There are a lot of things to be positive about in Central New York. Unfortunately, the economy is not one of them. Over the last decade, job growth in the Syracuse area has been anemic. The lack of jobs, among other things, has caused an outward migration of population, which places additional stress on our economy. 

We are not alone. Almost all of upstate New York is facing similar challenges. Naturally, as with any crisis, state government wants to provide solutions. 

Unfortunately, these solutions are often politically expedient reactions rather than rationally thought-out, long-term solutions.

One of the hallmarks of Gov. Cuomo’s economic-development policy is to provide state subsidies to private entities in hopes of boosting private investment. This is the idea behind the Buffalo Billion that he championed three years ago. This program is meant to provide the Buffalo area with $1 billion of state money over 10 years in an effort to spur private development. The governor says this program is bringing a “seismic” shift to the Buffalo economy. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing this because there has been no public reporting on the effectiveness of the program.

Notwithstanding the unknowns of the Buffalo Billion, in this year’s state budget, the governor pushed through a similar $1.5 billion economic-development plan for other parts of upstate New York. This plan differs from the Buffalo Billion in that it is a competitive plan in which seven upstate regions will compete for three $500 million economic-development awards. Because of its zero-sum outcome for the regions that don’t win, the governor’s plan has been dubbed a “Hunger Games” approach to economic development.

I am not convinced that providing direct government subsidies to, for the most part, large corporations in the hope that they make capital investments and hire people in our state is the best approach to economic development. A better way would be to cut the cost of doing business in New York across the board so that both large and small businesses can benefit and better compete in our global economy. I’m not alone. Legislators from both sides of the aisle are questioning the governor’s Start-Up NY program, which promised 2,100 new jobs over a five-year period [by allowing businesses to operate tax-free in zones near universities and colleges across the state]. New York has spent $50 million on advertising and promoting the program, yet only created 76 jobs [in its first year, according to the state Department of Economic Development].

Putting my general concerns about these economic-development programs aside, one thing I am confident about is that Central New York will be able to put together an economic-development plan that will successfully compete for the $500 million. I look forward to working with our local economic-development officials in coming up with this plan. I also urge everyone who has any ideas or proposals for the Central New York development plan to either contact my office or the Central New York regional economic development council with your ideas. You can reach the council at (315) 425-9110 or by mail at 620 Erie Boulevard West — #112, Syracuse, N.Y. 13204.                                                

William (Will) A. Barclay is the Republican representative of the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses most of Oswego County, including the cities of Oswego and Fulton, as well as the town of Lysander in Onondaga County and town of Ellisburg in Jefferson County. Contact him at barclaw@assembly.state.ny.us, or (315) 598-5185.

Let’s drop in on a big party. We see a mob of guys gathered around the barbeque on the patio. There’s a bouquet of women relaxing under the big tree.

Now let’s toss the subject of weddings into each group.

Suddenly, we hear chatter about dresses and hair styles. And shoes and bridesmaids. And bridal showers and flowers and music. From which group would you expect most of these comments?

Yes, there are women who know all the linebackers in the NFL. And men who rise to raptures over the wallpaper in powder rooms. But they are the exceptions. If we peer at issues through certain lenses, we will more likely get the attention of women. When we change lenses, we will more likely win the attention of men.

Let’s look at the 2016 presidential election campaign. The successful candidates will shape their messages with women uppermost in their minds. 

Women outnumber men in the U.S. and women vote at higher rates than men. Put these ingredients together and the result is women may make up 55 percent of the upcoming electorate or more.

So, all candidates will hone their messages with women in mind. It looks to me as if Hillary Clinton will go them one better. Her strategy will be to present everything and anything in women’s terms. Through women’s lenses to appeal to the large base of women voters. Her messaging is likely to resonate more with women, since she is a woman and because she could become our first woman president.

Clinton is banking on something like this: She will say we need more jobs that offer childcare. Jobs that offer wages enough to support families. And jobs that insure good health coverage, while providing maternity benefits. Her male opponent may deliver a similar message. Hers will resonate more with women voters than his. Because she is a woman. That is what her bet is. And if she gains a high percentage of women’s votes, victory is a cinch.

Hillary knows millions of women will vote for her because she is a woman. No matter her flaws or failures. These voters want a woman president, come hell or high water.

She knows millions of women may not be so extreme. But, for the same reasons, they lean toward her. With them, it may come to mentally flipping a coin before voting. If so, they will use a Susan B. Anthony dollar. And if Susan does not come up, they will flip a few more times.

We will see this strategy at work from now until November next year. We have seen it already. Hillary updated her latest book — to add that the birth of her granddaughter inspired her to seek the White House. The campaign already brought daughter Chelsea front and center. And left ole’ Bill in the background.

You can expect the influence of women, women, and more women in all presidential campaigns from now on. And this time around, in Hillary’s campaign, you will 

see it in spades, capital letters, 3-D, Google vision, high-definition, and more.

From Tom…as in Morgan.        

Tom Morgan writes about political, financial, and other subjects from his home near Oneonta, in addition to his radio shows and TV show. Contact him at tomasinmorgan@yahoo.com