State Assembly debate

[patriot2415]

Hi all, just want to inform you that there will be a News 12 Debate aired between Joe Salidino and Graig Heller. For those that do not know Craig, he was instrumental in the letter writing and calling campaigns the Community was involved in last year for additional State aid. With Craig's knowledge of the topic and government, we were able to receive an additional $900k from the state. Please tune into the debate.

Debate Air
times: Wed.,10/18 at 4:00 PM and 11:30 PM (you read it right)

Sat. 10/21 at 10:00 AM

Sun 10/22 at 10:00 AM

Thanks...Phil

[Go Plainedge!]

Besides seeing the signs at the Hicksville Road/SS Parkway exit, I've never heard of him.

I tried doing a search for him but wasn't able to find any information. Does he have a website?

[assemblycandidate]

My name is Craig Heller and I am the Democratic candidate for the 12th Assembly District. My number one priority is to lower your property taxes. The school taxes are the issue and one of the major reasons for school taxes being so high on Long Island is because we do not get our fair share of state aid for education from Albany. The average of school aid in NYS is 37% and the average in Nassau County is 17%. The reason is that the state aid formula takes real property values too much into account and does not take the regional cost analysis (that it cost more to live here) into the forumula. THIS MUST BE CHANGED!

Last year, the Plainedge Tax Relief Association (PTRA), of which I was co-chair went out to the community and had residents write letters to Albany, sign petitions that we sent to Albany and call Albany to make this change. While we didn't get the formula changed we did receive $955,000 more than we anticipated. We were the squeaky wheel.

However, if the formula was correct the Plainedge School District should receive $9 MILLION more per year. THIS WOULD LOWER THE PROPERTY TAXES!

On Sunday, October 1, 2006 I will be at the Sons of Italy Feast and Festival with a table between Cedar and Maple Streets on North Broadway. Please come down and let's talk.

IT IS TIME TO REFORM ALBANY!

[justfacts]

Welcome aboard Craig!

I wish you success in your efforts to increase the proportion of State Aid that Long Island gets compared to the many other Districts in NY State. In the aggregate - the total Tax dollars collected and going for State Aid support to schools is mind boggling - in the multi-billions of bucks!

The formulas that distribute that aid across the State have obvious biases built into them and they should, in all fairness, be revised. The activities to do so are under the CFE case, aka the "Campaign For Fiscal Equity" lawsuit. (See press release below)

Again success!

Ed.

P.S. With regard to the last increase in Pataki's idea of State aid by legislators - there were other School Districts that also received aid. Not only those in Nassau and Suffolk, but across the entire State.

The total increase came to $1.33 Billion! The talks about the increase started in January of the year and were formalized by March (see below) Of course, the increases took more time to implement and be approved - but the amounts were cast in stone by March and hardly affected by letters received after January.

To claim that a letter writing campaign, or other similar actions by local citizens in all other Districts, had much impact on the Legislative revision to Pataki's budget plan is to show a shortage of knowledge about how the Albany operations actually run.

Plainedge did participate - but its "squeaking wheel", albeit loud in our local area, was hardly heard in the roaring noises of Albany.

Please don't weaken you candidacy by relying too much on the claim that State Aid increases came from local Plainedge activities. Stick to the goal that is important and show that you will get the State Aid formulas fixed! That's a laudable enough task to achieve. Get in there and arm-twist!

Ed.

*****************************************************************
Press Release.

March 13, 2006
Assembly Advances 2006-07 Budget Plan.

Proposal Dramatically Increases Funding For Education,
Provides For School Construction, Restores Cuts To Health Care, Rejects SUNY/CUNY Tuition Hikes And Gives Tax Relief For New York's Working Families

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Ways and Means Committee Chair Herman D. Farrell, Jr. today unveiled the house's 2006-07 budget plan that significantly increases support for public education, restores Governor George Pataki's cuts to health care and higher education and provides tax relief for New York's working families.

"New York's working families are the real winners under our plan," said Silver. "Everyday millions of New Yorkers head off to work, trying to provide for their families and concerned that their children may not be properly prepared for the world before them. With this budget, we are not only seeking to cut their taxes, we are also going to ensure that the children of our state can receive the first-rate education they need and are entitled to."

The $112 billion spending plan increases education funding by $1.33 billion over last year. The proposal delivers $2.4 billion in tax relief for the state's working families, rejects virtually all of the governor's $1.3 billion in Medicaid cuts and lays out a comprehensive job creation plan to repair the damage done throughout twelve years of failed leadership.

