Youth Service Providers in Queens Hold Press Conference on the Devastating Impact of Budget Cuts...

“BUDGET CUTS HURT YOUTH!”

In support of Richmond Hill Public Library, NY Alliance for Healthcare Reform (AHR) speaks against the devastating proposed budget cuts to essential services in communities across the state. Rafael Gomez Luna and Jocelyn Bueno, outreach committee members of AHR stood in solidarity with a contingency of community-based organizations. The message sent was: "Stop Draconian cuts that will hurt the future of our youth with Fair Share Tax Reform"

Black, Latino, Filipino, and South Asian immigrant youth service providers throughout Queens gathered today at the site of the Queens Library in Richmond Hill to speak out against the massive cuts on youth services. The Queens Library is a place many youth in Queens turn to for homework help, after-school programs, yet the Queens Library stands to face over 18% in state budget cuts that will be augmented by city budget cuts. This will cut the number of hours the Library is open as well as the number of free programs to youth it can provide. Groups spoke about how the youth service cuts will cut off windows of opportunity in their communities.

“The Queens Library is not just a place to keep books but a full-service community center,” said Children’s Librarian Laura Bultman from the Corona Branch. “We provide homework help to kids whose parents don’t speak English. The library is a quiet place for these kids to work if they don’t have a place to do schoolwork at home.”

Chief External Affairs Officer of the Library, James Van Bramer sent a clear message to elected officials in the Capitol: “The Queens Library serves more children in Queens County than any other organization. We implore our friends in Albany to find a more equitable way to avoid these drastic service cuts.”

The Executive Directors of South Asian Youth Action (SAYA) and Filipino-American Human Services, Inc. (FAHSI) were joined by Peter Fontanes of the League of Latin-American Citizens (LULAC) in describing how cuts in library and after-school services will affect their communities.

Fontanes warned of consequences from the Governor’s proposed cuts: “The after-school programs provided by this library open up the minds and spirits of our people. Children and immigrant families are being told that the doors of opportunity will be shut on them. I ask the Mayor and Governor not to budget out families. If our kids don’t have a library and community center to go to, they will end up on the street.”

Community member Buddha Allah had the last word: “Youth service cuts are of concern to me as a grandfather. There is an alternative. The cuts can be avoided by fairly taxing those 3 percent of New Yorkers making more than $250,000 annually. New York State already has a form of progressive taxation because a couple making $30,000 doesn’t pay income taxes. Passing Fair Share Tax Reform will be in keeping with the progressive tax philosophy we already have in New York.”

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More Dems Want 'Fair Share' by Elizabeth Benjamin - The Daily Politics - NY Daily News

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As the Senate Democrats prepare to conference the question of tax reform at 6 p.m. this evening, the so-called Fair Share bill being pushed by the WFP and its labor allies is gaining steam in both houses of the Legislature.

In the Senate, two more Democrats - Tom Duane and Martin Dilan - have signed on as co-sponsors of the bill, bringing the total number of supporters to 20, according to the WFP's Bill Lipton.

An alternative to the millionaire's tax that is being championed by Senate Deputy Majority Leader Jeff Klein has yet to be introduced, but the concept has been endorsed by Columbia University Prof. Michael Woodford.

Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith has made clear he thinks taxing the rich is "the last thing we should be doing," but also left the door open earlier this week to doing so if it's the route his conference wants to take.

In the Assembly, a same-as bill is being carried by Assemblyman Darryl Towns, chairman of the 48-member Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus.

Towns introduced the bill earlier this week and has garnered the support of 30 of his colleagues.

"It's critically important that we solve the budget crisis through real shared sacrifice," Towns said in a statement relayed to me by a labor supporter of the bill. "Fair Share Tax Reform will make New York's tax code more equitable and will also raise revenue necessary to protect essential services."

Gov. David Paterson, who has been sending mixed signals on the millionaire's tax, recently signaled he's open to overhauling the tax structure.

More for the Middle Class...Sen Jeff Klein...

Senator Jeff Klein Calls for Middle Class Tax Cuts and Increases on Higher Income Earners

RWDSU Supports Klein Tax Proposal

In the midst of legislative negotiations to fill the $14 billion dollar NYS budget gap, Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Jeff Klein released a progressive tax proposal which would provide middle class tax cuts to stimulate the economy while generating $1 billion dollars in revenue for the state.

Klein's proposal doubles the standard deduction for every type of tax filer and provides a tax cut in the form of a debit card to ensure spending (the standard deduction is a dollar amount reduced from one's total taxable income, thereby reducing their tax liability). Currently, a single person with an adjusted gross income of $60,000 can deduct $7,500 from their income, resulting in taxes on $52,500 of the filer's income rather than $60,000. Under the Senator's plan, the standard deduction would increase to $15,000 for a single person, resulting in taxes on $45,000 of the filer's income rather than $60,000.

"This is an opportunity to reform an antiquated tax system and start a conversation about creating a system which is more fair and equitable. We need to provide real relief and recovery for middle income New Yorkers who need it the most, while at the same time seeking solutions to generate revenue," said Klein

Klein's proposal also increases taxes on individuals making more than 250K/year with rates increasing from 6.85 to 8.97 percent for millionaires and 10.3 percent for income above $3 million.

