Mayor Mamdani announced this week that he will be taking a vacation "Upstate" from August 16 to 23, a statement that has once again ignited a spirited discussion about the exact location of Upstate New York's northern border. First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan will handle day-to-day operations during the mayor's absence.
The declaration prompted an online debate among New Yorkers and reporters regarding where the intangible boundary of "Upstate" begins. Suggestions ranged widely, with one user stating, "Anything North of Bronx County, naturally," while another quipped, "He's going to Yonkers." Others proposed, "Where the Metro North train ends," or humorously, "Above 14th Street."
While there is no official geographic demarcation, the debate over what constitutes "Upstate" has simmered for years. Some residents of Westchester County, for instance, are reportedly sensitive to being included in a region they perceive as distinct from the core "Upstate" identity. Similarly, some towns geographically located further south, such as Poughkeepsie, are sometimes felt to be "spiritually Upstate."
Mamdani himself declined to specify his exact vacation destination following a press conference on Wednesday morning. His NYPD security detail is expected to accompany him on the trip.