The Public Policy Institute of New York State, the research affiliate of The Business Council, has launched a new “weblog” focused on economic issues in upstate New York and related policy questions.
“We wanted to create a forum where New Yorkers and those who care about New York can read and share ideas about the Upstate economy and what New York should do to help it,” said David F. Shaffer, president of The Institute.
"Whenever state policymakers consider—or fail to consider—an issue that affects Upstate's prosperity, we get calls and e-mails from individual taxpayers and from proprietors of business struggling to compete. This is a forum for sharing these comments and questions from individual New Yorkers."
The blog, which will be a lively mix of Institute postings and comments from the public, is available to anyone who visits www.knickerbockerblog.com. Institute staff began posting items on the blog in mid-August.
The blog will be updated most days by Institute staff. Typical entries will include comments and questions from New Yorkers who write about the economy and related policy issues, summaries and links to relevant newspaper stories, and other comments and facts on policy issues.
Daily summaries of blog postings will be e-mailed, free of charge, to anyone who sends a request to [email protected].
"The ideal contributor to the blog is anyone anywhere who wants to offer a relevant comment, question, idea, or link," the blog says in describing itself.
Political figures and issues may be mentioned from time to time in the material, but the blog will focus on issues as opposed to individuals.
The blog also provides links to other relevant Web sites.
The URL for the blog is www.knickerbockerblog.com. Comments and questions can be e-mailed to [email protected].