Mayor Michael Bloomberg: Fiscal Fister
By Wyatt Earp | November 6, 2008
Apparently, New York, New York is the city so nice that they tax you twice!
If I were you guys, I would high-tail it outta that berg before you can’t afford to breathe the air. But that’s just me.
NEW YORK ― Mayor Michael Bloomberg is going to cut the city work force by 3,000, but that’s just the beginning of the pain New Yorkers will feel as part of the fiscal crisis. A slew of new taxes are also on the agenda.
There will be 1,000 fewer cops, but the city will hire 200 more traffic agents to give out $60 million a year in new block-the-box tickets.
Oh, that’s wise. Cut the police force, but add more meter maids. Sounds like a boffo plan from a public safety aspect. Rudy Giuliani is rolling over in his grave!
“The gravity of the budget situation requires us to propose both deep spending cuts and revenue increases,” Bloomberg said.
The spending cuts mean reducing the city work force. The revenue increases mean taxes — lots of taxes.
In the current fiscal year there’s the 7 percent property tax hike that starts in January — and the plan to renege on a promised $400 property tax rebate. (H/T – WCBSTV)
Bloomberg wants to increase taxes by either 7.5 percent of 15 percent. Guess which one he’ll choose?
Unfortunately, it’s not much better here. Philly Mayor Michael Nutter announced major cutbacks today, including the proposed closings of seven fire stations. Because, you know, a big city like Philadelphia doesn’t need firefighters, right? Burn, baby, burn!
Topics: WTF? | 8 Comments »
November 6th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
You know they could play a form of “Survivor” with the city council jobs. If they really want to save money.
In 1960, the city population was 2.5 Million and now it is less than 1.5 Million. So 40% of the people fled the city but they still need the same number of city council seats not to mention their high paid assistants??
I say play a nasty real-life game of survivor and eliminate 40% of the deadwood and I am rooting for Mr. Goode to lose.
November 6th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Ummm…since Bloomberg changed the term limit, does that mean Rudy can run against him as an independent?
Just a-thinkin’.
(Ditto AJ)
November 6th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Effing lovely… I’m SO glad I don’t live in NY or Philly… Three more years and I can go back to Texas and to hell with the whole place
November 6th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Did Giuliani die, and I not hear about it? I’ll grant you, he is kinda ghoulish looking, but still.
And yes, I am extremely glad I don’t live in one of the “big cities”.
November 6th, 2008 at 10:33 pm
AJ – We could eliminate all of them, in my opinion. I have yet to see any good come from them.
RT – Probably. Doubt he would do it, though.
Old NFO – York is bad. Philly is worse. You’ll see fire deaths spike with the station cuts. Guaranteed.
JumpOut – Yeah, he has that Skeletor look going for him.
November 7th, 2008 at 10:18 am
When in doubt, TAX!
Because I care.
November 7th, 2008 at 11:48 am
One of these days I’d really like to see a police chief instruct their officers to arrest these ass-bags for out-right theft.
For the life of me, I just can’t figure out why Bloomie waited until after getting re-elected to announce this.
As Pooh Bear always says…”Hmmm, think….think think.
November 8th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Nutter’s closing libraries, too.