According to a Siena College Poll released earlier this month, at 71 percent, New Yorkers overwhelmingly believe upstate New York should be receiving fair funding for infrastructure needs. Fighting for our fair share of infrastructure funding has always been one of my biggest causes on your behalf in the state Assembly. Unfortunately, the governor just doesn’t seem to agree with the majority of New Yorkers.

The governor recently pledged $8.3 billion from the state to help pay for New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority. This is in addition to the funds for the $4 billion rebuilding of the Tappan Zee Bridge, which has no financial plan, and the $4 billion remodeling of LaGuardia Airport. In total more than $16 billion of our tax dollars will be spent on New York City infrastructure in the coming years.

Let that sink in a moment: $16 billion.

New York City may have many needs, but upstate New York’s roads, bridges, and other infrastructure have been left to deteriorate because of a long history of ignoring the needs of upstate in favor of the city. Our local highway departments do the best they can to keep up, but they need help. They cannot keep up with the demands of our local needs without further burdening local taxpayers.

The governor seems to make easy work of committing to multiple, multi-billion dollar projects in and around New York City. Somehow, he finds the money to pay for these glitzy, attention-grabbing projects. Could he not find the same for our needs here?

I know that little bridges over creeks and rural highways that wind the countryside may not be the exciting projects of the five boroughs of New York City, but they are extremely important to the men and women of this region who live and work here.

I urge the governor to listen to the people of New York. Fairly fund our upstate roads, bridges, and other infrastructure.

I always welcome your input. Please share your thoughts with me on this or any other legislative topic by emailing me at blankenbushk@assembly.state.ny.us or by calling my office at 493-3909.