Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

I was over 80% correct with my predictions in the November election.  
And I was correct -- to some extent -- on the tax district -- a large number of persons did vote YES ...
funny most of you folks were saying that NO ONE would support the tax district.

As for whether I would work for you on a campaign -- I have a strong hunch about who you are -- and lets
just say that I would rather be stripped naked, covered in honey and forced to lay on a hill of fire ants
-- before I would ever have anything do with you.

In election, that kind of margin is called a LANDSLIDE...this time a landslide against this tax district.
If the last two nights votes say anything, its ENOUGH TAXES...NO MORE! People are leaving this state in droves, and I'd be gone myself if I wasn't in the age bracket I am...too old to be competetive in the IT market and too young to retire. But you can bet your bottom dollar that once I am retired, NYS will not be my primary state of residence.

Quoted Text

Tax District voted down

John Purcell 12/14/10
There won’t be a tax district for an ambulance service in Rotterdam anytime soon.

Election season may have passed, but Rotterdam residents were once again drawn to voting booths. Election signs littered main roads in the town and there even is a billboard urging taxpayers to vote down the proposal. These weren’t supporting a candidate though, but opposing sides over the proposed special tax district for an ambulance service.

There was one polling location open at Town Hall from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 14, where town taxpayers flooded to make their opinion heard on the tax district. Voters turned down the resolution with 2,472 opposing votes and 1,386 votes in support of the tax district, according to official results from election officials. There were no absentee ballots allowed in the vote.

“[Voter turnout] was higher than both what the Board of Elections expected as well as what the administration expected,” said Town Attorney Joseph Liccardi......................>>>>..................>>>>.....................http://www.spotlightnews.com/news/view_news.php?news_id=1292385032

Quoted from 147

Bottom line, the public has spoken, they're not in favor of new taxes.  This doesn't mean they're AGAINST REMS .. or "anti-REMS" as some call it, they're just not interested in paying any new taxes for the service.  I don't believe they'd even approve of the $10k/month at this point, but that's up to the board to decide.

This was a vote for creating a new tax - not for choosing a provider.  It just so happens that one appears to be nearly insolvent without the creation of public funding (through taxes).  Perhaps if REMS got their billing together, started working like a business, or got back to their volunteer roots, they'd do better off than they are currently.

IMHO of course.

             They already zeroed out the line item for REMS for budget year 2011, that was one of the areas they made cuts to lower the tax increase.  If I'm not mistaken, FDG indicated that if the ambulance district passed, REMS would be the provider, and payment would be through the special tax district.  If the ambulance district didn't pass, it goes out to bid with NO expected costs to taxpayers.

Quoted from Kevin March

  I guess the money from the tickets there can go towards the amount that will now be carved out of the general budget to help to fund REMS, as I'm sure they'll go back towards funding it as it was previously.  
.

Perhaps I'm not reading this correctly, but are you saying that the town will continue to help fund rems as they did previously by tomasone by giving them $10 G's a month? And if so, how did you obtain this information? Presently there is no line item to fund rems in the 2011 rotterdam budget. Could you clarify?

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

I was over 80% correct with my predictions in the November election.  
And I was correct -- to some extent -- on the tax district -- a large number of persons did vote YES ...
funny most of you folks were saying that NO ONE would support the tax district.

As for whether I would work for you on a campaign -- I have a strong hunch about who you are -- and lets
just say that I would rather be stripped naked, covered in honey and forced to lay on a hill of fire ants
-- before I would ever have anything do with you.

How do you bend over and kiss your own a$$ Ronnie?  Is it all the yoga that makes you so pliable?

Cicero--I would like to tell you that my brother-in-law worked outside each day.  He was an expert skier and a semi-pro golfer.  He ran everyday.  He was an outdoors person.  Spent each weekend and sometimes during the week boating on Lake George and a week sailing in Cape Cod.  He was also a runner.  He had no familyhistory of heart disease.  He WAS a FORMER smoker and had quit for about two years because the wanted a child.  But in the end they found after he died that he had advanced coronary artery disease.

