Anti- County Government Website Launches

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WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. From Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. November 19, 2008:  A new website WWW.RETHINKINGWESTCHESTERGOV.COM HAS BEEN LAUNCHED.



The goal of the site and committee is to encourage Westchester residents to rethink life WITHOUT A COUNTY GOVERNMENT. It can happen. Connecticut has no county government. Rhode Island has no county government. And- Massachusetts authorized the abolishment of county government in the mid 1990s.


The website will be updated frequently –highlighting examples of WASTE in a WASTECHESTER section. We will discuss experiences states have had without county government and highlight how the county spends our tax dollars. We want a careful analysis to be done—-can Westchester taxpayers do better WITHOUT A COUNTY GOVERNMENT.


The launching of our website is only step one. We also expect to involve many new people in the review process and plan to expand the website with an interactive blog—encouraging resident feedback re: government waste and unnecessary spending.


 

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Governor Challenges the Legislators on the Budget

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From the Governor’s Press Office. November 17, 2008: Governor David A. Patterson challenged the state legislators convening in Albany today releasing this statement:


“The State’s 212 legislators will meet in Albany tomorrow to take up the difficult task of closing the $1.5 billion current-year State budget deficit. As I have said since I took office, balancing the State’s finances in a year that has stripped New York of a significant portion of its annual revenue will require sacrifice, compromise and leadership.

“On November 12th, I submitted a proposal for budget reductions totaling $2 billion for my colleagues to consider, a proposal I clearly outlined along with Budget Director Laura Anglin. Though we have provided the legislature with draft bill copy and detailed briefings, we have not filed the legislation because we expected to keep these proposals open for negotiation, correction, amplification or any other changes that might come in the course of collaboration with my legislative colleagues.

“I alone cannot address this mounting deficit. It is incumbent upon the members of the Senate and Assembly to join me at the table and work toward a solution that strengthens our State and serves the people we represent.

“It is essential that we take action tomorrow. Inaction will impede our ability to produce a fair and balanced budget next year. These difficult decisions cannot be put off any longer. If my colleagues disagree with elements of the budget reduction plan I have submitted, I ask them to respond by offering their own solutions.

“I hope we will convene tomorrow with a three-way agreement that puts the fiscal health and viability of the State above all else.”




 

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OLIVER! Opens Friday at WPPAC

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      WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From White Plains Performing Arts Center. November 18, 2008:  The full cast has been announced for a new production of the Tony Award-winning musical Oliver! at the White Plains Performing Arts Center, Westchester’s professional regional theatre located in White Plains, NY. The show opens November 20 – December 14, 2008 as the opening production of the theatre’s Bank of America Broadway Classics series.



Work House Boys Rehearsing for Friday’s Opening Night at the


 WPPAC production of OLIVER!


 


 


Work H


 


 


 


 


 


 



    


Based on the classic tale of the orphan boy who asked for more, Lionel Bart’s musical masterpiece Oliver! features all the timeless Charles Dickens’ characters singing such popular songs as “Food, Glorious Food,” “I’d Do Anything,” “Consider Yourself,” and “As Long As He Needs Me.”


 


Starring in the production are Sidney J. Burgoyne as Fagin and Natalie Venetia Belcon as Nancy. Featured in the cast are Cyrilla Baer (Widow Corney), Jason Edward Cook (Artful Dodger), Alex Covington (Charlotte), John P. Geraghty (Workhouse Boy), Christopher Gray (Workhouse Boy), Steven Hauck (Mr. Brownlow), David Gabriel Lerner (Oliver),Geoff Lutz (Noah Claypole), Benjamin Milan-Polisar (Workhouse Boy), Jan Neuberger (Mrs. Sowerberry/Mrs. Bedlow), Alex Pasieka (Workhouse Boy), Gabriel Rush (Workhouse Boy), Roland Rusinek (Mr. Bumble), William Ryall (Mr. Sowerberry/Dr. Grimwig), Noah Silverman (Workhouse Boy), Rochelle Smith (Bet), Travis Taber (Knife Grinder), Christian Whelan (Bill Sykes).


