NYers Voice Opposition to Gov. Cuomo's Effort to Give Millionaires a Billion-Dollar Tax Break in Dec. 2011

NEW PALTZ, NY (08/09/2011)(readMedia)-- On site at SUNY New Platz this afternoon, low-income members of Community Voices Heard from Newburgh and Poughkeepsie voiced opposition to Governor Andrew Cuomo's effort to issue a $4.5 billion dollar tax cut to New York's wealthiest millionaires. The New Yorkers were turned away from the closed-door meeting by State Troopers on the rainy Tuesday afternoon.

It will be public university students, such as those at SUNY New Paltz, as well as New Yorkers that rely on public safety or health services, youth and elderly programs, social safety net and K-12 education that will be forced to pay for Cuomo's signature tax cut for millionaires. The local leaders were working with the New Deal for New York campaign.

Andrei Niles, a CVH Leader from Newburgh said, "I think it is wrong that Governor Cuomo is ignoring the lower and middle class -- the vast majority of New Yorkers -- by pushing this tax cut for millionaires. Cuomo is pushing the burden on us while letting his buddies make out like bandits!"

If Gov. Cuomo's signature tax cut stands, a family making $40,000 this year will pay the same tax rate as one that makes $40 million a year, forcing more and more service cuts on top of those that have already been leveled over the last three years of austerity.

The groups, expressing the anger of New Yorkers around the state -- more than 70% of whom oppose Cuomo's tax break for millionaires -- argued that Cuomo's choice to provide this billion-dollar tax cut will only exacerbate inequality in New York State. With the top 1% of households controlling 1 of every 3 dollars of all the household income in the state, New York already stands as the inequality capitol of the United States.

The groups were handing out flyers outside the Governor's New York City Regional Economic Development Council meeting, which was being held behind closed doors at the SUNY New Paltz campus.

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More information on New Deal for New York can be found at www.NewDealForNewYork.org.