"The governor's budget is simply out of step with the needs and concerns of real New Yorkers," said Silver in contrasting the Assembly's plan with that proposed by the governor. "While the governor continues to ignore the needs of public school systems, we in the Assembly provide a statewide response to the CFE case," said Silver, referring to the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit. "And while we in the Assembly provide 90 percent of our tax cuts to working families, the governor provides 83 percent of his benefits to the wealthiest 13 percent of taxpayers. Clearly, his priorities are not in line with working New Yorkers."

*****************************************************************

[thewildrover]

From Facts's latest post:

"To claim that a letter writing campaign, or other similar actions by local citizens in all other Districts, had much impact on the Legislative revision to Pataki's budget plan is to show a shortage of knowledge about how the Albany operations actually run.

Plainedge did participate - but its "squeaking wheel", albeit loud in our local area, was hardly heard in the roaring noises of Albany.

Please don't weaken you candidacy by relying too much on the claim that State Aid increases came from local Plainedge activities. "

Ed,

All the credit in the world goes to you for being consistent.

The following is from one of your posts back in early May:

"It is a nice feeling to go around claiming this or that happened because of me - but that claim had better be backed by some factual deeds. Like it or not, our community actions had very little impact, if any, on State Aid or distribution of those funds into their approved accounting codes. "

[techie]

AssemblyCandidate,

Good to see you onboard!

Thanks for giving some of us a little heads up and glad to see that you want one of the same reforms as quite a few of us do.

Also, why not expand on your other views? I'm interested in hearing what your plans could do for all of us. Thanks for your help last year. A great job done.

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday.

In the past some of us have written letters, some made phone calls, a few even visits, but the chance to meet and talk with those running for an office, and those that are in office can make the changes that the people of Plainedge would like to see. We should ALL keep writing, and meeting, and speaking with our Represenatives at any chance we get!

Good Luck to you Mr. Heller!

[patriot2415]

Ed, again sometimes I think you GET IT.. then you prove me wrong. As you were NOT involved in the letter writing campaign or calling campaign how do you know? Do you know that we received letters and calls back from Albany? Do you know we spoke to our representatives and they said ...THEY HEARD US!

It's attitudes like yours that make people say, I'm not getting involved, it doesn't mean anything!!!!!

As I said to you last year, do not belittle the work of others, no matter what the results.

For I can say to you...

With all your posts, with all your information, what has that gotten Plainedge....?

[justfacts]

Patriot and others.

I get it better than you think!

The comments I've made about the impact of the letter campaign are meant to be constructive - and absolutely not negative.

Craig will campaign in a world larger that Plainedge - There are others in School Districts out there in the region that Craig intends to run in that have exerted much effort to also put these increases into effect. They might take offense at his claim. Their activities have been going on as long. if not longer than Plainedge's additions to those efforts.

Over the past two years alone, in Library-Legislative breakfast meetings, the 108 Libraries on the Island have been crusading for the same issue. That's why the CFE Case is so familiar to me.

Libraries have had a strong vested interest in keeping School District Budgets low - it makes their budget pass easier! They get no direct State aid - but they stand a better chance of their budget passing when State Aid to the Schools is higher!

We've often been told by the Legislators that "we are listening" It's a time worn phrase. And we often see only Legislative Aides at these meetings - but we persevere in the cause.

Please use the advice as a constructive comment, not as one from a "sour grapes" non-contributor to the letter writing effort.

But then again, like the people who were not in the voting booth with me told me that I pulled the NO lever - - - just how in heck did they know? Or, how do you know I did not add some letters and e-mails of my own to the pile that landed in Albany?

When did you check the facts about that mis-statement? Why not join me in a friendly coffee break and find out if I did or didn't send letters and e-mails first?

I'm not an enemy or objectionist - I'm just suggesting to Craig to not offend voters in other parts of the region that may feel it was their effort that resulted in the Legislative addition the recent State Aid increase!

With great warmth in the handshake to all of you that also partook in the letter writng activities - they did add fuel to the long simmering fires!

Ed.

[davinci]

Plainedge would be very fortunate to have Craig Heller elected to the NYS Assembly.

When you have a Democratic in a Democratic controlled Assembly, you have a say in how the decisions are made.

Plainedge would be far better represented by a Democratic in a Democratic controlled legislative body.

