New York's Poorest, Most Forgotten Region: Upstate NY (

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Whenever someone mentions New York, people imagine huge, towering skyscrapers and the Statue of Liberty. They picture an urban jungle, the only place in America where you really don't need to own a car. The world knows New York as New York City, and if you were to tell someone you grew up on a dairy farm there, everyone will just be confused.
No one ever really thinks about New York STATE, but in fact NYS is far larger than New York City. The state of New York has more in common with the Rust Belt, being filled with old manufacturing towns where much of the former industry has left for overseas. It's a whole different world, even the accent changes. It's a world that the average New Yorker from the City never really visits.
Let's go see what's up there.
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Instagram: sabbatical.tommy
Patreon: / sabbaticaltommy
#sabbatical #newyork #upstateny

[@SabbaticalTommy]

If you’re ever injured in an accident, you can check out Morgan & Morgan. You can start your claim in just a click without having to leave your couch. To start your claim, visit: www.forthepeople.com/Sabbatical?s=86%3A4653

[@dertythegrower]

He helped us legalize herb in the florida area 2013, good lawyer... i have him clipped 10 years ago here in local news pushing nonprofit groups to help us

[@Sniperboy5551]

You missed the opportunity to visit Canajoharie

[@MrReymoclif714]

#RutlandVermont over here. Whitehall 🆕 York is the gateway to the Adirondack Park region!!! Prison industry is a big economic driver up there! Dannamora? BIG FARMS TOO!

[@nightlandz1291]

If you're still on upstate ny I can show you a lot

[@nightlandz1291]

That being the dirt and gritty side of the Capitol region. If you really want to see how bad and how much of a failure new york is. Also abandoned buildings that I can get you into. Possibly tunnels under the Capitol

[@EnzroGreenidge]

This isn't just upstate NY. I spend a lot of time in upstate NY and rural Florida. There is no difference in the poverty level. Rural America has been in trouble for decades.

[@NYCS19339]

You can add the deep south, most of the Midwest and rural Texas to the list. Haves and the rest...

[@Lynn-i2w]

Abandoned and drug dependent.

[@markfromct2]

I was born in Utica NY and have family there and take offense to this video BIG TIME. He has NO CLUE about there!!

[@NYCS19339]

@@markfromct2 but is it as vibrant as it would have been in 1963?

[@zacharym167]

@@markfromct2I think he gets it dead on I just think you can not handle the truth of the conclusion that is 100% correct and should be split apart

[@seanevans6067]

American decay, brought to you by globalization and good old fashioned corporate greed.

[@dertythegrower]

the corpocracy.. is real

[@JH-rk9gd]

You forgot communist democrats and their Rino tools

[@midbc1midbc199]

Oh lord why won't somebody think of the poor rich people and their needs......it's not cheap being filthy rich

[@jamesseaman2950]

The problem is not corporations, it's globalized corporations which have no allegiance to any nation. Corporations were once considered to be citizens of the towns and cities in which they conducted their businesses, and their management took pride in contributing to the growth of the communities they called home.

[@chrisdoster1486]

Corporate greed my ass comrade its corrupt government

[@macpduff2119]

I'm born, raised, college educated, and married in NY State. Both my children were born in Rochester. We moved South 40 yrs ago. 2016 my husband and I visited 85 acres I'd inherited in Lewis County (the NY Northern Tier)..I was barely able to find a buyer. We were shocked, horrified and truly grieved by the decrepancy and poverty we witnessed all over upstate NY. My ancestors moved to NY from Massachucettes and Connecticut when Revolutionary War veterans were given land grants 1780's Thank you for shining light on what has happened.

[@jamesseaman2950]

My family also has roots in upstate NY going back to before the Revolution. I still have a strong sentimental attachment to NY State but could never live there again.

[@jeaninekelly4271]

We just left northern Vermont because it is a depressing shit hole of a state. ❤

[@SuperNolaguy]

That's what happens when you have people that don't want to work or create anything... Welfare is the cause

[@BrookeMcLymond]

He didn't really hit the "Upstate" I was thinking when he said poverty stricken. I definitely imagined Jefferson, Lewis, Clinton, Oswego and Onondaga County to get more than 1 mention.

[@rochesterjohnny7555]

I'm trying to leave its shit

[@YoctoYotta]

Yet another fine video, looking forward to the potential part 2. With the disparity in hotel prices, I'd wager it's more a weirdly inverse supply and demand situation. The hotel that was further out from the city charged so high a price because they probably have so few customers its all they can do to try to bring in enough revenue to stay afloat. Lack of competition also probably plays big into the higher price. Meanwhile closer to the city, there's more guests so there's more overall revenue, and more competition requiring them to keep prices competitive.

[@chrismc8000]

Who knows how much of the amount of the taxes paid by us upstate New Yorkers goes to pay for the infrastructure of New York City, such as the subway system?

[@nytoaddis76]

you got it wrong. It's the reverse. NYC's economy pays for upstate services.

[@vvinterghost]

its not the guests fault the motel was in that shape.. its the owner of the motel who has a job to make it livable and clean...

[@HonorablesirGolfer]

Or the drug dealers funding the cops and pimps of homeless people

[@GeneseeBen]

I'm guessing he's not incentivized to because they get tax payer money regardless.

[@bujfvjg7222]

Does the receptionist not also clean?

[@susiejakes3019]

@@bujfvjg7222 It is not the job of a receptionist to clean the motel or hotel. It is the job of the maids and housekeeper. The receptionist deals with hotel admissions, bookings online and other clerical / computer inputs.

[@nowthatsfunny1]

It's owned by India owners and they're getting free government cheese 🧀

[@andrew8501]

Lumping all of upstate into one group really shows how out-of-touch down-staters are.

[@toebeans96]

I'm from the ADK region, 30 mins from Star Lake... I just yell "it's North Countryyy!!!" at people in hopes they'll educate themselves on the difference 🙄

[@donacatanguma]

@@toebeans96 Yes, I lived in both Wanakena and further north in Plattsburgh, and it’s definitely referred to as the North Country.

[@xerorenegado15]

I live in Rochester it's fucking depressing around here dude

[@gwdubs]

Youre lucky we bother to visit. Y'all are ignorant.

[@pepperrmintpatti]

Or you’re in denial

[@anthonyweston5588]

I've lived here in Rome for a lot of my life. About 30 years here or so. Last week we were devastated by a Tornado right where you were. The two big churches you saw coming over the bridge have collapsed, and many homes were destroyed. It's difficult here because houses are so expensive, apartments with 1 or 2 bedrooms will run you about 1200-1500 a month, and most jobs here pay no more than $15 an hour. The government pays these hotels $500 a night to house homeless. The taxes are crushing, and local businesses can't stay here. I'd love to answer some questions if you'd like. Things have been really difficult here but after this disaster the community has really showed how great it is. Thanks for covering this, it's really cool to see.

[@markfromct2]

Yes my sis had one touch down near....Peace

[@RezPlank]

I'm in Rochester, didn't know any of those tornado threats actually touched down... wasn't even reported locally to my knowledge which is horrible.

[@aprilpotter3054]

​@@RezPlankI'm in Lyons and multiple touch downs happened in our area. Mostly around Canadians and Seneca Lakes.

[@eutytoalba]

Wow. My friend and I were watching some unusual clouds from Coxsackie about three weeks ago. We figured tornado conditions, but hadn't heard until now that there was any damage. 😥

[@angelawilliams9088]

I pray things get better for you 🙏

[@jeannovacco5136]

The destruction of small towns and Manufacturing across America was not just about sending jobs overseas it was about sending capital and management skills and intellectual property and machine tools that were reverse engineered. What we got back was cheap kitchen utensils and party paper goods in dollar stores -- and of course appliances that are engineered for planned obsolescence and fall apart in five to seven years and can't be repaired because the circuit boards go first. Don't believe the rhetoric that Americans in small towns or in laboring jobs were left behind. They were sold out, and it's still happening. NYC still has big tax bases of Corporations to pay property taxes for municipal budgets, but people living upstate have to vote in referendums and elections for budgets for services like snow plowing hundreds of miles of Roads and paying for school districts -- at working people with low salaries and indebted Farmers still have to pay high sales tax and personal income tax to New York State. It should be two states.

[@speaksthis]

Thanks for your thoughtful comment, even if we might be from opposing camps.

[@urbanothepopeofdeath]

@@speaksthis opposing camps? you're for the destruction of middle America?

[@atombomb6719]

A tale of two cities It was the best of times It was the ............

[@Tommyboy360]

Build back bankruptcy

[@johnwhalen646]

Keep sending money to non citizens

[@patriciamurphy6730]

FYI: We work hard in New York State. Most of us make minimum wage. We don't make enough to keep our houses up. We can barely put food on our table.

[@macpduff2119]

We understand Patricia. Much of my family still lives in upstate NY. We former New Yorkers are just saddened and angry at how our great state has been abused. Update NY should be separate from NYC and LI. they are two different cultures. Upstae NY is ignored by the politicians who are controlled by NYC

[@smoggless]

As a Long Islander I agree, all Albany cares about is the city.

[@smoggless]

NYC, Long Island, and Upstate should all be separate states.

[@BadNewsYouNeedToKnow]

It’s why I moved long before I was ready to buy a house. Why buy a house to give all those taxes to NY State government? It’s an investment with no return. Pay more for a house in the south and sell it for more with less tax burden! Win! Win!

