Is Weather The Reason People Leave NY? [POLL]

What would make you leave New York? High taxes? Too expensive? Job loss? Would it surprise you if the answer — according to Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo — was the weather?

The governor, who is stumping around the state for reelection in November, said late last month that weather in upstate portions of New York is a factor for residents moving to other states, 13WHAM.com reported.

He said that job losses and high taxes had been driving New Yorkers to flee the state, but he claimed his administration has improved the economic situation.

While giving a speech in Lake George at the annual conference of the Business Council of New York State, Cuomo said New York is now attracting people to the state.

"Somebody wants to move to Florida because they want to move to Florida. God bless them," he said, according to the Washington Times.

Not surprisingly, Marc Molinaro, a Republican who is running against Cuomo for governor, disagrees.

He said he thought the weather was a positive for the state, but that high taxes are the reason for the decline in population, WIVB.com reported.

U.S. Census estimates said more than 900,000 people have left upstate New York counties since 2010, pressrepublican.com said.

Molinaro, who is the Dutchess County executive and lives in Red Hook, said he would enact fiscal policies which would cut property taxes by 30 percent.

He said Cuomo is mixing up the miserable business climate in the state with the weather, according to pressrepublican.com.

So what do you think? Is the weather a major factor for whether you stay or leave New York? Vote in our unscientific poll and tell us why in the comments.

Image via Shutterstock.