Recent Blog Posts
YR Governors' Endorsements for 2009
Oct 31, 2009 | Permalink | Comments (3)
The New York Young Republican Club has a history of taking a stand on local campaigns and encouraging its membership and fellow New Yorkers to support the individuals that we believe can make a difference in New York.
This year, we are doing things a little differently. Rather than issue a Club release of those candidates our leadership has come to an agreement on supporting, a few of our leaders are issuing their individual support to show the diversity within our organization.
We hope that everyone goes to the polls and votes on November 3rd. Even if you are not pleased with the top of the ticket, there are our local candidates that have campaigned long and hard that need your support. We can bring about change by taking a stand and electing candidates that share our ideals.
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The city council is considering a bill, proposed by Tony Avella, D-Queens, that would ban stipends (or lulu's) that council members receive for heading up committees, which can range from $4,000-$18,000 a year.
Avella also proposed bills that would ban council members from making any sort of outside income, among other things.
Leaving that aside for a moment, the issue of lulu's is an interesting one. Since the council speaker doles out committee chairmanships, a cynic could argue that members who often vote along with the council speaker are rewarded with appointments to chair committees, and thus more money.
In fact, according to a recent Daily News article, Council Speaker Christine Quinn gave six members who generally follow her lead in voting this month new, more desirable (and lucrative)committee assignments.
I think this might be an issue we can draft an official position on and send to council members. Please let me know what you think.
Governor David Paterson this week said he would reconsider some sweeping changes he had proposed on reforming the state's Empire zone program.
The program, uses tax breaks to lure new companies to move into the state and enable businesses already here to expand and add jobs, has been criticized by some for spending hundreds of millions of dollars without much oversight or accountability.
Paterson earlier this month sought to require that companies receiving the incentives demonstrate that they are providing $20 in wages and benefits for every $1 in tax breaks they receive. He also called for tougher eligibility requirements.
However, Paterson yesterday amended his proposal, saying that the program works well in some parts of the state, such as rural areas in upstate. He said this week he would now consider moderating his EZ reform proposal so it doesn't affect certain areas where the zone program is effective.
After a year of research and traveling the state, the New York State Commission on Property Tax Relief (Led by Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi) released its long-awaited report (PDF here) this month. Among its key points are placing a cap on the growth of property taxes at four percent (4%) a year, consolidating school districts with less than 2,000 students, and negotiating salaries for new teachers at a regional level rather than a local level. The commission also calls on School districts to rein in the costs of salaries, pensions and health care benefits, along with general operating and capital expenses.
One thing no New Yorker can deny is that we are overtaxed. We pay the highest local and state taxes of any state in the nation (second only to the residents of the District of Columbia) and one reason for this is because New York spends more per student, $18,768, than any state in the nation. Now, if we had the best rated education system in the country also, that would be one thing, but ours is mediocre, according to standardized test scores.
Teachers unions are generally against any sort of property tax cap, because they believe it cuts into educational spending. This isn't necessarily true. Public school teachers in this state get exceptionally good benefits; perhaps some of those can be revised. The report does call for reform of the Taylor Law's Triborough provision, which deprives school districts of negotiating leverage by letting teachers receive incremental pay hikes even after a union contract has expired.
Even our Democratic Gov. David Paterson, long known as a friend of teachers unions, endorses the findings of the report. A tax cap may be unlikely in the near future, but at least it's being discussed.
New GOP Leadership & Where to Go
Jun 30, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1)
Last week, long time Republican Leader Joseph Bruno, resigned from his position as Senate Majority Leader and opted to retire from politics by not seeking reelection for his district. Republicans and Democrats across the state of New York are interpreting the change of Republican leadership in different ways. Some say it's good for the party, others say it's good for the Democrats. It is what it is and the result of this party change can really go either way. It all depends on how the current leadership of the State Party takes a step forward in reigniting the Party.
Senator Dean Skelos is now the new Majority Leader. He is currently introducing himself to the leaders of the state and we can only hope he sets a course for the party now that the 2008 state elections are upon us. The New York Republican Party will need a platform that our elected officials and candidates can distinguish themselves from Democratic opponents. All too often, our candidates have had a history of sounding like Democrat-alternates and in a state with more registered democrats than republicans, it would be silly to try and convince Democrats to vote Republican when you sound exactly like the candidate of their party. It also alienates Republican voters who won't bother voting for a Republican who sounds like a Democrat.
