June 10, 2008. In a joint press release, representatives of a diverse group of organizations summarized the key shortcomings of property tax caps like the proposal advanced by Gov. David Paterson. The coalition members argued that New York needs property tax relief, but that an artificial cap would harm educational programs and doom efforts to close the achievement gap. Read the release >>
June 8, 2010. The federal government's failure to extend its increased share of state Medicaid costs would leave New York with an additional $1.06 billion in state budget cuts - on top of the cuts already on the table as part of Governor Paterson's 2010-2011 gap closing plan. In this analysis, FPI calculates that if the state decided to fill the additional $1 billion dollar gap through workforce reductions, the number of layoffs would be in the 15,000-16,000 range. Another alternative, reductions to Medicaid reimbursement [...]
June 2, 2008. Presented by FPI Executive Director Frank Mauro to the Senate Standing Committee on Local Government and Assembly Standing Committee on Real Property Taxation. The Middle Class STAR rebate program is better targeted than the original STAR program in that in takes income into consideration. However, Middle Class STAR is still not efficient and equitable property tax relief, since it does not take the size of a homeowner's property tax bill into consideration and it is still based on county and school district [...]
May 29, 2008. A column by David Dyssegaard Kallick, New York Metro.
May 20, 2008. A presentation by FPI senior economist Trudi Renwick and Gerald Norlander of the Public Utility Law Project of New York, prepared for NYSERDA's 2008 Low-Income Forum on Energy (LIFE). With prices for power and heating fuel rising faster than wages or assistance - against a backdrop of widespread poverty in upstate cities - the situation is grim for low-income families. Renwick and Norlander lay out specific standards for reform of assistance programs.
May 19, 2008. In response to the plant closures and mass layoffs of the 1980s, Congress enacted the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. However, the legislation covers only larger businesses, and lacks an enforcement mechanism. Several states (CA, IL, NJ) have adopted their own WARN legislation. This brief argues that such legislation in New York would benefit not only the upstate economy but also the downstate economy now being buffeted by massive layoffs in the financial sector.
May 15, 2008. A new report from the Center for Economic and Policy Research analyzes Current Population Survey data from the Census Bureau and finds that workers represented by a union have higher wages, especially at the low end of the scale. Press release with New York specific data >> "Too often, people think there's not much we can do to reverse polarization in our economy. Here's clear evidence that unionization helps: it raises wages for all workers, and it raises them especially among lower-wage [...]
May 14, 2008. Senior economist Trudi Renwick participated in a panel discussion of property tax reform at the 2008 Conference on State Taxation sponsored by the Business Council of New York State and held in Saratoga Springs. Presentation >>
May 6, 2008. A report from the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University shows that the Bush administration bypassed Congress to issue a directive that will cut children's health insurance funding in New York - at a time when residents and taxpayers can ill afford it. Report co-released by FPI, New York Children's Action Network and Medicaid Matters New York. Press release >>
May 5, 2008. Senior economist Trudi Renwick discussed property taxes and the enacted state budget in a presentation to the Long Island Federation of Labor.
May 2, 2008. Testimony presented by chief economist James Parrott to the Rent Guidelines Board: a picture of a shallow recovery, high housing cost burdens and a shrinking middle class - plus a local economy in recession.
May 1, 2008. Executive director Frank Mauro spoke at a meeting of the Ulster County Legislature's Blue Ribbon Commission on School Funding and Tax Reform in New Paltz. News articles: Property tax burden takes center stage in speech by fiscal expert (May 3, Kingston Daily Freeman); The problem with property taxes discussed (May 2, Mid-Hudson News). Radio: Listen to MP3 (May 1, WAMC).
May 1, 2008. As public funds and private donations come under strain, and uncertainty clouds the horizon, New York's nonprofits can respond not only by cutting costs, but also by presenting cogent facts about the impact of recession on society. Presented by chief economist James Parrott at 2008 Nonprofit Day: Proactive Responses to the Economic Downturn, for Manhattan, Bronx & Westchester. Sponsored by the Nonprofit Connection and Citi Foundation. Brochure. Presentation for Manhattan, Bronx & Westchester. Additional presentations were given in Queens (May 7) and Brooklyn (May [...]
April 21, 2008. A column by FPI senior fellow David Dyssegaard Kallick, Newsday.
April 15, 2008. FPI examines the business tax treatment of "carried interest" earned by private equity fund and hedge fund managers, and finds that closing the carried interest loophole could raise $160-$225 million in new revenue for New York City - while leveling the playing field for New York businesses. Press release, full report.