Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics the pro-business organization Unshackle Upstate has released a proposal meant to boost the region's economic growth. Among the recommendations included in Unshackle's Fast Forward agenda: delaying an increase of the minimum wage upstate, halting an expansion of farmworker labor benefits and reducing sales and income taxes. “Rather than waiting on Washington to save the day, there are things state officials can do right now that will help rebuild our economy and revive our communities,” said Brian Sampson, the chairman of Unshackle Upstate and president of Associated Builders and Contractors, Empire State Chapter. “Our elected leaders need to get back to work and get our economy back on track.” Other reforms call for an upstate caucus in the Legislature that features both Democrats and Republicans as well as a five-year ban on the Scaffold Law. The upstate economy in general had struggled to recover from the previous recession and the pandemic has not made things easier: 400,000 people are unemployed in the region and an analysis this month from Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office found nearly 45 percent of small businesses have experienced a large or negative effect due to the pandemic. “...[W]e need to resolve this economic crisis immediately," Sampson said. "There’s no time for finger-pointing or political posturing. We need Albany to take action now and step up for Upstate.” Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.