Comments on: Making the case against county governent - UPDATED http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/01/making-the-case-against-county-governent/ Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:35:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.2.5 By: JD http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/01/making-the-case-against-county-governent/#comment-31986 JD Mon, 05 May 2008 18:44:01 +0000 http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/01/making-the-case-against-county-governent/#comment-31986 Why do we even pay county tax in Westchester. Look at Connecticut. Right next door to NY and they pay approx. $3200 property tax where in Westchester you would pay approx. $10,000 for the same property. Go ahead and throw in the CT “car tax”. No biggie. You only pay about $250 a car. Throw in 3 cars in CT and you are still under $4K a year. So Westchester, what does that other $6K get you? I'm moving to CT!! Why do we even pay county tax in Westchester.
Look at Connecticut. Right next door to NY and they pay approx. $3200 property tax where in Westchester you would pay approx. $10,000 for the same property. Go ahead and throw in the CT “car tax”. No biggie. You only pay about $250 a car. Throw in 3 cars in CT and you are still under $4K a year. So Westchester, what does that other $6K get you? I’m moving to CT!!

]]> By: Wahoo http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/01/making-the-case-against-county-governent/#comment-31928 Wahoo Fri, 02 May 2008 16:23:08 +0000 http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/01/making-the-case-against-county-governent/#comment-31928 New York badly needs term limits. Badly. New York badly needs term limits. Badly.

]]> By: Intrepid http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/01/making-the-case-against-county-governent/#comment-31922 Intrepid Fri, 02 May 2008 15:09:40 +0000 http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/01/making-the-case-against-county-governent/#comment-31922 New York needs Initiative, Referendum and Recall New York needs Initiative, Referendum and Recall

]]> By: Bob Cypher http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/01/making-the-case-against-county-governent/#comment-31921 Bob Cypher Fri, 02 May 2008 14:21:36 +0000 http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/01/making-the-case-against-county-governent/#comment-31921 Massachusetts does not have County government either. The two county governments that have taken over a broad array of sevices from municiopal governments are Nassau and Suffolk, and they are bankrupt long term patronage havens. Bad as Westchester is becoming, we are not near our Long Island brethern yet, and I don't think that is where we want to go. People prefer their municipal governments because they are far more accesible, and accountable. When one side overreaches or becomes out of touch, they are quickly replaced. This is true regardless of party. County government has become too bloated, too meddlesome, and too inefficient. While there are some functions it should retain, it needs to get a lot smaller, cheaper, and without the political and public relations thicket that has grown up around it. Massachusetts does not have County government either. The two county governments that have taken over a broad array of sevices from municiopal governments are Nassau and Suffolk, and they are bankrupt long term patronage havens. Bad as Westchester is becoming, we are not near our Long Island brethern yet, and I don’t think that is where we want to go. People prefer their municipal governments because they are far more accesible, and accountable. When one side overreaches or becomes out of touch, they are quickly replaced. This is true regardless of party. County government has become too bloated, too meddlesome, and too inefficient. While there are some functions it should retain, it needs to get a lot smaller, cheaper, and without the political and public relations thicket that has grown up around it.

]]> By: Bob http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/01/making-the-case-against-county-governent/#comment-31916 Bob Fri, 02 May 2008 03:31:50 +0000 http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/01/making-the-case-against-county-governent/#comment-31916 This is all a waste of time and a pipe dream. Only the NYS government can abolish the county governments and there probably is not one state legislator that supports eliminating the counties. The State farmed out various services (like social services and sewage treatment) long ago because it did not want to deal with them. And Board Watcher above is right, most thoughtful reviews of consolidation of governments have found that we can save more money by eliminating local governments like villages and fire districts and by having the county provide regional services that are currently being done by about 50 municipalities all at once, which is a total waste of money. However, with that said, we should elect new people to County Executive and County Legislator. Westchester County is crying out for independent and fiscally responsible leadership. This is all a waste of time and a pipe dream. Only the NYS government can abolish the county governments and there probably is not one state legislator that supports eliminating the counties. The State farmed out various services (like social services and sewage treatment) long ago because it did not want to deal with them. And Board Watcher above is right, most thoughtful reviews of consolidation of governments have found that we can save more money by eliminating local governments like villages and fire districts and by having the county provide regional services that are currently being done by about 50 municipalities all at once, which is a total waste of money.

However, with that said, we should elect new people to County Executive and County Legislator. Westchester County is crying out for independent and fiscally responsible leadership.

]]> By: ed http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/01/making-the-case-against-county-governent/#comment-31914 ed Fri, 02 May 2008 02:31:59 +0000 http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/01/making-the-case-against-county-governent/#comment-31914 Get rid of the state government, too. We'd be better off with a benevolent dictator than misfeasant chimps. Get rid of the state government, too. We’d be better off with a benevolent dictator than misfeasant chimps.

]]> By: Board Watcher http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/01/making-the-case-against-county-governent/#comment-31912 Board Watcher Fri, 02 May 2008 01:22:30 +0000 http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/01/making-the-case-against-county-governent/#comment-31912 There are only two states without County government CT and RI. Maybe Astorino should read the State report on downsizing government where it states that many more services be located moved to County government aka regional government. There are only two states without County government CT and RI.

Maybe Astorino should read the State report on downsizing government where it states that many more services be located moved to County government aka regional government.

]]> By: Wahoo http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/01/making-the-case-against-county-governent/#comment-31897 Wahoo Thu, 01 May 2008 22:03:47 +0000 http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/01/making-the-case-against-county-governent/#comment-31897 200 people was a good turnout for that meeting. The Spano gang may be catching on to the fact that many in Westchester are sick and tired of his government, and particularly sick of Ryan and friends in the Legislature. And speaking of government, it is being reported that the Feds have served two more subpoenas in Yonkers, on the City Council again. For Patricia McDow, her second. And for Sandy Annabi, apparently her first. 200 people was a good turnout for that meeting. The Spano gang may be catching on to the fact that many in Westchester are sick and tired of his government, and particularly sick of Ryan and friends in the Legislature.

And speaking of government, it is being reported that the Feds have served two more subpoenas in Yonkers, on the City Council again. For Patricia McDow, her second. And for Sandy Annabi, apparently her first.

]]> By: pinochio http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/01/making-the-case-against-county-governent/#comment-31893 pinochio Thu, 01 May 2008 21:16:39 +0000 http://polhudson.lohudblogs.com/2008/05/01/making-the-case-against-county-governent/#comment-31893 Astorino should be one of the first to be abolished. Astorino should be one of the first to be abolished.

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