The Orthodox Union (Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America), the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, today criticized the NYS Legislature for including, as part of the bailout of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) a gross payroll tax on all businesses, including non-profits, in the MTA service area (New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley).
A broad range of non-profit advocates, including New York’s hospitals and health care associations, religious groups and others opposed the tax, especially in light of the Legislature agreeing to hold harmless public school districts from the tax.
Howie Beigelman, OU Deputy Director of Public Policy stated:
“At a time when non-profits are being asked to serve more people in crisis – with less funding than ever, this tax is more than unfair. It is the wrong choice at the wrong time. We urge legislators and the Governor to find a better way.”
(YWN Desk – NYC)
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9 Responses
Do people understand that government spending is paid for with taxes, and that taxes pay for government spending. If you want a large dynamic public sector. you have to pay for it.
Absolutely outrageous!
Would they rather the straphangers ie the eymployees of the non profits absorb the cost by paying higher fares? do they have so little faith in the non-profit CEO’s that they cant apply a little sensible budgeting to accomodate the tax? Do they need fancy water coolers in every office? Can they use generic copy paper instead of Brand name? Can they dispense with a few months worth of promotional tchochkes?
they should have raised the fares to 2.50 and zeh hu! the whole thing is a farce considering everyone in the area now pays more in taxes.
Mark, Where do you live and how do you get to work???????
3, you obviously have no idea how payroll taxes work. by making a “payroll tax” EVERYONE now pays for it anyway! The “fair” thing probably would have been for the riders to pay the 2.50 proposed fare … afterall they use the system!
After all that New York City has had to endure in recent memory, doesn’t New York City as a whole community deserve some sort of relief? Even if it is only something as simple as a break in the MTA fares that would keep honest people working and not on the ‘Temporary Assistance’ roles, wouldn’t that mean something to the current administration?
Even with the monthly Metro Card, which at the moment is over $80.00, some of us cannot afford that fare. Some who work in New York City take Metro-North or the Long Island Rail Road in addition to the NYC Subway, which would mean an additional average of $200.00 a month.
It is either we get some relief, or we all wind up out of work for lack of money to get to our jobs, and wind up on ‘Temporary Assistance’ forever!
All of this garbage is just temporary patchwork on a huge hole. Placing a tiny bandaid on a gunshot wound.
The only sustainable solution was the Ravitch plan which Sheldon Silver supported and Paterson (for a little while) did as well.
It failed because of the corrupt State Senate led by Malcolm (Smiley) Smith and Carl (What can you do for me) Kruger.
Now we’re going to be stuck with years of filling tiny holes while the leak keeps flowing.
Unbelievable…… Why doesn’t the MTA cut spending?? Why don’t they audit there books and find out where there wasting there money? Or may they should give out more free E-z passes for the MTA board members(http://gothamist.com/2008/05/28/cuomo_mtas_life.php)