Socialist state lawmakers are eager to impose new tax increases to cover the growing cost of immigrants in the Big Apple, insisting that forcing New Yorkers to pay even more is the only way out of the growing crisis.
Two state senators told The Post that new taxes were on the table, while their grassroots cadres have buzzed on social media.
“We should raise taxes because it is an economically fair policy to offset all the costs of running our state,” said state Sen. Julia Salazar (D-Brooklyn).
“I would argue that even if our city and state had not seen an increase in the number of immigrants seeking asylum, this moment makes it even more important that the rich pay their fair share of taxes.”
Salazar noted that in 2021 the state approved a series of tax increases for high-income earners, which he lamented would disappear rather than become permanent.
His sentiments of tax happiness were echoed by his Senate comrade Jabari Brisport (D-Brooklyn).
Socialist state senator Julia Salazar says immigrants only underscore the need to “tax the rich.” AP Photo/Julie Jacobson
“We should raise taxes because it is an economically fair policy to offset all the costs of running our state,” said state Sen. Julia Salazar.AP Photo/Julie Jacobson
“We’re still organizing to tax the rich through the same revenue-raising bills we’ve been fighting for for years,” he said.
The renewed fiscal rush comes after Mayor Adams ordered last week that all city agencies must cut their budgets by 5%, and possibly up to 15% in the future, to help accommodate the surge in immigrants. .
Adams has said caring for immigrants will cost $12 billion over the next three years.
State Senator Jabari Brisport says he’s still full steam ahead on the new taxes. JCRice
Left-wing Democrats have derided cutting services to pay immigrants as a false option.
“A reminder: this is an election. We’re cutting services for New Yorkers when we could #TaxTheRich. Don’t blame immigrants for the lack of leadership,” said Brian Romero, chief of staff to Queens Socialist Assemblywoman Jessica González-Rojas, in response to the cuts.
González-Rojas publicly offered to accept all new migrant shelters in her Queens district in a Zoom call with lawmakers last month, something she has not followed up on.
Most of the taxes New Yorkers pay would come at the state level and require approval from Governor Hochul.
If it weren’t the income tax directly, Albany politicians could choose to raise taxes on alcohol, hotels, cigarettes and other items.
Critics said tax increases are the wrong approach.
“They will raise the tax on almost anything you can imagine that moves or walks. And, frankly, continue the outward migration of people to Florida,” said Rob Cole, a former aide to former Gov. George Pataki.
Gov. Hochul says she doesn’t like the idea of promising to block new taxes in fiscal year 2025. Matthew McDermott
Republicans in Albany, long languishing in the minority, would have little power to stop any new surge that gained Democratic Party support.
For now, the governor said she is not considering new taxes.
“Governor Hochul passed two balanced budgets without raising income taxes and intends to do the same for fiscal year 2025,” her spokesperson Avi Small told The Post.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn