New Haven Independent

Posted by: Bruce | March 18, 2007 10:49 AM

Wow, how did I miss this meeting? Oh well. In any case, I move at the end of the month. I'm done with paying outrageous taxes and getting crummy services in return. What incentive is there for anyone to stay?

Posted by: Moses | March 18, 2007 6:50 PM

This issue is almost unreal to me. New Haven will lose a lot or residents that have been loyal to the city for years, it something a little more reasonable isn't done. When I think of the number of people who work in the city and make more than 80K a year and don't live in New Haven, it makes me angry. The city should try to hire as many residents to become principals, detectives, and department heads that actually live in the city, so the tax dollars can be recycled instead of thrown away in other nearby towns. I also believe in common sense budgeting, spend only what's there. If this means combing the budget with a fine tooth comb then do it. And raising taxes should be an absolute last resort, instead of a quick fix.

Posted by: call a review | March 18, 2007 8:05 PM

By the city charter every property approved for defferal should be reported to the BOA at least once a year. Ask Economic development, and corp counsel to provided the agreements. Then get the permit taken out and compare the dates. Work must not begin until application was filed. Then look at all the post datyed agreements. Henry and John gave the city away and pushed the taxes onto the average homeowners. In fact, just ask either of the aforementioned departments or the controller to show contarct compliance with any agreements, and provide copies. They cannot do it!! I only hope the next few months of having investiagors from the FBI and the US Atty office collecting files and records is enough to show everyone how much B**lsh*t the city has passed along. In fact, just look at one organization, the Parking Authority and those agreements. Then show where the monies are. Or take New haven Terminal and the land they own on Fairmont. No payment, no billing. Ask the controller for the report we spent thousands of dollars to get that concluded the special agreements were missing and trying to analyze them was impossible. I think the city failed to pay the company, because they expected majic. Why did the treasurer resign? Why did the head of IT resign? Why is the assessor resigned? Why did the former deputy director of economic development and traffic and parking resign? I know most left becuae they were disgusted by the administration and the blatant disregard for acting in an ethical fashion. In fact the all powerful Alteiri, who cared less about he BOA, or anyone only left because NHI focused on him. He, essentially took more money than Billy White. The gy had a full pension from the Board of Ed. and still was contracted, given an office and ran a department, while he and the mayor called him an independent contractor. I see greater, or at least equal fraud in that type of behavior, but John had no problem with it.

Posted by: Jeffrey | March 18, 2007 8:12 PM

We're Organizing You can keep up-to-date about some of the organizing on this issue here http://newhavenissues.blogspot.com/

Posted by: robn | March 19, 2007 1:01 PM

Because the State mandates a uniform mill rate, the reassessment has SHIFTED the tax burden from commercial property owners to residential property owners. Until the property tax system is reformed so that our homes aren't treated as commercial entities, merely speculative profit centers, then we're all in indentured servitutde to our own government.

Posted by: MB | March 19, 2007 2:47 PM

Our elected officials have allowed revenue generating, viable commercial properties to be removed from the tax role. Until this policy is changed the tax burden on New Haven residents will continue to rise.
Here is an example---The new REGIONAL Business High School is slated to replace two revenue producing properties on Water Street. Despite alternative sites and over objection from the community, the 'powers that be' decided on the Water Street site. To make matters worse, the future students will be subjected to noise and air pollution generated by Rt 34 (across the street) and the nearby highway intersection of Rts. 91 & 95.
When will they ever learn????????????

Posted by: cedarhillresident | March 19, 2007 2:51 PM

robn is right! We are not protected on a higher level.
But there are other things that I see ... the lack of proper development to bring in other taxable sources. I see yale putting up alot of buildings but very little of anything that can help the rest of the city. We are in a catch 22 because if we rasise the commercial taxes we will not bring in new buisseness but as stated in the artical the mid-class will be forced to move out. And the city will be left with the poor and rich but the rich will not stay if it has to shove out even more taxes to pay for the poor so the future of new haven can be a grim one if this is not handled right.
DEVELOPMENT! is the answer but it needs to be the right kind ...what has brought money in ...what has not?? that is the answer.

Posted by: Ned | March 19, 2007 3:24 PM

"here's a sampling of Elm City democracy in action" More like futility in action. What's "democratic" about pleading for the government not to steal from you? It seems more degrading than democratic. Ten people in a room six of them vote to take all of the money out of your wallet and give it to their friends: democracy triumphs! Fitting picture of the alderman stuffing his face.