I hope this does not cause all the Republicans out there, to melt down, however a Republican in that position is useless.
The NY State assembly is controlled by the Dem's.

The only time Plainedge had any true representation was when Phil Healy, a Republican represented us. The reason for that was he was a THE RANKING MEMBER OF HIS PARTY IN THE ASSEMBLY and had used Plainedge many years ago as the reason why we had the save harmless provisions regarding state aid. He was responsible for that legislation and continued to fight for it for all of the years he served.

He was one a the very few people in the State who understood the formulas and that is why we benefited from the save harmless provisions. He would be the first to tell you even as the minority leader there was very little he could do, because the Assembly was not controlled by his party.

Craig would be able to have a voice in the assembly, that we so badly need.
We are well represented in the Senate by Kemp Haanon.

However, no state legislator will support a district that allows the Supt. to make all the decisions and continue to spend all the money on increase salaries for himself and the staff, with a total disregard for the taxpayers.

[patriot2415]

Ed seriously now, how can

"To claim that a letter writing campaign, or other similar actions by local citizens in all other Districts, had much impact on the Legislative revision to Pataki's budget plan is to show a shortage of knowledge about how the Albany operations actually run.

Plainedge did participate - but its "squeaking wheel", albeit loud in our local area, was hardly heard in the roaring noises of Albany.

Please don't weaken you candidacy by relying too much on the claim that State Aid increases came from local Plainedge activities."

be looked upon as positive?

You above all know that the district is just coming together and having it's voice heard. If people are to believe that their voice is silent, then why would they get involved? No matter how big or how small an impact we as residents of Plainedge have on Albany, we have an impact. And we want to use our success to show other districts all over the Island that yes, we can make a difference. We had 800 signatures on petitions sent, imagine if we really had involvement and got 2-3 thousand. Now if you can get other districts to do the same. Do you still think that would not have an impact? Gov't officials rely on people NOT being active, not being involved. That makes their job very easy. Residents of LI need to come together and focus, stop complaining and get involved. Last year was a first step. If you think our officials are NOT concerned that the tiny movement in Plainedge can become a MAJOR movement on LI, I think you would be mistaken.

As for your involvement, I take that comment back ( that was my Italian showing !!!). I do not know if you were involved or not. I hope you were and I hope you rallied your friends.

[patriot2415]

Davinci, I totally agree with you. I am a republican, but I want the best person in position to help Plainedge and Long Island.

I only meet Craig at a coffee hour last year and we were thrust together as co-chairmans of a committee with 6 others that dwindled to 3 rather quickly. But Craig and his knowledge of the subject and who to contact pulled us through. He is passionate about this, he has done his research and is ready to take up the cause. He isn't walking around buying people votes, he wants to tackle this very important and emotional issue head on. He want to help every district on LI. I hope people on this forum spread the word about the debate.

[Go Plainedge!]

Craig:

Thank you for coming onto this forum to introduce yourself. Its actually not a bad tool to help spread the word to the local community.

Unfortunately, I will not be in town this weekend to meet you at the festival. However, I would like to hear more about your platform along with your goals and plans for the school tax issue. Perhaps it's something you can post here to give everyone a little more insight as to who you are, what changes you would like to see happen and how you would accomplish those goals.

[justfacts]

patriot2415

To answer your question about how my statements can be considered positive.

More clearly, they might give Craig a viewpoint that taking such credit for just the recent activities by Plainedge in front of a larger audience, might seem be out-shadowing the activities they themselves have been doing for a while.

My comments were directed toward "toning it down" when reaching outside of Plainedge so as to not belittle the efforts of others that have been doing this already!

After all, the Channel 12 debate will reach into many homes besides those in Plainedge.

It might be better in mentioning Plainedge's campaign, to show that we woke up as a community and actively joined the efforts of others and we will welcome more onto the team effort and bandwagon.

"Plainedge residents, with their demonstrated success in the recent campaign to get more State funding, will help guide other communities to do the same." - seems to be a softer and better sounding way to let others know we actively helped without belittling or ignoring the efforts of others in the political area.

As to your excellent summary about how Plainedge is coming together and coming alive - I totally agree with you! I am so glad to see this happen! I want to help this continue - in the ways I am able to do so.

There are not as many ways for me to act as there are for some others - but I have been doing what I can for many a year now. This includes personal discussions, e-mails and one-on-one meetings with a variety of our Legislators.

