RACE TO THE TOP-
GIVE THE MONEY
BACK TO PROPERTY
TAXPAYERS

Race to the top? Sounds racist?

New York will be recipient of $700 million
of federal grant money (our tax dollars).

The State Education  Department will skim
off $350 million. The rest will be divided
among certain school districts.

Give the money back to the property
taxpayers who are in desperate need of
property tax relief.

Here in the City of Albany  property owners
will soon receive their school tax bills with
another 4 per cent increase included.

The per pupil cost of "educating" students
in Albany is about $25,000 annually. The
drop out rate in Albany High is about 50%.

Not a good return.

Three seats on the city school board are
up for election, Nov 2.

Does anyone know who the candidates
are? What they stand for? What they will
do to provide homeowners and businesses
with property tax relief? What they will
do to improve educational standards and
performance in the city schools?

Higher taxes and more spending will not
cure the ills of the dysfunctional city schools.

Consolidation of the city schools with city
government, establishing one property tax
roll to fund both,  returning to K-8
neighborhood schools;  making the Mayor
and Common Council responsible and
accountable for the operation/ performance
of the city schools , would be a major step
toward providing property tax relief and
improving education in the city schools.

Candidates for the State Senate and
Assembly have the ability to sponsor the
required legislation to amend state law to
provide for these changes. Will they
promise to do so, if elected, or re-elected?

None of the incumbents have?  Will Andrew
Cuomo, the champion of consolidation of
local governmental units
(except for school districts)
now embrace this idea as candidate for
Governor?

How about those seeking State Senate and
Assembly seats this year?

Property tax cap proposals are not the way to
go, because caps guarantee annual property
tax increases, and remove the decisions on
school budgets and property tax increases
from  local control of resident voters.

Albany has a shrinking base of homeowner
property taxpayers, who face higher and
higher property taxes every year, to finance
city schools where 70 percent, or more, of
the school population, comes from households
that do not pay property taxes, to support
those schools,

Worse yet, the school population includes
far too many who do not value the education
offered to them, and paid for by property
taxpayers. The 50 percent drop out rate
and poor student performance /behavior
is clear evidence to support this conclusion.

This situation is not sustainable.
As, homeowners with children flee the city
Albany is becoming the home of the elderly
and poor. Who, then, will pay to support
city schools, city services and city
government?

The end is in sight. Will the candidates for
state offices, this November 2, present viable
legislative proposals to address this situation?
Will the voters demand that the candidates do?

                                                    Joe Sullivan

DEJA VU: TAXATION
NO REPRESENTION

In the 1700's the culprits were the
English Crown and Parliament.

Today, the culprits are  President
Obama and the spineless members
of Congress who rubber stamp the
Obama agenda of fundamentally
(radically) transforming America
which translates into destroying
America.

If Congress does not live up to
it's role of being an independent
third branch of our government
all Americans will be subject to
unbearable taxation and intolerable
acts beyond belief.

Read:
http://www.smallgovtimes.com/2010/07/largest-tax-hikes-in-history-coming-january-2011/

and

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704113504575264513748386610.html#


Where is the respect? Where is the
leadership?

Where is the spirit and survival
instinct of Americans?

In 1775 the shots at Lexington and
Concord were heard round the world.

On November 2, 2010 will informed
American voters send a message that
will be heard round the world - that
America, and our system of government
which we inherited, from the Founders
are alive and well?

Or will the 2010 elections being the
whimper of a dying nation?

Only informed American voters can
save America!

                                     Joe Sullivan

EXTEND THE BUSH TAX CUTS

I support extending the so called Bush
tax cuts which expire at the end of this
year.

These tax cuts benefitted anyone who
pays taxes.

Read:
http://www.smartmoney.com/personal-finance/taxes/how-the-expiring-bush-tax-cuts-affect-you/?icid=main

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http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smartmoney.com%2Fpersonal-finance%2Ftaxes%2Fhow-the-expiring-bush-tax-cuts-affect-you%2F
 
The Obama administration is going to
slam taxpayers with numerous tax
increases next year. That is, if voters
do not vote out incumbent Democrats
in Congress, November 2.
 
Huge tax increases on the horizon.
Another reason to  VOTE THEM OUT!
 
                                   Joe Sullivan

BEWARE TAX CHANGES COMING

http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2010/04/26/what-will-your-taxes-look-like-in-2011/?icid=mainhtmlws-main-ndl1link3http%3A%2F%2Fwww.walletpop.com%2Fblog%2F2010%2F04%2F26%2Fwhat-will-your-taxes-look-like-in-2011%2F

Joe Sullivan

ALBANY COMMON COUNCIL
AWAY WITH THE BIRDS

The Albany Common Council is away
with the birds.

Read:

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=918780&category=&BCCode=&newsdate=4/6/2010

What about property tax relief for city
homeowners and small businesses?

What about consolidating city schools
with city government, establishing one
property tax roll to finance both, returning
to K-8 neighborhood schools and making
the Mayor and Council responsible and
accountable for the performance of city
schools?

Where is the Council Home Rule Request
to the State Legislature requesting the
necessary amendments to state law to
implement the above consolidation and
related changes?

Why are the State Legislators who purport
to represent the people of the City of Albany
State Senator Neil Breslin and Assembly
Members McEneny, Canestrari, Riley, and
Gordon not sponsoring the legislation to
achieve consolidation of city schools with
city government, and related changes?

The short answer is that none of the above
wish to be responsible for, and accountable
for the performance of city schools and none
of the above are real leaders who will show
the way to property tax relief for homeowners
and small businesses.

Joe Sullivan