The comedian Chico Marx famously asked, “Who you gonna believe, me or your own eyes?”

That’s the question I feel like Governor Andrew Cuomo is posing to New Yorkers with his decision to ban hydraulic fracturing in the Empire State’s portion of the Marcellus Shale.

The governor and his allies – most notably the acting state health commissioner, whose report served as justification for Mr. Cuomo’s decision – say the move will protect New York’s air, land, and water.

For years now, New Yorkers have been besieged by apocalyptic claims made by anti-oil and gas activists – many of them high-profile celebrities who don’t need the jobs or economic activity supported by responsible oil and gas development.

The fact is the state’s environment and the safety of local citizens would not be imperiled by energy production.

Don’t just take it from me.

Ample evidence – that anyone can see with “your own eyes” – can easily be found in the states where oil and gas production, and local economies, are booming, including New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas … and in neighboring Pennsylvania. Like New York, large swaths of Pennsylvania sit atop the natural-gas-rich Marcellus Shale.

Over the last six years, New York and Pennsylvania have offered citizens and policymakers a study in two different paths to take.

In 2008, after the New York legislature passed a measure to approve shale energy development, then-Gov. David Paterson’s administration put on the brakes by holding up drilling permits. The de facto ban in New York has remained in place since then, and yesterday’s move will extend it further.

Pennsylvania took a different route. Its policymakers embraced shale energy development. Over the last six years the state has turned into an energy powerhouse, and is now the nation’s third leading supplier of natural gas. Since the United States is the world’s leading gas producer, Pennsylvania’s contribution is obviously quite significant.

The Keystone State’s economy has thrived as a result, bringing jobs and industry back to a state that had fallen on tough times.

A 2013 report by the Manhattan Institute looked closely at Pennsylvania’s economic performance from 2007 to 2011, finding that counties with hydraulic fracturing saw substantial economic growth. Counties with more than 200 wells drilled saw per-capita incomes rise 19 percent, and job growth averaged 7 percent annually.

The study further estimated that the 28 counties in New York above the Marcellus Shale could see incomes rise by 15 percent or more if shale energy development were allowed.

Nevertheless, New York has chosen to forego this economic stimulus – and for what, exactly?

During the six years since New York’s effective ban on fracking was instituted, there have been very few reports south of the border of health or environmental issues tied to the soaring natural gas production invigorating Pennsylvania’s economy. The air and water are clean, and Pennsylvanians are healthy.

At this point, it’s worth recalling that a number of top officials of the governor’s political party have said they believe hydraulic fracturing is safe and beneficial for economic and environmental reasons.

What Pennsylvania and other states have shown is that a system of well-thought-out regulation and active oversight can serve to effectively manage the risks associated with shale energy development.

Why the governor of the nation’s fifth-largest consumer of natural gas has chosen to ignore the historical and scientific evidence in favor of theoretical concerns and repeatedly disproven claims by activists is beyond me.

Chico Marx was a comedian, so his line was meant to be funny. What Governor Cuomo did is no joke.