It seems on the surface that the ATF chose to use the two ethnic venues to make there case to set the initial example of how they were going to proceed in a "hardball fashion". To be fair and not to have the public perceive them to be picking and choosing, all four should of been dealt with at the same time, or none at all. The issue of the time honored double standard policy once again comes to the fore. One set of rules divided two ways never makes for a policy, leaving one side always with the short straw of resentment. As for Ms. Moore and her opinion(?) "has now reached a new low" comment she should, as most highly respected journalists know, leave her use of editorializing licensing out of the article. It is up to the reading public to decide what is a new low. The journalist reports the facts of a case for the reading public to decide on the forming of such an opinion. The editorial page of any newspaper is where such an EDITORIAL opinion should reside.
Recently at a council meeting one other church,the one at State St./Catherine St. in the Vale Neighborhood, had a rep. speak up as well over a tax issue for their church. Anyone hear about the resolution for this church?
It seems on the surface that the ATF chose to use the two ethnic venues to make there case to set the initial example of how they were going to proceed in a "hardball fashion". To be fair and not to have the public perceive them to be picking and choosing, all four should of been dealt with at the same time, or none at all. The issue of the time honored double standard policy once again comes to the fore. One set of rules divided two ways never makes for a policy, leaving one side always with the short straw of resentment. As for Ms. Moore and her opinion(?) "has now reached a new low" comment she should, as most highly respected journalists know, leave her use of editorializing licensing out of the article. It is up to the reading public to decide what is a new low. The journalist reports the facts of a case for the reading public to decide on the forming of such an opinion. The editorial page of any newspaper is where such an EDITORIAL opinion should reside.
They are the arbiters, Always, We know NOTHING, nor does our opinion MATTER!
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
Re Feb. 24 article, “Firm pushes nonprofits for back taxes”: I read the article and thought, “How is the ATF [American Tax Funding] the bad guy here?” The city decided to tax the property because nonprofits failed to fi le nonprofi t status and they were put back on the roll. Then the city decided that they would sell the back taxes to ATF. The city realized its error and is now trying to fix it. So how is the ATF at fault here? Real estate is a business and is bought and sold for profit; that profit is taxed. I would like to know how a nonprofi t runs a for-profit business? The building on the corner of Albany and Craig streets is a laundromat, also a secondhand clothing/ thrift store and six apartments to boot. This sounds to me like a profi table venture — how does that justify nonprofi t? I was one of the contractors hired to secure this property for ATF. We follow strict guidelines when this process is being executed; it is not a pleasant experience when it has to be done. We work with law enforcement and the existing tenants and try to be as compassionate and understanding as possible in this situation. The nonprofi ts are the ones at fault here for not following the rules to be classified as a nonprofi t. The city is also at fault to have allowed this to happen — they hired the person who made the decision to put the properties in question back on the [tax] roll. As a contractor I am not privy to the negotiation between the powers that be, so I cannot comment on how it will be solved. I think the Gazette has a bigger story in how a nonprofit is running a for-profi t business. To the city and nonprofits that did not follow the guidelines, I quote a very wise man (my father-in-law) “excuses only benefi t the people that give them.”
City only hurts itself by taxing charitable, nonprofit organizations
Re the articles on Schenectady’s taxation of religious and other not-for-profi t charitable organizations: I am not going to address the series of bureaucratic snafus on all sides that resulted in this Gordian knot; I’ll leave others to untangle that mess. Instead, I want to point out the result: Our whole community is paying a price — not just the institutions directly affected. I am a member of the First Unitarian Society of Schenectady, one of the more prominent religious congregations that has been erroneously taxed, but I am speaking for myself, not the church. Any monies paid to the collection agency that currently holds the [church’s] paper leaves the area. This is money that weakens the congregation as a whole, drains its resources to pay for much-needed repairs to the infrastructure of its aging building and accelerates its decline. This building, designed by world-class architect Edward Durrell Stone, serves not only the congregation but many other community groups, including “A Place for Jazz.” Already the legal costs incurred fi ghting this taxation have proved a strain on church finances. While this is bad enough, paying these unwarranted taxes and penalties may result in the church reducing or eliminating its collective charitable giving to such worthy organizations as Schenectady Inner City Ministries, the Schenectady Free Clinic and Planned Parenthood, to name a few. Paying for something that should not have been charged in the first place is a hidden tax on church members individually. Ultimately, it is they who must bear the burden, draining personal resources and reducing funds available for arts, meals, entertainment and personal giving within our community. Each of us is a cog in the engine that ensures the growth of our local economy. Our whole community will feel the loss.
