"I'm on your side and I won't raise taxes"

[Ripsnort]

Heh, the guy is a republican.  "Dear Diary, someone other than a Democrat actually wants to raise taxes..."

He billed himself as a CEO mayor and serenaded business leaders during his campaign with a comforting refrain: I'm on your side and I won't raise taxes.
Mayor Bloomberg has changed his tune. He's proposing harsh tax hikes, rattling the business establishment like a deejay cranking gangsta rap at a cozy cocktail party.
The mayor's approach to the city's budget crunch has left some business leaders bewildered. On the stump and behind closed doors, Bloomberg the candidate had courted them with assurances that he was not the taxing kind.
"Mayor Bloomberg himself, prior to getting elected, spoke adamantly about the negative impact tax increases have on business and the economy at large," said Nancy Ploeger, executive director of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce.
The rallying point for real estate developers, giant Wall Street firms and large retailers is Bloomberg's plan to raise property taxes by 25%.
"Everyone understands conditions have changed and we have a $6 billion hole," said Douglas Durst, president of the Durst Organization, one of the city's largest development firms. "The disappointment is that we don't believe he is spreading the pain."
And the city's big employers aren't looking forward to Bloomberg's proposed commuter tax, which could make recruiting harder and force some companies to increase their payrolls.
'A disastrous effect'
"A [25%] property tax increase ... would have a disastrous effect," said Axel Stawski, head of Kipp-Stawksi Management, which owns several Manhattan office buildings. "We've got a new project which we've put on hold because of the property tax situation."
Business leaders are promising to fight Bloomberg's budget plan. So far, they're striking a firm but polite tone with the tycoon-turned-politician, who sailed to victory with strong backing from big business.
"The mayor's going to feel pretty lonely out there," said Robert Catell, CEO of KeySpan and chairman of the powerful New York City Partnership business group. "But while we may not be happy about some of the things he's recommending, it's time to pull together."
Still, resentment is brewing among Republicans toward the man who said, "You cannot raise taxes under any circumstances" a few months before his election.
"He changed his philosophy altogether," said lawyer Herman Badillo, who lost the Republican primary to Bloomberg. "What he's doing is increasing taxes far more than he's reducing services."
Bloomberg's budget plan calls for $1.78 billion in reduced spending and $4.4 billion in higher taxes during this fiscal year and the following one. All of this is to head off a $1.1 billion shortfall this fiscal year and a projected $6.4 billion gap next year.
The property tax hike faces City Council approval, and the commuter tax requires passage by the state Legislature.
The mayor has said residential property owners won't be hit too hard because of offsetting cuts in income taxes. That leaves businesses to suffer the brunt of the pain.
"We've obviously got a disagreement as to how to deal with this budget gap," said Steve Spinola, president of the Real Estate Board of New York. "Right now, we feel that the business community is feeling most of it."
The last option
The property tax increase would squeeze more than just building owners. Businesses that lease space are sure to get hit, because most commercial leases include a clause that lets landlords pass tax increases along to their tenants. In turn, the commercial tenants are prone to raise prices and cut staff - or even look for cheaper space outside the city.
"Tax increases should be the last option in fixing the budget gap," said Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO of the New York City Partnership. "Cuts in expenses and getting relief from federal mandates should be the first recourse."
In a budget speech Thursday, however, Bloomberg said the worst-case option would be laying off city workers. That surprised some budget watchdogs.
"This is not what you'd expect from someone with his background," said Edmund McMahon, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank. "He sounds strikingly like a traditional New York City politician who was very defensive of the status quo."

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/story/36174p-34159c.html

[weazel]

Bwahahahaha......like republicans don't lie too?

My heart bleeds for republicans living in a fantasy world.

[Ripsnort]

How many years ago was that?

[weazel]

Always looking for a government handout.

"Tax increases should be the last option in fixing the budget gap," said Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO of the New York City Partnership. "Cuts in expenses and getting relief from federal mandates should be the first recourse."

[Ripsnort]

Better business means more jobs, more jobs, more tax payers, unlike yourself.

[Kieran]

Ok, so explain to me how this is asking for a handout. Unless I read it wrong, Wylde is suggesting the partnership reduce expenses internally, and the government should relax cost-incurring mandates. Now these mandates may be public safety or environmental issues (I have no idea what to which mandates she was referring) but it doesn't sound like money she is asking for.

Is she Republican or Democrat?

[Thrawn]

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Better business means more jobs, more jobs, more tax payers, unlike yourself.

Bush Sr - Economy bad.
Clinton - Economy good.
Bush Jr - Economy bad.


Bush Sr - Crime bad.
Clinton - Crime good.
Bush Jr - Crime bad.

[Ripsnort]

Thrawn, care to tell me how economics are directly related to one adminitration ?  Thanks in advance.

[Thrawn]

I'm simply pointing out a correlation.  

[weazel]

Both are lying swine.

Originally posted by Ripsnort
How many years ago was that?

Better business means more jobs, more jobs, more tax payers, unlike yourself.

I wonder if chimpy will get to continue purchasing your loyalty with new handouts this year rip?

[Ripsnort]

Well, thinking locally with taxes, I pay $420 a month in property taxes alone.  The tax bracket I'm in currently, only 10% of the US is in, and we pay 90% of the taxes.  I'll certainly accept another tax break, especially if it will stimulate big business, which in turns employs more people, and generates more tax revenue.

[ra]

Bloomberg is a life long Democrat.  He only ran as a Republican because there were too many Democrats in the race.  You can do those kinds of things in the Northeast.

ra

[weazel]

*Yes, my vote is for sale to the highest bidder.*

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Well, thinking locally with taxes, I pay $420 a month in property taxes alone.  The tax bracket I'm in currently, only 10% of the US is in, and we pay 90% of the taxes.  I'll certainly accept another tax break, especially if it will stimulate big business, which in turns employs more people, and generates more tax revenue.

[Kieran]

C'mon Weazel, you don't think voting for people that want to socialize medicine and redistribute wealth aren't selling out just as badly? Why do blacks vote as a block nearly every election, hmm? Everybody looks out for their own interests.

[Staga]

so did you guys got rebate Bush promised to you?