Calvi Asserts Yonkers’ FY 2011-12 City Budget an “Outrage”

The Yonkers City Council last night adopted a City budget which increases property taxes by 4.8%, increases water rates dramatically, cuts teaching positions yet creates new jobs in other departments, and pays for operating costs of teacher pensions by borrowing money.

Yonkers Mayoral candidate Carlo Calvi (R-I) called the plan an outrage and a postponement of disaster if the present course is maintained.

“First of all, another 4.8% increase in taxes is offensive. This City Council is out of touch with the average Yonkers resident. In the process of campaigning, over the last few weeks, it is clear to me that there is a lot of distress on the part of taxpayers and residents due to increases in cost of living, especially the tax burden,” stressed Calvi

Continuing, he said, “Yet, the Yonkers Council ignores that and picks the pockets of the taxpayers once again.”

Westchester County has been declared the highest taxed county in the nation. Yonkers taxes have just about doubled in 10 years.

Calvi suggested that it would have been better for the City Council to search, find and eliminate “systemic waste” and reduce expenditures, rather than raise taxes. Calvi called the tax raise “the easy way out.”

Calvi defined “systemic waste” as non salary related expenses which are based on policies, procedures and programs that are either inefficient or unnecessary. “Having been around this City my entire life, and having been an elected official, as well as a City employee, I know that the City is replete with wasteful items.”

“When elected Mayor, on day one, my administration will begin an exhaustive search for this “systemic waste.” We will find it and eliminate it. I know that we can save millions of dollars by doing so. It will just take some hard work.”

Calvi accused the City Council of avoiding the task. One glaring example of this systemic waste is the excessive and unnecessary fleet of City owned vehicles and cell phones. “They could have, so easily, loped those items down to levels that reflect the necessary and saved the taxpayers millions of dollars. Their refusal to do so is truly an outrage and beyond understanding.”

Calvi also pointed to his recent receipt of EIGHT copies of the City Water Quality Report, mailed to his one family house. The report is an expensive print job with postage that combined may cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. “Why did I get EIGHT copies of this document which even a chemist would have trouble understanding?” This is but one of many “systemic wastes” that need to be taken out. Calvi offered to show his collection of Water Quality Reports to the media.

Calvi reserved some pointed criticism for Council Member John Murtagh and Council President Chuck Lesnick. Both are seeking Mayoral nominations, this year.

John Murtagh’s eight years on the Council has given us a 61% increase including a one year increase of 15% his first year on the Council. Lesnick’s time has resulted in a 34% increase. Calvi asserted that both men are insensitive to imposing financial burdens on people who may already be at the limit.

Calvi argued, “Most people can’t randomly find additional money to pay these taxes. Incomes are static or shrinking. It’s the same as a pick pocket. The money’s gone and there is no way to replace it. Maybe, Murtagh amd Lesnick don’t feel the pain that they inflict. We can only imagine the financial course either would set for the City as Mayor.”

“On the other hand”, Calvi stated, “ I have always been a tax fighter”, pointing to his legislative initiation of reduction of the nuisance taxes in Yonkers, his consistent votes against tax increases and budgets such as the present one, and his courageous lone vote (16-1) against a 1980s County budget, when he served as a County Legislator, which increased county taxes for Yonkers by 27%.

“As Mayor, I’ll prove the known presumption that government is wasteful. I’ll cut expenditures rather than raise taxes. I would rather reduce taxes and I am confident that this can be done. This is an absolute promise. So absolute, that I will not seek a second term, if I fail in this promise.”

Carlo Calvi is a candidate for Mayor of the City of Yonkers. He has earned the support of the Westchester County Independence Party and will primary in the Yonkers Republican City Committee for their endorsement.

Comments

[anon]

but calvi cannot win ....

[Still waiting]

Where's Martinelli's Daily Blah Press Release?

[Taxpayer]

Where is Spano's words of wisdom?????

[Re: Mike Spano]

Come out, come out wherever you are!

[Boo Hoo]

Someone broke his crayon.

[Tired of it All]

Folks...

Both Martinelli and Calvi have more to say and make way more sense than anyone in this Administration.

Calvi is right here and Martinelli is basically saying the same thing.

Why criticize them?

I'm criticizing the current office holders who actually have the power.

[93dr AD]

I hear Mike Spano has been working long hours in some big building in Albany. Duh? He's good at his job too!

[laughable]

Wait. A politician that actually makes sense, doesn"t put out press releases with empty prmises and no outline of how he plans to bring those promises to fruition?

No chance this guy wins, it would make too much sense in Yonkers.

[?]

What have looney Lessneck and Dirty Murty gor to say about their votes? Look very much the same way as it was last year...a lot of talk...more talk....then some more talk...and then the big shaft up the rear end of the taxpayer. Same $hit, different year, same old crap

[Truth will set you free]

The City should embark on a 5 years operating budget which sets realistic goals and keep the tax levy flat. CSEA in Alabany just received their offer from the Governor. No increases, furlohs and increased contributions for their health benefits. You don't like it quit, don't give me this crap "We are loyal workers and have to treated right". Five week vacations, 10 sick days, 5 personal days, 11 holidays. Give me break. If it was me I would tell the unions anything they want to hear and then screw when I get into office.

[anon]

this meeting was scheduled and called for when gronowski left town for two days. Typical of Lesnick.

[Stevie W.]

I love Uncle Carlo.

[Dork Dorkster]

Carol - where have you been for the last 16 years? Not speaking out against the continuing outrage of Spencer/Amicone.

[The Guru knows nothing]

In reply to Mr. Edelman who has
nothing better
to do with his time than
sit on this website
and push Martinelli, trying to tout himself
as some kind of political guru:
Mike, you keep saying that no Republican
candidate
can win without the Ind and Cons lines
which may be true
in a regular election year, but I feel
you are strongly overlooking the fact
that this
is not a normal election year.
If you truly were
a political guru you would realize that
People in Yonkers are at the edge and will
speak in this
election moreso than any previosu election.
The 2.25 to 1 ratio means
nothing in this race simply because a democrat
will not automatically vote
for Spano
just because he is a democrat.
People will be looking at the issues and the
intentions of candidates in this year's race
more than ever.
Simply stated, party affiliations mean nothing
in this election.
The best man, who proposes to do
the best things to help the
taxpayers
with proposals on how to accomplish these things
will win this election, whomever that is.

[Get the word out]

Carlo, this is a good piece. Unfortunately I think your campaign does not have much exposure thus far and most people think Martinelli and Murtagh are the only two running in the Republican primary. I think you should get the word out to all citizens of Yonkers via mailers etc. I think you can do good things in this city and wish you the best of luck

[Circular firing squad]

City owned vehicles and cell phones - Really???????
That is the one concrete suggestion from Carlo Calvi???
Don't you know what "systematic waste" is out there now????
I will cut taxes after I investigate!!! Please
Hey Carlo, are all your buildings taxed correctly as money making multi families????????
Mabye landlords whi illegally converted one family houses to 3, 4 and 5 family houses and are still taxed as one family houses could pay and make up the difference.
Oh, no. I forgot Carlo landlord Calvi would never go for that.