BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP JANUARY 12 - JANUARY 18, 2018 17
SERIOUS MONEY MATTERS FOR NEW
YORK IN 2018
Last week, Governor Cuomo
devoted a great deal of his State
of the State address explaining
how the newly-passed federal tax
reform bill will hurt New York. If
you look past the shouting,
finger-pointing and
overblown rhetoric
on federal policies,
you’ll see a painfully
obvious sign –
New
York State needs to get
its fiscal house in order.
We face a more
than $4 billion
budget deficit.
Our residents
deal with the highest tax burden
in the country. More than one
million people have moved out of
New York since 2010. The impacts
of federal tax reform are likely to
be felt more in high-tax states like
New York.
The governor outlined an agenda
that was long on proposals, but
short on specifics on how we will
start moving in the right fiscal
direction.
To address a potential fiscal
crisis, the governor floated the
idea of a massive overhaul to New
York’s tax structure. He suggested
shifting from an income-tax based
system to a payroll-tax based system.
What this means for everyday
New Yorkers – or if it’s even possible
– is anyone’s guess at this point.
While no details were provided
on this potential tax overhaul plan,
a proposal of this magnitude must
have one, non-negotiable component
to it – public hearings and
rigorous vetting by New Yorkers
who already are overburdened
with taxes.
Transparency has never been a
staple of the governor’s three-menin
a-room style of governing. In
fact, he has treated public review
and input as inconveniences. But
this latest proposal is too complex
and important to be rushed
through the dark of night like so
much of his agenda.
Some have suggested
this will be the toughest
state budget year
in many years. But
despite exaggerated
rhetoric on the “economic
civil war” and
federal “assault” on
New York’s economy,
there was no
commitment actually
to reduce state
spending.
Just once, it would be refreshing
if Albany would address financial
problems with actual belt-tightening
and eliminating costly, wasteful
programs that fail to produce
intended results.
Unfortunately, as the governor’s
floundering economic development
initiatives have shown, he
is more than willing to use your
money to further his personal
agenda.
With the potential of tough fiscal
times ahead, it is more critical than
ever that the legislature and the
governor devise solutions to move
New York in the right direction
and finally involve the public in
the process.
What do you think? I want to
hear from you. Send me your
feedback, suggestions and ideas
regarding this or any other issue
facing New York State. You can
always contact my district office
at 315-781-2030, email me at kolbb@
nyassembly.gov, find me by searching
for Assemblyman Brian Kolb
on Facebook and follow me on
Twitter.
Assemblymember Brian Kolb is
Assembly minority leader.
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GUEST OP-ED
THE HOT TOPIC
STORY: Late night fire engulfs Bay Ridge market
SUMMARY: A Bay Ridge market went up in flames just past midnight on Sunday,
January 7.
According to the FDNY, 12 units responded to the blaze, which took nearly 60
firefighters close to two hours to battle and which also made its way into the
apartment building above the business. Though no injuries were reported, some
Ridgeites were displaced, leaving many of our readers feeling heartbroken.
REACH: 11,233 (as of 1/8/2018)
BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER
BRIAN KOLB
BK SNAP S
AVENUE O, 5 JANUARY 2018.
Photo by Bonita Lei
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