 


Sidney J. Burgoyne appeared as The Padre in WPPAC’s inaugural production of Man of La Mancha, and was the director of the theatre’s highly acclaimed productions of Ragtime and Camelot.  Natalie Venetia Belcon is known to audiences for her roles in the Broadway production of Avenue Q (as the original Gary Coleman) and for her starring role in Lincoln Center’s The Glorious Ones.


 


      Oliver! is directed by Luke Yankee, with Choreography by Melissa Rae Mahon and Sean McKnight, Musical Direction by Christopher D. Littlefield, Scenic Design by Michael Hotopp, Costume Design by T. Michael Hall, Lighting Design by Thom Weaver and Sound Design by Wallace Flores. Janet Friedman is Production Stage Manager. The show is produced by Jack W. Batman for the White Plains Performing Arts Center.


 


Oliver!, winner of three 1963 Tony Awards, has Music, Lyrics and Book by Lionel Bart and is based on “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens. This production of Oliver! is sponsored by Entergy.


 


Tickets are $60.00/$50.00. Season subscriptions and gift certificates are also available. Bank of America Broadway Classics series begins with Oliver! (November 20 – December 14, 2008), followed by A Little Night Music (March 5 – 22, 2009) and Hello, Dolly! (April 30 – May 17, 2009).


 


White Plains Performing Arts Center is located on the third level of City Center at the corner of Main and Mamaroneck in downtown White Plains, NY, just 30 minutes from midtown Manhattan, and there is plenty of convenient parking. For tickets please call 914.328.1600 or buy them online at www.wppac.com.


 


White Plains Performing Arts Center brings innovative and eclectic entertainment and classic Broadway musicals to appreciative audiences who live throughout the county and beyond. It is Westchester’s only professional regional theatre and is now in its second season. Under the direction of Executive Producer Jack W. Batman, the 410-seat, $6 million theatre also hosts local, national and international performing artists whose work reflects Westchester’s diverse population. The 2008-2009  Season is sponsored by the City of White Plains, Bank of America, Entergy and other major corporations, government and private foundations and individual donors.

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City Spreads Word:Foreclosure Help Meeting in Battle Hill Tues – Half Dozen Help

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WPCNR THE HOUSING NEWS. By John F. Bailey. November 17, 2008: Westchester Residential Opportunities will hold a public meeting in the Battle Hill Community Room at the Battle Hill condominiums Tuesday evening at 7 PM to acquaint White Plains homeowners with their foreclosure counseling service.


The city awarded WRO $30,000 to pay for a foreclosure expert to counsel White Plains residents facing mortgage payment and possible foreclosure action as to how they can avoid foreclosure proceedings.


Within the last two weeks, notices of sale of auction of three residences foreclosed for prices ranging from $680,000  on Concord Avenue in Fisher Hill, and $1,000,000 on New York Avenue in Prospect Park and  in Gedney Farms have been advertised.


Commissioner of Planning, Susan Habel told WPCNR that in the last five months,  the WRO foreclosure expert helped 6 to 7 homeowners in White Plains in foreclosure proceedings. Ms Hable said several homeowners were able with the counselor intervention, keep their homes by arranging less stressful payment schedules with their lenders. She said that a couple of homeowners were in such a poor financial situation that, with the counselor’s help they were to short-sale their homes for the amount of their outstanding mortgages, enabling the owners to preserve their credit ratings.


 Habel said the city has sent out notices of tomorrow evening’s meeting and sent out notices of availability of the WRO’s counselingservice to all homeowners receiving notices of foreclosure proceedings.

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Homeland Security Issues New Regs for Private Aircraft Departing U.S.

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WPCNR FLYWAYS. From Department of Homeland Security. November 17, 2008: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today additional measures to strengthen private aircraft security by requiring more detailed information about arriving and departing private aircraft and persons onboard, within a timeframe necessary for the department to assess the risks that certain international flights may pose to national security. 


