Letter to the Editor: It's Time for a Change

Editor's Note: Glen Cove resident Robert Germino is the Republican candidate for the state Assembly's 13th District race in November. He is running against Democratic incumbent and city resident Charles Lavine. 

To the Editor:

As a Marine officer, I learned that to lead Marines successfully you must heed their concerns. When my men knew that their concerns were mine, it helped us build a stronger team.

Since the day I announced my candidacy for the New York State Assembly, I listened intently to the views of many concerned taxpayers. They are of one conviction—that is, Albany's expensive mandates make living here harder every year. 

Among the most egregious of these mandates is the MTA payroll tax. It placed an unfair and unnecessary burden on our community.  

As a result, our schools, municipalities, and businesses that already face budget woes during this recession must fund the MTA's inability to manage its own. Assemblyman Charles Lavine, my opponent in the upcoming election, co-sponsored and voted for this tax.

During my opponent's entire time in Albany, our state's structural deficit skyrocketed to $13 billion. Despite being in the majority, every year he failed to cap the growth of the property-tax levy and give the people of the 13th Assembly District a much needed respite.

Furthermore, my opponent missed six years of opportunity to produce meaningful reform such as repealing the Wicks Law, an archaic mandate that adds up to 30 percent more in costs to public construction projects.

Many of our families and young professionals who cannot afford to live here feel Lavine's record. In 2004, we sent him to "fix Albany" but he contributed to making it worse. It is time for a change and I will work for you to deliver it. 

Robert Germino