New York Millionaires Offer to Pay Extra Taxes to Offset Budget Cuts by Julie Shapiro - DNAinfo

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Millionaires across New York State are banding together to ask for more taxes.

About 100 wealthy New Yorkers, including actor Mark Ruffalo, say they want to do their part to help the state out of its budget crisis, and they are encouraging Gov. Andrew Cuomo to extend the so-called millionaire's tax.

"Many of us New Yorkers are troubled that you're giving a $5 billion tax cut to 2 percent of New York's most wealthy, while cutting $9 billion from education and social services for the rest of New Yorkers," Ruffalo said in an online video addressing Cuomo.

"Please, ditch this backwards Robin Hood plan and give all New Yorkers a fair shake."

The millionaire's tax, which is slated to expire in April, takes about an extra 2 percent in state taxes from individuals making over $200,000 a year or families making over $300,000.

A group called New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness sent an open letter with about 100 signatures to Cuomo and state legislators Thursday urging them to renew the tax to avert the budget cuts.

Donald Shaffer, 82, an Upper East Side resident who worked in insurance and serves on the board of the Civil Liberties Union, said he signed the letter because he would be glad to pay the extra tax.

"This is what is decent and sensible as part of the social contract," Shaffer said in a phone interview Thursday. "We've done very well in our society, and we should be happy to see to it that others who require public services are not short-changed."

Cuomo's spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Cuomo and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who oppose extending the tax, have said they worry it would drive wealthy New Yorkers out of the state, but Shaffer said that was "absurd."

"The mayor has not left," Shaffer pointed out.

Shaffer added that the recently extended Bush tax cuts would remove most of the burden of the millionaire's tax, so it would not have a large impact on people's finances.

The United Federation of Teachers and lower Manhattan parents are also advocating for the stateto extend the tax, so the city doesn't get hit with over $1 billion in cuts to education funding.

Other rich city residents who signed onto the open letter include Bill Samuels, a Democratic activist and entrepreneur, and Leo Hindrey Jr., chairman of the Economic Growth/Smart Globalization Initiative at the New American Foundation.

Mark Ruffalo Calls on Governor to Close Hydrofracking Loophole by Olivia Scheck - DNAinfo.com

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Ruffalo called on the governor to expand his recent hydrofracking ban.

Actor Mark Ruffalo was in Midtown Monday imploring the governor to expand his executive order limiting hydrofracking in New York State.

"The Kids Are All Right" star has been an ardent activist against the drilling practice, which injects chemicals into the earth to extract natural gases from irregularly shaped wells.

His efforts paid off last week, when Gov. David Paterson issued an executive order banning horizontal hydrofracking until July 1, 2011 at the earliest, so that further research could be done into the potential dangers of the drilling method.

"You don't take your daughter to the red light district just because times are tough," Ruffalo said, applauding the governor's decision to protect the long-term viability of the water supply. "You make sure what you're doing is safe and then you make money on it."

But Ruffalo and other activists also argued that Paterson's order didn't go far enough, saying it left the door open for vertical hydrofracking, which the governor's office says is a traditional drilling method that has been used safely in the state for 40 years.

Ruffalo and officials including State Sen. Liz Krueger warned Monday that either method could contaminate the water of 12 million out of 19 million New Yorkers.

"This wouldn't be a little problem, this would be a catastrophe," Krueger said.

On the same day that Paterson gave the executive order temporarily banning horizontal hydrofracking, the governor vetoed a more expansive drilling bill, which he said would have prevented any new drilling permits from being issued through May 15th, 2011.

Still, Ruffalo indicated that he was holding out hope that the governor would issue a second executive order during his last days in office to close what he called the "Paterson Loophole."

He and others said they were scheduled to meet with one of the governor's aides following the press event.

"He's got a good heart," the actor said of the outgoing governor.