EVENTS
CGR hosts Reforming New York's Property Tax: How Can We Reduce the Burden?
Co-sponsored by the Empire Center for New York State Policy and the Fiscal Policy Institute
A fresh look at an old problem as New York's new Gov. Eliot Spitzer begins his term.
When: 9 a.m. to noon
Where: Rockefeller Institute, 411 State St., Albany
Who: Panel discussions will feature E.J. McMahon of the Empire Center, Frank Mauro of the Fiscal Policy Institute, Jim Dunne of the Office of Real Property Services, Elizabeth Karasmeighan of Americans for Tax Reform for a national perspective and more.
New York Matters on the road
Together with other nonpartisan organizations, New York Matters presents a series of town meeting-style public forums. These events, held at various locations throughout New York State, will give voters, elected officials and topic experts the chance to explore critical issues and policy options throughout the 2006 elections.
Past Forums
October Forum
At a public forum on Oct. 19th, Syracuse citizens and leaders will discuss how to remake state government so it better addresses the issues of New Yorkers .
The panel discussion will feature the candidates in one of the state’s most competitive legislative elections this year, Sen. Dave Valesky and Assemblyman Jeff Brown, who are vying for the state Senate seat now held by Valesky.
The event will be held from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. as part of Syracuse University’s Thursday Morning Roundtable series. It is co-sponsored by the Onondaga Citizens League. Join us in the Nottingham Room at Drumlins, 800 Nottingham Road, Syracuse. Coffee and pastries are available beginning at 7:45 a.m.
September Forums
New York Matters, a project drawing attention to the issues most important to New Yorkers, is sponsoring four public forums in September across the state on key topics that voters are concerned about.
The forums are open to the public and will seek to answer the questions that are vexing New Yorkers, such as:
How can we fund schools and other priorities without breaking taxpayers?
How can state government help the upstate economy recover?
Our poll found that voters want these problems discussed in advance of the November election, when New York will pick a new governor.
Participants will include New Yorkers who responded to the New York Matters issues poll, representatives of civic groups, academic experts, elected officials, and more.
Citizen participants were sent, in advance, “white papers” on issues – a way to get the conversation started. Have a look for yourself:
GROWING NEW YORK’S ECONOMY – (A paper for Buffalo and Rochester forums)
HIGH TAXES IN NEW YORK: WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS – (A paper for the Long Island Forum)
Here is the line-up:
Buffalo, Struggling in New York: How Can the State Help the Economy Recover?
7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, 1 Lafayette Square.
Participants include:
Assemblyman Robin Schimminger; Dr. Kausar Hamdani of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s regional office; Gary Keith, regional economist at M&T Bank; Assemblyman Mark Schroeder, and Henry Louis Taylor, director for the Center for Urban Studies at the University of Buffalo.
The panel moderator will be Marsha Henderson, vice president of external affairs at the University of Buffalo.
Long Island, High Taxes: What are the Options?
12 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, in Room 114, Studio A, of Dempster Hall, 111 Hofstra University.
Participants include:
Patrick Halpin, executive director of the Institute for Student Achievement; Richard V. Guardino Jr., executive dean of Hofstra’s Center for Suburban Studies; Lisa Tyson, director of the Long Island Progressive Coalition; Pearl Kamer, economist with the Long Island Association; and Elaine Gross, president of Erase Racism.
The discussion will be moderated by Larry Levy, the host of WLIW’s Face-Off program and a Newsday columnist.
New York City, Is Robin Hood the Good Guy? Moving Toward a More Equitable School Aid System for New York.
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, at Baruch College Conference Center, Vertical Campus, 55 Lexington Avenue at 24th Street, 14th floor.
Participants include:
Robert Jackson, NY City Council member and chairman of the Education Committee; David Shaffer, Public Policy Institute of the Business Council; Diana Fortuna, President of the Citizens Budget Commission; and Kent Gardner, President of the Center for Governmental Research.
Eugene Keilin, Citizens Budget Commission trustee, will be the moderator.
Rochester, How Can Rochester Recover from Downsizing at the Big Three?
Noon, Saturday Sept. 30 at the Golisano Auditorium at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Participants include:
Assemblyman Joseph Morelle; John “Dutch” Summers, CEO of Jasco Tools; Senator James Alesi; Jennifer Leonard, president of the Rochester Area Community Foundation; Ellen Rosen, vice president of the Rochester Business Alliance; and Jim Bertolone, president of the Rochester Labor Council. RIT President Albert Simone will be the moderator.
For more information, contact Erika Rosenberg at (585) 327-7066 or erosenberg@cgr.org