A coalition of labor organizations and business groups this week is launching a month-long digital ad campaign to highlight an effort to add more than $1 billion in spending for local infrastructure in the state. 

Advocates hope the ad will be a little out of this world: Comparing New York's pock-marked streets to the crater-laced face of the moon. 

“’Moon York’ is not just a state of mind for so many New Yorkers—it’s what drivers deal with on daily basis as they drive around trying to dodge gaping potholes that often look like craters," said Mike Elmendorf, the CEO and president of the Associated General Contractors of New York and a member of the coalition. "Our leaders in Albany need to invest in our state’s future and that means repairing and replacing the rapidly deteriorating roads and bridges that has transformed our state into ‘Moon York.’ Rebuild New York Now; it’s the fiscally smart decision because it makes our roads safer, provides jobs and saves New Yorkers money in the long run.”

The six-figure media buy will take the ad campaign through March 15 as state lawmakers start to negotiate a proposed $227 billion budget plan with Gov. Kathy Hochul. 

The coalition wants an additional $1.128 billion in infrastructure funding added to state and local highway construction in order to keep them at the same pace of where the funding was in 2022 as part of a five-year program. The group has previously pointed to the effect inflation has had on a variety of costs for construction, including fuel and materials. 

A federal report last year found New York ranks 46th out of 50 states for the percent of pavement considered to be in good consideration.