[@Gevixel]

I borderline starved growing up, it's the case for so many other people here. Nothing is affordable, there's Latin American countries that are safer, my county has a higher murder rate than Mexico. People are miserable here, weather is terrible. What's good? We always can just leave, we have government assistance if starvation gets too bad, but even that system has it's flaws. Idk, the struggle is real and it drives you to push for better things in life. My home has hardened me to the core, if I ever leave, I'll always have that going for me, we might be a depressed, miserable bunch, but we upstate folk aren't to be f'ed with, we're hard as a rock. Look at Jon Bones Jones, domestic abuse aside, he's one of the toughest mfs in this modern age. Funnily enough, Mike Tyson was trained in Upstate.

[@turbostatic1]

It almost impossible to explain how much we lost in moving literally ALL manufacturing overseas.

[@GLN14659]

Capitalism failed then globalism till covid. Yep! We're screwed. Make the best of it and survive. Be kind...

[@SupremeODMG]

MAGA 2024

[@adscri]

@@SupremeODMGProblem is, those running MAGA, are the same folks who sold out the American workers by moving their manufacturing to Asia. Those capitalist Americans are reaping all the profits, while the average Joe struggles to make ends meet.

[@echomediastudios]

@@SupremeODMG No fucking billionaire is going to have your back. When are US workers going to wise up and realize that capitalists live to screw you over and lie to you so you'll keep on being vulnerable to their exploitation.

[@jonas189]

All manufacturing has not been moved overseas.

[@DanGinney]

New York is huge. There are many parts that are so rural that you’d never know you’re in NY.

[@WillS-pl8wg]

Adirondack Park

[@mtanyctrainatlantamartatra7164]

​@@WillS-pl8wg Is very known, he's talking about places that aren't known in NY state

[@xerorenegado15]

I live in Rochester there's basic level city shit to do but overall it's fucking depressing around here.

[@markfromct2]

I was born in Utica NY and have family there and take offense to this video BIG TIME. He has NO CLUE about there!!

[@JaquelineGoodspeed]

​@@WillS-pl8wg And let's keep it that way.

[@natebaird]

I grew up in a town one over from Amsterdam and actually went to a private school in Amsterdam. It's always been like this. I couldn't wait to get out; if you stay, you're basically signing up for a life with little options. Most of my acquaintances from high school who stuck around either got hooked on drugs, got a girl pregnant at 19, or killed themselves. I go back to see family occasionally but I can feel the heaviness in the air every time I come back. Thanks for walking around and documenting it.

[@demondarkfantasy]

Me too....unbeknownst to me I was looking to have a cabin built a town over and after seeing how run down everything was, it changed our way of life.

[@BearTraxz]

You grew up in Amsterdamn? Bless your heart you made it out. That place old, deserted, and almost lifeless. Keep going

[@fivespeed42]

​@@demondarkfantasy JFC, it isn't *that* bad... you're 20min away from the Great Sacandaga and the start of Adirondack Park. Some of the most beautiful land in the continental U.S. You'd be stupid to not want a cabin up here

[@robinson1509]

I believe it is pronounced Amsterico 😳

[@BearTraxz]

@@robinson1509 You're not right... but you're also not wrong 😁

[@rockroc1]

Upstate New York is absolutely beautiful.

[@FreddietheFly]

Not in this video.

[@SpicyEngineer]

You must be smoking that NYS bud bro :) Best decision I ever made was leaving the Buffalo/Rochester area 20 years ago. Have not been back since. Literarily not much left there but drugs addicts and degenerates and vacant industrial buildings.

[@peggynunez391]

Exactly. If you look for run-down places, you're going to find it. There are a lot of nice cities and towns, and the scenery is gorgeous. I would not trade it for NYC or any other city. (Well, maybe Seattle.)

[@arissarox]

​@@SpicyEngineerYou left 20 years ago, haven't been back since, and you think you're confident about what's going on there? Whether you're correct or not, declaring expertise about someplace you haven't been in 20 years is strange. I was born in CT and haven't lived there in 20 years, and I wouldn't state I knew what was happening there still. And I HAVE visited it since. But I have been to Buffalo quite a bit and I think you are a little behind the times on what's happening there.

[@ksbans1]

Every part of NY outside of the city is beautiful. Wish we could disown them.

[@Gevixel]

Never in my days did I think Sabbatical would visit my home like some third-world country. 💀

[@fivespeed42]

Same. I was born & raised in Johnstown, only 15min NW of Amsterdam. I was mostly asleep when this episode started the other night, and when I heard him say upstate NY & Amsterdam I had to wake and jump up to see if it was real lol I'm just now finally sitting down and watching the whole video. He's definitely spot on with most of what he sais. He just fails to talk about things like the Adirondack Park and how incredibly beautiful the area is. He's definitely going for the worst of the worst, and he succeeded

[@hockey_highlights_and_more]

I think the Chinese mafia probably has him a bit worried after his scam videos, it’s smart to lay low for a bit

[@Samlol23_drrich]

​@@fivespeed42and it's only an hour to Albany. Not like its in the middle of noplace

[@ginadellgrottaglia6897]

​@@Samlol23_drrichThey think Albany is noplace.

[@Samlol23_drrich]

​@@ginadellgrottaglia6897well maybe compared to Dallas or NYC but it's big enough for me. Lived there for 4 years and loved everything about it. Just the right size.

[@loishilliard1]

Western NY is absolutely gorgeous. I am a boomer, moved to central FL, lived there 20 years until covid did its number on population increase. Moved back to western NY because I needed a more relaxed way of life. We have a farmers market, open 3 days a week, 4 seasons, mom & pop dinners, REAL Italian restaurants, nice people, and competent doctors that are not in a hurry. I love it here.

[@markfromct2]

he missed it... I was born in Utica NY and have family there and take offense to this video BIG TIME. He has NO CLUE about there!!

[@markfromct2]

I was born in Utica NY and have family there and take offense to this video BIG TIME. He has NO CLUE about there!!

[@eutytoalba]

My friends in Greene County can't get doctors at all. Promises, promises...

[@edc4089]

​@@eutytoalbayou can't get good ones in Long Island either. #44's ACA gutted private practices just like Jeff Bezos gutted local mom & pop brick and motars.

[@user-xt7rs8md7p]

I agree… I live in Monroe County

[@DavidCrescent]

I've lived in upstate (western) NY for over 30 years. Central and east-central NY seems to be affected the most by depopulation. But it should be a crime to assume that the ENTIRE UPSTATE REGION looks as it's depicted in this video. There are some absolutely breathtaking towns located along the finger lakes (Skaneateles, Watkins Glen) and some amazing towns in WNY (Ellicottville, Hamburg) that look nothing like this. You should do another video showcasing some of the beautiful towns and villages located in the same region. Instead of towns affected by depopulation due to the loss of factories.

[@Starbuck8008]

A crime........okay Putin

[@susieschilling4009]

Lewiston right by Niagara river and Canadian border absolutely gorgeous and amazing community keeping it vibrant with a ton of events throw out the year! The summer has open air concerts art park the list is long.

[@darkharlezucreek]

Hey neighbor, I agree. There is so much upstate. Every region is different.

[@reneelibby4885]

some beautiful towns. bu did he really say that?

[@gigicostlow4414]

WNY is not upstate. I lived in the southern tier (Jamestown and Cherry Creek) which are beautiful. My ex's grandparents lived in Eden (home of the kazoo) and my ex-sister in law lives in Hamburg and my ex mother in law lives in Alden and they are also nice towns. I have also lived in upstate NY in Saratoga Springs which was my favorite place to live in NY state. I agree. Why not show some beautiful small towns or areas in towns that are not run down. Corning NY is a really nice place to visit. He made it seem like a lot of people in NY aren't friendly which you and I know isn't true.

[@dennismccann6407]

I grew up in a small town near Oneonta and there were dairy farms and beef farms everywhere. I joined the military in 95’ and the only thing that’s changed after being gone so long is the people are suffering more than ever and the farms are gone! New York State Government doesn’t give a shit about anything but NYC and it will always be that way. NYC should become a District. The people have no voice there. What the city wants, the rest of the state deals with. It’s sad. Still beautiful as ever though.

[@dansugardude2655]

You really seem like the American version of Bald and Bankrupt! Brute, forthright, and open. I love what you’re doing on KZbin and what you do to show the harsh life in the provinces of New York that many Americans never get to see! I’ll watch this video through the end! You’ve earned yourself a subscriber!

[@Rossdesigns]

My family has been living in rural New York for hundreds of years. Farming, factory work, or commuting all the way to Albany was viable for a while to make a living, but now there's no hope. This is the worse its ever been and its a crisis. No jobs or industry and the only way for small towns to generate income is with ridiculous property taxes. We pay more property tax on a 0.4 acre village home (no restaurants, 1 convenience store, 1 school, almost NO PUBLIC SERVCIES) than what we pay for a suburban Massachusetts home double the size in one of the nicest towns in the country. The private sector does not go upstate, the best employer in New York State is the State...

[@DogmaticAtheist]

The rust belt was caused by rampant and reckless

[@DogmaticAtheist]

globalization

[@danielfiore8865]

And the number one way folks get money is begging the state.

