Upstate New York has a lot of problems.

No, not the same subway-sized problems of New York City, the major economic engine that drives the state and helps to supply a good portion of its annual budgetary revenue.

But the landmass outside of the MTA service area, home to roughly eight million people or so, does have very distinct, some would say evergreen, problems: Aging infrastructure, population loss and joblessness being among them.

And yet, those issues focusing upstate New York, like how to get bridges and roads fixed, how to help struggling dairy farmers, a discussion of how to bring back manufacturing jobs lost over the last several decades, has been virtually nonexistent in the both the Democratic primary and general election debates for governor.

Tonight’s gubernatorial debate by all accounts focused on broad issues like health care, taxes and spending and corruption. Both Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his Republican opponent Marc Molinaro were asked about whether taxpayer dollars should be spent on a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills.

“Upstate voters who were expecting to hear a substantive debate tonight between Andrew Cuomo and Marc Molinaro regarding key Upstate issues shouldn’t hold their breath,” said Michael Kracker, the executive director of the Rochester-based Unshackle Upstate in a statement. “Ignoring the very real concerns of millions of Upstate taxpayers is completely unacceptable.”