New York has always been a pass-through state for those coming to America from other countries. A recent research paper by the Empire Center massaging the latest U.S. census figures affirms that this is our strength, a constant fresh flow of immigrants. Without them, we’d be in desperate trouble.

The faces eager to come here may change, the languages, too, but the dreams and destination do not. I understand that the destination is New York City and not the state, but in this instance they are one and the same. Upstate benefits from the city’s magnetism, and this we should never forget. We’d really be in the pits without Gotham’s drawing power.

Just as predictable, unfortunately, is another trend around since shortly after World War II. More domestic resident New Yorkers left the state for opportunities or retirement elsewhere than replacements moved here — even those attracted to New York City. The short of it is the successful reinvention of upstate New York that might stem the outflow has been pitifully slow in coming, apart from a few bright spots like the winery region in the Finger Lakes and second-home boom and ski resorts of the Catskills…..

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