Save NYC - Restore Confidence and Financial Stability - Need 30,000 to Sign
- Target:
- New York City
- Region:
- United States of America
- Website:
- unionoftaxpayers.org
NYC is in the early stage of a historic financial crisis that started before the pandemic and was made worse by the pandemic. NYC leaders are hoping Pelosi can deliver $ billions to save the City. But the Senate is controlled by Republicans who do not want to approve more $ for a City that has shown no financial discipline. The Senator's have a valid concern that City leaders will just continue to mismanage the City and likely require another bail out in a few years. The last time NYC was near bankruptcy, Washington told NYC to DROP DEAD. The NY Daily News published an iconic headline from those days that said "Ford to NYC: Drop Dead". This time, again, Washington DC refuses to bailout NYC.
NYC needs taxpayers to dig NYC out of the financial crisis. Taxpayers have to accept more taxes and/or reduced services. Union of Taxpayers is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that represents taxpayers and proposing a real solution that can save NYC.
NYC Taxpayers refuse to accept greater burden without a real voice in the City budget - spending and taxation. The only way to restore confidence is to create a mechanism for financial discipline and accountability that involves taxpayer participation. Taxpayers demand a change to the City Charter to add a Taxpayer Oversight Board (TOB). There is precedent for such a board. During the last NYC financial crisis a Financial Control Board was imposed upon NYC to provide financial discipline.
The law enables citizens to petition to amend the City Charter via referendum if there are 30,000 signatures. Below is a summary of the amendment to add a TOB.
YOU MUST BE A NYC RESIDENT AND REGISTERED VOTER TO SIGN. YOU MUST PROVIDE A STREET ADDRESS AND ZIP CODE OR YOU SIGNATURE WILL NOT BE COUNTED. THESE ARE THE RULES REQUIRED TO AMEND THE CITY CHARTER.
All legislation adopted by the City Council related to taxing, spending or borrowing must first be reviewed and voted upon by the TOB before it is signed into law by the Mayor otherwise it is invalid and illegal. By an affirmative vote of a majority of its members meeting when a quorum is present in person or via real-time secure digital communication, the TOB may veto any legislation authorizing spending (such as the NYC budget), borrowing (on an off-balance sheet) or taxing, except that the TOB is suspended in the event of a national emergency declared by either the President of the United States or by the Governor of New York, which emergency declaration must be reissued every 30 days or the suspension is lifted and TOB authority is reinstated. The TOB shall have a right to subpoena testimony and documents to ensure compliance with its governance oversight role. Penalties for violation of this provision shall include suspension of the NYC property tax and the NYC income tax until the violation is reversed and if the administration knowingly caused the violation, the Mayor shall be removed from office along with any other official who acted with the Mayor or the Mayor’s knowledge or consent to contravene the TOB. TOB may bring enforcement action in any court within the City of New York upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the TOB members. The TOB members are to be selected from those natural persons residing in New York City who, in the year they are selected, actually paid in the most recent tax year more than $100 combined in property tax and/or income tax to the City of New York and shall have attained the age of 18. The members are to be selected by sortition such that they represent NYC taxpayers at a 99% confidence level and an error of less than five percent. The maximum number serving shall be increased or decreased based on the number necessary to achieve the targeted confidence level and error target.
The above summary is subject to revision prior to vote, provided revision retains the original intent in all material respects except that material changes may be made to ensure it conforms with the constitution.
ONLY NYC RESIDENTS REGISTERED TO VOTE MAY SIGN THIS PETITION. AND ALL WHO SIGN MUST PROVIDE A VALID NYC RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.
We, the undersigned electors and legal voters of The City of New York, in the State of New York, qualified to vote at the next general or special election, respectfully petition that there be submitted to the electors of this City, for their approval or rejection at a referendum held for that purpose, a proposal to amend the City Charter of the City of New York to Add a Taxpayer Oversight Board, as described herein.
In witness whereof, we have signed our names on the dates indicated next to our signatures
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The Save NYC - Restore Confidence and Financial Stability - Need 30,000 to Sign petition to New York City was written by Union of Taxpayers and is in the category Local Government at GoPetition.