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BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARKOWITZ'S STATEMENT ON MAYOR BLOOMBERG'S EXECUTIVE BUDGET

“The Pentagon promised us a shock and awe campaign in Iraq, and this is a doom and gloom budget in New York City. These absolutely frightening cuts would turn New York into a second-class city, and we will never accept this.

“This is another dramatic example of why Albany cannot turn its back on New York City. Governor Pataki owes Mayor Bloomberg big time, and its time for the Mayor to call in his political debt. The Governor and the State Senate, including New York City’s Republican Senators, can’t expect New York State to rebound if the City continues to drown. Peeksville and Rensselaer certainly aren't the state's economic engines. Our life preserver must come in the form of personal income tax reform and a modest surcharge on those individuals and corporations who can readily afford it. Drastic cuts to education, public safety, hospitals, senior centers and cultural attractions will only paralyze New York City and prevent our economy from bouncing back. You can’t sacrifice our future when obvious ways of balancing our budget are readily available.

“It is time to stop all of the Albany rhetoric and give New York City what we rightly deserve. It is also time for all New York City residents to make their voices heard and let Albany know that we will not be shortchanged. They say cut back, but we say fight back!”