Nonprofits fight tax foreclosure bid Schenectady policy puts sites at risk of seizure By Lauren Stanforth Published 11:28 p.m., Tuesday, March 13, 2012
SCHENECTADY — New Creation in Christ Ministries has a mere 15 people at its weekly service led by its founder, a disabled Army veteran and Panama native who runs his hardscrabble organization on very little cash.
But Pastor Eloy Binnon is being badgered for about $7,000 by a collections agency at the risk of foreclosure if he doesn't pay up. Binnon's church is one of at least nine nonprofits that are victims of a city policy from 2006 that made nonprofits apply for their property tax exemptions — even when many did not know they had to do so.
As a result, the groups were listed as owing taxes and then were bundled into thousands of tax liens the city sold to a company called American Tax Funding, which has the power to foreclose on property if the liens are not paid.
Schenectady asked ATF to hold off on taking over the buildings, which also include those of cultural and social services organizations, until officials can come up with a solution.
While some of the nonprofits met with city attorney John Polster a few weeks ago, ATF says it has heard little movement from Schenectady officials since offering to reduce the $280,000 bill by $60,000 last fall. The collections agency, which is based in Jupiter, Fla., says the city has offered only worthless liens on decrepit properties in exchange for what it is owed by nonprofits.
"I just pray this gets resolved," said Binnon, whose tiny group says prayers on its Howard Street sidewalk, hoping nearby drug dealers disperse. "I hate to think the worst.".....................>>>>.................>>>>....................Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/loca.....12.php#ixzz1p4piLNo9
How nice that everything is so efficiently and helpfully handled by the bureaucracy of our wonderful (nicest city in America according to the moron) city.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
How can this be? If Proctors had a cell tower on its property would it still owe some taxes?
The mayor said the city is negotiating with ATF, but he added the collections agency is holding foreclosures over the nonprofits' heads as leverage to get money from the city. The matter is complicated by individual quirks connected to each nonprofit's case. For example, the Hindu Temple might owe some taxes because it generates revenue from a cell tower on its property, McCarthy said.
Life is tough, but it's tougher when you're stupid - John Wayne
TIP TO NEW VISITORS TO THIS FORUM - To improve your blogging pleasure it is recommended to ignore (Through editing your prefere) the posts of the following bloggers - DemocraticVoiceofReason, Scotsgod08 and Smoking Bananas. They continually go off topic, do not provide facts and make irrational remarks. If you do not believe me, this can be proven by their reputation scores or by a sampling of their posts.
Again, McCarthy has complete distain for people in Schenectady. He's proven it with his rubber-stamped budgets, $3 million dollar golf course plan, water/garbage plan and taking his pension on top of a huge mayoral salary. He's just a career politician with little interest in those he 'serves'.
Way off topic, but that course should be for all in schenectady county, not just the City of schenectady.
I don't spell check! Sorry... If you include "No offense" in a statement, chances are, your statement is offensive.
Editorial: Bogus taxes, real problems Updated 10:52 a.m., Monday, March 26, 2012
THE ERROR:
Several Schenectady groups face tax bills they apparently didn't really owe.
THE LESSON:
Governments shouldn't sell their responsibility, or their power.
Imagine somebody told you they'd bought one of your debts, and now you either pay up or lose your home. Oh, and one other thing: You didn't actually owe this debt in the first place.
Sound like something of Dickens ' 19th century London? Try Schenectady, 2012.
Some nonprofits in the city are caught up in a nightmarish bureaucratic mess, facing eviction for failing to pay property taxes that they may not have even owed. Their only real fault may be not filling out some paperwork...................>>>>................>>>>.................Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/opin.....38.php#ixzz1qGTWSTrB
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