Larry T speaks up.... finally

[lioneljoe]

After having no comment on the New York State budget, no comment on Roanne Desitos' desire to 'find more ways to tax people" and no comment on the areas Tea Parties, Larry Tanoury finally speaks up on the county sales tax fund. www.uticaod.com/homepage/x1263219566/Oneida-County-officials-debate-use-of-sales-tax-revenue

However, instead of taking the opportunity of Tax Day to argue for lower taxes and less spending he and Picente argue on how to divide up the loot like two pirates. I’m especially hot about this because I just gave the county $3,700 in sale’s tax on a new car purchase >:(and now I’m watching both of them fight over my money. Thanks guys!
Larry, I think you sincerely mean well but I think the worse thing that will happen to your political career is the day when the Democrats take over the Oneida County legislature and you won’t have Straw Man Picente to beat up on any more. Good Luck...

[lucy]

I have a huge problem with any money that any place receives. For instance I saw on WKTV that Westmoreland accepted a $10,000 check that will be used for the Town Park to put security lights and what ever else from Townsend. I was livid for the simple fact why are we spending money on that??? My husband tried to explain to me that it could be a grant, and I said to him that money still comes from somewhere, and if you ask me lets stop spending and start saving! When is this going to stop? When will enough be enough?

[bobbbiez]

Lucy, I have to agree with you and you're reasoning.

I've said the say thing when I hear some legislator tell me, "well, the money was allocated in the budget as a grant."

You're so damn right. It came from us and should be used for just priorities and lights for a park is not a priority.

[Clipper]

I think we will see a lot of "pork" projects allocated stimulus money, with the justification that it is creating jobs and putting people to work. They will draw your attention away from the fact that the project IS NOT CRITICALLY NEEDED, and focus on the fact that it is bringing employment to the guys that install the lights. Oh yeah, and then there is the possibility that the contractor that gets the job may be a campaign contributor or a relative.

Stimulus money should be used for major projects that will make an impact on unemployment, such as major road and bridge jobs and other improvements that will maximize the numbers of people put to work, for the dollar spent.

Here is an ingenious idea. Let's do something that can be done with these moneys while negating the necessity to tax or bond for the project.

Time to put aside the streetscapes, dog parks and walking trails until a sunnier economic climate once again reigns. Let's do brownfield remediation, to make the area safer from hazardous chemicals. Let's do demolition of old buildings that are unsafe and unsightly. Let's pave some streets and patch some potholes. (that should be at the top of the list in Utica)

[tanouryjr]

Thanks for the post. For the record, my statement was very clear on the floor. I said I was opposed to the increased sales tax being imposed at all. I wasn't on the Board in 2006, but went out and gathered over 4,000 signatures with the help of many citizens to oppose it in the first place. I stated that I we need to end the tax immediately, as it was intended (falsely) as a "Medicaid Tax." Furthermore, it was said to be "temporary." the state has since capped Medicaid and the stimulus has allocated $19 million to offset Medicaid.

Picente said we need it to offset property taxes. That was never its intention. And I'm sick of them holding people hostage with the threat of higher property taxes or higher sales taxes. CUT THE FAT. Start with his Chief of Staff that makes over $80,000 and gets a 211 waiver in order to still receive his full pension from the UPD. Get rid of the shiny SUV that is dedicated to the County Executive's office, paid for by YOU. That is just a start.

However, knowing that they shove these things down our throat (Democrats and Republicans), I said that if this is what it looks like (simply a "permanant" higher tax) it should be fairly shared and distributed with the cities, towns and villages.

[tanouryjr]

As soon as I get the tape, I'll post the video of my full statement.

[Clipper]

Gee. I didn't know that the county exec had a county SUV. Why can't he drive a Ford Taurus or Focus. I imagine he takes the vehicle home also, and that is not necessary for the county exec. He is not an "emergency responder". If he gets called out for some reason, pay the fool mileage on his own car at the rate of about 25 cents a mile. That is the kind of crap that the county taxpayers can't afford, and should not be saddled with. the only people that need to have county cars 24/7 are the sheriff and the county fire coordinators, and then the use should be strictly outlined and monitored. Picente should pay to drive his own damn car to work, just like the rest of you do. This moron isn't the king, he is the county exec. No coaches and footman are indicated by his position.

I agree with you Larry, that if it is to be a permanent tax, it should definitely be shared with the towns and cities in the county. When they start playing shell games like this, they need to be taken to task, and made to answer for their actions. The "temporary increase" should be just that. Any other increase should be a separate issue, to be voted upon. Increases in taxation are hard enough to swallow, without them being "sneaked in through the back door".

Keep up the good work Larry. I was wondering when you would jump on here and clarify your position on these issues.

[tanouryjr]

You make some great points, Clipper. But when I say them, they call me a "troublemaker." LOL

This is why I love this board, most people just tell you what you want to hear. Here I can get honest opinions without personal attacks. Plus it lets me know if there is something that needs clarification. It would be nice if other officials came on (like Picente) so we could have an honest debate on the issues. When he interviewed for the appointment as CE, he told the legislature that he would get rid of the sales tax increase if he was given the CE position. How soon we forget.

