City spokesman: Yonkers could be early casualty in Senate “political war”
Yonkers mayoral spokesman David Simpson just put out the following update on the New York Senate situation and the city’s yet-to-be certified budget:
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Quick update on the senate stalemate as it pertains to Yonkers…
Mayor Amicone has been on the phone with the governor and the comptroller today trying to figure out a way to resolve the city’s budget situation, which is being held hostage by the power struggle in the senate. They are kicking around a few ideas that could keep the city operating if the stalemate continues. However it is not likely that there will be a resolution before the holiday weekend.
We are getting every indication that the power struggle will continue into September. That means the mayor and others are going to have to get creative to keep the city afloat. Hence the phone calls back-and-forth with the key players Albany.
Yonkers could be among the first casualties of this political war. Here’s why. Because Yonkers had state-imposed financial control boards in the 70’s & 80’s, the state comptroller acts as the city’s fiscal agent and must certify the annual budget that funds the city and school district. The comptroller refuses to certify the 2010 budget—which took effect yesterday—until all revenues are accounted for. And since we have two revenue extender bills (mortgage recording tax & income tax surcharge) that have yet to be approved by the senate, that means we don’t have a budget and therefore cannot send out tax bills. Since we cannot issue tax bills, no money is coming in. Right now the city is running on surplus money that is set to run out in a couple of weeks. Once money runs out, the city will have to shut down operations or come to an agreement with its unions to work without paychecks until the situation is resolved.
With hope there will be a more postive update after the holiday weekend. …but don’t hold your breath.
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As a taxpayer of Yonkers I would hope that Mayor Amicone would do the right thing and not stand a celebrate with the likes of Dean Skelos in the midst of this budget crisis that Skelos and his ilk caused for our city.
But that’s exactly what the Mayor is planning to do on July 22 at a fundraiser for Dan Schorr. He and Dean Skelos will celebrate together, enjoy self-congratulatory speeches and many libations.
Unless the Mayor is a man of his word and stands up for the City and against politics as usual.
”...but don’t hold your breath.”
If we had more Dan Schorrs in Albany, we might, for the first time in a long time, enjoy some fiscal integrity. Amicone has proved himself an even bigger spender and taxer than even the profligate council, another Democrat posing as a Republican. He should change his name to Spano, first name could be any one of them.
So where is “Senator Scarf” she was going to albany to change everything on day one, Does anyone know if Day One arrived yet or are we still waiting!!!
notice also that there isn’t an assemblyman or
senator of either party willing to stand up and
call for an end to this petty bs which is all about
power, offices, perks and pork…and not about doing
the people’s business.making a deal with pedro
espada makes the republicans look like they are
seizing power by force in a banana republic..
not one of them is under 62 years old and they
should be thinking about rebuilding the brand
not holding on to power into their 70’s