Assemblyman Fitzpatrick Votes No On Middle Class Tax Cut

On December 7^th the New York State Legislature voted on Governor Cuomo’s Middle Class Tax Cut.  The State Senate was unanimous in its support for the legislation that included tax cuts for most New Yorkers and eliminates the MTA tax for small businesses with payrolls between $10,000 and $1.25 million.  For businesses with higher payrolls there will be a reduction in the MTA tax.  In the Assembly, the legislation passed, but not unanimously.  There were six Republicans and two Democrats who voted Nay. Republican Michael Fitzpatrick was the only member of the Long Island delegation to vote nay.

The MTA tax enacted in 2009 has been a hot issue for Long Islanders who feel that they have been unreasonably burdened with this tax.  The NYS Republican Party on its website states, “Repealing the MTA payroll tax is essential for New York State to become more economically competitive, to help businesses expand and create new jobs.”  With bilateral support for the new tax brackets and abolition and reduction of the MTA tax, why would anyone vote against the legislation?

In a phone interview with Assemblyman Fitzpatrick, the Assemblyman explained his rationale for voting in opposition to the legislation.

“I am not convinced that this is good policy.  It seems they got the politics right, but the economics wrong.”  Assemblyman Fitzpatrick is steadfast in his position that raising taxes without cutting costs is unacceptable.  “ The bill had a lot of goodies to attract a lot of votes and the MTA tax cut was a big incentive for supporting the legislation.  The legislation was sold to people as providing the lowest tax rates in 58 years, but the reality is for the families who are at or earn the median income, the result is a $3 per week reduction in their taxes.  That is peanuts when you consider the burden you are putting on a small segment of taxpayers.”

“The problem I see is that NYS government is attempting to balance the State budget on the backs of a small number of people by raising their taxes.  The people who will be most impacted negatively are those with high risks in the market and are the most mobile.  They can move into a state with a lower tax burden.  This type of selective taxing does not work.  It hasn’t worked in states such as California, where it has been tried and it will not work here in New York.”

“The new legislation, despite its portrayal as a tax cut, is increasing the tax burden for a select group of people.  The tax surcharge (implemented after 9-11 by the Pataki administration) was set to expire on December 31, 2011.  The new legislation increases the tax bracket for those earning over two million dollars a year but it also raises their taxes at the same time you are reducing everyone else’s tax burden. 

Household Income	2011	2012	Difference
$40k-$150k	6.85%	6.45%	-0.4%
$150k-$300k	6.85%	6.65%	-0.2%
$300k-$500k	6.85+surtax=7.85%	6.85%	-1%
$500k-$2M	6.85+surtax=8.97%	6.85%	-2.12%
$2M+	6.85+surtax=8.97%	8.82%	-0.15%

(Chart – ProPublica Dec. 8)

Assemblyman Fitzpatrick emphasized the need for New York State to cut costs rather than raise taxes.  He focused on three specific areas where cost cutting is warranted.  The three areas are health care, defined benefit programs for public employees and the Triborough Amendment.  Part II Tomorrow

Smithtown Saab Volkswagen Mechanic Patrick Rueb - Top 50 Volkswagen Mechanics In US

Selden, NY – Patrick Rueb, a resident of Sayville and a member of Suffolk County Community College’s Class of 2003, was recently selected as one of the top 50 Volkswagen mechanics in the nation. As part of the recognition, Mr. Rueb has been invited compete in a corporate-wide competition for technicians in Dallas, Texas sponsored by Volkswagen of America. Mr. Rueb was the only Volkswagen mechanic from Long Island to meet the criteria for selection. There are more than 4,500 Volkswagen mechanics nationwide.

Mr. Rueb works locally at Smithtown Saab Volkswagen and is co-president of the Long Island Volkswagen Club. He is a graduate of the College’s Automotive Technology Program. Click Here

Smithtown Saab Volkswagen Mechanic - Top 50 Volkswagen Mech. In Nation

SUFFOLK COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S ALUMNUS IS SELECTED AS ONE OF THE TOP 50 VOLKSWAGEN MECHANICS IN THE NATION

Selden, NY – Patrick Rueb, a resident of Sayville and a member of Suffolk County Community College’s Class of 2003, was recently selected as one of the top 50 Volkswagen mechanics in the nation. As part of the recognition, Mr. Rueb has been invited compete in a corporate-wide competition for technicians in Dallas, Texas sponsored by Volkswagen of America. Mr. Rueb was the only Volkswagen mechanic from Long Island to meet the criteria for selection. There are more than 4,500 Volkswagen mechanics nationwide.

