For Immediate Release: July 3, 2009
PEEKSKILL REPUBLICAN SLATE EMBRACES OROS / TESTA POSITION ON ASSESSMENT BILL
Joining the position expressed by County Legislator George Oros and Peekskill’s former mayor, John Testa, who is running to succeed Oros on the County Legislature, Peekskill Mayoral candidate Chris Hanzlik and his running mates called on the State Senate to reject the “Commercial Assessment Ratio Bill” (S.1706) that has already been approved by the State Assembly.
Hanzlik was joined by, Sue Sheridan, Joe Torres and Tony Washington in calling on the State Senate to reject this legislation and have also called on the Peekskill Common Council to pass a resolution expressing the City’s opposition to the bill. “This is just one more outrage that a substantial portion of Peekskill’s residents would be required to deal with by our state representatives. This selective legislation that targets certain residential and commercial property owners would result in higher taxes just when people are struggling the most. It must be rejected by the State Senate”.
City Council candidate Sue Sheridan said, “George Oros and John Testa have it right…this pending legislation would be a disaster for hundreds of our residents and commercial enterprises. Why this selective legislation and why now especially during one of the worst recessions in recent memory”?
Joe Torres, another Republican City Council candidate added, “With my business, I am in and out of dozens and dozens of homes and businesses in Peekskill every single week. I get to talk with a lot of people who live in condos and other types of homes that this assessment bill would apply to and I can tell you they cannot afford to be hit with the type of tax increases this bill would cause. It will drive even more people out of Westchester and NY State. As Peekskill’s former mayor, John Testa knows this better than most and I echo his sentiments.”
Tony Washington, also a Republican City Council candidate, called on Peekskill’s City Council to act in defense of Peekskill residents and business owners who would be affected by this bill. “Given the current economic climate, with people losing their homes and struggling to make ends meet, the Democrat Legislative majority in Albany is stepping on the very people they pretend to champion by adding to the already crushing tax burden faced by our residents and business owners. This bill, if it becomes law, will destroy Westchester’s competitive position relative to neighboring counties, since the Democrats carefully crafted it to leave every other county in the state unaffected. Peekskill’s current Council and Mayor should realize that this proposed bill will do nothing but hurt our city’s ability to grow and prosper. So, in plain English, I call on them to strongly denounce this bill and oppose its’ passage in the strongest possible terms.”
Chris Hanzlik, Sue Sheridan, Joe Torres and Tony Washington are the designated candidates of the Republican, Conservative and Independence parties for this fall’s elections in the City of Peekskill. Respectively, they are running for mayor and the three city council seats that are up for election this year.