Editorial Board

Dear President Trump,

Greetings from Upper New York, where big, big, big new factories are not all that common.

We are glad that you noticed, since the majority of voters in all but our most populous counties had your back last November 8th. Upper New York is big, big, big on the color red, which you wore all the way into the White House that day.

Many of these voters surely took into account the devastating decline of manufacturing in Upper New York when they cast their ballots. The Rochester area alone has about 100,000 fewer good paying manufacturing jobs than it did in 1970, when our big, beautiful Upper New York factories were humming around the clock, churning out all those little yellow boxes, cameras, copiers, gears, and automotive components to ship around the world.

This made us all very happy in Upper New York. In fact, we cannot remember installing a single anti-suicide net around any of our industrial plants to keep employees from jumping out windows and dying, like they do at such an odd rate over at Foxconn in China. No siree, those were the glory days in Upper New York!

So, it is very kind of you to think of these working class voters who put their faith in you to bring prosperity back. And, obviously, you were thinking of those who didn’t vote for you, but who are part of the country you are striving to make great again. About 8.4 million of us Americans call Upper New York home.

Despite our appreciation, however, we admit we are surprised that your grand plan requires us to move to Wisconsin. We would like you to reconsider this strategy.

READ: Trump to 'upper' New Yorkers: pack your bags!

It is not that Upper New Yorkers have anything against Wisconsin. It makes good cheese, and its NFL team has a much better record than the one in Upper New York.

But, your call for us to leave our houses behind and go to Wisconsin to find jobs troubles many of us.

We know of at least one Lower New Yorker who can leave his opulent home to work in Washington, DC, without concern. But, most Upper New Yorkers would worry a lot about paying two mortgages in two states.

Upper New Yorkers also have some emotional bonds to the area that might present a problem. Many would have a hard time leaving family, friends and communities 500 miles behind.

From a strictly economic standpoint, Foxconn owner Apple will rely heavily on advanced manufacturing and other strategies to try to remain competitive while producing LCDs for iPhones and televisions in Wisconsin. The funny thing is, President Trump, we have quite a few advanced manufacturing jobs open right here in Upper New York. Wouldn’t it make more sense to help prepare Upper New Yorkers for local jobs? And what about strategies to help the entire nation be more competitive in the global economy, rather than subsidizing one company at a time?

With all due respect, we, the members of an Upper New York editorial board, don’t think this pack-your-bags-and-go proposal is one of your better ideas.

Respectfully yours,

The Democrat and Chronicle Editorial Board