“We’re placing considerable emphasis on raising security in the general aviation sector,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.  “By getting basic electronic information in advance, like we do with commercial aircraft, we are able to substantially reduce a vulnerability.”



The final rule will require pilots of private aircraft to send U.S. Customs and Border Protection their electronic manifest data relative to all people traveling onboard.  The following information must be sent one hour prior to departure for flights arriving into or departing from the United States by filing manifest data through the Electronic Advanced Passenger Information System or an approved alternate system:



·        Advance notice of arrival information;


·        Advance notice of departure information;


·        Aircraft information to foster aircraft identification; and


·        Complete passenger and crew manifest data



The final rule announced today results from more than 3,000 comments received from the Advance Information on Private Aircraft Arriving and Departing the United States notice of proposed rulemaking published in September 2007. The final rule has been sent to the Federal Register for publication and is currently available at www.cbp.gov.


 

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Older Than Dirt

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WPCNR REMINISCING. November 15, 2008: The following  reminices have been going around, and in case you have not read it. It may stir a fond memory or two on a  depressing November day.


 







OLDER THAN DIRT









 















‘Someone asked the other day, ‘What was your favorite fast food when you were growing up?’








 







‘We didn’t have fast food when I was growing up,’ I informed him. ‘All the food was slow.’ 

‘C’mon, seriously. Where did you eat?’








 










 










 





‘It was a place called ‘at home,” I explained. ! ‘Mom cooked every day and when Dad got home from work, we sat down together at the dining room table, and if I didn’t like what she put on my plate I was allowed to sit there until I did like it.’










 












By this time, the kid was laughing so hard I was afraid he was going to suffer serious internal damage, so I didn’t tell him the part about how I had to have permission to leave the table. But here are some other things I would have told him about my childhood if I figured his system could have handled it:










 










 





Some parents NEVER! owned their own house, wore








Levis , set foot on a golf course, traveled out of the country or had a credit card. In their later years they had something called a revolving charge card. The card was good only at Sears Roebuck. Or maybe it was Sears & Roebuck. Either way, there is no Roebuck anymore. Maybe he died.










 












My parents never drove me to soccer practice. This was mostly because we never had heard of soccer. I had a bicycle that weighed probably 50 pounds, and only had one speed, (slow). We didn’t have a television in our house until I was 5. It was, of course, black and white, 










 












I was 13 before I tasted my first pizza, it was called ‘pizza pie.’ When I bit into it, I burned the roof of my mouth and the cheese slid off, swung down, plastered itself against my chin and burned that, too. It’s still the best pizza I ever had.










 












We didn’t have a car until I was 4. It was an old black Dodge.











I never had a telephone in my room. The only phone in the house was in the living room and it was on a party line. Before you could dial, you had to listen and make sure some people you didn’t know weren’t already using the line.










 










 





Pizzas were not delivered to our home. But milk was.










 










 










 





All newspapers were delivered by boys and all boys delivered newspapers my brother delivered a newspaper, six days a week. It cost 7 cents a paper, of which he got to keep 2 cents. He had to get up at










 










6AM








every morning. On Saturday, he had to collect the 42 cents from his customers. His favorite customers were the ones who gave him 50 cents and told him to keep the change. His least favorite customers were the ones who seemed to never be home on collection day.










 










 










 





Movie stars kissed with their mouths shut. At least, they did in the movies. Touching someone else’s tongue with yours was called French kissing and they didn’t do that in movies. I don’t know what they did in French movies. French movies were dirty and we weren’t allowed to see them










 










 












If you grew up in a generation before there was fast food, you may want to share some of these memories with your children or grandchildren. Just don’t blame me if they bust a gut laughing. 










 





Growing up isn’t what it used to be, is it?








 







MEMORIES from a friend:








 










 










 





My Dad is cleaning out my grandmother’s house (she died in December) and he brought me an old Royal Crown Cola bottle. In the bottle top was a stopper with a bunch of holes in it. I knew immediately what it was, but my daughter had no idea. She thought they had tried to make it a salt shaker or something. I knew it as the bottle that sat on the end of the ironing board to ‘sprinkle’ clothes with because we didn’t have steam irons. Man, I am old.







