Now that I know how to post spreadsheets here, why not go nuts?

I attached a spreadsheet on health care finance backing up my assertions on that subject in an earlier post.

I attached a spreadsheet of comparable fiscal 2004 local government finance data to my prior post on who the winners  are in New York tax and spending priorities.

And, for comparison, attached here is more detailed information for FY 2002, for New York City, the Downstate Suburbs, Upstate Metros, the rest ofr New York State, New Jersey, the United States, and Fairfield County.

In addition, for the fun of it, I also attached on spreadhseet on comparative local goverment finance in several parts of California.  I whipped this up to send out to Donna Frye, in lieu of donation, who was running for Mayor of San Diego.  I hope she found it useful, but she lost.  Would that we had a Donna and Skip Frye in New York.

New Yorkers who have been paying attention must wonder what to think about the interests that rule the roost in Albany.  On one hand, you local doctor or hospital might do its best to make you well.  On the other hand, despite getting far more taxpayer money here than elsewhere, the Greater New York Hospital Association and Local 1199 put out commercials threatening to kill our babies if there is any limit on their funding.  On one hand, many NYC schoolteachers use their own money to buy school supplies.  On the other hand, the UFT has as its top goal a retirement at age 55, not a better education for New York City’s children.  Many city residents have friends and relatives in the suburbs or upstate who seem nice enough.  But their representatives in Albany have created a reverse Robin Hood school aid system that may be the least just in the nation, all at the expense of New York City’s children.  The members of the TWU rebuilt the transit system after the 1970s.  But they went on strike to get an early retirement at age 50, the cost of which would re-create the 1970s, without ever thinking about their own situation relative to those who pay their salaries, most of whom have no pension at all.  Your grandma seems nice.  The AARP gets more health benefits for the seniors, without giving a damn about the uninsured, or what will be left (besides debt) for future generations when they get old.  Your state legislator seems like a nice guy; the legislature is evil.

I couldn't help but notice the top of the following press advisory posted on this site -

Date: July 14, 2006

Contact: Anne Marie Corbalis

Phone: 914-684-AG06

Pirro hits the Campaign Trail by Foot, Bike and Boat

I guess she decided going by car with her husband driving was too risky.

Thursday was the last day to file petitions to run as either a Democrat, Republican, Conservative, Working Family or Independence Party candidate.

Azi Paybarah at the 51^st State site went to the NYC Board of Elections and has listed many of the candidates who filed petitions. http://www.nysun.com/51stState/

Today and for the next few days, I’ll be posting some more detailed lists so we can see who is running against whom.

These lists are subject to change as some candidates will withdraw and may be replaced and others will be removed from the ballot because of challenges to their petitions. This list does not include any races where petitions are filed at the State rather than the NYC Board of Elections.

Maybe Patrick doesn't read Room 8 every day. But after my exposé that the Times' blog Empire Zone is incredibly biased about posting on Tom's insignificant campaign, today's tally was above average! Today the Zone was 33% Tom! Am I the only one who thinks this is outrageous?

It is attached.  To understand it, read the prior post with 2005 data.

Note that this much larger file provides local government data for every county in New York State.

That data isn't exactly comparable with to regional totals.  How do you allocate the LIRR, which counts as "state data" but has been allocated to Downstate New York local government to make it comparable with NYC and the U.S., between Nassau and Suffolk for example.  But it is pretty close.  So you can adjust the formulas in the output tables for data for any set of counties you choose.

Okay, my bias upfront: I am supporting Eliot for Governor along with everyone else I know.

When the Empire Zone launched, I was underwhelmed. It turns out my fears regarding the users' comments were unwarranted. The comments are sporadic, but fine. The slowness of posting and its blatant anti-Eliot bias, however, are what are wrong with this blog.

Isn’t technology wonderful?  I’ve just finished compiling 2005 local government employment and payroll data from the U.S. Census Bureau, along with some relevant private-sector data, for New York City, the Rest of New York State, the U.S. average, and (well almost done) New Jersey.  And, I’m told by the management that I can actually attach the spreadsheet to this post, available for you to download.  I will attempt to do so, but if that doesn’t work you can still get it by e-mailing me at vampire-state (at) att.net.  I’ll be writing about the implications of the numbers (which are very much like those in 2002, 2000, 1997, etc. etc.) in the coming weeks, but for now I’ll just provide them and explain how they are calculated.

Tom Suozzi has decided to break his “No further property tax increase“ pledge he made in 2002 when he raised property taxes by roughly 20%.

In Nassau County’s most recent proposal to close the 2007 projected deficit of $170 million dollars Tom Suozzi will raise property taxes not by the  1.9% per year as originally planed, but by 3.9% PER YEAR for the next three years. That’s almost another 12% between 2007 and 2009.

By the time Tom Suozzi leaves office he would have raised property taxes by roughly 33% with a high probability of the County still having an operating deficit, as it will this year.

So Let's See....

Where would Roomie rather work?

The East Wing of New York's City Hall or the West Wing of the White House?

Ummm. Hmm....

Well, if it pays to play (so to speak), then looks like Roomie would most definitely opt for that part-time gig in lulu-ville ... yeah, you remember the one ...

Cuz, take for example the role of Chief of Staff:

At the White House, the job of managing POTUS's rinky dink crew (which, btw, runs the US of A) earns Josh Bolten $165,200; but at the Council, managing Speaker Quinn's empire (which runs ... eh ... the East Wing of City Hall) earns the yet unchucked Chuck Meara $175,000. BAM!

Listen to the music, as he proudly struts across the Brooklyn stage to make his announcement of another glorious victory.  Listen to his confident voice and see the determined, unsmiling face. Inspector Clousseau, the Pink Panther. Joe Hynes, snatching disaster from the jaws of success!!

PART 1:  Steps Leading Up  To  Diane Gordon Indictment July 10, 2006

October 2004.  Report to DOI  triggers “sting surveillance” of Diane Gordon

November 21, 2005...Diane Gordon, called as witness for defense, refuses to testify on behalf of Clarence Norman in Grand Larceny trial which ends in conviction of County Leader.

Lastly, a very, very quick glimpse of how your Congress Members handled pseudo-self's constituent email concern ... they didn't!

Only 34% responded at all, making the "highest" level of government the lowest in constituent response (see Council results here and Assembly/State Senate here).

Excuses from the remaining 66% aside, really, why bother? Why bother dangling an email address/submission form in front of constituents in the first place?

Congressional results here.

Hello Folks,

This summers newest and hottest board (posting board) game is Pin the Ethical Tail on Tom.

We all know that Tom has much to hide and we all know that Tom has a 'catch me if you can' attitude- so let's help him fulfill his wish to self destruct.

As an example:

On the Wise Guy segment of Tuesday's "Inside City Hall," Albany corruption issues came up. "I'd personally get rid of everyone in Albany," said Ed Koch.

I hear ya!

We need Albany term limits.

We need gay marriage even introduced in Albany. Did Sheldon Silver finally get around to reading the court decision?