A new study from the Cato Institute confirms what The Post has long said: New York state is once again the “least free” in the United States.

Cato’s libertarians place New York as the 50th worst state for policies that affect economic, social, and personal freedoms. Even in areas where it does slightly better, like legalising pot and changing the way the criminal justice system works, Albany clearly made a mistake.

“State and local taxes are crushing when added together.” “At 26.1% of income, debt is still the highest in the country, though less than it was in the past,” the study says.

That’s why so many people are leaving the state for Florida, which is No. 2 in freedom (behind New Hampshire) and No. 1 in economic freedom. Miami now looks like a real threat to take over as the nation’s financial capital, replacing Gotham.

New York’s endless and onerous rules also keep businesses (and jobs) from moving there. The state’s growing “climate” rules will also raise power costs and make it even less desirable to live there.

New York is now the ‘least free’ state, thanks to Democratic policies-

https://nypost.com/2023/11/23/opinion/new-york-is-now-least-free-state-thanks-to-dem-policies/ 

In fact, Albany messed things up even in places where Cato’s libertarians thought the Empire State was making progress

Its “reforms” to the criminal justice system protect some harmless people from too much police presence, but they also make violent crime more common and make it easier for gangs to recruit teens.
Theft from stores, trade in sex, and repeat offences are all on the rise.

It made legalising pot a mess, which led to a big grey market of illegal weed shops that are a problem in many neighbourhoods and bring in crime.