Here are a few issues that I believe the Republican Party needs to stand for in both the Senate and Assembly, so they can win some seats:
Continue reading "New GOP Leadership & Where to Go"
Rent Regulation needs to Go
Jun 23, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
On June 19, the Rent Guidelines Board [RGB] approved rent increase percentages for one and two year leases at the highest rates in years. The new increases approved for October 1 are 4.5% for a one year renewal and 8.5% for a two year renewal.
At the meeting Thursday meeting, tenants in attendance screamed and caused a raucous once the new rates were announced. Signs were held, whistles were blown, voices were raised and arguments ensued as tenants associations and their representatives disapproved of such an "unfair" burden on "middle income" renters. The irony is, "those who are complaining about the RGB increases imposed under the rules of rent stabilization are the same people who argue for keeping rent stabilization!"
It is clear that this form of government regulation on housing, which was at one time labeled as "temporary," is so broken, that the best solution is to simply toss it out. Why else would someone complain about a government program one minute and then argue for keeping it the next? By keeping rent control laws on the books in New York, politicians are playing an unfair con-job with the voting public.
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The Congested Money Grab
Mar 23, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Congestion pricing for Manhattan will be a big mistake. All it will do is create a new source of tax revenue for politicians to find ways to spend and not reduce congestion. I don't care our Mayor and now Governor are in favor of it. The City Council and State Legislature must oppose this money grab policy that will find its way in increasing our budget by 30% or 40% or whatever. We already have a $60 billion budget, do we need one that is bigger?
I've watched the news showing 3rd Avenue or Times Square during rush hour. What do I see? Cabs. Buses. Trucks. Occasionally, what appears to be a privately owned car heads down the Avenue. Congestion pricing is supposed to deter people from driving on the streets of Manhattan. Well, if it appears all the vehicles are cabs buses, and trucks, which cars are coming off the roads?
If people realized they had to pay $8 a day or twice a day, they'd think long and hard about driving into Manhattan. OK. True. But how will they get here and how will they get around? Cabs? I see cabby fares going up because of this, so I can't imagine an uptick on fare rides. Buses? Subways? OK, this is a problem, because these modes of transportation are already overcrowded, how will more commuters squeeze on these transports?
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The NY GOP and the Future
Mar 18, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
New York is in uncharted waters right now with the highest "elected" official being its Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo. Neither the current governor, nor the comptroller was elected by the People. Yes, it is true new governor David A. Paterson was elected as part of the "Spitzer ticket," but Spitzer could’ve chosen any number of people to be his "running mate" and would've won by the same 69% margin.
One can also argue that 90% of our legislative body is "unelected." Many run unopposed every two years and the ones that get a challenger are usually re-elected by a significant margin. The leaders of both Legislative bodies fit this predicament. Speaker Sheldon Silver of the Assembly and Majority Leader Joseph Bruno the Senate never face serious opposition and are re-elected by default.
Right now, a State Budget is due on April 1 and some serious work needs to be done to create a balanced budget. Proposals of tax increases are being made to cover the spending increases. Little is being done about spending cuts. Governor Paterson has some real work cut out for him. Most New Yorkers should be worried, because he comes from the liberal belief of raising taxes and fees to cover spending shortfalls. Liberals never stop to think that if you raise taxes on the highest earners, these residents may simply move across the river to avoid the tax. Also, raising taxes doesn't help in the property tax issue that burdens the upstate economy. What business wants to move into Elmira or Syracuse, Buffalo or Rochester, if the business climate is unfriendly to your business?
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MTA puts commuters’ safety at risk
Mar 11, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
I have many issues with the MTA, but there is one that has popped up this past week and I believe a serious issue with regards to public safety.
I take the L train across town to get to my job. I get on at 6th Avenue and head eastbound to get off at 1st Avenue. Lots of people get off at 1st Avenue – many of them are teenagers going to school, some are hospital workers with Beth Israel. In addition to the eastbound trains, the recent residential boom in Williamsburg, Greenpoint and other neighborhoods along the L train route has increased foot traffic arriving on the westbound side.
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Right now, many Democrats and Republicans are trying to predict the outlook for their respective parties in the 2008 and 2010 elections.
Quietly, some Democrats who have ambitions for the governorship, like General Andrew Cuomo, already have planners for propping up the Attorney General's image and putting him in line for being the big name in 2010. Will voters be receptive to moving two Attorney Generals to the governorship in back-to-back elections?
Mayor Michael Bloomberg may have had an interest in challenging Eliot Spitzer in 2010, but if Andrew Cuomo runs, would be now reconsider?
And the renewed hope with the dwindling Republican Party of the State. How should they expect voters to respond to its party?
Continue reading "The Post-Spitzer Era"
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