How many do you remember? 

Head lights dimmer switches on the floor. 
Ignition switches on the dashboard.
Heaters mounted on the inside of the fire wall. 
Real ice boxes.
Pant leg clips for bicycles without chain guards. 
Soldering irons you heat on a gas burner.
Using hand signals for cars without turn signals. 

Older Than Dirt Quiz:








 










 










Count all the ones that you remember not the ones you were told about







Ratings at the bottom.







1 Blackjack chewing gum
2. Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water 
3. Candy cigarettes
4. Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles 
5. Coffee shops or diners with tableside juke  boxes 
6 . Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers 
7. Party lines
8. Newsreels before the movie 
9. P.F. Flyers
10. Butch wax 
11. TV test patterns that came on at night after the last show and were there until TV shows started again in the morning. (there were only 3 channels) 
12. Peashooters 
13. Howdy Doody 
14. 45 RPM records 
15. S& H greenstamps 
16 Hi-fi’s
17. Metal ice trays with lever 
18. Mimeograph paper
19 Blue flashbulb
20. Packards
21. Roller skate keys
22. Cork popguns 
23. Drive-ins
24. Studebakers
25. Wash tub wringers 

If you remembered 0-5 = You’re still young
If you remembered 6-10 = You are getting older 
If you remembered 11-15 = Don’t tell your age,
If you remembered 16-25 = You’re older than dirt! 

I might be older than dirt but those memories are the best part of my life. 

Don’t forget to pass this along!! 
Especially to all your really OLD friends…

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County Schedules 2.7% Tax Increase Even After Cuts.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. (EDITED) November 15, 2008: Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano issued a $1.773 Billion 2009 Budget today, calling for a 2.7% County Property Tax increase.


  “Yet, even with extensive cuts, that is not enough to hold the line on taxes,” Spano said. “It is our loss of $26 million in revenues that is causing county taxes to go up 2.97 percent.”

County taxes account for about 15-18 percent of a taxpayer’s property tax bill, Spano said. The remainder comes from taxes levied by schools, local governments and special districts. The exact impact of the county tax increase on a property owner varies from community to community, due to difference assessment practices.

Spano’s budget now goes to the Board of Legislators, which has until Dec. 27 to approve a final spending plan for next year.  


The Details:


 


 


Despite a loss of about $26 million in revenues and an increase of more than $20 million in energy costs and mandated expenses, County Executive Andy Spano today proposed a budget for 2009 that decreases county spending from this year.  

“The economic environment we face today as well as into the foreseeable future has and will continue to have an effect on every resident of Westchester County,” Spano said. “ I am well aware of the tax burden placed on our residents from all taxing districts and how many are finding it difficu lt to make ends meet.”
        


 He added, “My goal is to continue to keep our county taxes down; to share services with local governments so they can reduce costs; and to continue to be fiscally responsible. At the same time, we must continue to protect the safety and well-being of every Westchester resident and maintain our quality of life.”

Spano described the challenges of the budget as “unprecedented” due to the nationwide recession. “We have a $46 million hole in our budget to close,” said Spano, referring to a loss of $26 million in revenues from state aid, interest on investments and the mortgage tax ; and a $20 million increase in costs beyond the county’s control. 

To reduce county spending, every line in the county budget was examined.


  • While there are no layoffs in the budget, 52 vacant positions would be eliminated for a total of 146 positions since he first took office.
  • There will be no purchases of vehicles, and overtime and equipment purchases have been reduced significantly.
  • All  costs for the amusement part of Playland will be borne by patrons, not by taxpayers, saving another $3.3 million.
  • The Department of Community Mental Health has been restructured.
  • There will be no raises in 2009 for commissioners, department heads and other managers who are not in a union.  

