Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

just like the threats made against me and others who supported the tax district by  the "Just Say NO crowd" ..
all is fair in love, war and politics.

Threating public safety by members, family/spouses or elected officials is deplorable.  You are neither. In fact, you are nothing.

He is a LOB!!!!

bring out the boots

Quoted from 147

Threating public safety by members, family/spouses or elected officials is deplorable.  You are neither. In fact, you are nothing.

First -- I am a resident and a voter and I help pay the taxes on family property here in town ..
that makes me SOMEBODY ....         As far as I am concerned Mobile Terminal and Rasputin can
take their hate-filled attitudes and words ... and stick it where the sun don't shine.

Actually .. no threat was made ... just a statement of FACT -- there are many voters in Rotterdam
who will vote AGAINST the people who opposed REMS and opposed the tax district.

Furthermore, it is again - FACT - that IF the quality of emergency medical services decline and/or
if something like what happened in Albany (when the young boy died because the closest ambulance
was in Troy) .. if a tragedy like that happens in Rotterdam --- those who opposed the tax district will
be held accountable.

No threat --- just the facts  ..ma'am

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Furthermore, it is again - FACT - that IF the quality of emergency medical services decline and/or
if something like what happened in Albany (when the young boy died because the closest ambulance
was in Troy) .. if a tragedy like that happens in Rotterdam --- those who opposed the tax district will
be held accountable.

Actually, I believe the younger generation of rotterdam is waking up and recognizing the fallaciousness of these types of arguments.  You can't continue to sell isolated incidents as an epidemic to scare the residents.  And you certainly can't guarantee that the Albany 787 incident would have turned out any different if they had a tax funded provider.  It is completely illogical.  

Quoted from CICERO

Actually, I believe the younger generation of rotterdam is waking up and recognizing the fallaciousness of these types of arguments.  You can't continue to sell isolated incidents as an epidemic to scare the residents.  And you certainly can't guarantee that the Albany 787 incident would have turned out any different if they had a tax funded provider.  It is completely illogical.  

People's reaction to events are rarely logical ...   I would say that the BOTH the support and opposition to the ambulance tax district was based more on emotion than on logic.

The point of my post --- again .. not a threat --- is that  candidates like Mr. McGarry should NOT
assume that his opposition to the tax district will be taken ONLY as a good thing.   There are MANY
voters who will vote against him because he did NOT support the tax district.  
Then -- the second part of my statement -- people will be watching to see if the quality of EMS
remains where it should be ... and ANY tragedy or incident .. that suggests that the quality has
fallen will come back to "bite" the opponents of the tax district in the butt.

DV there are many ambulance calls where it wouldn't make any difference how fast the EMS responders arrive, no matter who they are, the outcome would be the same. There is only so much that can be done outside of a hospital that will make a difference in whether a victim lives or dies. Many victims arrive at the hospital alive and in a day or two expire from their injuries, heart attack, stroke, or disease and that's just a fact of life.

Quoted from Shadow

DV there are many ambulance calls where it wouldn't make any difference how fast the EMS responders arrive, no matter who they are, the outcome would be the same. There is only so much that can be done outside of a hospital that will make a difference in whether a victim lives or dies. Many victims arrive at the hospital alive and in a day or two expire from their injuries, heart attack, stroke, or disease and that's just a fact of life.

true -- but .. again ..  my point is that opposing the tax district is not something with 100% benefits
and 0% negative consequences.     The opponents of the tax district should be prepared to face some
unhappy voters.

The vote reflects that 2/3 are happy and 1/3 are disappointed and as you said democracy prevailed. The people who voted against the tax district aren't against REMS but they sure are against having their taxes raised for any reason.

Quoted from TippyCanoe

bring out the boots

Actually, it is a good suggestion that REMS solicit donations from the residents.  It seemed as though a good number of people (~1,400) voted in support of the tax district therefore these people could proactively make donations...they don't need a tax district as a reason to write a check!

I wasn't a proponent of the tax district but I did send REMS a donation earlier this year and it was well in excess of what my tax burden would have been.  I felt it was necessary to keep them afloat and I intend to continue this type of support going forward.

So if you all feel strongly about "saving REMS", get out your checkbooks and put your money where your mouth is!

Quoted from clubhouse

Actually, it is a good suggestion that REMS solicit donations from the residents.  It seemed as though a good number of people (~1,400) voted in support of the tax district therefore these people could proactively make donations...they don't need a tax district as a reason to write a check!

I wasn't a proponent of the tax district but I did send REMS a donation earlier this year and it was well in excess of what my tax burden would have been.  I felt it was necessary to keep them afloat and I intend to continue this type of support going forward.

So if you all feel strongly about "saving REMS", get out your checkbooks and put your money where your mouth is!

Good idea! Rems may not end up being rotterdam's primary ambulance service, but perhaps they could still exist with more donations from their supporters and hard billing.  

Does anyone know how much REMS was missing out on not hard billing patients?

I am sure not every single person is collectible on, but if REMS has any hopes of continuing into the future I would assume that they can no longer give free rides.

Side note:  Was their budget every made public?  

Quoted from Shadow

The vote reflects that 2/3 are happy and 1/3 are disappointed and as you said democracy prevailed. The people who voted against the tax district aren't against REMS but they sure are against having their taxes raised for any reason.

2/3rds of those who voted are happy with the outcome ... doesn't necessarily translate into 2/3rds of ALL
voters.    As you know much was said about those who couldn't vote -- because there were no absentee
ballots ... and many people left without voting because of the long lines and many didn't even go in because
they could not find a place to park.

so if REMS is non-profit isn't the donation tax deductible on April 15th?

my donation, to a nature preserve on the island of Nantucket, for the privilege to drive my jeep on the beach was

reinvent the boot with a credit card swiper and supply a receipt  - i hear REMS is in good with the IRS

pre-program a donation of 24.99, then signature required, swip and go

or

HOLD A CAR WASH - just hire the proper help. REMS will have to compete with some serious competition, dont worry about the town code  - no one will enforce it, so long as there is no "gratification"