BRONX TIMES REPORTER, J BTR ULY 16-22, 2021 35
Crime is on the rise in cities
across the nation and everyone
is pointing fingers.
The fault lies heavily on the
shoulders of our elected officials.
Elected officials allowed
police to be vilified, allowed
looters and rioters to break
laws with impunity by telling
police to stand down.
Police were told not to react
when being spit on, cursed
at and their cars vandalized.
Elected officials called for bail
reform which released recidivists
back into the community
and many elected officials
called for the defunding of police
forces across the country.
Many veteran police officers
retired in the wake of anti-police
sentiment fueled by this
rhetoric.
Elected officials used the
death of George Floyd — who
was unjustly killed by a Minneapolis
police officer — to advance
their political agenda,
painting all police officers as
ruthless bigots. They allowed
anarchy in some of our cities
without regard for the lawabiding
citizens in those cities.
The politics of division has
taken over our country and by
our silence we have allowed it
to continue. Every time we do
not exercise our right to vote
we give the radical element
in our country, both right
and left, the ability to elect extremists.
Radicals vote; they
have an agenda and work to
bring that agenda to fruition.
When moderates stay home,
they allow extremist views to
take root. The polarization of
America will be its downfall.
A Republican president
comes into office and attempts
to undo all of his Democratic
predecessor’s accomplishments;
then a Democratic president
takes over and undoes
the policies of his Republican
predecessor and so it goes to
the detriment of the citizens of
our country.
Take a moment to consider
what has happened during
Covid-19; political parties
pointed figures at each other,
instead of working to save
the country’s citizenry. It was
more important to blame the
other side. When a vaccine
came available politicians
made comments publicly that
they wouldn’t trust anything
coming out of Washington
causing people to shy away
from a life-saving vaccine.
The death of George Floyd
caused some politicians to vilify
the entire law enforcement
community. Violent protests
swept the nation, riots and
looting ruled the day and the
blame game continued. Politicians
used the media to sow
dissent and fear, and make
accusations against one another
which aren’t necessarily
true to sway the electorate.
For many the ends justify the
means, and all the character
traits we teach our children —
honesty, trustworthiness and
loyalty be dammed.
Saddest of all, we elected
them and then make excuses
rather than admit we were
wrong. Moderate Americans
must stand up and be counted
or we will lose what our Founding
Fathers have built.
Not too much to say this
time. No politics! Hope everyone
survived the July 4
weekend activities. Other
activities will be mentioned
here if I get them, keep
the computer and phone
charged too. So far it’s Sept.
10 for Support the Troops,
Bingo and the 20th anniversary
of the 9/11 attacks.
Condolences to the
Cremins Family on the
passing of Pat — wife and
mom — after a terrible illness.
She was also a great
Legion auxiliarist and a
major asset to her post, TN
Memorial 1456, for many
years. Rest in peace.
Now that the weather is
nice (when its’s not raining!)
we can fly our U.S.
flag respectfully more often.
Stick flags in the flower
boxes or a new flag kit out
front, from American Legion
Emblem Sales. A portion
of the price goes to support
Legion activities so
you get to do good twice!
Until Next Time: When
you get to the gates of
Heaven, the animals you interacted
with in life will be
there. They’ll decide if you
get in or not! -Native American
saying
NBC news revealed NYC’s
initial confirmed case of
Covid-19 occurred March 1,
2020. One year earlier, March
2019, Milton E. Ezrad, chief
economist at Vested, stated,
“The city is running a deficit …
already in a financial spot but
would be in a difficult situation
with any kind of setback.”
Paul C. Earle, respected
economist from the American
Institute for Economic Research
also said, “NYC could go
bankrupt, absolutely.” In April
2020, the bi-partisan political
watchdog, the New York City
Independent Budget Office projected
NYC to lose $400 million
in real property tax revenue for
fiscal years 2021 and 2022. A recent
June 2021 Bloomberg report
approximated these losses
to be in the $1.6 billion range.
