I was born in Rockland County, lived in New York City for many years, and recently moved to Texas—where there is no state personal income tax, and where the real estate costs and taxes are also lower. It’s a disgrace what has happened to New York. The tax cap was extremely reasonable and badly needed. The cap was tied to the inflation rate—and if people wanted higher taxes, they were free to vote on that! But the taxpayers of Rockland and Westchester never were very important.

Albany is broken and the only way to fix it is with a state constitutional convention. Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, and Connecticut are all considering “con-cons.” New York has no lieutenant governor, and a governor who has had eye surgeries. For that reason alone, an emergency must be declared and a constitutional convention held. Albany now works for the special interests alone. The tax cap never stood a chance. And because taxpayers don’t even have the simple rights to initiative and referendum, they will NEVER have a chance.

Pressure Governor Paterson. Write to Tom Suozzi and Blair Horner of NYPIRG. Ask them all when New York will have a constitutional convention to help solve its many problems. This is an economic crisis and the taxpayers of Rockland and Westchester must be heard!