Several years ago, when my roommate and I visited Niagara Falls, we stayed in a beautiful hotel on the Canadian side. It bothered me to have to add to the economy of Canada instead of my own country, but the New York side of the falls was depressed, dirty, and filled with graffiti.
After several beautiful, enjoyable days at the falls, we drove south back over the border, through Buffalo. We stopped for lunch at a restaurant in a nice area that was recommended by the American Automobile Association, but during our long drive back we couldn’t help but notice many depressed areas in Northern and Central New York.
I remember that when Hillary Clinton ran for Senate she campaigned on a promise to create 200,000 jobs upstate. She was elected in 2000 and served in the U.S. Senate until January 2009. During that period, the Empire State lost almost 48,000 jobs. Nice going, Mrs. Clinton.
On the other hand, Andrew Cuomo is involved in something called Start-Up New York. No matter which state in America you are in, you will see TV commercials for Gov. Cuomo’s project which provides tax advantages to businesses that relocate or start up in certain available areas of our great state.
A short time ago, the Governor announced that eighteen more businesses have committed to expanding or relocating here as a result of the Start-Up New York program. It is projected that these eighteen companies will invest more than twelve million dollars and will create almost three hundred new jobs. That brings the total of businesses involved in the program to 73.
While Clinton’s lack of success in job creation was a negative number, Gov. Cuomo’s project is bringing 73 companies here, investing $104 million in the state and creating 2,400 new jobs. Now that deserves a standing ovation. Hey there Gov. Cuomo, maybe you should be running for president instead of Hillary.
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I often discuss politics with Mr. B (I am withholding his name as per his request). While I am 75-percent Conservative, he claims to be 100-percent Liberal, and despite the fact that we agree on very little, we remain great friends. One of the reasons that we continue to remain close is that we both have a love and need for the State of Israel.
Neither of us can recall a time when there has been so much anti-Semitism. Mr. B and I agree that Israel is the Jewish insurance policy. The Land Of Milk and Honey will accept us if we ever find the need to relocate — and please don’t tell me it can’t happen. The Jews of Germany believed it couldn’t happen, and six million of them paid with their lives for that doubt.
In more modern times, many of the Jews of France are running from their homes toward the safety of Israel. Two years ago, more than 3,000 French Jews moved their lives and talents to the Jewish state. Last year that number increased to 7,500. Recent predictions tell us that this particular number will double to more than 15,000, and I wouldn’t be surprised if one more “Islamist Extremist” terrorist attack pushes that number even higher. There must be an Israel. You hear that President Obama?
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I am StanG