And btw, he was a HUGE Conservative.  An unspeakable loss to our family.  True stories of life and the heart are only politicized if the hearer makes that interpretation.  I find your comment over the line.

Add on to Cicero comment---he also had no symptoms.   Just enjoying a dinner out and three hours later 9-11 was trying to save him.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Democracy involves holding a public vote -- that is what we had.  
Many everyday residents voted in favor of the tax district -- so you can't say that no everyday resident
wanted the tax district.

As for who stood to gain the most financially -- I would say that it is Mohawk Ambulance as they are
the FOR PROFIT company and thus stood to gain financially from the referendum being defeated.

Should we hold a public vote in mid December, dragging the elderly across an icy Town Hall parking lot, in 10 degree weather, for EVERY issue that a clear minority doesn't support?  That's why we live in a representative republic.  So we don't waste the residents time waiting in line for 45 minutes in would could be considered a fire hazard, like what happened last night.

The free markets already have a mechanism in place to deal with emergency transport - Ambulance Companies and Health Insurance Policies.  And guess what?  REMS WAS part of the free market mechanics, but because they were so POORLY run, they couldn't compete.  So they garnered support of politicians and political party to push this district for them, but in return for what???  

What was most bizarre was the Republican support for this taxing district.  Traditional Republican values are based in personal responsibility, free market competition, limited government.  Yet the local Republican Party spearheaded the efforts to form a taxing district for a not-for-profit business.  

It is beginning to look more and more as if this was for the financial gain for some of those currently controlling the Republican Party.  
.  IMO

Quoted from bumblethru

Now comes the fun part........WHO at rotterdam town hall will be writing and reviewing and approving the contract with mohawk? Rotterdamians best watch over your elected officials and make sure they dot every 'i' and cross every 't'! IMHO

We'll be watching Bumble...and as always, we'll keep you posted!

Quoted from bumblethru

Perhaps I'm not reading this correctly, but are you saying that the town will continue to help fund rems as they did previously by tomasone by giving them $10 G's a month? And if so, how did you obtain this information? Presently there is no line item to fund rems in the 2011 rotterdam budget. Could you clarify?

There will be no more subsidies for REMS...to even suggest that the Town will continue funding is ridiculous...and after yesterday,
there is no way any such attempt would be tolerated.

You were right on the money with your prediction Kelly.

Quoted from 539

Add on to Cicero comment---he also had no symptoms.   Just enjoying a dinner out and three hours later 9-11 was trying to save him.

Yes, that is very sad. My departed father would always say "We know not the time nor the hour." Only God know why and when. All we can do is have faith. Sudden death is very upsetting to the survivors, and never is there any consolation in trying to determine "what happened?" Or "How?" It is in the Creator's hands when it comes to this.

Quoted from 539

And btw, he was a HUGE Conservative.  An unspeakable loss to our family.  True stories of life and the heart are only politicized if the hearer makes that interpretation.  I find your comment over the line.

Quoted Text

Well your taxes are will stay lower and I have a dead brother-in-law because the response time was not what it should have been.  My sister and my baby niece are alone this Christmas because the ambulance couldn't find the house.  I wouldn't want to see any family suffer the way my family is. Maybe some of you should begin thinking with a wider scope.

When you accuse me of being narrow minded for voting NO to create a tax district because of your unfortunate incident, that may have not turned out any different if REMS received the call, IS politicizing the issue.  You have no proof REMS response time would be any different.  

A tax districts will never prevent human error.  Your emotional argument that your brother-in-law would be living today if REMS were dispatched is falacious.

Quoted from Shadow

You were right on the money with your prediction Kelly.

This was KR third major victory in a couple of months. She was a constant fixture at TH rallying the opposition and answering false charges. Brain M was also a big winner. Instead of hiding in the tall grasses they actually took a public position AGAINST this new taxing district. That's called leadership. Something completely missing in this socialistic County.

      Many other people have egg on their faces today. Including the County Library bored that also wanted a separate taxing entity. Many others ended their political careers. Remember next November.

I can assure you of this .. those of us who supported REMS will continue to support REMS and do everything
to make sure that they get awarded the contract.   We are not giving up the fight.