Republican candidate for County Executive Len Bernardo attended a town hall meeting in NYC last night and was able to ask McCain how we can reduce the tax burden hurting communities like Ulster County . McCain answered by stressing the need to cut wasteful spending, and promised during the forum to veto pork barrel spending as President. Senator McCain also pointed out that the high tax burden, including a high property tax burden drives people away and hurts the capacity to expand economic opportunity.
That is all well and good but does Bernardo really need to ask this question? He is running for County Executive and should know the answers. I don't agree with McCain's answer, I think it misses the point of addressing the issue on a local level but that is neither here nor there. Len Bernardo is an out of towner that is completely out of touch with Ulster County residents..plain and simple.
Mr. Bernardo if you would like a detailed answer on the question that you posed to John McCain, head to the Ulster County Building, take the elevator to the 6th floor and ask to speak with Mike Hein, he has a record of results that we can trust. Ulster County can not afford to elect someone that will need extensive on the job training.
Hello McFly.... he was asking McCain about McCain's plan....
ReplyDeleteOn the new blog, the blogger cites this story and claims Lenny's "already fighting for us." Here's my response, which I'm sure they don't have the balls to post:
ReplyDelete- "...he's already fighting for us..."
To equate asking a question to which everyone in UC already knows the answer, to "fighting for us," is both hyperbolic and naive.
(We have to cut spending and reduce property taxes??? Oh my god! McBush is a BRILLIANT economist!)
If that's the best the repugnicans have to offer us this fall, then say good bye Lenny and Squigley.
(ps...Stop calling him an "independent." He's right wing, moral majority, christian coalition, neo-conistic to his bones. Give us a break.)
Good answer Jeremy.... So that's why my taxes are so low right now... because Mike Hein is on the job! We are one of the highest taxed counties in the country and a good portion of those taxes are federal in nature to go along with state and local. I see no issue with him asking that question because that is a big concern i ahve with Obama. Not to mention McCain's answer wasn't bad either. Instead of spending like drunken sailors maybe our local elected officials could cut some of the dead wood.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you are out of touch with Ulster County voters because my taxes (local state and federal) are my number one concern in voting for County Executive, President and any other position. I think most of the overtaxed Ulster County residents would agree.
ReplyDeleteBlaber, why do you rush to criticize any move Len Bernardo is making? This betrays insecurity and later on is going to show desperation (when he proves to be a valid choice)! If Bernardo's question made McCain talk about high property taxes, this means the question was very much in tune with what's on people's minds in Ulster County! Bernardo is NOT at all out of touch with reality... You like it or not, Bernardo was on national TV and Hein wasn't!
ReplyDeleteAre you kidding ??? Mike Hein has raised our taxes,, cow-towed to his Democratic bosses,,, Lew, & others,,,He has cut areas that needed boosting, not cutting, like Tourism, etc,,,let them open that rediculous new department for environmental stuff,, a democratic boondoggle if there ever was one,,
ReplyDeleteBernardo will get his sea legs soon & then look out,, He is bright & accomplished & a financial success,, that adds up to an exec in my book,,
John McCain nailed the answer to Ulster County's economic problems.
ReplyDeleteMcCain said, that the high tax burden, including a high property tax burden drives people away and hurts the capacity to expand economic opportunity.
On the job training Blaber?? You think Bernardo will need "extensitve" on the job training? What did Hein get with Lew?? Hein used to work in a jewelery store and at a bank... then Lew takes him on and trains him on the job? How is that any different? What are Hein's qualifications other than working for Lew. You are saying that Hein wasn't trained on the job to be County Administrator. He was appointed to that job not elected.
ReplyDeletecc: Ulster Politics
5:07... saying that Ulster County is spending money like drunken sailors is an insult to drunken sailors. At the least the sailors spend their own money.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who has sat through numerous presentations by Mike Hein I have never heard him utter a word that resembles a solution to the property tax dilemma.
ReplyDeleteNot really his fault. The County Executive will have almost no control over property taxes. The majority of the burden is charged by school districts and the County has no authority over the districts budgets.