Mr. Rueb works locally at Smithtown Saab Volkswagen and is co-president of the Long Island Volkswagen Club. He is a graduate of the College’s Automotive Technology Program.

Suffolk County Community College offers multiple A.A.S. degree programs in Automotive Technology. The Automotive Technology Program is housed in a 20,000 square-foot state-of- the-art facility, equipped with the latest technology including: nine fully functional shop bays; classrooms with the latest wireless technology enabling access to technical data for all makes and models of automobiles; Hunter Computerized Alignment Machines, Hunter Balancing Equipment; Mitchell On-Demand in all classes and a computerized engine analyzer and vehicle dynomometer that conforms with current New York State Inspection requirements.

The instruction, course of study, facilities and equipment in the program were evaluated by the National Automotive Technicians Education Foundation (NATEF) and were found to meet the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) standards of quality for the training of automobile technicians in all areas.

Serious Overnight MVA

Photos and Report by Jeff Bressler

The Smithtown Fire Department was toned out for an Ambulance requested/Motor Vehicle Accident – Heavy Rescue at 3:28am on December 3rd with the location of the westbound corner of Routes 347 and 111.

Upon arrival units found a vehicle that hit a utility pole with driver side impact. Two occupants in the car were pinned. Units began extrication to remove the victims. The extrication was handled by Rescue 4-2-9 with an assist from Suffolk County Police Emergency Services.

The doors and roof were removed and the dashboard moved to facilitate the rescue.

The two occupants were taken to the Stony Brook University Medical Center. Conditions are unknown at this time.

On scene were Chiefs Murphy and Landrigan, Rescue 4-2-9, Engine 4-2-4 and ambulances 4-2-61 and 4-2-65.

Cupcake Couture - Open For Business

Smithtown’s newest bakery & boutique, Cupcake Couture, is now open for business. Located at 91 East Main (the former Karl Ehmer Meats), Cupcake Couture is ready to fill Smithtown’s “sweet tooth”. 

After a nine month licensing process, Cupcake Couture opened its doors on Tuesday and has had a lot of traffic. On Friday afternoon at 2:30 pm. there was standing room only. Owner, and Smithtown resident, John K. Johnson was out shopping for supplies and there was a line of people waiting to buy their cupcake of choice. 

There are many different cupcakes to choose from, like the “Cupcake Couture,” the signature cupcake of the bakery made with a secret recipe which includes, a chocolate cake, chocolate frosting and a Bavarian crème filling.  There are also cupcakes with names like: Wedding White cupcake, Peanut butter chocolate, Espresso, and Pumpkin Pecan. If these don’t strike your fancy, there is the Man cupcake which is made with a Guinness beer batter and frosting (ID is not necessary!). Cupcakes, cakes and cookies can be specialized if you want to order for a special event

The clientele, on Friday afternoon, was a mixture of parents with children, seniors, and quite a few high school students.  How did they hear of Cupcake Couture? For the most part people saw the sign go up and waited for the bakery to open.  There was a consensus among the patrons that the cupcakes were very good and what made things sweeter was the satisfaction in knowing a vacant storefront was replaced by a new business.

Smithtown High School seniors, Alexa Silva and Bianca Silva, ordered the Pumpkin Pecan and a Coconut cupcake.  “Very good and really good!” they said.  They have been waiting for the bakery to open.   Alexia is a friend of owner John Johnson’s daughter Jazzy.  They learned the date of the opening on Face book.   They will be returning and they will be encouraging their friends to visit as well.

Cupcake Couture is the fourth store for founder Wynette Zamora and it is the first Cupcake Couture outside of Texas.  The idea of opening Cupcake Couture came from Wynette’ s love of baking and her dad’s cancer diagnosis.  Spending time with her parents during her dad’s battle with cancer made her realize the unpredictability of life.  She yearned to leave corporate life to spend more time with her husband and two children, Maliyah and Angelo.  The couple resides in Vanvleck Texas.

Wynette is thrilled with the relationship she has developed with owner John Johnson.  “John has a great skill set.  He also comes from a corporate background.” Neither John nor Wynette have had formal training in baking and that is the message that Wyentte wants people to know, “ You can achieve anything your heart desires, if you believe in yourself.”

Cupcake Couture is open seven days a week Monday thru Saturday 10am – 8pm and Sunday 10-4pm. www.cupcakecouturebakeries.com or by phone at 631 656 6400.