N.Y.’S true progressive

Funny, Gov. Cuomo gave shout-outs to seemingly every New York politician in his State of the State speech Wednesday — except for one: Mayor de Blasio. Also notably missing from Cuomo’s fourth annual address: Any hint of de Blasio’s “Tale of Two Cities” economic agenda. The word “progressive,” the new mayor’s buzzword, also did not pass Cuomo’s lips. His focus was progress.

The governor’s speech was full of ideas for stoking the state’s still-weak economy, luring business investment and, above all, creating jobs. His marquee proposal was a $2.2 billion package of tax cuts, about half of which would be targeted to manufacturers and other employers.

While de Blasio pushes for higher taxes on the wealthy, Cuomo wants to ease not only property taxes but also corporate taxes and energy taxes.

He wants a state takeover of renovations at JFK and La Guardia airports — to jump-start muchneeded modernization of crucial economic hubs.

He’s appointing a panel to study streamlined business regulations and drafting Wall Street types to help him market the state’s tax-free zones to developers not just in the U.S., but worldwide.

With employers crying out for more tech-savvy workers, Cuomo wants to offer full SUNY and CUNY scholarships for high-school grads in the top 10% who agree to major in science or technology and stick around for at least five years.

Recognizing the economic burden created by excessive bureaucracy, Cuomo spoke of pruning the 10,500 layers of local government.

He also recommitted to holding the growth of state spending to an admirably frugal 2% a year — a benchmark de Blasio would do well to follow.

Meanwhile, the governor is looking to make government more effective and efficient — including an intriguing proposal to offer merit pay for high-performing teachers in high-needs schools.

He’s also proposing a $2 billion “Smart Schools” bond referendum, to modernize educational facilities and technology.

As he has done before on gay marriage and gun control, Cuomo showed solidarity with the left wing of his party on social issues. He restated his call for a Women’s Equality Act, including a plank that bolsters abortion rights.

But overall, Cuomo’s emphasis was on creating an economic climate that produces jobs — the very commodity so badly needed if New York is to become more affordable to the middle and working classes while also easing income inequality.

Cuomo has had success in that regard — less than would have been liked, but clearly moving New York in a positive direction. His new proposals will get intense scrutiny as he adds details. But the broad strokes were right — and he he held admirably firm in insisting that results count, not illdefined, well-meaning sloganeering.