Frank, This is my answer that I posted on the Herald blog, answering someone who is apparently a Democrat, trying to blame the mayor for this article. I thought your readers might like to see my response:
"Timing is Everything" is unfairly blaming the newspaper, the mayor, and everyone else in town for the negligence of 4 elected officials--which is the real issue here. The reasons why these 4 failed to pay their taxes shouldn't matter anymore than it matters to the tax collector why the rest of us may be late paying our taxes. In fact, shouldn't these 4 be held to even higher standards?
Regarding the timing of the article, the truth be known, the Herald had little to do with the timing of this story. The truth is that this information became public at least one day earlier on Frank Smith's Blog: (franksmithsaysnb.blogspot.com) "CITY OF NEW BRITAIN ALDERMEN TAX DELINQUENT HALL OF SHAME," posted April 15, 2009, and since this is negative information about the failing of elected officials to pay their taxes, I can only assume that the editors at the Herald thought it was appropriate to report it to the citizens of New Britain, and rightfully so. The irony here is that many of these negative postings on this blog are attempting to turn this into a partisan story, when the original report was published on the blog of a fellow Democrat, one who is also an elected official, but one I would assume is responsible enough to pay his own property taxes.
The hypocrisy of this backlash aimed at the newspaper is that if this were even one of the Republican officials they were reporting on, these same naysayers would no doubt be praising the Herald for a job well done.
I, for one, am delighted that The New Britain Herald has become fair and balanced enough to publish the report regardless of partisan politics. Their handling of this story reminds me of the newspapers of old, when their only job was to keep the public informed, and to hold the elected officials, regardless of party, accountable to the public. Jim Craven has done what is expected of him by his superiors, and that is to leave me, the reader, looking forward to his next story. Keep up the good work Mr. Craven! "
What a bunch of malarkey!! Catanzaro says he isn't rich...so what? If you own property, you are obligated to pay taxes on it...if you can't afford to do so, sell the property and rent an apartment. As for Centeno...As a married couple, doesn't he have the responsibility to see to it that he and his wife are up to date on paying the bills, regardless of who owes what? How could Lori Rocha overlook the fact she owes $1,014. in taxes? It's not like it's a $5 tax bill! Still waiting to see what Ms Collins has to say!! It should be interesting to hear what John MacNamara has to say to these people...will they be added to his Wall of Shame? As for this information being no one's business..when the Common Council criticizes the Mayor's budget proposal, they should be above reproach...with these circumstances, they have no business criticizing the mayor!! With election just a few months away, this just might be the icing on the cake for the Republicans.
NB Taxpayer, My guess is that Little Mac, the lesser one, wants to meet with them to reward the 4 for being such good Democrats!
Remember that it is other people's money that they so like to spend, not their own. All 4 of these good Democrats are most likely being vetted for positions in the Obama Administration, now that they have shown their true qualifications.
Someone should tell that woman that said it is none of our business whether her husband pays his taxes, that we will all remember that snide remark on election day. WHAT ARROGANCE!
Maybe Mrs. Centeno doesn't want her husband re-elected, which may be why she says it isn't any one's business. Doesn't she know an elected official's life is our business while he's in office???????
Frank,
ReplyDeleteThis is my answer that I posted on the Herald blog, answering someone who is apparently a Democrat, trying to blame the mayor for this article. I thought your readers might like to see my response:
"Timing is Everything" is unfairly blaming the newspaper, the mayor, and everyone else in town for the negligence of 4 elected officials--which is the real issue here.
The reasons why these 4 failed to pay their taxes shouldn't matter anymore than it matters to the tax collector why the rest of us may be late paying our taxes. In fact, shouldn't these 4 be held to even higher standards?
Regarding the timing of the article, the truth be known, the Herald had little to do with the timing of this story. The truth is that this information became public at least one day earlier on Frank Smith's Blog: (franksmithsaysnb.blogspot.com) "CITY OF NEW BRITAIN ALDERMEN TAX DELINQUENT HALL OF SHAME," posted April 15, 2009, and since this is negative information about the failing of elected officials to pay their taxes, I can only assume that the editors at the Herald thought it was appropriate to report it to the citizens of New Britain, and rightfully so. The irony here is that many of these negative postings on this blog are attempting to turn this into a partisan story, when the original report was published on the blog of a fellow Democrat, one who is also an elected official, but one I would assume is responsible enough to pay his own property taxes.
The hypocrisy of this backlash aimed at the newspaper is that if this were even one of the Republican officials they were reporting on, these same naysayers would no doubt be praising the Herald for a job well done.
I, for one, am delighted that The New Britain Herald has become fair and balanced enough to publish the report regardless of partisan politics. Their handling of this story reminds me of the newspapers of old, when their only job was to keep the public informed, and to hold the elected officials, regardless of party, accountable to the public. Jim Craven has done what is expected of him by his superiors, and that is to leave me, the reader, looking forward to his next story. Keep up the good work Mr. Craven! "
What a bunch of malarkey!! Catanzaro says he isn't rich...so what? If you own property, you are obligated to pay taxes on it...if you can't afford to do so, sell the property and rent an apartment.
ReplyDeleteAs for Centeno...As a married couple, doesn't he have the responsibility to see to it that he and his wife are up to date on paying the bills, regardless of who owes what?
How could Lori Rocha overlook the fact she owes $1,014. in taxes? It's not like it's a $5 tax bill!
Still waiting to see what Ms Collins has to say!!
It should be interesting to hear what John MacNamara has to say to these people...will they be added to his Wall of Shame?
As for this information being no one's business..when the Common Council criticizes the Mayor's budget proposal, they should be above reproach...with these circumstances, they have no business criticizing the mayor!!
With election just a few months away, this just might be the icing on the cake for the Republicans.
NB Taxpayer,
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that Little Mac, the lesser one, wants to meet with them to reward the 4 for being such good Democrats!
Remember that it is other people's money that they so like to spend, not their own. All 4 of these good Democrats are most likely being vetted for positions in the Obama Administration, now that they have shown their true qualifications.
what good is a promise from a bunch of deadbeats?
ReplyDeleteSomeone should tell that woman that said it is none of our business whether her husband pays his taxes, that we will all remember that snide remark on election day. WHAT ARROGANCE!
ReplyDeleteMaybe Mrs. Centeno doesn't want her husband re-elected, which may be why she says it isn't any one's business. Doesn't she know an elected official's life is our business while he's in office???????
ReplyDelete