[@Tipchex]

Upsate NY is dead because of decades of policy to enrich shareholders.

[@trentbateman]

@@Rossdesigns that’s because NY state made it highly unprofitable to base businesses there. Production is booming across the south and states that are more business friendly. Small businesses and entrepreneurs are not basing out of NY and then spending their incomes in these areas due to unnecessarily high taxes

[@natemundt4752]

Rochester native here. Upstate is definitely a tale of two different visions. We have some of the most beautiful nature you can find in the Eastern U.S. The Finger Lakes, Adirondacks, Thousand Islands, Hudson Valley and the Catskills are all breathtaking. On the other side, is the bad part. Lots of companies (IBM, Kodak, Xerox, etc) that were formerly huge are now in shambles. Thus, a lot of areas losing so many jobs. We’re slowly rebuilding, but there are definitely a lot of depressing and dilapidated areas. Thanks for shedding light on this

[@19rudy73]

I live on the lake close to Sodus Bay. Beautiful in this area but a lot of places not too far away are in shambles

[@natemundt4752]

@@19rudy73 Sodus Bay is beautiful. Nearby Chimney Bluffs is one of my favorite state parks. But just 10 mins down the road, it feels like you’re back in the early 20th century.

[@redcomic619]

Rochester isn’t nearly as bad as the areas Tommy showed in this video. Binghamton is a sh!thole. Rochester actually had a ton of beautiful neighborhoods and awesome natural scenery.

[@DavidKnight-u7j]

I live off of Clinton ave,, absolutely crazy n run down out here 🤦🏻

[@natemundt4752]

@@redcomic619 definitely. Park Ave, South Wedge, Swillburg, East Ave are all beautiful. A lot of great parks too. Other neighborhoods are more run down with empty storefronts. The city is starting to do the right things to help revitalize these areas

[@shakeymikesadventures6793]

As Someone who ha lived in upstate ny for 57+yrs Tommy you are just scratching the surface. If you need someone to show you around and tell alot of stories of the different areas I have lived Let me know. I as well as most upstaters feel exactly the same way as you do about separating nyc/Li from nys , taxes and the over inflated prices are definitely a negative for our economy.

[@Jager-gq1bv]

I grew up in Tioga county, if you didnt have a big family name you wouldnt work. The village of Nichols NY, is were I lived next to a funeral home.

[@SpicyEngineer]

Best decision I ever made was leaving the Buffalo/Rochester area 20 years ago. Have not been back since. Literarily not much left there but drugs addicts and degenerates and vacant industrial buildings.

[@zackbogart2604]

Plattsburgh here

[@zackbogart2604]

@@Jager-gq1bvI worked at a company in little meadows for years.

[@Jager-gq1bv]

@@zackbogart2604 I use to know people in little meadows, a guy named Roger cool guy.

[@MelissaM83]

Come up higher, the Adirondacks are stunning but you got it spot on when u say it's disappointing to say the least. And those of us up here almost to the border of Canada, feel that pain.....I love living up here but damn we need something to happen and give the people more opportunities;

[@guydreamr]

That is literally the worst hotel room I've ever seen. And I'm a veteran of both traveling and travelogs. And for $113?! Glad you got your money back. 😂

[@jordanfourtwenty9694]

definitely a sex traffic hot spot...

[@wrath231]

I think its "The Rome Motel'

[@guydreamr]

@@wrath231 Yes, in Rome NY. And when in Rome, you definitely want to do what the Romans do and pass on staying at this fleabag, according to the reviews online lol.

[@DeusTex-Mex]

I stayed in a far worse one in Trinidad, Colorado back in 2018. It was snowing outside, the bathroom window was stuck open, and it was heated with a space heater. Plus it had hair and food in the bed. I guess it was one of those stoner hotels where they figured the clientele would be too busy getting blazed to care, but I just wanted to sleep. $60/night. A truly third world experience, right here in the USA.

[@ohno2112]

People from India capitalizing on America’s poor

[@franbrinda]

I remember factory jobs. When a man could work and support his family. Wife stayed home, 3 kids, a car, house, vacations. The good ole days. .

[@TheMichealfowlkes]

they should have never started buying foreign cars, it started there and then went everything, for greed over America staying strong, nafta fucked us too.

[@koilamaoh4238]

That was when nixon opened up trade to china :( Now if you talk about support/liveable wages.. its "woke" to them... thats how silly american politics are.. they are AGAINST wages that help them, and they worship the corporations and politicians that sold them out, just so they can enter heaven with their golden boats..

[@ptapoland]

Good for one person in that scenario

[@deborah9718]

A lot of us miss those days, but they are gone forever. Sad, so sad.

[@TheKingOfBeans]

@@ptapolandexplain

[@elohnroc]

Dude, if you didn't find good pizza in upstate New York, you weren't looking

[@tomfields3682]

He probably went to Pizza Hut 😂😂

[@fivespeed42]

Wait, what? How'd I miss that? Must of been reading comments 😂 Anyways, that's hilarious. I live close to Amsterdam, that he visits here in the video, and there is no issues with getting bomb pizza in the area

[@jsbarto1]

All he had to do is go up the hill from where the IBM buildings are, and turn left and drive into the North Side of Endicott, and go to any of the Italian restaurants...Consul's is the one I go to now when I am in the area...Oak's Inn is also very good...I grew up in Endwell, my parents worked at IBM Endicott, and my dad retired from there when I was a teenager...he grew up in Mt. Upton, a little town an hour away, straddling Chenango and Otsego counties...now, that town has seen better times...I return to the area for HS and college reunions at SUNY Cortland...the one thing I miss is the wonderful Italian food...just not the same where I live now...

[@qphlat27]

@@elohnroc He didn't try looking around upstate NY, period. This video was slander.

[@elohnroc]

Yeah it's pretty clear he didn't put much effort in here. For example in Rome it looks like he got off the exit and spend his entire time on that first strip, which might be the most oppressed part of Rome. However is he neared his beloved New York City, you should spend a little time in his own neighborhood if he really wants to see some real shit holes

[@chrisheiderich3]

You should take a trip to Utica NY, Ilion NY, Little Falls NY or Oriskany NY. Those cities, and village have alot of interesting facts that would make an awesome segment to your collections!

[@normdurkin6425]

Utica is literally the worst place in America..

[@KanamitTrump]

@@normdurkin6425 Should be renamed Pothole city

[@normdurkin6425]

@@KanamitTrump actually I used called Albany NY pothole city because it's slightly worse .. Utica has it beat when it comes to fires 🔥..

[@edprzydatek8398]

Little Falls is a beautiful, safe, and friendly small.city in the Mohawk Valley that still has a few manufacturers and a Main Street.

[@normdurkin6425]

@@edprzydatek8398 ..yes there are many small beautiful towns in Upstate New York.. he took the ghetto route on the way to Rochester and Buffalo.. lol

[@SabbaticalTommy]

It's been fun driving around my homeland of AMURICA but I'm starting to get that itch again. That itch to go overseas and keep exploring. An epic trip is coming up--see you across the pond.

[@DogheadOriginal]

Cor blimey guvner. About time 👌🏼

[@gowithkob]

Lets gooo!!!

[@ohmane5453]

Check out Liverpool🍻

[@MamaStyles]

Believe it or not Detroit is looking better then upstate NY…I live across the river in Windsor atm and I see progress

[@grumpyoldwizard]

I will be glad to return to the original format. I like seeing new places and people. I also enjoy learning about them and their cuture.

[@bbustin1747]

She knows a cattle rustler when she sees one 😂

[@jw451]

Tommys more of a LOVE rustler

[@mtnvortex]

Hahahaha...that shifty Irishman. You gotta watch those fellas...always sloshed on the Poitín.😆

[@Salmagundiii]

And I know the sound of a mega-Karen when I hear one. I'm glad he instantly acknowledged that was unlikely to happen in much of rural America.

[@mtnvortex]

@@Salmagundiii 🤔 I understand that it's become trendy to ridicule any White woman voicing concerns or opinions, but I'd hardly call that woman a "Karen", let alone "mega-Karen". I find it perfectly reasonable for her to question why some strange man was "casing" her property, valuable livestock, and taking pics. We all understand that Tommy meant no harm or offense, but she had no immediate idea of what he was up to. We also don't know what possible past incidents may have heightened her guard. Nah, I'm calling foul on the "Karen" label. Some women are well deserving of it...not this one. Just another note: Some farms commonly use chemicals/fertilizers that are targeted by thieves, as they are precursors in meth production. Not sure about this farm, but that really is a thing that many don't realize.

[@andersandersen6295]

@@mtnvortex A lot of whatifs and buts from you, but you are just a bunch of pathetic paranoid jerks in the end. she could find malice in the pure fact that he was around doing absolutely nothing, paranoid suspicion towards everything that moves.

[@hadhad69]

Sort of strange irony spending half the video talking about debt slavery in American society then advertising ambulance chasers but you gotta pay that 50k off I guess 😂 love your work bro

[@big120treez]

😂 IKR It's one of the most American things you can do, right now. Especially if you plan on making any $ trying to show the past, present, & hopefully future, of this vast country. I live in NC & many rural areas do have trailer homes. Though most of them are not run down. It is a bit frustrating for the capitalist class to want to keep you in deep debt to, then, come work for them. Pay doesn't equal the cost of school. Then some jobs won't hire you without a degree. 🧐😵‍💫 Dystopian landscapes for miles, beautiful farm lands the next. Wild. 💜 I still love this country. However, traveling outside of it is the best way to get a different perspective. 😊 Keep up the great videos Tommy. Following you whichever way the wind blows.

