On January 10, 2011 the City Of Newburgh Council held their Public Hearing Meeting. At this meeting residents expressed their concerns on the 71% tax increase, laying off of Policemen and the possibility of closing of one of our Fire Departments.
Recently, City of Newburgh residents were told that our taxes are being raised 71%. Last year they raised it 25%. One of the first things my parents taught me was life isn't always fair. Any tax (sales, income, etc.) is imperfect and can be labeled unfair for one reason or other. Perceived (or even actual) inequity didn't allow one to repudiate one's responsibility, but fair is fair and enough is enough. While they are raising our taxes, they have cut our police department which is already spread thin by budget limitations and has marked its eleventh homicide in 2010, and are now threatening to close a Fire Department. This is a dangerous city and we need police protection as well as this fire station 24/7.
When a resident and Businessman, who happens to own a business in the City of Newburgh, tried to express his concerns, he was told by City Council Member Regina Angelo to ""Shut your mouth!" Ms. Angelo also told another resident trying to state an opinion ""Why don't you pack up and go out that door?" if he didn’t like what was going on in the City. "I'm sick of it" and “I do enough for this City” was her final quote to this resident and taxpayer. My questions is this , Isn’t that her job, one in which she gets paid for ? The residents tried to no avail and definitely fell on deaf ears, to state their grief over the tax increase, stating that lives were at stake, people are hurting financially and that people are losing their homes. Several said they would leave, if only they could find people to buy their houses. What was Mayor Valentino’s answer to this, he closed the meeting, even though residents were still talking and trying to discuss the matter and they all (every council member) walked out.
Articles about this Meeting was in the Mid Hudson Times Newspaper on 1/12/2011 as well as The Times Herald Record on 1/14/2011. Now the council is talking about censoring us from speaking at these very city council meetings. Mayor Nicholas Valentine was quoted recently as saying “the council would spend part of its Thursday work session discussing possible changes to meeting rules in hopes of restoring some decorum.” Instead of looking at his own Council Members, he faults the residents. The way they treat the public is callous, uncalled for, and downright disgraceful. The same Residents and Homeowners and lets not forget Taxpayers, that pay the salaries for these very Council Members, are not suppose to be able to speak their minds at such Public Meetings ? Much worse, will it be, if we continue to allow these council members to speak to the taxpayers of the City of Newburgh in any manner they choose. I have seen, graphically, the difference between well-educated candidates and those who are not and these are not.
Cronyism, nepotism, and a hint of something worse, is a disgrace by any standard and any political ideology. The fact that it manifests itself close to home is an absolute embarrasssment.
I believe it is time the residents of the City Of Newburgh should question a few facts here: How does a City Council Member pay a 71% tax increase on a part time salary ? How does a City Council Member be elected into office for the past 32 years with the amount of enemies and/or by an abundance of residents who truly dislike this said Council
Person ? Finally, We have a serious malfunctioning of our city government, and need to be reminded that they are legally and ethically required to uphold the trust of the citizens,
And they should treat the public with respect, and should honor the opinions of others even when they disagree. Elected local government officials must be able to act in a manner that maintains their integrity and independence, yet is responsive to the interests and needs of those they represent, we the public.
We cannot continue doing business in the way that it's been done. It's time to turn around and start moving in another direction and we cannot successfully do that unless all of our citizens are included in that effort.
Sincerely,
Debra Evans
City of Newburgh Resident
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