Albany Reform

For the past couple of months I have spent at least a few very early mornings each week on train platforms introducing myself to the commuters of the 41st District. I have met thousands of citizens at stations in Poughkeepsie, Beacon and New Hamburg. Honestly, it's been one of the most rewarding experiences of the entire campaign.

I recently received an excellent letter from a commuter I had the pleasure to meet all too briefly on the platform in Poughkeepsie. The letter contains some really excellent and thoughtful questions, questions that deserve answers.

With the the author's gracious permission, I have reprinted that letter with my answers here on our campaign website so that those who may have similar questions can benefit as well.

Saw you at the Poughkeepsie Train Station this morning... was in too much of a dash to catch the train to stop and speak with you directly.

Many people are in a hurry early in the AM. Thanks for taking the time to read our material.

I hear all this talk about how we have a tax crisis - property and school taxes combined. But what are your plans to do something about it?

At the moment, we have a 19th Century education funding system supporting a 21st Century education system. We fund our schools with a property tax which no longer is an indication of wealth or income. Therefore, many people who have homes that are now worth many times the value of their initial cost can’t afford their exploding property tax bills. We need to switch to a funding system that is based upon the ability to pay (income tax). We need to do it now.

At 30 years of age, I have yet to find myself trusting my vote when it comes time to hit the polls.

So sad and I know you would agree. So what can you tell me - and everyone for that matter, that would help me trust that my vote for you will help address and resolve our tax crisis?

I give you my pledge. I recently signed the F.A.S.T (Fix Albany School Tax) Pledge where I pledged to to FAST-track solutions to this extremely complex and serious problem. I have pledged to hold town hall meetings looking for the input of the citizens of the 41st District. What I have pledged to do is to tackle the problem from day one, to look for new solutions and new thinking, and to quit punting this problem down the road. Our children as well as the taxpayers of New York deserve nothing less than a comprehensive set of solutions ASAP.

Accountability.

In business, if you make a lousy product or treat your customers like dog food, you’ll be hanging out a quick “going out of business” sign. In schools, in the workplace, and even in personal relationships, you mess up, you pay the price. Accountability. It’s the ultimate check and balance.

Now, with all the Ned Lamont news swirling around and all the talk about anti-war and left v. right ideology, we seem to be losing track of a very basic instinct that has been lost, and that loss is REALLY what people power politics is all about.

I know, because I’m on the front lines and I’m hearing the story every day as I knock on the doors of the 41st District here in New York. What people are telling me isn’t about ideology, left v. right or even specific issues. The one theme I’m hearing is that people are VERY angry because there is NO ACCOUNTABILITY in government anymore.

Democrat mounts challenge in state Senate race

By RICHARD ROTH

HILLSDALE—Brian Keeler, the Democratic candidate for the 41st district state Senate seat held by Republican Steve Saland for the past 16 years, says he can’t outspend the incumbent, but he will have a “well-funded, well-supported” campaign.

“We will give [Mr. Saland] something he hasn’t had, which is a serious race here in the Hudson Valley,” says Mr. Keeler. “Steve Saland has, at last report, $300,000 in the bank from years gone by. But we can run an effective campaign with the budget we have.”

Mr. Keeler says Mr. Saland, as chairman of the Senate Education Committee, is “more responsible for the property tax crisis than any other senator in Albany, period.”

The Times Record printed an editorial today outlining the irresponsible election year budget passed by the legislature this year.

It seems that all the gloating by the Republican leadership of the State Senate was all hat and no cowboy. Read on, but scan your anger management refresher course pamphlet first.

The state comptroller presents a disturbing report on state spending and debt

First published: Thursday, July 13, 2006

Remember that scene in early July, when the legislative session wrapped up and Gov. Pataki, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, R-Brunswick, and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, were patting themselves on the back for accomplishing so much this year? Back then, it appeared as if everyone got something, even if everyone had to give a little. So it was victory toasts all around.

But that was then. Now it turns out that not everyone was a winner after all. There happens to be a big loser -- you, the taxpayer. On Tuesday, state Comptroller Alan Hevesi released a report that shows just how much deeper the state's three top leaders have put you in the hole. You may want to pull out your pocket calculator before you read on.