 “To minimize the impact on the taxpayers of Westchester, I have slashed discretionary spending so that the 2009 budget is actually less than what was budgeted for 2008,” Spano said. “The gross budget for 2009 is $1,773,479,195. All discretionary spending except that which impacts the health and safety of the county has been reduced. I have done what I believe our residents have been doing in paring down their own spending.”

  “Yet, even with these extensive cuts, that is not enough to hold the line on taxes,” Spano said. “It is our loss of $26 million in revenues that is causing county taxes to go up 2.97 percent.”

County taxes account for about 15-18 percent of a taxpayer’s property tax bill. The remainder comes from taxes levied by schools, local governments and special districts. The exact impact of the county tax increase on a property owner varies from community to community, due to difference assessment practices.

Spano’s budget now goes to the Board of Legislators, which has until Dec. 27 to approve a final spending plan for next year.  

“For the foreseeable future, we all will be affected by the economic downturn,” Spano said. “I continue to be concerned about the welfare of our residents-those on fixed incomes, those who ar e unemployed, those who have seen their savings disappear and those who have lost their homes. I assure you that I will continue to protect our taxpayers and will still provide the services the public needs.”

Here are highlights of the budget:

REVENUES


Due to forces beyond the county’s control, the government is facing a tremendous loss of revenue.


  • Mortgage Tax revenue is budgeted at $16.8 million for 2009, reflecting a decrease of $11.9 million from the 2008 budget and more than $15 million less than actual  receipts in 2007.
  • Interest on Investments is down $4.8 million from 2008.
  • Loss of state aid is expected to be at least $9.6 million
  • Sales Tax revenue growth is projected to grow only 1 percent next year. 


REQUIRED EXPENDITURES

As it deals with loss of revenue, the county must also address increased expenditures beyond its control:


  • $3.6 million increase in fuel costs for the Bee-Line bus system
  • $1.15 million increase in Para-transit due to increased ridership as well as increased fuel costs.
  • $5.7 million increase in the cost of utilities for the county as a whole. One reason for this is that Entergy’s contract to supply low-cost power to schools and governments expire at the end of this year. Despite the county’s requests to continue the contract, Entergy has refused, causing utility rates to increase for all these entities.
  • $2.7  million a dded in legal fees from the fair housing lawsuit and from court-ordered property tax reductions for “certiorari” cases
  • $4.9 million increase in the cost of state-mandated programs for Children with Special Needs
  • $2.4 million increase in the cost of Medicaid

 

MISC.


The budget also includes the following:


  • No decrease for contract agencies. These non-profits will be held at 2008 levels.
  • The county, as required by law, will continue to fund the federal Help Americans Vote Act (HAVA).  Although costs have gone up since 2005, municipalities have been held harmless.
  • Money is included in the budget to fund negotiated labor contracts.
  • There is no increase in Bee-Line bus fares, but there will be an increase of $1 per ride for Para transit rides
  • Support for the Westchester Medical Center will be decreased to a net of $13.5 million.
  • The county’s Special Studies account has been eliminated. Money not spent from 2008 will be used on global warming, autism and performance-based management initiatives.

 

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YEAR 2001 COMMITTEE PAC Reports for 06,07, 08 Posted Online

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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. Special to WPCNR – November 13, 2008 – Albany, NY –  The New York State Board of Elections has posted online for public viewing recent financial disclosure reports filed by the White Plains-based YEAR TWO THOUSAND ONE COMMITTEE PAC (political action committee) headed by John Ioris. Posted are the periodic reports dated July 2008,  January 2008, July 2007, January 2007, July 2006, and January 2006.

 

The reports filed with the Board of Elections provide information identifying contributors to the PAC, amounts contributed, and expenses by the PAC. 

 

Leaders of the White Plains Democratic City Committee have brought a court case seeking to force disclosure of more details about the PAC’s finances. They have charged that the PAC spent excessive money in support of Mayor Delfino’s past re-election. Ioris has said nothing improper was done. According to a report in The Journal News, in September, New York State Supreme Court Judge Francis Nicolai ordered the PAC to file forms with the New York State Board of Elections identifying recipients of money it has spent since July 2005.