Whether single married or retired, households making less than 250K would receive tax cuts ranging from $466 to $1,165 in the form of a debit card. Individuals will be able to use the debit card as they would a gift card- solely for spending, thereby stimulating the economy. The cards will have an expiration date in 2009, as determined by the Dept. of Taxation and Finance, with unspent money reverting back to the state.

An example of the current NYS Personal Income Tax rate structure is as follows: an individual earning just over $20,000 a year would pay the same marginal tax rate (6.85%) on their last dollar earned as a millionaire would (6.85%). A married couple filing jointly earning just over $40,000 a year would be taxed at the same marginal rate (6.85 percent) on their last dollar earned as a couple making $10 million.

The state income tax was once much more progressive, with very wealthy New Yorkers paying a much greater proportion of their income in taxes than middle-class taxpayers.

In 1972, New York State had a PIT with 14 different brackets ranging from 2 percent to 15 percent. Since then, changes to the income tax have gradually made the personal income tax flatter, ultimately resulting in today's narrow rate range of 4-6.85 percent. This movement toward a regressive income tax has benefited wealthy New Yorkers.

"This is the beginning of the conversation about a short-term solution and long-term recovery. In the short-term we've got to jump start this economy, but the key to long-term stability is creating a tax code that is fair for all New Yorkers."

New Tax Bill Seeks Fair 'Sharing' For Wealthy by Brendan Scott- NY Post

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A day after Gov. Paterson hinted at plans to soak the rich, a Brooklyn assemblyman announced legislation yesterday to enact the $6 billion tax-hike plan backed by public-employee unions.

Democrat Darryl Towns' bill would enact the Working Families Party's "Fare Share Tax Reform" plan, raising income taxes on taxpayers who make more than $250,000 a year and giving New York the nation's highest top tax rate.

The bill is identical to legislation already introduced by state Sen. Eric Schneiderman (D-Manhattan), providing it crucial two-house support days after Paterson warned the wealthy they would "share in the sacrifice" during budget talks.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan), who supports a "millionaire's tax," has so far not endorsed a tax hike on those making less than $1 million annually.

Towns said he hopes the revenue can eliminate Paterson-backed proposals to tax music downloads, theater tickets and cable television.

The bill would create three new tax brackets for those topping $250,000 a year.

Those on the bottom of the scale would pay 8.25 percent, up from the current top rate of 6.85 percent. Earners making $500,000 will face a tax burden of 8.97 percent, and those who earn more than $1 million would pay 10.3 percent.

NY Post Attacks Working Families & Speak Out at Community Board 5

The Post has never cared much for facts, but in this fight they're critical:

The Governor's cuts would be devastating. He proposes to balance the budget with $9 billion in cuts to classrooms, hospitals, libraries, nursing homes, environmental protection, foster care, social services that actually save us money in the long run, you name it. ²

We know painful cutbacks are inevitable. But his plan is lopsided. The Governor asks for sacrifice from everyone -- everyone, that is, except the wealthiest New Yorkers who could most afford to pay.

There's a better way. The Fair Share Tax Reform plan asks the wealthy to give back a reasonable portion of the generous tax cuts they've received so we can stop the worst of the Governor's cuts.

Who would pay? You have to earn close to $6,000 per week to be touched by this plan. No one likes to pay taxes, but this group is best able to weather a modest decline in their take-home pay.³

The Post has learned nothing from the collapse of Bush's right-wing economic policies, but most economists have. Hundreds of New York's leading economists (including Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz) have called on Gov. Paterson to reconsider his approach. Their view: raise taxes on the wealthy instead of focusing entirely on cutbacks that hit the middle-class, working-class and poor.⁴

The reasoning is simple - slashing public spending will not only cause real pain for working families, it will reduce economic activity. It's the exact opposite of what President Obama's stimulus plan is trying to accomplish.

Fair Share Tax Reform is, well, fair. Because of decades of tax cuts skewed toward the rich, the highest state income tax rate starts at just $20,000 a year, meaning Donald Trump pays the same rate as his limo drivers and doormen. A 10 year-old could tell you that's lopsided.

Here's the good news: our campaign is gaining steam. Last week, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver announced his support for raising taxes on the wealthy, asking rhetorically: "Is it fair to ask the people who make more to pay a little bit more in this time of crisis?"

Please try to attend the following:

NY Alliance for HealthCare Reform will address the members and general public of neighboring communities of Glendale, Ridgewood, Maspeth,and Middle Village on the proposed budget cuts to healthcare and the devastating impact on all New Yorkers.

Time: Wednesday, February 11 - 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Host: NY Alliance for HealthCare Reform
Contact Phone: 917 593-0042
Location: Christ the King HS (Middle Village, NY)
6802 Metropolitan Ave Middle Village, NY 11379

PS - To find more Fair Share campaign events near you, check out the coalition's website: http://fairsharereform.com/local/

Sources

1. "YOU HURT, THEY PROSPER" New York Post, February 9, 2009. http://www.nypost.com/seven/02092009/postopinion/editorials/you_hurt__they_prosper_154177.htm

2. See the cuts Gov. Paterson has proposed: http://fairsharereform.com/content/pages/the_cuts

3. Read about the Fair Share Tax Reform plan: http://fairsharereform.com/content/pages/fair_share_plan

4. Read the economists' letter: http://fairsharereform.com/economists