rome IS in deplorable conditions”
Totally wrong… obviously a comment from someone who lives outside of the city, and only sees what the mass media shows them, or what they see on their short visit to town.
I under stand that Rome has it’s bad areas, but so do 90% of the cities in this country. The comment by the individual on GMA that you cannot get a good paying job in Rome is totally wrong.
OK sure the low skilled worker is not going to have a good paying job, but that would be true any where you live. Some people think that if they can punch some numbers on a cash register they deserve the same pay as the CEO of the company, but sorry that is just not going to happen. If you want to get a good paying job here or any where you have to bring something to the table.
Can you honestly say that the major trades in Rome are getting payed less?? Plumbers, Electricians, Carpenters? How about all the employees at Rome Labs, DFAS, Goodrich, Empire Air, NEADS, Revere, Rome Strip Steal? Can you honestly say that all these places do not pay their employees decent wages?
Sure Rome is no Silicon Valley with super high paying jobs, but Rome also has no where near the cost of Living in San Francisco… Actually is is 1/2 the cost, so $50,000 here goes the same as $100,000 in San Francisco.
Rome is not as bad as GMA made it look.
As far as the people they showed who cannot afford heat or fuel bills… what have they done to try and make life more affordable?? Have they taken advantage of the state programs for reimbursement on home improvements such as new windows, increased insulation, or the government run programs to help with heating bills? How about getting a part time job?? I know it sucks, but if that is what it takes to survive the so be it. Growing up my father always worked a second job to put food on the table, and keep us comfortable.
GMA showed only one side of Rome, the side they needed to to show. They showed nothing of the new development going on at the former Air Force Base… Nothing of the brand New hotel, nothing of the Brand new additions to the Fort Stanwix historical site, nothing of recently move Oneida County Airport, nothing of the New Family Dollar. They showed vacant buildings, and old water tower, and interviewed a young single mother, and a family feeling the economic crunch that many of us are. What about the larger majority of people who are not doing so bad after all??
September 26th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Dude, you are totally out of touch. I hope you’re not a politician… Upstate NY and especially the cities of Oneida County are in deep economic distress.
September 30th, 2008 at 8:50 am
It is not in any more distress than the rest of the country… I am just sick of hearing “poor Upstate NY” from everybody… maybe if people stopped wining and did something things would change… And if you think it is better someplace else then MOVE… The grass is always greener on the other side… until you actually get there and realize it is still the same, just looks different.
People complain about low wages, and lack of jobs… but they often forget how low the cost of living is here. Sure I could move out to California and make double my pay, but guess what the cost of everything is double… housing, food… all more expensive. In addition to that I now have to deal with increase traffic, higher crime rates… Sorry but I will just stay here…
If you actually sit back and look at things you will see CNY is not as bad as the media, and people paint it as.
CNY has a “self esteem” problem if anything…