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LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER: TAX INCREASE BAD FOR BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS JUST TRYING TO HANG ON

By Bruce Battaglia

We'll find out in a few weeks whose side the City Council is on.

Are they with the taxpayer or the mayor?

We already know what side Mayor Anello is on.

It's not the side of the beleaguered taxpayer.


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Will the City Council side with the reckless and out-of-control spending advocated in Anello's 2005 city budget or will they muster the courage to reject any increase to property taxes?

We'll find out soon. It's now up to the City Council to come up with a whole new budget.

A budget with no tax increase.

A budget that restores 12 months of library service.

A budget that rejects one-time revenue items such as the mayor's proposed $1.75 million secret sale of a public asset.

A budget that reins in long-term spending by reducing the number of city employees and services.

A budget that reduces administrative cost by sharing services such as purchasing and management information systems with the Niagara Falls School District.

Here's some unsolicited advice to Council members Anderson, Rotella, Stewart, Thomason and Walker.

Place your hand behind your back and check to see if you still have your backbone. Place your right index finger on your temple and see if you still have a pulse.

Then sit down alone with City Controller Maria Brown and come up with a whole new budget.

She's competent, professional and, unlike Anello, has no ax to grind.

And then tell Anello and City Administrator-budget buster Bristol that their budget is dead on arrival.

And while you're at it, tell those two reckless and dangerous spenders to get the hell out of town.

Tell them you will put a responsible budget together without them. Tell them the days of wine and roses are over. Tell them no more jobs for Anello cronies. Tell them no more secret sales of public assets. Tell them no more sweetheart deals for Anello campaign donors. Tell them no more jobs for political losers.

Most of all, tell them to take a real long vacation -- say for the next three years.

Niagara Falls would be better served without their failed leadership.


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Niagara Falls Reporter www.niagarafallsreporter.com Oct. 5 2004