Open Letter to candidates and incumbents for New York elected office
The following letter has been sent, VERBATIM, to all those listed at the bottom of this article. Any and all responses will be provided VERBATIM.
To the candidates and incumbents for:
Governor of New York, Senators for the Senior and Junior seats, NY Congressional District 22 in the House of Representatives, 126th State Assembly seat
I am Michael Vass, owner of M V Consulting, Inc., writer for the Binghamton Examiner.com, and resident of New York State. As the mid-term elections approach there are several concerns that voters have expressed to me as a member of the press, a political commentator, and individual that I believe need to be addressed.
Therefore, as a member of the press and a resident of New York I request a response on the following questions. Any and all responses will be published VERBATIM. I am also willing to meet with you at any point prior to the mid-term elections to speak with you in-person or via phone interview on these and other issues voters seek answers on.
1) Do you have any comment on the proposal by Gov. Paterson, which may potentially violate the 4th Amendment, to enforce the New York cigarette tax on those that exit Native American lands?
2) Do you have any comment about Mayor Bloomberg’s statement on the abovementioned issue, to “act like a cowboy with a shotgun and enforce the state tax law.”
3) Where exactly do you stand on the 9/11 mosque controversy. Specifically are you in favor of the mosque being built at the proposed location or not – given the fact that there is every Constitutional Right for it to be built there.
4) Given the looming fear of a double dip recession, and the stagnation of progress in the New York economy, what are your thoughts on the $814 billion stimulus and its effect on New York?
5) The $26 billion in emergency funds for teachers and other unions provided New York some $2.2 billion in funds. What is the likelihood of funds being needed again in 2011? What is your long-term plan to fix this gap in the budget for New York?
6) Businesses of all sizes are stating that the Health Care Reform will impede their ability to hire new employees. Many workers are having healthcare costs increase by 20% in 2010 alone. This is in addition to the proposed end of the Bush Tax Cuts that will increase taxes for many in New York by 3% in 2011. At the same time New York has enacted several new or higher taxes. How do you plan to help secure jobs, and encourage business in New York under these conditions?
The above set of questions are not partisan. They are issues that voters in New York are concerned with and are seeking leadership about. They are issues that affect Democrats, Independents, and Republicans alike.
I look forward to your response, and/or the opportunity to ask these questions in person.
Sincerely,
Michael Vass
President – M V Consulting, Inc.
info@vassconsult.com
** The following are all the contact addresses for the candidates and incumbents.**
http://www.andrewcuomo.com/contact
http://lazio.com/o.cfm?o=405
http://gillibrand.senate.gov/contact/
http://schumer.senate.gov/new_website/contactchuck.cfm (attempted 3x – site states technical issue prevents email)
http://www.dioguardiforussenate.com/contact.php
http://www.blakeman2010.com/contact_us.php
http://www.malpassforsenate.com/home/contact-us/
http://www.house.gov/hinchey/zipauth.shtml
http://electgeorgephillips.com/contact
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=126&sh=contact
http://www.artgarrisonforassembly.com/
http://jasonstokes.org/YourComments.aspx
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August 30th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
[...] of the questions covered in this interview are in response to the Open Letter to candidates and incumbents for New York elected office posed by Michael Vass [...]
August 31st, 2010 at 12:02 pm
[...] of the questions covered in this interview are in response to the Open Letter to candidates and incumbents for New York elected office posed by Michael Vass [...]
August 31st, 2010 at 3:22 pm
[...] of the questions covered in this interview are in response to the Open Letter to candidates and incumbents for New York elected office posed by Michael Vass [...]
August 31st, 2010 at 5:53 pm
[...] of the questions covered in this interview are in response to the Open Letter to candidates and incumbents for New York elected office posed by Michael Vass [...]
September 1st, 2010 at 11:09 pm
[...] of the questions covered in this interview are in response to the Open Letter to candidates and incumbents for New York elected office posed by Michael Vass [...]
September 1st, 2010 at 11:16 pm
[...] of the questions covered in this interview are in response to the Open Letter to candidates and incumbents for New York elected office posed by Michael Vass [...]
September 2nd, 2010 at 2:59 pm
[...] of the questions covered in this interview are in response to the Open Letter to candidates and incumbents for New York elected office posed by Michael Vass [...]
September 7th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Update –
As of this comment Art Garrison has responded (in the interview I had with him which is on this site) to the above.
George Phillips is in the process of preparing to provide his comments in a video interview (we are working on the details of logistics for that interview currently)
Joe DioGuardi’s staff have contacted us about the open letter, though there has been no other response as of yet.
Donna Lupardo’s staff sent an email that they are forwarding this letter to the campaign staff, whom we have called (though these question are more in line with her elected office than re-election), but no further response there so far either.
All other candidates and elected officials have made no comment or response at this time. We continue to seek a response.
September 7th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
[...] to both elected New York officials and candidates about several issues currently in headlines. The Open Letter to candidates and incumbents for New York elected office highlighted issues of: taxation and enforcement the 9/11 mosque the impact of the Stimulus on New [...]