Lost in the haze of campaign ads, debates and robo-calls, it is easy to forget that the most significant issues facing small business in New York are anything but dormant.

Consider that we are still waiting for resolution to the proposed toll hike.  There was an alleged October 1st deadline, but that is a week old.  Today, Gannett reports that the Thruway Authority has failed to collect tolls from a million riders (totaling around $35 million in lost revenue).  Does that sound like the leaders at the Thruway Authority are doing their all to avoid this disastrous proposal?  I didn’t think so.

Remember the minimum wage debate from the spring?  As expected, that has turned into a major campaign issue, particularly in the State Senate.  Last week, Senator Greg Ball seems to have had a change of heart with his new proposal that would increase the minimum wage while repealing the rest of the MTA payroll tax and cutting taxes for businesses (up to 20%).

Everyone expects a post-election special session by the legislature with an agenda to be determined.  Assuredly, minimum wage will at least be a topic of conversation, and it is highly doubtful that any cuts to business costs at the level Senator Ball is proposing would be paired with it.

We have also seen Sikorksy announced it is leaving in the Southern Tier and GM, on Friday, announced it is leaving Honeoye Falls.  These two announcements equate to lost jobs, lost revenue and more angst over New York’s stagnate attempts to recover economically.  It also means that New York is a lengthy ways away from being open for business.

My point?  When you see those campaign ads, hear those robocalls and have candidates knock on your door, ask them what they are doing for small business.  Ask them if they take mandate relief for our communities and schools seriously.  And ask them if they are committed to changing a status quo that continues to cyclically punish New York’s job creators.