I don’t believe class conflict is harmful to our country, as long as it is limited to elections. It is also helpful if the charges made by both sides in this conflict are factually correct. The Republicans are the party of the wealthy. Its membership, however, is made up primarily of people who do not fit that description and …
Yonkers City Council Republicans Reluctantly Support Settlement Of “Guardian” Litigation
Settlement is Distasteful but the Right Financial Decision for the Taxpayers Speaking on behalf of the Republican Caucus of the Yonkers’ City Council, Minority Leader John Murtagh said tonight that the Caucus would be voting in favor of the settlement of the lawsuit brought against the City and Mayor Amicone and by “readers” of The Westchester Guardian, a local tabloid.
My Campaign Effort to Represent the 3rd Yonkers City Council District By MICHAEL F. MEYER
My name is Michael Francis Meyer. I am a Republican candidate for the 3rd district Yonkers City Council seat. I have entered this race because I care about the city where I was raised and where I am raising my own children. Over the last eight years I have seen the quality of life deteriorate, property taxes skyrocket to fund …
Differentiating My Candidacy for Yonkers City Council 5th District By STEPHEN CERRATO
No New Taxes Neighborhood Schools Maintain Community Services As Primary Day approaches, I would like to take this opportunity to distinguish myself from the other candidates running for City Council in the 5th District. The number one issue facing our District is taxes. Simply put, my position is “NO TAX INCREASES.” Unfortunately, some of my opponents do not share my …
New York Civic: Four Wheels Bad By Henry J. Stern
Bridge Tolls Ended A Century Ago Today, Now Tax Raisers Would Reimpose Them, Because MTA Overspends Consistently Today, we are told, is the one hundredth anniversary of the removal of tolls from the East River bridges, which at the time ranged from one to ten cents. One would think that such an occasion would be a day of celebration, people rejoicing at the …
DiNapoli: Effectiveness of IDAs Still Questionable
Comprehensive Review of State and Local Economic Development Efforts Needed Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs) reported they supported 4,577 projects and provided nearly half a billion dollars in net tax exemptions in 2009, for a cumulative gain of 204,000 jobs over the life of the projects assisted, according to a report examining the performance of IDAs released today by State Comptroller Thomas …
Gov. Cuomo Vetos Bill Curtailing School Districts’ Borrowing for Short-Term Expenditures
The governor has rejected legislation that would undermine the intent of New York’s newly enacted property tax cap by allowing school districts to issue 15-year bonds to cover a portion of their rising teacher pension costs. The press release issued stated the following: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo yesterday vetoed a bill that would have allowed school districts to issue new …
Senate Passes MTA Payroll Tax Repeal and Forensic Audit of MTA Finances
Statements from Senator Stewart-Cousins in Support ALBANY, NY — The New York State Senate passed legislation last night to repeal the MTA Payroll Tax. The bill redirects four existing revenue streams into the MTA’s operating budget to mitigate the short term financial impact of the payroll tax repeal. It does not raise or create any new taxes or fees. Senator Andrea …
Senator Stewart-Cousins Unveils Mandate Relief Package
Bills Aim to Provide Cost-Savings to Local Governments and Taxpayers Albany, NY — State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D/I/WF – 35th District), Ranking Minority Member of the Local Government Committee and Member of the Governor’s Mandate Relief Redesign Team, announced the introduction of five measures and passage of one bill to provide localities with mandate relief which will result in cost …
Increase in the Rate of the Yonkers Resident Income Tax Surcharge
Yonkers, NY — An acid-tongued blogger advised us they had this late afternnon visited the New York State Tax Website and noticed that the publication on March 21, 2011, of the withholding instructions for the increased Yonkers Withholding Tax. The acid-tongued blogger states, "I knew from last year's budget that this should have gone into effect as of Jan 1st. …