It's bad enough that our local government feels it needs to stick its hand in everything that concerns the average New Yorker.

You need a job? Well, the local government will make sure you get one that provides you a "living wage" and all the social benefits required to live. If the place of employment does not comply, they will be harrassed. Government doesn't feel you can decide whether you have a brain to choose where you wish to work.

Need a place to live? Well, the local government will construct housing, because the private sector cannot do it the way government can. For one thing, government has already set up rules, regulations and taxes which restrict development in the private sector. Unless you have lots of money, you shall not build. If you have lots of money, you will find that you cannot construct anything below a certain size, because it'll cost you too darn much. An out of place 30 story housing tower in a sea of 5 floor walk ups? Of course. Regulations. Taxes. It's the way to go.

Catholic schools are closing? No problem. Government will simply raise your taxes and get the money to build more public schools so the Teachers Union can run these new schools into the ground with their every increasing contract bureacracy.

How can we honestly solve some of these problems?
1. Lower taxes. Cut the property taxes and utility taxes by 25%. Get rid of the unincorporated tax and other small business taxes that prevent entrepeneurs from starting new businesses. Allow big box stores into NYC and give New Yorkers a choice. It's been reported that nearly 50% of African American males in NYC are out of work. If we can allow for businesses to do business here, jobs will be created and revenue will come in. Government has to stop thinking it should have a cut in all the dealings in New York.

2. Remove housing regulations on private developers and with the reduced property taxes, affordable homes will spring up throughout the city. Government should also get out of construction. It is costing the tax payers too much and it would be better if private developers hire their own contractors for construction. Government should also sell government housing. Hire an independent mangement company for a housing complex that will hire residents in a housing project and also allow for residents to buy their home. This will lower costs in the size of our city workforce and will lower maintenance costs that sometimes pay for nothing.

3. Provide tax credits for families that send their kids to any school in New York City. There is no reason government shouldn't encourage parents to find the best place for education at a rate they can afford. There is no reason Catholic and private schools have to close because of low enrollment and the public school system asking for more money because of too many kids. There's a connection between the two and the Teachers Union and media fail to connect the dots.

If we begin to make life affordable to New Yorkers and allow us to make decisions on our own, there is no reason we should be reading about anyone fleeing this great city. These are things New York Republicans should be vocalizing on a day to day basis.