[@exin7778]

Ouch my foot! 📞

[@dougr.6734]

But they're "for the people".........lol.........they advertise here where I live ALL the time.

[@DavidPlaysGuitarSometimes]

I fail to see the connection

[@Bville-E]

​@@DavidPlaysGuitarSometimes Ahhhh just someone who wants to complain....You didn't miss anything

[@Lafly84]

Appreciate you taking the time to travel around. As a BU grad from Long Island, I would not expect you to know the history of the Binghamton area through the last century. I grew up there in the dying days of the boom years in the 1960s - 80s. That Japanese/Chinese restaurant in Endicott was a neighborhood corner store for decades before closing down decades ago. My only concern about SUNY driving the economy is that the area is putting all of its eggs in one basket much like it did with Endicott Johnson and IBM. One arbitrary decision can cause calamity in its wake, and there is not enough interest in Albany to lessen the risk. The people here were proud of the work that they did, and in the end, that counted for nothing.

[@AlissaHayes-ts1po]

I was born and raised in Johnson City. Yes it's rough and known for not too many good things right now. The factories closed down in the late Mid- 80's mostly. I was born in 89 and they were all closed then. But It was wonderful when there was work. It's hard to afford things in New York.

[@kkpriskiee1570]

Oh wow I grew up in vestal! Dated someone from JC haha went to all the sporting events

[@larstetens69]

I spent a lot of time there when I was young, and it had a lot of fond memories for me

[@despised3580]

I was also born in 89 and from Endi. Still living here. Can't wait to get out of here someday.

[@Stringwar]

The CEO of Boeing earns $32,000,0000. Think about that for a minute. And that's page 8 of the highest paid CEOs. CEO pay continues to outpace the pay of working people across the country. In the past 10 years, CEO pay at S&P 500 companies increased by more than $5 million to an average of $16.7 million in 2022. Meanwhile, the average U.S. worker saw a wage increase of $15,460 over the past decade, earning on average just $61,900 in 2022

[@fastsetinthewest]

Start your own company. Who cares what a freaking CEO earns!

[@BrooklynBoy206]

This should be further up in the comments section.

[@fastsetinthewest]

@@Stringwar Here's the point you miss. Guaranteed this comment is from experience. The Boeing CEO earns that money because of government contracts. These government contracts are given out with the implied disguising of financial assets so they can be used without detection of the illegal activity that produced them. Through money laundering, the criminal transforms the monetary proceeds derived from criminal activity into funds with an apparently legal source.

[@philpalmer4877]

Republican policies have destroyed the middle class. 🤦‍♂️

[@magmasunburst9331]

CEO: Chief Egineering Outsourcer?

[@Peter-MH]

It’s funny watching travel KZbinrs return home to the US after years of travel, and they’re all like.. “TF happened?!!” 😮

[@dertythegrower]

They call it 'Bidenomics' i mean.. right.. that was the term for years now

[@trinleywangmo]

@@dertythegrower That's 'cause kids these days all navel gazers. Nothing existed before Biden. I mean... SHEESH! Upstate has been falling into disrepair since the 1980s & 1990s when we moved most manufacturing to China. There's no product in the service industry... so, what wealth have we been building?

[@denniscarr9234]

@@dertythegrower come on, I'm no fan of biden (especially after the last debate) but I lived in utica during the obama & trump eras... it's been going in this direction for years. you can't blame it on any one person, as much as they may not have done anything to help. ultimately it goes back to the industry leaving decades ago.

[@perfectmazda3538]

@@dertythegrower duh, it's like that because of republicans and democrats, nothing to do with a single person but with all of them...

[@DogmaticAtheist]

He didn't return home. He grew up on Staten Island.

[@RyansVlogsYT06]

I lived in Auburn NY for my whole life right in the center of Upstate NY. It’s sad to see we are almost forgotten but I’m here

[@99Sarasmile]

I'm here too! I love it here.

[@JaquelineGoodspeed]

What? Forgotten? Nooooo

[@donmulder8061]

I haven't forgotten Auburn. I escaped many years ago but have not forgotten. I liked the food back in the day. The old style Euro-ethnic carnivals with all the different foods outside the churches.

[@davidr.miller9233]

It's sad that 90% of your content only shows the rough areas ... all the cities , towns and villages that you visited, have beautiful attractions and new development in business/ housing.

[@NoName-qs6ei]

We aint missing nothing. You see 1 mini mall you've seen them all. All the same crap.

[@kgmindustries8121]

​@@NoName-qs6eiThey are talking more than just that. They mean festivals, arboretums, museums etc. Your opinion needs to get outside more

[@NoName-qs6ei]

@@kgmindustries8121 I practically live outside. Just not in the city. Rural Oklahoma's good enough for me.

[@kgmindustries8121]

@@NoName-qs6ei I can respect that, there are nice places all over. Which was partially my point.

[@MargaritaMagdalena]

Things that are made for consumption are not interesting. People want to see the real world.

[@shelbywilks6995]

As someone who has lived in Binghamton her whole life I am a little upset that it appears that you went out of your way to only show the run down areas. I live in endicott and you failed to mention mention that they are working to tare down the IMB building and BAE systems has taken over some of the building as well and bring plenty of jobs to the area. I work in downtown binghamton and its beautiful, you failed to show court street which has some beautiful architecture. We are the home of the original Dicks sporting goods as well as now the biggest one. I love this area and while there are many improvements to be made I dont think its nearly as bad as you made it seem. You also failed to show gorgeous Owego NY which also has Lockheed Martin which also provides lots of jobs.

[@roysrants147]

I was surprised by the "downtown Binghamton" coverage as well. That must be a fringe area of the downtown because I have been to downtown Binghamton numerous times, and it sure didn't look like that. Glad to hear about the positive things going on with the IBM complex. He sure didn't find the Vestal Parkway either.

[@Reelifeproductions.]

The guy is obviously not a very experienced traveler with an agenda to show “Hope bad things have gotten”. He grew up in Ohio. It’s a shame really… all this time making a video with such a negative slant.

[@nedasher116]

Goverment contrac jobs wars bring jobs

[@BailHearingBetty]

Right? There is a Casino in the area with nice local hotels! This guy is a Dipshit!

[@bernardlawson665]

@@shelbywilks6995 Terrific response with erudite comments. Thumbs Up & TY

[@lennykazlauskas1101]

7:37 I gotta call you out on this- Mohawk Carpet STARTED in Amsterdam NY. Moved to the Southern USA where it still remains in Georgia as one of the largest carpet producers in the world. Mohawk moved South in the 1950s and 60s to purchase cheaper labor. Then later moved PRODUCTION overseas in search of ever lower labor costs. Yet the corporate overlords are still here in the USA. It's a classic example of corporate America abandoning American workers, especially Unionized workers. Greetings from Michigan.

[@jeremypage8119]

cause union workers are cry baby scumbags

[@nanamonster9233]

We had a Diamond Match Company in Oswego. Nestle Candy was in Fulton....awesome smell when you came into town. A couple of miles from where I grew up were the Irish "Slave Shacks" in which the Irish railroad workers lived...My Uncle Louie was one of them until he bought the land that my Dad eventually got from him. I went to a 2 room schoolhouse (that still stands) when I was 5 & 6 walking the 2 miles there and back and got running water when I was 16. All of us local kids did farm work in the summer and we grew up as a tough lot. I'm now a 70 yr old broad and teaching my grandchildren the values of hard work, loyalty and family.

[@stormtrooperjeepjk]

Don't forget all the tanneries in Fulton as well

[@williamgreeson8387]

I'm from Dalton GA, the "carpet capital of the world." They still manufacturer carpets there. They got around labor issues by inviting workers from south of the border to move into northwest GA. My understanding of it is that they told the locals, "they come here, or we go there." That will probably change over time..... But for now the town is in pretty decent shape.

[@donmulder8061]

Planned on skimming this video and moving on but stayed all the way through it. Very compelling content. I am from Auburn, NY. Grew up there in the 70s and 80s, moved on when I graduated and joined the military and have only returned for short visits, weddings, holidays and sadly too many funerals. Sad to see how far Auburn has fallen. The only thing keeping it alive is the state penitentiary. The city leadership rolled the dice on a redesign called "Urban Renewal" in the 70s which was intended to allow people to pass through Auburn easily while concentrating all business in the mall and a shopping plaza outside town. The plan worked perfectly as now traffic just passes through, there is no downtown, all family businesses downtown went under, and all stores are now only a mall that is the subject of scary vacant mall videos and a shopping plaza or two that are all based around chain restaurants on the outskirts for as long as the city can keep them on low wages, high taxes and low enthusiasm for performing labor. Auburn has more vacant factories you can shake a stick at as well. They used to make everything from color movies to tires to shoes to rope and electronics in Auburn. Now I don't think they make a damn thing. Most of our Catholic churches are now mediation places and massage places or just abandoned. And everyone in Auburn gets high now that the World War II and Korean War generations have passed on. The kids, the teachers, the cops, the prison guards, the store owners, the doctors, everyone gets high all the time and no one wants to upset anyone. And they are happy because the weed is affordable and the houses are now going up in value. All of them. Every old house. Of course no one can sell them and if they do, where do they go? Auburn like Endicott and Johnson City is a poor and sad city. But the people are very nice and not too upset about it all.

