Upstate universities being good are a legacy from a different era. Same reason the Erie Canal is still there. Dude I'm not trashing upstate, but pretending it isn't poor and seen much better days is dishonest, especially when this all started because you insisted those areas are experiencing an "economic renaissance."

Also, I studied at NYU. So cut the crap with slinging around your degree like it makes your bad opinion more valid, it's immature. You should also know better.

It's called economics, buddy. The numbers don't lie. The rust belt is real, and it was a deliberate choice by politicians to hollow out the country.

If the state also agreed to hand over control of the MTA back to NYC, sure. Otherwise it's just a blatant ploy for cheap political points.

I think the economic engine of the entire state should have the backbone of its transportation network funded properly and not used as political leverage by Albany. Especially since at least half of people in the entire state DO depend on New York City's economic success.

Also, most of NY State outside if NYC is in fact quite poor and economically distressed. That's due to globalization and lack of innovation though.

Schrodinger's economy. Where the other population centers of NY State are experiencing a Renaissance while unable to afford funding more transport in the state.

"A lot of funding" does not equal what NYC generates or is owed given its role as the state's primate city. Refusing to properly fund the MTA is a joke.

Fair. But little economic renaissances don't fund a state of 19 million, the city of 8.5 million with a metro area of 19 million does.

It's honestly disgusting how NY State starves the MTA while literally nowhere else in the state is economically viable anymore.