DC #37 Lobby Day with Senator Shirley Huntley

On May 3, 2011 Senator Huntley met with many members of District Council 37 (DC 37) in her Albany office and at the convention center. Senator Huntley has supported the hardworking efforts of DC 37 and the millions of middle to working class people who are a part of the group. DC 37 spoke with Senator Huntley about legislation and other pending bills that would be very controversial or have their football spirit.

Some of the issues DC 37 supports include a wide range of topics. Renewal of Rent regulation was very important to members due the fact that there is a housing crunch in New York City for affordable housing. They also support restarting New York City Off-Tracking Betting to bring more jobs and revenue to the communities they live in. Most of the DC 37 members supported extended the Personal Income Tax surcharge. They felt everyone had to pay their fair share, but the wealthiest New Yorkers were not doing so and wanted them to be charged more.

The bills DC 37 did oppose included the Last In, First Out and New York City Property Tax Cap.

Senator Joe Addabbo Votes "NO" on Property Tax Cap Bill

No Relief for Residents of New York City

NYS Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. (D-Queens), released the following statement on why he rejected S.2706, the property tax cap bill, when it came to a vote yesterday in the Senate:

"While I would have supported a true property tax cap that benefits all people, S.2706 does not include any property tax relief for residents of my district or anyone else in New York City who are specifically excluded in this bill. Therefore, I could not support this bill that could actually hurt my constituents."

SENATOR ADDABBO: LET'S GET TO WORK FOR 2011

With the holiday season over, NYS Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr. (D-Queens) says it’s time to focus on restoring faith back to the residents that their state government will be responsive to their concerns: “Elected officials have a lot of work to do in making people know that their state legislature can operate in a professional and responsible manner.” The Senator understands that this will not be an easy task, given the general frustration among the public and the previous dysfunction in Albany.

What does Addabbo hope to accomplish in 2011? Well, according to the Senator, among the most common requests from his constituents is to lower property and other taxes, along with a cap in state spending. Addabbo stated that he is hopeful that lower property taxes, a restoration of the STAR rebate, and a reduction in other taxes and fees can be obtained with additional spending cuts and an improved economy. He also intends to continue the legislature’s efforts in attacking Medicaid and insurance fraud, which could result in a savings of approximately $9 billion to the state. Addabbo said he also heard many people request a restoration in library and senior center funding.

Other issues Addabbo wants to address in 2011 are ethics and legislative reform. Addabbo is seeking to introduce a law that would expel a state elected official from office if convicted of a felony or certain misdemeanors. He also wants to start the discussion and process of creating term limits for state elected officials, just as it was overwhelmingly approved by voters for New York City electeds. Addabbo said there should be an independent, nonpartisan redistricting process, so that districts will not be redrawn in a way that is unfair to the residents of any district. He wants to work on creating more transparent election campaigns that see a reduction in large corporate donations that have influenced candidates in the past. Addabbo believes that there must be a change in the way Albany conducts its business on behalf of the people of the state, but that the change will not come easy. “There has to be a different way of thinking and ideology in Albany. I am hopeful other state representatives see it that way, too,” Addabbo stated.

To grow jobs in these tough economic times, Addabbo said he will continue working with small businesses around his district to obtain energy savings through audits of their premises by National Grid and Con Ed, and offering tax credits to small businesses that hire disabled individuals, seniors and unemployed veterans. In addition to the approximately 1,000 construction jobs that the new Resorts World New York will bring to Aqueduct Racetrack, the Senator is working with Genting to ensure that future job opportunities at the site are made available to qualified residents.

“We must have a government people can finally believe will work for them and for their interests. When I go back into legislative session this month, the people I serve can believe that I’ll do just that for them,” Addabbo concluded.

Tax Cuts for Rich Vex Queens Residents by Elizabeth Daley - Queens Chronicle

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Demonstrators from MoveOn.org protest proposed maintenance of Bush-era tax rates for high earners. PHOTO BY ELIZABETH DALEY

President Obama may have come to an agreement with Republicans on Tuesday regarding extending Bush-era income tax cuts to high earners, but last week, residents gathered in front of Congressman Joe Crowley’s (D-Queens and Bronx) office in Jackson Heights to voice their disapproval of the plan.

Holding signs reading “No Millionaire Bailout,” members of the grassroots organization MoveOn.org collected signatures to deliver to Crowley, asking him not to support extending Bush-era tax cuts for high earners.

The tax cuts were implemented in 2001 and 2003. They reduced payments for the upper and middle class, with the highest tax bracket seeing the greatest reduction in taxes. Those earning over $311,000 as heads of household were taxed at a rate of 38.6 percent in 2002 and at a rate of 35 percent in 2003. The highest earners are still paying 35 percent. The tax breaks were set to expire at the end of this year.

It was the hope of many that Obama would decide not to extend tax cuts for those earning more than $250,000, but maintain them for the middle class. “If anyone knows a millionaire who would be harmed by this policy, let us know,” said a MoveOn.org demonstrator.

Still others thought that allowing the tax cuts to expire entirely would be prudent financial policy as it would reduce the deficit.

Standing in the cold, demonstrators including Hal Satinoff, a Moveon.org member from the Bronx, managed to collect around 100 signatures from passersby.

“I am not against tax cuts for millionaires, I am against tax cuts for billionaires. Anyone can be a millionaire these days,” said Satinoff.

“Oh, really,” said a fellow activist, “Let me know when you get to the first million.”

