It was once said that when government no longer works for the people, the people need to take government back! We the people of New York State need to stand up and say, “Enough!” We don’t need more taxes, we need to reduce government. In New York, we have 29 US Congress members and two US Senators, however, in our New York Assembly we have 150 members and 62 State Senators. Why? Why do we need that many elected officials? All it does is add more tax dollars needed. If we the people want our taxes to go down, then we must demand that we reduce government in New York State. Not just elected officials but all of government.

Did you know that in 2007 David C. Hohn, who retired from his post at the state-owned Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, received $1.52 million in compensation and his successor CEO, Donald L. Trump, was paid $617,208 last year. Five people at the Roswell Park were paid more than $500,000, 59 over $300,000, and 102 people earned more than $200,000 in the last fiscal year. Making the 3,100-employee institute among the best-paying state entities.

Alain Kaloyeros received $1 million for 10 months of work at the University of Albany. Robert C. Lowery, a clinical professor at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center, received $1.24 million last year. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s top official, Elliot G. Sander, is paid $350,000.

Within the legislative branch, 103 employees reached $100,000 last year. The top 10 were staffers serving senators, all of whom made more than $153,000. And one Steven M. Boggess, the Senate secretary, had the highest base pay of $190,000.

Gov. David Paterson makes $179,000. However, more than 500 people in agencies he controls earned more than he does.

Thousands of employees of the state authorities have salaries of $100,000 or more and many received hundreds if not thousands in bonuses as well. Long Island Power Authority handed out about $1.3 million in bonuses to 100 employees, with some getting more than $62,000. The New York Power Authority gave 1,500 staffers $3.4 million in 2007 and $3.75 million last year.

What did you get for your bonus? It’s time that New Yorkers insist—no more taxes. The time is now to tell Gov. David Paterson, all elected state assemblymen and senators that we the people of New York demand them to downsize our government or get out. Government should not be the creator of jobs. If we can reduce the tax base for industry and private business, they will come back to New York, and they will create jobs for our state. It’s time for our state government to get their head out of the closet and do what we the people of New York ask, and that is no more damn taxes. Let’s cut taxes now!

Write, call, email, or go in person and tell our New York Assembly, Senate, and our Governor—enough!

David Skinner
North Bay

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