In truth, the President has far more influence and control over this issue than anyone at a county level. If the Fed paid their fair share for special education as required by Federal Law (IDEA) and also paid for the administrative cost of No Child Left Behind (a/k/a no unnecessary paper left behind) the local share of school district expenses would be reduced dramatically.
I have no problem with someone asking McCain what he thinks about this issue. God forbid, he demonstrated some understanding of the Federal Government's responsiblity to fund the IDEA and NCLB. Same goes for Obama.
Mike says property taxes are bad. Got that. Bernardo says property taxes are bad. Got that too. Pretty much, everyone says property taxes are bad. No brainer there.
No one has come up with a real way to address this bad thing (Yes, Cahill has tried his best, but no one is willing to help). Call your legislators and complain. That's sure going to help because they have been so proactive on this issue up till now.
Set up another panel to study the issue. Come up with a nifty name for the panel, lets assign it a new color. "Blue ribbon panel" has not gotten us anywhere, how about the "red ribbon" panel?
Oh, that's going to be an even bigger help.
Argue about who complained about the issue first. That is a real productive use of our time.
At this rate, I will be sitting in my house when I am 85 listening to my grandchildren complain about their property tax bill. Then I will be listening to my children telling me they have to move back into my house with their kids because they can't afford their property taxes.
More likely, I will be sitting in the house I inherited from my parents because my own house will be too expensive for me to keep . . .
Blaber has become an apologist and propaganda minister for Mike Hein with no knowledge of what the truth really is.
ReplyDeleteMike Hein has done nothing to push for spending cuts or lower taxes since going to work for the County Government.
Now, he's suddenly for lower spending and taxes? I think the old saying about actions speaking louder than words is what we need to keep in mind here.
From a fiscal point of view, Hein has done a pathetic job as Administrator. Let's put in someone with a proven financial track record and send Hein back to the private sector where he can learn what's important about money. Like how hard it is to earn it and why people need to keep it instead of handing it over to government.
2:29.... AMEN well put
ReplyDeleteCan Blaber continue to make the claim to this blog being "news" when he takes paid political ads from the guys he praises up one side and down the other?
ReplyDeleteIsn't this a conflict of interest?
Here's a challenge for you, Jeremy. Offer Bernardo and Quigley the chance to advertise on your blog. Show us whether you're really giving us "news" or if you're just a mouthpiece.
10:44 PM- Quigley knows how to get a hold of me and there is contact info on the blog for anyone looking to advertise. I do not typically solicit ads to people...if someone wants to place an ad they can contact me. I doubt that Bernardo and Quigley will call.
ReplyDeleteThis is Dave Bell..Jeremy Blabber has an article in this blog RIGHT NOW asking for MORE SCHOOL TAXES in Kingston..They GOT a HUGE RECORD INCREASE in STATE AID and yet its never enough AND he is now saying LEN BERNARDO is "out of touch" with the people in Ulster County..ARE YOU KIDDING ME???..You are KILLING the people with taxes and asking for MORE and telling us Len who made a HUGE business comittment IN OUR COMMUNITY with a PILE of others who bought up the homes of the residents YOU FORCED OUT WITH YOUR TAXING AND SPENDING and you say LEN is "out of touch" with the people?? YOU ARE REDICULOUS AND ABSURD!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteJeremy, I told you I know you secretly support Quigley not Auerbach. Poor Elliott, you should really be honest with him. You mocked me the last time.... and said "you got me"... but this time you outed yourself.... "Quigley knows how to get in contact with me"
ReplyDeleteQuigley does know how to contact me. I never denied knowing the guy or the fact that I personally like the guy. I do not support him for Ulster County Comptroller, I strongly support Elliott Auerbach.
ReplyDeletein the daily freeman i saw a landlord got in trouble for shuting off heat to a couple of apartments. im not a beating man but i would place a bet that the tenants had stopped paying rent. this happens all the time and the tenant doesnt get in trouble just the landlord. if they dont pay rent then dont expect heat
ReplyDeleteQuigley should have won way more qualified.
ReplyDelete