Thread: NY State Lawmakers Blackmailing Levy Over Hiring Site

As a Suffolk County resident this has me really angry. Of course Newsday, which is a mouth piece for the OB crowd, blames Levy's tough stance on illegal immigration. Please read below:


Long Island

Levy battles, but Suffolk may pay in taxes
BY MICHAEL AMON AND CHAU LAM
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longi ... -headlines


June 22, 2007, 11:40 PM EDT

The failure of a sales tax bill caught up in a political flap could potentially cripple county government and cause "draconian cuts" in services, the Suffolk county executive said Friday. A county legislator said property taxes would have to be hiked to cover a multimillion-dollar shortfall.

The clash between County Executive Steve Levy and state lawmakers who favor setting up a hiring center for day laborers escalated Friday as the Assembly adjourned without approving the sales-tax bill, which would generate millions for Suffolk.

Presiding Officer William Lindsay (D-Holbrook) predicted property taxes would have to go up to cover an estimated $300-million shortfall.

There's still hope the bill could be passed when the legislature meets later this year, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-Manhattan) said in Albany. Silver said there will be more meetings "within the next week or two."

If the county has to raise property taxes to cover the shortfall, the general fund property tax increase would amount to $300, or 338 percent. The police district tax would increase by $222, or 23.3 percent.

Levy blamed Assemb. Philip Ramos (D-Central Islip) for the bill's failure. "It won't be pretty," Levy said of the potential loss of revenue. "And it's all going to be on Ramos' head."

Ramos said he voted against the legislation because he votes against all tax increases. But he said Levy should tone down his language on immigration issues.

"There has not been an honest dialogue," Ramos said. "What there has been is rhetoric and race-baiting, language that divides the community."

The bill's tabling at the hands of his own party was a stinging rebuke to Levy, who has made combating illegal immigration a central theme of his administration. "It has to be very embarrassing for the county executive," Legis. Thomas Barraga (R-West Islip) said. "That's unheard of."

The 1 percent sales tax increase was instituted in 1990 and generates about 10 percent of the county's $2.7-billion budget, funding health services, police and other crucial functions. It must be approved by the State Legislature every two years and expires on Nov. 30.

Levy said he would not compromise on allowing a hiring center and said he would hold a news conference on Monday about potential budget cuts. Asked if he would seek a property tax hike, Levy said: "I'm not saying that. There are various options on the table. ... We're not going there now."

Measures like the Suffolk tax bill are normally passed without controversy in Albany. But minority lawmakers, increasingly concerned about Levy's strident rhetoric on illegal immigration, blocked the bill on the Assembly floor Thursday evening, forcing it to be tabled because leaders could not muster four more votes.

Levy spoke with Silver Friday and Thursday evening, as the speaker tried to broker a compromise between Levy and Assembs. Adriano Espaillat (D-Manhattan) and Darryl Towns (D-Brooklyn), the leaders of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Caucus. Suffolk County lawmakers rallied behind Levy, pledging to hold the line against a hiring center.

"There is no room for compromise," said Suffolk Legis. Joseph Caracappa (R-Selden). Referring to Espaillat, he said: "You don't negotiate with terrorists and that's basically what this guy is."

"Those are very strong words," Espaillat said. "I'm very discouraged that that kind of rhetoric is happening in Suffolk. It doesn't lead to healing, and it doesn't lead to the solution of any problems."

Lindsay said the county would likely have to raise property taxes and cut services. This year, the average homeowner living in Suffolk's five west end towns pays $1,045 in property taxes, with $952 going to pay for police services and $91 for other county services.

Albany bureau chief James T. Madore contributed to this story.

Maybe what they should do there, is keep every child out of school until the state does its job. This IS out and out blackmail forcing a community to do things against their will.

RAMOS is the one turning it into a racial fight...NOT Levy.

The amazing thing is that there are so few people who will stand up to those who support the LAWBREAKERS.
Everyone one knows politicans will do ANYTHING to get a vote.
Are the ILLEGALS getting to vote??????

Moving to the News forum.