Why do many places in Upstate NY continue to take sharp population declines?

It is still a lack of decent jobs. Also, I can't think of any recreation activities to do in Upstate New York (except for Lake George and the Great Escape). They don't promote recreation places that would generate money. A third reason is bad winters. Since 2000, New York has had some very cold and snowy winters. Some of the areas near PA got steady snow for 3 weeks in a row. They were trapped in their houses. They couldn't get snow plows into some of those towns.