Coalition of Westchester Citizens, Schools, Businesses and Government Forms Grassroots Campaign to Demand that Albany “Stop Taking Our Power”
A grassroots coalition of Westchester citizens, schools, businesses and local governments is standing together to send a simple yet strong message to Albany: “Stop Taking Our Power.”
Photo, left to right: William Hanauer, Ossining Mayor, Westchester Municipal Officials Association President; Lisa Davis, Westchester-Putnam School Boards Association President; Robert P. Astorino, Westchester County Executive; William Mooney, Jr., Westchester County Association President; Kelly Chiarella, Westchester-East Putnam Regional PTA Director; Louis Wool, Harrison Schools Superintendent, Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents President.
Stop Taking Our Power to decide how our local tax dollars are spent.
Stop Taking Our Power to grow our local businesses and create jobs.
Stop Taking Our Power to educate our children.
Pass meaningful mandate relief now!
“The system is broken,” said County Executive Robert P. Astorino. “When 85 cents of every property tax dollar collected by Westchester County is sent straight up the Thruway to Albany, it’s clear we’re losing local control. The time has come to put pressure on our governor and legislators to take action. They must do what they have promised and provide relief from ‘unfunded mandates’ – which really are paid for with skyrocketing taxes, deteriorating schools and jobs leaving New York.”
The STOP Albany campaign officially launched during a press conference today in White Plains, where coalition members from the Westchester County Association; the Westchester-Putnam School Boards Association; the Westchester Municipal Officials Association; The Lower Hudson Council of School Superintendents; the Westchester-East Putnam Regional PTA and Westchester County officials stood united in demanding action from Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the State Legislature.
New Yorkers are encouraged to make their voices heard simply by visiting STOPAlbany.com and clicking to send a letter to their state representatives. Social media will also be utilized to promote the petition via Facebook (www.facebook.com/STOPAlbany) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/STOPAlbany), and a video highlighting how unfunded mandates are decimating schools has been posted to YouTube (www.YouTube.com/STOPAlbany).