[frankcor]

Tanoury, Jr. I agree, you made your point clear. You first requested that the "temporary" tax be allowed to expire. And then you accepted the inevitable fact that they will never let the temporary tax expire and suggested that it be shared with the towns.

I think most of us wish other representatives would actually represent us and not their own self-serving interests and demand that the county reduce spending and return the money to the taxpayers. Enabling the towns and villages to overspend simply reinforces the fact that the tax will become entrenched forever.

[lioneljoe]

From Larry T :"For the record, my statement was very clear on the floor. I said I was opposed to the increased sales tax being imposed at all. "

Larry, I did not see this in the OD article but I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. If you have opposed this tax from the beginning then my hats off to you.
I like the idea that you like this board because "Here I can get honest opinions without personal attacks." My comments are never personal. However, I am going to hold you to the same standards and expectations that I hold every other politician. I'm sure that what you want also.
I do think you that as time goes on you will find yourself under increasing pressure to "play the game." That's why I think you will have a harder time once the Democrats take control of the County Government. Its one thing to pick on Picente, its another to publicly take on a Democratic County Executive when he wants to raise our taxes. I know I will be watching with interest to see how you do....

[Clipper]

Well Larry, I know that you will stand up for YOUR principles and stand against a Democratic County Exec as quick as you would against a Republican County Exec.

Anybody that has been around Utica for a while knows that "Tanoury" and "Tenacity" are synonymous. If you believe in something, I am sure you will follow through with your last earthly breath.

Just remember, no matter what comes down, principles, pride and honesty, come before political coercion and party line politics. Make your platform a platform known to favor the people for a change and you can run on the "mickey mouse" ticket and be re-elected. Just keep doing what you are doing. Incidentally, win or lose in the next election, You HAVE had an impact already, and you could go home tomorrow with your head held high.

[lioneljoe]

From Clipper: Well Larry, I know that you will stand up for YOUR principles and stand against a Democratic County Exec as quick as you would against a Republican County Exec.

Larry, its to your credit to you that Clipper has great faith in you. However, the road to hell in CNY is paved with good intentions from our local pols. I have an open mind and I always want to be fair but I live and vote in the MV so I am going to harbor some skepticism. I only go by what you publicly do or say, not on what you may do.
I'm looking for the same political courage that Cathy Lawrence and Ed Wiatr have shown taking on their own party in New Hartford. That’s what we need from our politicians if we are to have real change in Central New York. So, the question is, when the Democratic County Executive pushes for higher taxes and spending or you going to take him on with the same determination as you do with Mr. Picente?

[Clipper]

You are exactly right Lioneljoe, and that is the path that I can envision Larry Jr going down. I have a lot of respect for Cathy and Ed and their agenda. I don't agree with EVERYTHING that they say, but I highly respect their enthusiasm and dedication, and their guts for bringing it to the public eye on a daily basis. Ever since I have had a computer, Cathy and Ed have been keeping the "evil doers" feet to the fire in NH.

We have had their supporters come on the forum on more than one occasion, but there seems to be a tendency for the discussion to go down hill in a hurry when anyone disagrees with them or criticizes them, and it turns into a peeing contest and the people involved get angry and quit posting or delete their accounts.

Larry needs to keep the fire in his belly burning long enough to graduate from the Oneida County Board of Legislators, and to move on to Roanne's seat in Albany. Larry needs to do his thing in that seat and if he can maintain his principles, and still have the stamina and inner strength to battle the titans, he should move on up to Arcuri's seat.

I continue to toot this young man's horn because he is a very intelligent and dedicated young man. He was in the streets, door to door, with his campaign, and he LISTENED to the people of his district, and actually intends to do what he promised. He did not forget his promises to his district the day he was sworn in. Hopefully I will be back in the area in time to assist him in his next campaign. His agenda has stretched WAY beyond helping his district. His agenda has an impact on the county as a whole, and in supporting his districts concerns, he is opening a lot of closet doors and shaking a lot of dirt out of those closets at the county building. THAT is good for the whole county and not just his district.

I hope to see Larry Jr' career soar, but if it doesn't, he will have made a footprint on our local government, that will be remembered and won't be erased overnight. I hope to see Larry keep his faith and keep his eye on the goal of making things better for his constituents, and not on pleasing party bosses. If and when the day comes that he buckles to the party bosses, and abandons his principles in the process, he will have lost that fire that I so admire, and will lose my support and respect

[Swimmy]

Courtesy of strikeslip's excellent blog post on urban sprawl. Property Tax on Owner-Occupied Housing, by County, Ranked by Property Taxes as a Percentage of Home Value*, 2005-2007 Average

Looks like Picente and company are looking to make us number one! Good, I hate coming any place other than first!

[Swimmy]

By the way, that's a NATIONAL study, not NYS!