[@hallcrash]

"Motels" around Upstate NY are used for temporary housing. Battered woman's shelter/ people with drug & alcohol problems, etc.

[@charrua59]

And does in new york city for immigrants?

[@hallcrash]

@charrua59 I think Tommy covered the NYC immigrant situation in a previous video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/in3YhYCabK5grpYsi=8EvSRMwlBowhetC0

[@BrookeMcLymond]

It's because most don't have any shelters.

[@rstefanie2622]

Don't forget the illegal aliens!

[@nedasher116]

Temporary perminate

[@nocapbussin]

Id be concerned too if someone was taking pictures of my property. KZbinrs and "influencers" in general dont seem to understand that just because THEY are an open book and fine being on camera doesnt mean other people are too. And when you live rural and have a farm and someone pulls over taking pictures and video, that raises some extreme red flags. Be more aware of that next time Edit: I know today we live in a world with fake empathy and virtue signaling, but before the days of rampant clinical mass narcissism and sociopathy, people used to actually have something called common decency. That means they had manners and conducted themselves with etiquette. And for those saying he's not breaking any laws, I never said he was. It's not against the law to say spit on the floor inside a building or let out a fart in a restaurant, but it's rude and shows a lack of social etiquette and class. I doubt some people are smart enough to understand that and will still KZbin lawyer me because we live in clown world and IQs are in the toilet, but, for those with above 90 IQs, I think you can see why a stranger on your property with a camera could raise alarm regardless if what he was doing was "legal".

[@philpalmer4877]

and they get insulted when called out...😂

[@AgujeroDeCulo]

Yeah the snarky responses he gave were disappointing.

[@kennethmchilders]

The law says it's fine. Remember that? The law?

[@philpalmer4877]

@kennethmchilders The law says walking onto someone else's property without permission to film commercial content is legal? In which state of America is that ok? 🤔🤔 Homeowners could sue those trespassers, or prosecute them, with the law...remember that, the law? 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@carolchiocchi8843]

I totally agree with you,I’m in rural Pa ,close to upstate ny and I’d be calling him out for sure

[@Cabbage338]

I drove from Canandaigua to Skaneateles across route 20 for the first time yesterday. Beautiful views and drive.

[@josephlogiudice6781]

NYC is a leech on the rest of the state.

[@lordmunchkin]

Our unfortunate Governor Houchul really only gives a shit about NYC, Her only concern is lobbyists, investors, and corporations.

[@moniho6907]

Blame hochul why? Upstate has been dead before hochul been in power

[@theprfesssor]

Especially now with bail reform and the illegal alien issues they are trying to make NYC issues state wide Shipping the nonsense up to the upstate to deal with

[@deanbianco4982]

@lordmunchkin:Your ignorance is beyond belief.

[@michaeljarosz4062]

Kathy Hochul was born in Buffalo and served in public office in Hamburg NY and Erie County. Though in Western New York State, Buffalo and Hamburg are closer in mindset to Ohio than NYC.

[@jackieneale5424]

Binghamton had over 80,000 residents in 1950, by 1980 it was down to 55,000 , today its at 47,000. Im pointing this out because republican or democrat , governor, mayor , city council it doesn't matter, the area has been in decline longer than I've been alive

[@christopherbailey557]

I live in Northern New York on the border with Canada. We have been forgotten by our state government. The biggest employers are schools, hospitals, prisons, and government run programs. Industry is gone, we had papermills, foundries, mining, lumber mills, etc. The state is now closing the prisons, emptying the mental facilities and dumping homeless people on our streets in the middle of the night.

[@MrReymoclif714]

Yup! Privatized Prisons!!!

[@Tajjahan1994]

@christopherbailey557 where at ? I stayed some years in Plattsburgh ny

[@whatsup24_7]

That's what voting for Democrats gets ya 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Lashley1337]

Malone area? I lived in Brushton and felt like I was in a different country.

[@ArkOmen1]

Yes, upstate NY is a forgotten wasteland where there are now actual zombies 🧟‍♂️ wandering the streets, waiting for their next thing to steal, rob, take drugs, etc. It's gotten very dangerous and you have to search for places to go that are above the fray, where you don't see the zombies, the poverty, the crime, and the hopelessness. When I say zombies, I mean it. I'm not at all exaggerating.

[@tie1onoutdoors]

I became good friends with a fella from Upstate NY when I served in the Navy. We went through our A-school together and then ended up at the same command and deployed together. He left the service before I did and moved back home. James was an awesome dude and one of those friends you meet while serving with that you won't ever forget. (Other veterans know what I mean by this lol) Hopefully he's doing good for himself up there in Upstate NY.

[@amgooder]

"That you don't forget"...🤔"other Veterans know"🤔...😱

[@ratsalad346]

How long ago? My Dad was named James and served 1960-63 if I recall correctly. I grew up near Corning and Watkins Glen.

[@freeleonardpeltier4148]

Have you ever tried finding his contact info,& reaching out!? I’d bet he thinks about you too. You guys should reconnect!

[@bhhNC]

IBM started as BBM, the Binghamton Business Machine Company. My dad's side are from the 19th century railroad hub HORNELL in Steuben County. Sixty years ago, Grandpa told me that a guy came into his Hornell bakery hawking "some strange machine" that tallied sales and produced a paper receipt. Gramps asked if he could try it for a month. When the salesman came back, Grandpa made himself rich by buying all of his adding machine stock and becoming a de facto franchise to his many Freemasonic small business friends there. True story.

[@sjladuke75]

IBM literally destroyed much of the Hudson River Valley. Dutchess, Orange, Ulster counties were dependent on IBM as at their height, there were 24,000 + employees. The entire region revolved around IBM to support other businesses. In 1993, IBM layoffs began leaving the area reeling & no potential employment for the thousands who lost their jobs. This was done to move operations overseas- India, where they didn't have to pay nearly as much for workers or provide benefits. This was truly corporate greed.

[@ralphbalfoort2909]

You really should know that there's no 'p' in Binghamton; the Hamptons are over 150 miles away on Long Island.

[@bhhNC]

@@ralphbalfoort2909 fixed

[@photojunkysdronezonevlog]

"I'm not going to lie. I see a lot of pickup trucks." What does that even mean? I own a pickup truck. Should I be offended😂

[@coastalartistlivingonislan8395]

He is from Long Island. It’s like he has never seen a cow on a farm. He doesn’t understand country life. Around here in the Deep South everyone drives a pickup truck except for the transplants from the Midwest and little old lady transplant types from northern Bama cities. Even at the coast in Florida you will see trucks and Jeeps.

[@SBecktacular]

😂

[@loishilliard1]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@zabaanshenaas]

Perhaps they tend to be associated with hicks and rednecks.

[@coincollector315]

He is a LI loud mouth, racist that is sponsored by a personal injury law-firm. That about sums it up. The only thing he got right was that upstate should be legally separate from the NYC/LI nonsense.

[@jennysparks7232]

I live in Rome, NY. Sorry u didn't come during the day as you missed a lot of history in the area such as Fort Stanwick (sp?), a airplane used in the Vietnam war, the Air Force Lab and DFAS, Erie Canal. Also, there were other nice motel/hotels to stay at. I enjoyed ur youtube and I look forward to any future ones you do.

[@joshuameyer3686]

Upstate doesn't start until you go North of the thruway bud. I've lived all over the state, New York State is a great place if you can make a living. There is a ton of history and many parts have seen better more prosperous times, but we are still here

[@ckh937610]

Nah, it really means Up/north of the NYC area. Hence the term. There is much of the state not south of the Thruway that wouldn’t be considered Downstate.

[@tomfields3682]

​@@ckh937610True! The reference point is NYC. All of the state "up" from there is Upstate.

[@joeweaver9913]

I interned at IBM in Endicott, NY in the 1990s. It was booming back then. The locals called the IBMers zipper heads. I learned to love chicken spiedies. It was unthinkable that they shut it down.

[@mikemancini313]

There’s absolutely nothing left. Those buildings have been sitting abandoned since 2002.

[@KDDevine]

Not sure who showed you where to go! You obviously picked and chose the worst area. We love it here ❤

[@MargaritaMagdalena]

The video is literally named "New York's poorest, most forgotten region". It was his goal to document this.

[@markfromct2]

I was born in Utica NY and have family there and take offense to this video BIG TIME. He has NO CLUE about there!!

[@markfromct2]

I was born in Utica NY and have family there and take offense to this video BIG TIME. He has NO CLUE about there!!

[@revgregory]

It's not like I couldn't drive to the NYC area and do the same thing this jackass did, of course I'd have to arrive with a preconceived bais and a bunch of negative prejudices that I don't currently have so it wouldn't have the same result.

[@wilber53]

@@markfromct2 He did the same thing in our Binghamton area.

[@standingupforjustice8142]

The dirty sheets was an issue with their housekeeping dept, if they even have one. More often than not it's family of the owner that tends to those duties. So, even if a homeless person were to stay in a room, it's the owner of the motel's responsibility to make it clean - yes - even for the next homeless person who may be put up there.