By the way - You're Italian? I wonder how much more we have in common. (Although not Italian by birth - as a kid, drinking Pop's home-made Ouzo and sampling the wine in the basement, I became an honorary member of many Italian families in LIC. (Including "sleeping it off" in their beds until I was in shape enough to go home!)

One of the families that "adopted me" was the family of "Vinnie the Cat Siciliano", who was also a classmate. Jimmy Breslin wrote a book about him. Very funny story! And I know some facts about the car-bomb attempt on his life that even Breslin didn't know!

If fact, by use of the street vernacular in the hospital the other day, I managed to quiet a loudly shouting patient - and the rest of us in the room got some sleep through the night! (Tell you the details over a brew)

By birth, I'm of Alsatian/Irish descent. First ones over were in the 1840's. The rest came in the 1870's.

Ed.

[justfacts]

For what it is worth:

There's been action that's said to be more effectively done by a Democratic Candidate than by a Republican candidate. If that is true, and since Suozzi is now "back at the helm" in Nassau, there is another parallel way to have Plainedge's Property Tax burden reduced.

Craig might also be able to use this in a local theme to gain voters!

The "equalization rate" that divides commercial and residential taxes by Districts has been unfair to Plainedge residents that shop and work in adjacent Districts that have malls, stores and factories in them. The "average" percent of total Residential Taxes in the Town of Oyster Bay is about 56% - Plainedge runs at about 83%.

If Nassau changed their distribution formula to equalize by Town rather than by District, the reduction in Plainedge residents' taxes last year would have been about $7 Million!

Think about how much of that could have been used for increased spending in Programs, rather than all going into Property Tax reductions! We now could afford to be generous!

Yes!, There are districts that will complain and campaign loudly against this, like Freeport. But by virtue of their being occupied by factories and stores, almost all have fewer voters in them than Plainedge. Plus, there are many other School Districts, besides Plainedge, that would benefit and vote for such a change.

Two years ago, I sought Richmans "clout" to get School Superintendents to put together these needed statistics about Voters that would Benefit vs Voters that would Object. - The object was to present that information to Nassau "chiefs" who would support the motion to change the equalization formula in Nassau. Simply put - implementing it would give them many more votes than they would loose!

Richman has given no support to this.

A seven million dollar incentive is a powerful incentive. How far would a platform go based on that theme? Is it worth paying for a Commercial Study group to get the Stats and then do letter writing and call-ins? I've got some bucks to help do that.

Ed.

Take a nickle (at least) from Capital and put it into Programs!

[workingmom]

I was also involved in the PTRA last year and also believe that the community made a difference and contributed to the extra state aid that come to Plainedge. Craig was instrumental in this effort, as was Phil.

I, along with others, spoke to many residents last winter/spring, asking them to send letters and sign petitions, and discussing the high property taxes we pay. The main theme I heard when speaking with our neighbors was that everyone was frustrated with these high property taxes.

The vast majority did not fully understand how the funding process worked and wanted to do what they could to help increase our portion of state aid. Most were looking for leadership to guide them and let them know what they needed to do. And most were open to learning what the real issues are. While many blamed School taxes for their high property taxes, most did not realize that the lack of commercial property and the lower percentage of state aid given to Plainedge was the driving force behind the high property taxes.

Frustration with high property taxes is an issue that many residents of Long Island can unite behind. Craig's vision is to bring the communities of Long Island together, and stay focused on the objective of a fair and equitable funding formula. He already has a profound understanding of the issues and complexities involved, as well as knowing who to work with on Long Island and in Albany to make changes that can benefit Long Island.

I have also spoken to Assemblyman Saladino as he did his rounds on the football field and have been disappointed in his understanding of this issue. I was left with the impression that I understand the issue better than him!!! He also minimized the efforts of the Plainedge community this past year and took credit for the increased aid to Plainedge. I question his ability to impact Albany and the distribution of state aid this year.

I believe that this is not a Republican or Democratic issue, it is a Long Island issue that we should all rally behind. Letter writing and petitions was a good first step to raise awareness in the community and in Albany. The next step is to vote for someone who is savvy and will work hard (Craig has already demonstrated his abilities) in order to change the state funding formula so Plainedge, Island Trees, Massapequa and all property owners in Long Island school districts don' t have to shoulder over 80% of the costs of running our schools on our own......

Thanks for reading my opinion!!!

Anne Weeks