Assemblyman Tom Alfano, Senator Dean Skelos and Assemblyman Bob Barra held a press conference this morning at the Gates of Belmont Park blasting New York’s State budget saying it shortchanges, cuts and hurts families and seniors in Nassau County. Alfano, Skelos and Barra voted against the budget that eliminated STAR Rebate Checks, cut Long Island’s share of school aid, eliminated VLT revenues from Belmont, increased SUNY and CUNY tuition, cut youth programs and dealt a blow to Elmont’s revitalization efforts in the Hempstead Turnpike corridor. Surrounded by community leaders from Elmont, Franklin Square, Floral Park and West Hempstead, the three State leaders demonstrated the impact of the budget on regular people living in communities.
Analysis of the new State budget shows that a typical Long Island family of four will see an increase of $2,400 in taxes. Utility taxes will rise, income taxes increase, the STAR Rebate Check is eliminated, SUNY and CUNY Student Tax, Hospitals are cut, youth programming is cut, Long Island’s school aid share is slashed and there are new taxes imposed on individuals and families ranging from bottled water to wine. Alfano, Skelos and Barra called the budget process an outrage that disenfranchised New Yorkers by the ‘three men in a room from New York City.’
Pointing to Belmont, and the carnival taking place as sad symbolism for the State budget, Assemblyman Tom Alfano said, “the budget was a carnival. And, the people have had it. They’ve had it with all the taxes and they are sick of politicians constantly taxing and taking away critical programs like the STAR Rebate check. The people standing here with me are seniors, students, small businesspeople and families. They can’t take anymore taxes. Down the road from here and across the street is the Belmont South lot. Take a look at it when you drive by. That lot says it all about this budget for the people we represent- it’s empty, does nothing and is a disgrace- just like this budget."Noting the new Belmont Park revitalization plan as a key component to a new ‘Elmont,’ Assemblyman Alfano blasted the budget as a job killer for the plan. “Elmont is embarking on a true revitalization project that will create jobs and help lower taxes on homeowners. The carnival is at the site where there is supposed to be a hotel-spa. Across the street is where there is to be a walkable mall with restaurants and a movie theatre. Belmont is supposed to be a destination point- not a carnival. The budget they passed killed our Empire Zone and imposed some of the most outrageous taxes on working families and small businesses I’ve ever seen. The people deserve better than a carnival. They need jobs. They want a better community. They deserve better than this.”
Senator Dean Skelos said, “the Empire Zone that I successfully fought for with Assemblyman Alfano and then Governor George Pataki is made useless here in Elmont. Look across the street at that empty parking lot. We have a plan that develops that lot and brings jobs right here to Elmont. What did this budget do? It kills the Empire Zone! What about our fair share of state aid for schools in Elmont and Sewanhaka’s High School district? They cut Long Island’s share over 60%! They cut hospitals like NUMC! The people standing with us here today are those people. What’s worse is that we put amendments to the budget that put the STAR Rebate checks back in, restored cuts to hospitals, libraries and school aid and each of the amendments was defeated. This budget is a disgrace, but more than that- it hurts people.”
Alfano and Skelos pointed to Dotty Werner a senior who has lived in Elmont her whole life as a perfect example of someone who is hurt under the budget. “Dotty loses her STAR Rebate Check along with thousands of seniors, Skelos said. Assemblyman Tom Alfnao added, “I don’t know what seniors are going to do. They count on the STAR Rebate check and it was taken away from them.
Assemblyman Bob Barra said, “taxes are out of control in New York State to begin with. This budget just made things much worse. Who’s looking out for seniors who desperately need that STAR Rebate check? Who’s looking out for working families who may have been laid-off from a job or lost a job? Who looks out for them? This budget was crafted by three New York City Democrats. And, Long Island’s Senate Democrats did nothing. When it comes to this budget NYC Democrats say hooray for me and to hell with you.”
Assemblyman Alfano also noted the increased tuitions for SUNY and CUNY students as another betrayal of the State budget. “College is not a luxury and is the key to success in today’s global economy. Increasing tuitions is taking college out of the reach of young people. What is so insulting about his budget is that 80% of the increase in college tuition goes to the State. It doesn’t go to SUNY or CUNY! I don’t call this a tuition increase. I call it the College Student Tax!”
Elmont resident and CUNY college student Langston Young is one of those young people victimized by the College Student Tax. “$600 is a lot of money. That pays for books and lab fees for a whole semester. It really troubles me that the money doesn’t even go to SUNY or CUNY either,” Young said.
Skelos, Alfano and Barra outlined that senior citizen and non-senior homeowners will see the compete elimination of the STAR Rebate Check plan enacted by the budget. For homeowners locally that will mean the elimination of a check valued at approximately $600. Utility taxes will also increase 500% under the new plan. SUNY Tuition will increase $310 and CUNY tuition increases $600. Bottled water is taxed. Hospitals receive cuts to patient care and new hospital taxes are enacted. Long Island’s share of State Aid to schools is cut over 60%.
Assemblyman Bob Barra also touched upon local school districts and their needs through the budget. “This budget played some of the worse shell games that would make even the carnival operator blush. They actually used money mandated by the federal government for schools and then dumped the money in the school aid formula hoping nobody would notice that they shortchanged our schools. What happens next year when they can’t rob federal money for school districts? What do they do? This is the problem when you have no regional balance and all the decision makers are from New York City.”
The State budget is on its way to Governor Paterson’s desk for signature. Assemblyman Alfano, Assemblyman Bob Barra and Senator Dean Skelos voted against all portions of the budget.
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