[@openyoureyes3969]

They probably F up the sheets so they are tired of getting new ones. Crackheads don't care. That's where they do their business. They show have one crisp clean room for the rela guests.

[@HudsonValleyVHS]

The motels are being used for EHV (emergency and at-risk) and HCV (section eight) overflow. It's suppose to be temporary or transitional housing, but the waiting lists for both programs are about three years long. There's controversy with migrants getting priority placement before the people waiting, issues involving resource allocation, surrounding property values, and crime. Long story (kinda) short, no housekeeping is coming in and changing sheets like a regular motel and I doubt it would be wanted. Its closer to a landlord (or slumlord) tenant relationship. People are fully moved in with all their possessions, different furniture (and sheets lol), pets, room dividers etc. It does get a bit complicated with HUD. "Motel" owners have to keep a room(s) open to the public to qualify and to avoid different (or complicated) regulations. Local to me they vary from small communities similar to a normal apartment complex to essentially shooting galleries or brothels. I'm 90 minutes north of the city, possibly it's a little different further upstate.

[@zandapp]

Hey my friend, born and raised in a small (used to be) factory town/village of 3,500 people of Green Island NY. We never had much but it was a good upbringing.

[@GlebNerzhin]

“New Yorkers faced the highest burden, with 15.9 percent of net product in the state going to state and local taxes.” -The Tax Foundation

[@MA_808]

Property taxes are over 30% statewide

[@DogmaticAtheist]

Holy schmoly That's bonkers

[@JeepdudeFL]

@@MA_808 Wrong

[@SpicyEngineer]

Best decision I ever made was leaving Western NY 20 years ago. Have not been back since. Nothing but poor people and degenerates left in Upstate NY.

[@ryanshaw4250]

and thats just the tip of the iceberg.. the whole state makes no sense.

[@niiightshadeee]

This is where I’m from, born and raised in greater Rochester area. Drugs, crime, gang activity, poor governance & policy, and lack of jobs have just completely destroyed a huge portion of this state. There are still many good little pockets that exist, but it has been irreparably changed in a lot of ways. So good to see you exploring upstate NY and bringing attention to these commonly overlooked lands.

[@steve-hp3uq]

yeah im from the canadian side of the 1000 islands and even though ive never been everyone kinda knows rochester is a pretty rough town

[@GeneseeBen]

Hey! I've seen you on Nick's scuffed stream! I'm from rural Genesee county. You speak the truth about Rochester. At least there's nice spots on the lake. I like to take my dogs to Hamlin.

[@ericb.3580]

@@GeneseeBen from Hilton

[@bujfvjg7222]

DRUUUUUGS and everything else come from POVERTY. Change the systemic GREED and drugs won't be a problem. Citation? Heroin rat experiment

[@ItsMe-vg4vj]

They come up here. Pay 40% more for property making it harder on the locals to buy a home.

[@slammerlo510]

Dear Tom, This may be the only clip that received over 2000 comments within 8 hours. Why, you ask? Well, it's because there are many people who were thrilled that you covered a place they used to call home. I'm happy that you managed to give so many of your viewers goosebumps. Haha!

[@jessebrettjames]

Tragic Nostalgia. Many former upstate New Yorkers are part of a massive diaspora. I moved to Europe, Asia, and the Middle -East.

[@pajamaperson4203]

@@jessebrettjames no1 cares

[@freeleonardpeltier4148]

@@pajamaperson4203are you mentally unstable?

[@jsrcamp]

Rome ny just got hit bad with a touch down of the tornado we just had a watch for on tuesday. It was an EF-2 with peak winds of 135 mphs. I live 2 and a hslf hrs north of there in malta NY

[@ArtbyDebraRose]

Yes, exactly. Downtown Rome has worked so hard to revitalize, and now a tornado ripped through. Romans will come back better and stronger than ever. We stick together in Central NY

[@matthewmcmahon6727]

One of the reasons there are so many modular homes in NY state is because it keeps your taxes low if you don’t add a house that needs a foundation. A lot of people in NY state are able to own several acres in NY state and keep their taxes under 500 a year by adding a modular home compared to building a house which would raise the property taxes to sevral thousand a year. If all your bills consist of only needing to pay for electricity, cable, water, internet because your taxes are only a fee hundred a year people don’t need to make a lot of money when all their bills are under 500 a month. The people can own their modular/mobile home and several acres of land and live comfortably for under 500 a month and that is one of the reasons why you see so many mobile and modular homes in the rural areas. (If you look into modular homes you will see you can get 3 bedrooms for about 50 thousand dollars that look just as nice on the inside as any average home in the suburbs with large open kitchens, washers and dryers, ect.)

[@lorirogers9304]

More like we’ll over $100,000 and a lot fee over $600 a month

[@matthewmcmahon6727]

@@lorirogers9304 Most people put the trailer/mobile home on there own land. Then you only pay taxes and if you don't add improvements which is something permanent than the taxes will stay below 500 a year in most towns but definitely less than a 1000 a year if you don't put in a permanent foundations. And no a brand new modular home should never be more than 50 thousand but I see tons of gorgeous used in excellent shape modular homes for between 10 to 20 thousand. I don't know where you get a hunsered thousand from. There are also plenty of nice regular trailers/single wide for around five thousand and campers between 2 and 3 thousand with air conditioner/water all the same comforts you would get in a house. For an elderly couple on a fixed income trying to get away from expensive rents buying a few acres and putting a camper on it would be perfect. For a family starting at a few acres for 20 to 30 thousand which they can finance instead of buying straight out and pay 400 or 500 a month for 5 or 6 years until they pay it off and in the meantime or a lower income family with children could put a nice mobile home on it or a camper to get started and the following year when they get there tax return buy a used mobile home for 7 or 8 thousand which is the usual tax return for someone with 2 kids althrough I think it went up becauee the new tax credit that started in 2022 refunds family an additional 36000 per child a year which is paid by direct deposit 300 per month per child on top of the usual tax return. Their are trailer parks where the average lot rent I between 325 and 500 but I was talking about mobike homes sitting on a few acres of land not trailer parks. Yes some towns don't allow mobile homes but there are plenty of towns that do with plenty of acerage to buy in NY if people just look. However a lot of people associate a mobile home with a negative stigma and would rather pay 2 or 3 thousand a month in a mortgage alone and not be associated with the mobile home/rural area stigma than pay a thousand a month for 5 years for land and a trailer and 500 dollars a month for alll bills including property taxes after that. I don't know own why you think new 3 bedroom mobile homes cost a hundred thousand dollars because that is just not true.

[@LaVidaLocaHomie]

@@matthewmcmahon6727 "(If you look into modular homes you will see you can get 3 bedrooms for about 50 thousand dollars that look just as nice on the inside as any average home in the suburbs with large open kitchens, washers and dryers, ect.)" Where exactly are these 50K brand new 3 br/2 ba homes growing on trees located?

[@bobsacamano7653]

thank you for the advice if I ever decide to move there.

[@bobsacamano7653]

@@matthewmcmahon6727 $50k $100k both sound good to me. I live on the west coast and $100k isn't enough for a down payment where I live.

[@Tonymanero1960]

Rod Serling (of Twilight Zone fame) spent his younger years in Binghamton. One of the most famous episodes he wrote is when the main character returns to his idyllic hometown (loosely based on Binghamton),... wants to be young again,...and realizes that he can't,...that you only get one chance at being young. The episode is titled ''Walking Distance''.

[@robertfischer5893]

I stopped for a slice of pizza in Binghampton in '16 on my way down from Canada and it was like a bombed out sh*thole 3rd world nuclear blasted waste zone. Pizza was 🔥🔥 though

[@skiboky-x]

Went to school there, it's an interesting place for sure. Half the place is abandoned and some of it is decent, however, thats where the students mostly are. The downtown area is starting to open up new places so maybe it'll get a bit nicer in the years to come. Very cool up there though the old architecture on some of the buildings and the history behind them are nice.

[@MrReymoclif714]

@@robertfischer5893Like a wizard of OZ city popping up out of nowhere when you’re passing through?

[@psycho8181]

c’mon over to my turf BINGHAMTON…

[@wolfganghofmann3977]

Great video man, I used to live in Rome, New York. It was dismal, now I live in Southern California. It’s like living under a different planet.

[@DanielReyes-zu8em]

I used to live in Rome too. What years were you there??

[@nataliesutherland6655]

Add another former Roman to list! I graduated RFA in the prehistoric days if 1980 😅. Coincidentally, I just visited. Hotels and Airbnb in very short supply. Ended up staying at the Casino property.

[@MuzixMaker]

SoCal is the anus of the United States

[@jamiekendall7245]

I'm very disappointed in this video, you have not shown ANY of the beauty and activity of upstate New York. You completely bypassed the Catskill mountains. This is FAR FROM a good description of upstate New York. Please try harder to show the true beauty, and not just the decline of small towns from factory closures. I'm wondering if you've been sponsored by NYC to show the poor and defunct parts of the state. Shame on you sir!!!!!

[@jamesgoldstien1468]

They said you could film where you was.. you just couldn’t come any closer..!! She wasn’t being rude, she was watching out for her property & the animals.. some people try to get too close to the animals & might get hurt.. which is a property insurance issue

[@speaksthis]

I wrote something like this. It was deleted. By him or YT, who knows, but freedom of speech is long dead.

