Erie County, NY Taxpayers Fuming at Proposed Tax Increase

WGRZ Television ^ | 2/11/2005 | WGRZ

[Mr. K]

Welcome to our Erie County Politics and Patronage Web Log, a place for you to be a part of the discussions of Erie County Politics, Patronage and Pork. Please leave your comments.

[Mr. K]

This is a local blog of people in NY going ABSOLUTELY NUTS over a proposed sales tax increase that would make our local rate 9.25%- one of the highest in the country for an area that is dying due to Buffalo and Erie County Govt. pork and mismanagement.

The mayor (Masiello) has even been reduced to having a state control board overseeing the town.

The county executive (Giambra) has patronage jobs all over but threatened layoffs for the actuall workers in the county- and he has closed the parks althought the park workers are still working and no one has been laid off yet.

[Phantom Lord]

I went to college in Buffalo for 5 years. Was a great college town. Upon graduation I packed up my stuff and drove to North Carolina.

Buffalo is a cess pool that is controlled by liberals, democrats, and union goons.

Also there are only 2 employers in Buffalo. Government and bars.

[unixfox]

Let me get this straight, the people are fuming over tax increases? Maybe they should be fuming over those people that THEY elected.

[PissAndVinegar]

Let the city implode on itself. Buffalo has become nothing but a cesspool full of hoodlums and white trash (with only a handful of people trying actually improve things) - I was born and raised there so I speak from experience. I went to Hutch Tech (downtown) so I was able to experience the inner city mentality first hand.

First we lost the steel plants then Jimmy Griffin left office and it all went downhill. Gimme Jimmy - he kept Buffalo together. I hope for the sake of your family you are one of those trying to make Buffalo better again or are seriously considering leaving. Rochester is great and only an hour away - I've watched it grow as Buffalo declines. Our mayor (Bill Johnson(D)) is only a partially literate mental defective - but he's not running again so the next term brings hope! P&V

[QuiMundus]

I was born and raised in Niagara Falls. It is so sad each time I go back and see the shells of so many failed projects that were to be economic panaceas, but were just political shams.

I am glad I escaped the liberal mindset of the area. The prospects are even worse, as a large portion of the population are seniors, and there is little motivation for younger people who could stimulate the local economy to stay.

[BIGZ]

This can't be. Where is Hillary when we need her?

The people in Erie must be the ones who gave a vote of approval.

[BIGZ]

Can't be, Hillary fixed this all.

How can these people support a tax and spend liberal?

[singletrack]

Add me to your ping list. I'll be stopping by the office of my legislator (Weinstein) today to prop up his backbone a bit. THis area should have everything going for it, waterfront, cheap electricity, acess to Canada etc, but its strangling in 1 party hell.
Let Buffalo implode, no more life support. Chippawa was the dregs of the area, costs became so low that folks could take a chance and the area naturally grew out of it. The Theatre district sucks up funds like a sponge and you can hardly find a beer there.

[BfloGuy]

Here's my puny blog contribution. They're playing us big time.

[Paulus Invictus]

Hey, Erie County people, it's time to call Hitlery for some help with the high taxes. She promised to help resolve such problems, didn't she? She also said she would bring new jobs to the state. Where are they? What was that tripe about recently getting a 64% job and honesty approval rating from state voters? Are all NY State voters idiots or just the RATs that infest the state? Wow, am I happy I left there in time to miss Hitlery!

[jude24]

Senator Clinton has nothing to do with the utter corruption and profligacy in Erie County.

The crooked Giambra administration, which has allowed patronage jobs to swell beyond the level of his successor, and a nymphomaniac county government sold out to every special interest in town are solely to blame.

Erie County has made their bed. Clinton had zero to do with that.

[eleni121]

"Senator Clinton has nothing to do with the utter corruption and profligacy in Erie County."
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Oh really? You don't get it do you? It's the Dems and their sleazy unions and socialist swingers who have made this state a pigsty. She is the perfect representative fo the horrid condition of this state. She is the one who pushed socialized health care for the nation FGS! She loves the limousine health care that low income types get here while average working schmucks have to pay for everything they get.
________________________________________________________
"The crooked Giambra administration, which has allowed patronage jobs to swell beyond the level of his successor ..."
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Not quite. I've been around in the county for long enough to know the absolutely rampant patronage corruption under Giambra's predecessor, Gorski. It was many times worse believe me. The truth is that what's needed is fewer jobs in government around here. At lower pay. But try telling that to the union leadership goons. They will not listen and they will not budge. The problem needs fixing at the state level, and people had better understand that.

[eleni121]

PING for reform in Erie County, NY.

[NYTexan]

Thanks for the ping!

It should be mentioned that our County tax bill's largest portion is our local town Tax.

Also our School tax bill is probably going to surpass the the County tax bill when the STAR program sunsets. (Unless Pataki can pull a rabbit out of his arse!, but that won't last forever!)

Part of the problem is the $50 Million pension fund payment due this year because our State Comptroller decided to pay off this year alone the mismanagement of prior years.

And Pataki is more than a day late & dollar short of correcting Medicaid reform.

WE ARE SCREWED EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE!

[Victoria Delsoul]

Thanks for the ping.

Bumpity, bump!

[eleni121]

Great post! There's a lot more blubber in the localities that needs to be trimmed. Giambra has cut property taxes and he should be praised for that.

Let's face it: NYS is the Rolls Royce state for all those who don't pull their weight: Unions, the unemployed, and those who feed off both.

[The Mayor]

I have been listening to this all day and am still listening to WBEN..

The last episode from county hall just shows how disfunctional the county leg is.
Before they could call the vote I beleive it was Marinelli called for a recess.

I will have to check with Roberts Rules of Order to see if this is even possible to do.
I know they did it last time but this is getting ridiclous.

Swanick changed his vote, I wonder if the shot over his bow I sent this weekend had any thing to do with it..
My picture is on the front page of the Grand Island Record and the Kenmore Record Advertiser
It says, FED UP! Rus Thompson to challenge Swanick..
BwaHAhahahaha!!!

[The Mayor]

Hey, we should link to each other..

http://www.RusThompson.com

[NYTexan]

our only hope is locality union busting via gov't insolvency.

But I fear judicial involvement. This could be a trial case for judicial tax increases

[ramseye]

Thanks for the Ping!!!! I notice how quick the dieheart liberals are to defend Hillary and never blame her for anything. Having lived in Erie County I saw the conditions in Buffalo go from a decent place in the 60's to a rat hole now. The same thing is happening in Rochester and in every city in the State. The taxes are driving the Industries and younger generation to the Red States. The majority of retirees are leaving. Let the Liberals and the Druggies pay for all the Social Programs.