Can New York voters figure out whos driving the state to destruction?

In the latest sign that the Empire State’s long-term decline is turning critical, nearly half of likely voters across New York say they’re worse off financially than they were a year ago — a grim comment on the state of the state after decades of Democratic dominance.In the same Marist poll, only 13% report being better off — and the broader numbers for all voters aren’t much different.More ugly context: Marist found back in February that a full 86% of the state’s residents believe New York is no longer affordable for an average family — with a third of the population planning to move away in the next five years, up from an already-grim 27% back in 2011.No wonder: US News & World Report ranks the Empire State as 45th out of 50 for affordability, while the nonpartisan Tax Foundation puts us dead last for tax competitiveness and the Citizens Budget Commission ranks us No.1 for tax burden.Our cost of living consistently ranks among the highest nationally. And our ever-growing tax burden pays for an ever-decreasing quality of public services, from schools to transit to road quality and public safety.Meanwhile, Gov.

Kathy Hochul is clearly signaling tax hikes next year to help fund Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s socialism-in-one-city, not to mention the state’s coming $32 billion budget hole.(The gov already broke her “no tax hikes” vow this year when she flipflopped to support Mamdani’s pied-à-terre gouge.)Somehow, Albany can never find anything to cut; spending rose to an all-time high of $269 billion in the current fiscal year.Good luck soaking the rich much more: New York’s top 1% of earners already pay 46% of state income taxes — and are fleeing, justifiably, from rulers who see them as no more than human piggy banks.  Subscribe to our daily Post Opinion newsletter! Please provide a valid email.By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

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