[@Atmannnnn]

SEEMS PRETTY CLEAR THAT WE SHOULD NOT RELY ON OUR GOVERNMENTS TO LOOK AFTER OUR PEOPLE, WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO FIX THIS SITUATION ON THIS PLANET

[@MrAquinas1]

Yeah, the government is more interested in funding drag queen story hours for first graders. And before we blame businesses for leaving the courntry, try operating one where you have to function under bureaucratic created egulartions that are as thick as an encyclopedia.

[@faiolapat]

85% of carpets for sale in the United States are manufactured within 65 mi of Dalton Georgia. Carpets are too bulky to be manufactured overseas with the shipping costs as what they are. You should do a little bit more research before you make statements like that. All the manufacturing that was done in Amsterdam has moved South. I live 60 mi away from Amsterdam.

[@tomfields3682]

Yup, cheap Southern non union labor.

[@RovexHD]

I’m sure they’re not hand made.

[@charlessawyer836]

Tell me you haven’t spent time in rural America without telling me you haven’t spent time in rural America.

[@drop830]

IBM used to have a huge presence in the capital region of New York state, Kodak in Rochester, and Carrier in Syracuse. Now they are all gone. And we wonder why the state is broke

[@spaffron4285]

He didn't talk about the chemical spill that IBM had that gave tons of locals cancer and cost millions of dollars if not more

[@psalc1]

Towns are bankrupt. No tax revenues! We are paying the big firms and the wealthy more than they are paying into the system. Overhead is too high.

[@brandiwatts2718]

Let's make NYC pay their own way instead of us in upstate NY pay for NYC let's vote a split for NYC as their own and the rest of us in NY be our own reap the benefits of the high prices and taxes we paid. Just so New York City can take them for themselves

[@frank-hd6ts]

FJB

[@geoffreycoates4720]

Thank the Democrats!

[@scottwithington9933]

From Clinton, NY upstate new york suffers from the state's high taxes and regulations that are muchbrougher on upstate new work's economy tjsn downstate

[@PistonHonda87]

@@brandiwatts2718NY uses us as a dumping ground for criminals, sex offenders and welfare recipients.

[@mrmrlee]

You must be from western Long Island....In eastern Long Island there are plenty of trailer parks, Riverhead, Calverton, Yaphank etc. and some of them are quite nice.

[@KBLIZZ333]

Yup lol Thought the same thing.

[@dianalatsha3468]

While some of what you said and show is true, you were very selective in what you showed. For example, when you were showing the old IBM campus in Endicott, you failed to turn the camera behind you and show BAE which has taken over a part of campus. The building are full every day and the building is well kept. You say you were in downtown Binghamton, yet you failed to actually go "downtown" and show all the new restaurants and business that are thriving. You didn't show the Oakdale commons, which is quickly becoming a go-to place in the area with the "Largest Dick's Sporting Goods in the World" and now a Dave and Buster's. As far as the two hotel comparisons in Rome, I have to wonder as well. I'm sure you could have found and shown an alternative between those two price ranges. I appreciate that you tried to show that all New Your isn't NYC or Long Island, but the picture you painted of our area was more hurtful than helpful.

[@draketerwilliger770]

I’ve been in this area for a bit and I agree. So much good has come the past few years

[@DavidPlaysGuitarSometimes]

This is why it's so important for Americans to buy American made products.

[@frank-hd6ts]

FJB

[@aggierowe9574]

Sadly everything is made in China

[@slowboywhiteboardv4]

The banks won't give American run industries operating loans.

[@robpage7125]

FUGGEDABOUDIT Dave ! Most products are manufactured OVERSEAS ! To "Buy American" is patriotic, but that means hunting down small, family owned businesses, traveling or paying higher prices for THOSE items...Yes..us Americans remember the "Leave it to Beaver" TV lifestyles, dude ! But Agent Orange has BRAVADO and SWAGGER, but cannot FORCE profitable corporations to "return to America" to re-open factories and farms to satisfy our "days of tradition and carefree" days !!😅

[@videovixen203]

How when they’re all made in China?

[@richhenry8004]

Look at the state tax rate. Tells you everything you need to know. That plus the black hole that is NYC and it's not too hard to explain.

[@Marcel_Audubon]

talk about an oversimplification - the state tax rate is everything we need to know?

[@richhenry8004]

​@@Marcel_Audubon Yes, it tells you Albany's philosophy with respect to your money. Their particular philosophy is that your money is theirs.

[@ds37215]

​@@richhenry8004 you do realize NYC pays almost all of the taxes the state receives and gets less than what it puts in, correct? The other cities are basically on welfare from NYC, which pays 45% of the taxes and receives 40% spending.

[@loosilu]

NYC subsidizes the whole state.

[@richhenry8004]

@@loosilu As they should, its a progressive tax system. Not to mention they use upstate as a source for food, water, power, prisons, and as their garbage dump.

[@NowOpenForLunch]

There is something to be said for "Blooming where you were planted." I was born in Utica, and now living is Syracuse. I love Upstate NY. Eventually I will make my way to a country setting somewhere here Upstate. Thanks for the video. It was very entertaining. Best of Luck in your endeavors. Two Thumbs Up !!

[@lorirogers9304]

Syracuse is central NY.

[@andrew8501]

Central New York is in Upstate New York.

[@lisabritton6343]

Went to school in Utica, NY. It was once Suny Tech back in esrly 2000

[@johnnyazer5779]

Yeah, members of my family moved back and love it. I would too if I could make a living as a musician but then its hard everywhere.

[@rhondamoran5520]

2:28 I live outside of the NYC area upstate. People are friendly and cordial in my little upstate town. These city folk live in a bubble. They think they are the center of the universe. They go upstate, take over poor neighborhoods, and gentrify places where poor people lived, and now these poor people are displaced. They buy at extremely high prices and force everyone's property taxes up. They get tired of the city, so these Interlopers come to Upstate New York where they try and take over. They don't even realize they are self-centered and rude. How dare he accuse this farmer of being unfriendly when he's trasspassing on her property without asking and taking pictures. A real jerk and to boot has a Long Island accent you can't miss.

[@Tara4Truth291]

My thoughts exactly. I’m in northern Columbia county and they’ve taken over. This guy is obnoxious.

[@smesui1799]

UpState NY ... very scenic but overshadowed by lower NY.

[@SuperNolaguy]

Upstate was the jewel of the state years ago. Check out all the forgotten resorts in the borchst belt region and research about all the world famous entertainers and how they got their start there. Major history. Also check out Steuben county and the many beautiful dairy farms there.

[@geo_walters]

But enough about 80 years ago.

[@skontheroad]

​@geo_walters It wasn't 80 years ago. We spent many holidays in the Catskills! The Concord, the Nevele, The Pines, etc. So many great hotels! So much history! It should be a whole episode. Mrs. Maisel did a few great episodes about the Catskills! Highly recommend watching them!

[@dylanluks1543]

I used to watch your videos from my apartment in Syracuse, NY. Now you are filming videos right next door! Small world.

[@frank-hd6ts]

Upstate New York has been neglected for many years, I think when David Paterson was governor, things really started getting worse, and when Andrew Cuomo became governor Upstate was all but forgotten.

[@joanellis-q4v]

When you said you were in downtown Binghamton, NY, that was not factual. You were several blocks away. Downtown Binghamton has actually come a long way in the past few years. True, Binghamton, as well as most upstate towns, has suffered over the past decades. There are many positive events happening and buildings being preserved. I am perturbed that you specifically chose to show the areas with the most blight. Not a fair representation of All of upstate! Such a negative video and not much knowledge as to history or resurgence. I find this video insulting at best!

[@nancyvanni5409]

Born in Niagara Falls, Hornell for elementary, high school in Buffalo. Thus video broke my heart. In WA state now. Your comments are spot on. We need your smarts. 😢

[@oakoliver7183]

Hello old neighbor. I went to Arkport and now reside in Canisteo. Bought a duplex in Hornell right by the high school for pennies.

[@nancyvanni5409]

@oakoliver7183 how wonderful. I loved it there. My Godmother, Rosemary Dineen lived in Canisteo.

[@valleyofiron125]

I spent a lot of time in upstate ny. My parents were raised in illion and herkimer, born in the early 30s. They left after college and lived all over settling in VT. Upstate Ny was in steady decline as i grew up.

[@normfromhawaii1173]

That's a pay by the hour hotel buddy!! No Aloha there... Oh and I bet the hot water isn't even turned on!

[@MrTubby24]

Amsterdam also had COLCO toy manufacture, they were HUGE in the 70's (Cabbage Patch Dolls ), moved out of NYS in the early 80's

[@chrisw5742]

You heard the stories of the actual cabbage patch kids? There is a video on it . Tartarian based video.

[@Dan-gujii]

One square mile of Kensington street Philadelphia would be an inadequate sampling of Pennsylvania😮

[@user-xt7rs8md7p]

You cherry picked some economically damaged neighborhoods and call it ‘upstate’ That’s not an honest representation. That’s like going to the crappiest neighborhood in the NYC metro and calling it NYC… Upstate is awesome, there are great places all over the place… I’ve been around the U.S. and 16 other countries… I choose to live upstate because I love it here

[@skiboky-x]

That talk about student loans got me feeling a way, just graduated from Binghamton wouldn't say you're salty about anything that school loves taking as much money as possible.