 

The reports are identified as having been posted by the state computer on November 13,2008.

 

The Board of Elections reports are posted  for all to see at: http://www.elections.state.ny.us:8080/plsql_browser/getfiler2?filerid_in=A38026

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Legislators Welcoming But Wary of Playland Admission Charge Plan

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From County Board of Legislators. November 13, 2008: County legislators reacted favorably to the County Executive’s announcement today that his proposed 2009 county operating budget will not include a taxpayer subsidy for Playland Amusement Park.  The legislators were quick to point out that they will of course more thoroughly examaine the proposal in the as part of its upcoming comprehensive review of the entire operating budget.  


 


 



 



County Board Chair Bill Ryan (D,I,WF-White Plains) said that removing the taxpayer subsidy and improving park operations has been a goal shared by the legislature and the county executive.



“For decades, families have enjoyed Playland. Everyone has had a great time there.  It’s important that we continue to offer this great recreational opportunity and at the same time find revenue other than the property tax to operate it,” said Ryan.  



County Legislator José Alvarado (D-Yonkers), Budget & Appropriations Committee Chair, commented that “the proposal from the County Executive addresses a longtime County Board request to reduce the amount of tax levy dollars needed to support Playland.”  



County Legislator Ken Jenkins (D-I-WF, Yonkers), Chair of the Government Operations Committee, noted that the County Board’s getting behind the Rye Playland Master Plan’s proposal which recommended, among many other improvements, removing third party concessions from running the rides at Playland has proven to be a prudent investment.  



“The county executive’s announcement demonstrates that the County Board’s decision to fund the Playland Master Plan’s recommendations has proven to be a prudent financial investment,” Jenkins said. 


County Legislator Judy Myers (D-WF, Rye) whose district includes Rye Playland said, “Removing the taxpayer subsidy accomplishes important goals — reducing the pressure on property taxes while preserving open space and what is a local and national historic treasure.”



The 80-year old Rye Playland is the country’s only publicly owned amusement park and a registered national historic site.

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Mayor Warns Against Tax-Shifting from State to Cities in New Website

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. From The Mayor’s Office. November 13, 2008: Mayor Joseph M.Delfino of the City of White Plains today announced support for the new public advocacy Web site, www.StopTheTaxShift.org.  The Web site, which was developed as a project of the New York State Conference of Mayors (NYCOM), is designed to help policymakers, the media, the public and New York’s taxpayers fully understand the property tax impact of decisions made in Albany.


“This Web site will be extremely beneficial in helping us explain, to both our legislators and our constituents, that what goes on at the State Capitol has a tremendous impact here in White Plains,” said Mayor Delfino.  “As much as local officials try to make this point, it is difficult to fully appreciate that Albany’s actions can force higher local taxes.  StopTheTaxShift.org clarifies this relationship in a way that everyone –  politicians, local officials, and our residents – can understand.”   



Mayor Delfino and other mayors from throughout New York unveiled StopTheTaxShift.org while meeting in Albany to formulate their legislative priorities for 2009.  In addition to identifying the impact the state’s municipal aid program – AIM – has on the property tax, StopTheTaxShift.org also analyzes the real impact numerous state mandates have on the capacity of local officials to manage government costs consistent with the desires of their constituents.  The Web site’s home page also features a more descriptive Mandate of the Week, where each week a new mandate will be highlighted. 


To put the “tax shift” into perspective, the Web site also includes a blog from Joe Taxpayer.  Joe will discuss in practical terms the on-the-street impact state mandates and potential aid cuts would have on New York’s real property taxpayer.  At a time when the current economic downturn is affecting every aspect of family and business finances in New York, Joe Taxpayer’s common sense outlook will help all New Yorkers fully appreciate the impact of Albany’s actions.


“I encourage everyone to take the time to go to StopTheTaxShift.org and learn about the problems state tax shifting can cause,” concluded Mayor Delfino.  “Together, we can protect property taxpayers from state tax shifts.”


 

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