We are excited to announce that The Beat will evolve into a weekly digest surfacing the latest issues in and around New York City. From housing to jobs to mobility, stay tuned for your executive “Bigger Apple” briefing—coming your way every week.

“Upstate’s political, demographic, and economic decline isn’t good news for New York City or its suburbs.” @ejmej

Medicaid has blown a huge hole in the state budget. New York has always run the nation’s most expensive health-care program for the poor, but recent increases to the minimum wage have sent costs soaring.

Upstate New York ranks near the bottom nationally in private-sector job creation.

The New York City metro region has been doing very well, while the rest of the state is in severe decline.

Last year, Cuomo quietly delayed almost $2 billion in payments from March to April, thereby shifting them to this year’s budget.

Due to high taxes and anti-business regulations, upstate was mired in a slow-growth pattern even before the last recession.

The entire state—including New York City—is experiencing net migration outflows to other states.

Medicaid has blown a huge hole in the state budget. Governor Cuomo and the legislature blame other factors, but responsibility for the situation rests with them.

Medicaid rate hikes have disproportionately benefited hospitals associated with politically connected labor unions.

New York State’s economic growth has been about average over the last decade, compared with the nation’s as a whole.

Last year, Cuomo quietly delayed almost $2 billion in payments from March to April, thereby shifting them to this year’s budget.

Just two train tracks link Penn Station to New Jersey.

“Upstate’s political, demographic, and economic decline isn’t good news for New York City or its suburbs.” @ejmej

When passing the minimum-wage hike in 2016, Cuomo promised to reimburse providers for the extra cost–and that arrangement is now crippling the budget.

“This latest crisis is entirely self-inflicted by Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state legislature.” @NYHammond

Due to high taxes and anti-business regulations, upstate was mired in a slow-growth pattern even before the last recession.

The entire state—including New York City—is experiencing net migration outflows to other states.

Governor Cuomo’s State of the State speech offered a grand proposal to expand Penn Station. His plan would absorb an entire city block to construct new train platforms, more than doubling the number of tracks available.

The New York City metro region has been doing very well, while the rest of the state is in severe decline.