There was an opinion piece in Sunday’s Times Union, The risk we face …
I just sent in a letter – see below:
To the Editor:
Robert Ward writes about the state budget problems and says: “The potential solutions are all bad.” He’s wrong.
In my campaign for Governor I have proposed good solutions.
We can save billions by eliminating “economic development” spending. It’s really corporate welfare, or as some call it, crony capitalism.
We can also end excessive compensation in the public sector. The head of the New York Public Library makes $688,000 a year. The U Albany President pulls down a $280K salary, a $261K pension, and $100K more consulting for another state agency.
By capping public sector pay at $100,000 a year, and public sector pensions at $75K, we will save billions now and even more in the future.
Our leaders suggest taxing soda, closing parks, and laying off teachers. We need other options.
The national media sees only two candidates. Rick Lazio is bought and paid for by Wall Street, Andrew Cuomo by the real estate industry. Lazio pushed for easier mortgage lending while he was in Congress. Cuomo did the same while heading HUD. Together they helped crash the world economy. Neither offers concrete answers to the budget.
Each has spent the last 20 or more years in the same bubble, far removed from the lives of regular people.
Think outside the bubble.
Warren Redlich
– After I sent the letter I noticed that the article’s author, Robert Ward, works for the State. According to seethroughny.net, his salary in 2008 was $141K. He might not like my solutions.