[@SU_fan_44]

Seems to be a lot of BU grads watching this channel. 👍

[@PFBM86]

After my freshman year I left the sheet on the bed in my dorm room thinking it belonged to the university, so they charged me a $63 room cleaning fee (which is $101 in 2024 money) to take the sheet off of the bed and throw it in the trash. Fuck those guys.

[@vilhelmkron7455]

The greed will collapse humanity.

[@bioXgunzMcgee]

I can confirm this. They encourage students to live on campus their first semester even if they live locally. That’s another couple hundred bucks added to your bill. I lived 20 minutes away, why spend the money?

[@PFBM86]

@bioXgunzMcgee I grew up right up the hill a mile away lol, my parents still made me live on campus freshman year but after that I threatened to drop out if they didn't let me live at home. Easiest $30k I've ever saved.

[@christineharmon6129]

What has killed many of these towns is the pulling out of companies . Oneida is a prime example. Amazon has killed many retail stores. Few people want to be farmers anymore.. hard work just to get by. But corporations moving out has done a huge damage to many, many of these towns! Used to be if you got into a good company and were a decent employee, you were set….. like Kodak in Rochester. Eastman built that city up with intention of retaining good employees. Thant philosophy doesn’t exist anymore. Billionaires will always want more at the expense of many.(There are many generous philanthropists) New York State is absolutely beautiful with many hidden treasures! Parks, architecture, history, lakes, mountains, etc.

[@cmburke7]

The closer you get to Lake Erie there the more debilitating the winter snows become. That's why you mostly see the pickup trucks.

[@rz-zd2dd]

He's near Rome,NY. Lake Erie has nothing to do with the snow. Lake Ontario affects their weather.

[@devonteforeman]

Some of those old Victorians are absolutely stunning. It's a shame to see they don't have much time left before they are too far gone.

[@RobertRosentreter-zu3wm]

A native of Rochester, I lived all over the Triple Cities (Binghamton, Johnson City and Endicott) from 1972-80. My last two years there were in Johnson City. I remember it having lots of older residents and students and not much in between. It was known for its old housing stock but that was a boon for students looking to save on rent. I remember many small shops on Main Street in JC. Even then you could tell its best days were behind it. Downtown Binghamton had a Sears, JC Penney, Fowler’s and Woolworths when I first got there. But a mall north of JC sucked the life out of Binghamton and these stores all moved. Some of you are saying that downtown has gentrified which makes me happy. I remember the streets of abandoned industrial buildings and bad housing north of downtown even then. I enjoyed my years there, especially the restaurants and lack of traffic. Back then there were only one or two homicides a year, but I did get burglarized twice. In 1980 I left for Atlanta because I could see the economic headwinds did not favor the Triple Cities.

[@debrahelmlinger6256]

Worked with a Kathleen from Binghamton, she loved her town so much she moved back and became the town Librarian😊

[@LuisBermudez69]

I am Latino and I lived in Rochester now I live in Newark there in Rochester there is a lot of racism apart from that the Latinos who are there are bad that's why I left because I really don't understand the reason for many things with the people of New York

[@RobertRosentreter-zu3wm]

Luis, Rochester has a history of real estate segregation of blacks and I’m sure other minorities too, before that became illegal. Kodak employed almost no blacks until the ‘70s. I don’t doubt your difficulties.

[@darleneshriver3270]

As far as i am concerned, NYC is where NYers tax $ goes, NYC should be its own state or fall into the ocean!

[@sudano9958]

Huh? Take an economics class. Upstate region generated less than 28 percent of the state’s taxes and other non-federal revenues and received 42 percent. NYC generated 45 percent but received 40 percent of spending.

[@craighare1711]

​@@sudano9958 Easy tax NYC 10bucks per gallon of water they steal from the Catskills in Upstate. Bang just made upstate independent.

[@lokirussell5891]

​@sudano9958 Take a history class, all major industries have left upstate NY that generated the majority of revenue for the city.After slick Willy Clinton signed NAFTA ,it killed our state !

[@ChazR25]

This video is a failure and weird IMO. He for some reason decided to actively look for the worst things in each city. A dingy motel with a stain on a chair? Get a clue man, central and upstate NY is one of the most beautiful places in this country. Actively searched out old dumpy buildings in Johnson City. 1st and last video I'll ever watch from him. Very ignorant presentation.

[@kathleenmartin7498]

Most small towns in America have blocks of empty businesses. The big box stores and internet sales are too big if competitors for small businesses

[@MikeV607]

It's not just rural NY that has suffered the loss of primarily manufacturing jobs. I've been following Joe and Nicole's channel and learned that many small towns across the country are slowly becoming ghost towns. It's a sad reality.

[@dojocho1894]

As a Upstater and Old..... the problems are the same throughout the US. The corporations were allowed to outsource labor and corporations were allowed to keep their money off shore. Now with AI a different level of worker will be replaced...no one ever answers the question .....with technology advances.....how will people earn a income?

[@metuselahjones6905]

I can answer that for you: It involves depopulation and UBI, aka Socialism/Communism. That is what is coming.

[@naomikriss5208]

The plan is to give everyone money and encourage their passions and interests.

[@metuselahjones6905]

@@naomikriss5208 Thats a lovely (naive) thought.

[@frogmantoad8110]

You’re a dope.

[@flinx649]

You will own nothing...and like it.

[@Pork_Schwarma]

This area in the winter is about the definition of depression.

[@finnmcginn9931]

Same as south-western Ontario. Grey skies, slush, and dreary

[@fivespeed42]

It's a winter wonderland in the beautiful Adirondack Park. One of the best areas in the United States for any and all winter sports. You're obviously one of those that just sit inside their houses and complain about the temperatures

[@Pork_Schwarma]

@@fivespeed42 This video was filmed in Binghamton, that is not the Adirondacks at all you m oron.

[@sjladuke75]

Many people enjoy the snow & winter season. Skiing, snow mobiles, skating, etc can actually make winter enjoyable & fun! It's all about choices.

[@wisetibetanmonkey1624]

Most depressing in the summer: Beautiful weather but nothing to do, just drink. No trails to hike, no sidewalks in the hamlet of Woodbourne, 100 miles from NYC. Btw, worst subway in the world 😵‍💫

[@nicholascross5150]

Next time you should do a comparison of Corning NY and Elmira NY they are about 15 to 20 minutes apart Elmira lost most of it’s factories after the flood of 72 and Corning rebuilt theirs after the flood and it’s night and day just a thought.

[@jamesseaman2950]

Hurricane Agnes of 1972 devastated much of Upstate NY and NE PA, and it put the final nail in the coffin of most of the northeastern US railroads. It led to the formation of Conrail after the complete collapse of the Penn Central Railroad in the largest US corporate bankruptcy against which all others were measured until recent times.

[@BadNewsYouNeedToKnow]

I went to Corning Community College and lived in Corning for a couple of years. Corning was okay compared to the rest of the area but even Corning couldn’t resist the decay of high taxes and few options. I visited the local mall a few years ago……2009ish. A mall I used to visit frequently in high school when it thrived in the 80s. Back in 2009 most of the food court was closed. The movie theater hadn’t been updated in a decade from the looks of it. Probably 2/3rds of the stores were gone!! A true reflection of the area. Limited options and few choices.

[@doublejump6578]

Corning and Elmira are nothing but scum scum scum, i had 200 acres in Watkins Glen , the whole area is so so so scummed out. Th people were lazy , and obese, I am glad to not be there any longer. When I think about that whole region , 12 years later I still get depressed, there is no cozy comfy feeling about Corning or Elmira, the people disgusted me big time, I recommend to stay away from this part of the country, it’s totally deprssing

[@doublejump6578]

@@BadNewsYouNeedToKnowthat mall was a shit whole back when I lived in Watkins , Corning sucked badly , the whole place was so so depressing, the people were total low life’s. There was nothing nice about Corning , oh the glass museum, the government was garbage back when I was there and it’s even worse now, I have PTSD from upstate new york

[@GSelle710]

I loved your video and commentary. I moved to upstate NY from the west coast for work and was shocked to find such high rents in a region that is so lacking in opportunities and quality of life. There must be a lot of corruption and payoffs in Albany and NYC to allow this huge, vast region to languish so miserably. I know it reflects what is happening across America but this is New York ffs! If the natives would stop being so defensive to this reality and demand answers, maybe just maybe these politicians would throw upstate a bone or two. Yes, we know pockets of beauty can be found in these places but that's not the point. Americans are suffering and deserve better.

[@texaspatty4697]

There are some beautiful areas that you missed. People can visit the Finger Lakes, including the approach to Canandaigua Lake, and Seneca Lake, including the beautiful town of Geneva at the northern end and Watkins Glen at the southern tip. Be sure to see Keuka Lake and its vineyards, and Cayuga Lake with Taughonnock State Park, and Falls, near Ithaca. Industry has declined in this area, too, but the scenic beauty is amazing: a series of long, thin, parallel lakes that were carved out by receding glaciers eons ago.

[@albeenog2432]

Closer to the city Equals many more and frequent hotels equals more competitive pricing

[@trinleywangmo]

It's also about occupancy. The greater the occupancy/turnover and competition the more reasonable the price.