In a speech on the House floor last Thursday, Crowley seemed to agree with the demonstrators. He brought a in posterboard with a photo of Leona Helmsley’s dog Trouble, to whom the heiress bequeathed $12 million. “Under the Republican plan, if Trouble doesn’t get a tax break, nobody else should, Crowley exclaimed, frustrated that some Republicans were not in favor of extending the cuts exclusively for the middle class.

Though Obama has agreed to extend cuts across the board for two years in exchange for a 13-month extension of unemployment benefits, Democrats in Congress still need to reach an agreement with Republicans in order for the President’s deal to come to fruition.

Democrats including state Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Queens and Brooklyn) have spoken out against extending tax cuts for higher earners. “If Republicans want to add to our deficit and defend the interests of billionaires, make them stand up in Congress and tell that to the public loud and clear,” he said in a statement on Monday.

In a televised interview on Tuesday, Crowley criticized Obama’s agreement with Republicans. “A deal has been worked out, one that includes hostages: the middle class, the working poor in this country as well as the unemployed,” he said.

Crowley was unhappy with the president’s decision, but said a stalemate would not have been preferable. He said very few people in his district earn more than $250,000 and that friends of his who are in a higher tax bracket said they could afford to pay more, though they may not want to.

“We stand for the middle class, the working poor, the unemployed people who are having difficulties putting food on the table during the holiday season,” Crowley said of his party.

Looking at the president’s agreement from the perspective of his district, Crowley said he could see that there were “some good things” about it, though he didn’t elaborate.

“This deal isn’t a bill yet and just as I do for any piece of legislation, I plan on reviewing the proposal once it is fleshed out and put to paper,” he said in a statement.

Though he said he intends on working with Republicans toward shared goals including job creation, he said, “I think they are going to have a difficult problem in terms of convincing Democrats this the only way forward.”

Senator Addabbo & Assembly Members Miller, Nolan, Pheffer, Councilwoman Crowley Co-Host Tax Lien Help Event at Cordon Bleu...

Local Electeds Co-Host Tax Lien Assistance Outreach Event

Senator Addabbo, Assemblyman Miller, Assemblywoman Nolan, Assemblywoman Pheffer, and Councilwoman Crowley Offer Help to District Property Owners

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NYS Senator Joe Addabbo is co-hosting a free Tax Lien Assistance Outreach Event, along with southern and western Queens electeds Assemblyman Mike Miller, Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan, Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer and Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley.

Constituents who are struggling with tax lien issues should come for help to prevent losing their homes/properties on Tuesday, April 6, to Cordon Bleu, 96-01 Jamaica Avenue, Woodhaven, between 5:30 – 8:00 PM. All are welcome to this free community outreach event. The site is conveniently located near the Woodhaven Boulevard train stop (J, Z) and the Q 11 and Q 56 bus routes and is handicap accessible.

Property owners must bring their water/sewer bills, property taxes and Department of Housing and Preservation loan paperwork. The City will have representatives on hand to offer customer service and be able to check your eligibility for billing programs, including their new Water Debt Assistance Program and provide help with setting up payment plans. Representatives from New York City Environmental Protection (DEP), New York City Finance (DOF) and New York City Department of Housing and Preservation (HPD) will be there to assist residents.

The DEP will provide customer service regarding payment of water and sewer bills; water conservation education and water assistance program; the Department of Finance will cover Real Property Tax Credit guidelines; the Department of Finance will cover its Exemption Programs; the Department of Housing and Preservation will provide assistance in preventing foreclosures and predatory lending and assist with securing low-interest loans.

A tax lien usually involves real estate although it can also involve other forms of personal property. A lien is placed on the property when the owner fails to pay, or is delinquent in paying, certain taxes. Less common are tax liens that involve other fees owed to a government agency.

For example, in New York City, if you don't pay your water bill and you've run up a bill of $1,000 or more that you owe the City, then they can file for a tax lien against your property. In most situations, however, tax liens are issued because of delinquent property taxes.

When a tax lien does involve real estate and the property does exchange hands, the obligation of repayment is said to "run with the land." That means the new property owner is now responsible for repayment of taxes owed even if the non-payment occurred because of a prior owner. This is one of the reasons a title search and title insurance is so important to new homeowners.

A State Senate resolution has urged bipartisan support for Property Tax Relief aimed at reversing New York’s skyrocketing property taxes in order to put more money back in the hands of middle income families and senior homeowners.

For more information about the tax lien outreach event, please call David Giller at Senator Addabbo’s office: 718-738-1111.

Assemblyman Mike Miller to Host Property Tax Forum

As part of the ongoing “Assembly in Your Area” initiative, Assemblyman Mike Miller (D-Queens) will sponsor an event with the New York City Department of Finance on Wednesday, January 27 at 8 PM at Richmond Hill Block Association One Stop. The forum will educate Queens residents on the state property tax assessment, which property owners can expect to receive within the next several weeks.

Property taxes are collected every year to pay for social services such as schools, fire departments, and police departments. A property owner’s tax bill is determined by two major components: the property's taxable assessment and the tax rates of the area in which the property is located.

“Property taxes can confuse a lot of people,” said Assemblyman Mike Miller. “We want to make sure that people understand the process and get an accurate assessment of their homes. There are exemptions for households enrolled in the STAR program and senior or disabled citizens. Stop by to make sure you’re not paying too much.”

For more information about this event, please contact Assemblyman Miller’s office at (718) 805-0950. To learn more about the property tax assessment, visit www.orps.state.ny.us/index.cfm.


Event Name: Property Tax Forum
Event Date: Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Event Time: 8 PM
Event Location: Richmond Hill Block Association One Stop
110-08 Jamaica Avenue, Richmond Hill, NY 11418

This event will be open to the press and public.