The Citizens Budget Committee
determined property taxes
account for nearly 45% of city
tax revenues. Property tax is
an undeniable staple of New
York City’s revenue stream.
This begs the question: How
will NYC close this financial
defecit?
Recent recommendations
by the NYC Advisory Commission
on Property Tax Reform
suggests property tax increases
are on the horizon. This City
Hall-appointed commission released
a 72-page report with several
non-detailed recommendations.
The following four items
drew immediate attention:
The Commission recommends
a sale-based methodology
to value all property in the
residential class.
The Commission recommends
assessing every property
in the residential class at
full market value.
The Commission recommends
a circuit breaker within
the property tax system to lower
property tax burdens on low-income
primary resident owners,
based on the ratio of taxes paid
to income.
The Commission recommends
a partial homestead exemption
for primary resident
owners in residential class
dwellings with incomes below a
certain threshold.
Full market value is the
price a property would sell for
under normal conditions. Currently
property tax rates are
based on assessed value, a fractional
percentage of full market
value, that will not exceed 6%
of market value. In Spencer Estate,
1-3 family homes are designated
Tax Class 1 and taxed
at 21.045% of assessed value
minus exemptions. A dramatic
change from assessed value
models to full market property
tax models could place undue financial
burdens on hard working
middle class families, retirees,
senior citizens and anyone
on tight budgets or fixed incomes.
In typical fashion, City Hallinspired
policy change elicits
more questions than answers.
What is the tax to income ratios
and income thresholds?
What are the financial effects
of the partial homestead exemption
and circuit breaker?
Will the homestead exemption
or circuit breaker replace current
STAR, Enhanced STAR or
other exemptions? Will the circuit
breaker include an interest
accruing deferred tax payment
plan that could place a vulnerable
property in lien status? Can
overlap situations occur with
the homestead exemption, circuit
breaker structures? If so,
how are these handled?
With the tradecraft of skilled
illusionists, the term limited de
Blasio NYC political machine
placed intense focus on socialthemed
defund movements.
Shielded was their motivation
to close fiscal gaps by defunding
hardworking middle class
homeowners. This late-stage
NYC property tax reform is expected
to await blessings from a
new City Council and mayor before
attaining state approvals. It
should be noted: Assembly Bill
A4744 and Senate Bill S857, addressing
the circuit breaker,
are already in committee minus
specific fiscal details. The
Property Tax Reform report is
available through the website
www1.nyc.gov. Comments may
be emailed to nyc.gov/propertytaxreform/
testimony
Low-density communities
are middle class neighborhoods
primarily comprised of essential
workers, first responders,
civil servants, teachers, fixedincome
senior citizens and retirees.
Many multiple generation
families made sacrifices
and commitments to build, improve
and stabilize these communities.
It is our civic duty to
ensure specific details are publicized
before change is made
to the property tax system.
Structures or processes that
increase our property tax obligations
should not be up for discussion.
We must unite to make
those that preceded us proud
so those that succeed us have a
community to appreciate. Let
your voices be heard, contact local
elected officials to demand
Property Tax Reform clarity
and transparency.
Councilman Mark Gjonaj:
(718) 931-1721
Assemblyman Mike Benedetto:
(718) 892-2235
Sen. Alessandra Biaggi: (718)
822-2049
Monthly meetings resume in
September. However, the traditional
summer respite could be
interrupted by circumstances
requiring ad hoc attention.
If we want to keep and reap
the blessings of our fine quality
of life, we must endure the fatigue
of supporting it. Our community
has traditionally exhibited
a “We are Family attitude.”
Now, is the time to let it shine.
Communicate; make that phone
call, text message or email.
Please check on family, friends
and neighbors, especially the elderly
and vulnerable. Any area
homeowner or renter interested
in the Spencer Estate Civic Association
send an email to spencerestatecivic@
gmail.com.
R e m e m b e r :
Community=Common-Unity and
Inclusion brings Solutions.
/www1.nyc.gov
link
link
/gmail.com