Common Sense: Taxpayer giveways

Is Governor Cuomo so focused on being the progressive movement’s candidate for president in 2020 that he is willing to put forward poorly thought-through proposals at New York taxpayers’ expense in order to create a left wing national following?

I place as exhibit A the governor’s proposal to make tuition free at all public colleges and universities in the state. Ironically, in college Economics 101, they tell you that there is no such thing as a free lunch. This proposal is far from free. It will cost New York taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars as well as undermine every private college in the state.

And to add insult to injury, the state’s TAP program already covers a significant part of the cost of a public college education (and for that matter a private college education) for all but those who are in a higher earning category. If you should be fortunate enough to be a member of one of those families, I would maintain that you can afford the more modest tuition that exists at a public institution of higher learning.

Governor Cuomo created a non-existent problem so he could impose a remedy which in itself actually creates more problems that will need to be addressed by the governor as he looks for opportunities to  enhance his liberal national image. Fortunately for New York taxpayers, the Republican conference of the New York Senate is opposing this enormous taxpayer giveaway.

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Although I would not argue against anyone’s right to protest, I think it is worth noting that the protests outside of Congressmember Dan Donovan’s office on 13th Avenue in Dyker Heights have negatively impacted merchants, shoppers and drivers.

These protests essentially close down the avenue for a block or two and have made visiting the many businesses in this stretch near impossible during the time of the protest. Seniors in particular are inconvenienced. And of course they have required the attention of the Police Department, which has limited resources  available to cover the protests.

My only suggestion would be for the groups organizing the protests to hold fewer and better coordinated events. I know that this sort of sensitivity to community concerns is not a major focal point for the protesters or the groups that organize the protests, but I thought it was worth a mention.

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The Brooklyn Conservative Party will be holding a brunch at the Bay Ridge Manor on Sunday, April 2 from noon to 3 p.m. Mayoral candidates Bo Dietl and Michael Faulkner will be speaking. State Senator Simcha Felder will be receiving an award for his 2016 voting record, and realtor and community activist Sandy Vallas will be our honoree. Sandy will be presented with the Brooklyn Conservative Party’s Ronald Reagan Volunteerism Award.

Tickets are $60 per person. Anyone wishing to purchase a ticket or receive more information may call the Conservative Party at 718 921-2158 and/or go to our Facebook Brooklyn Conservative Party page or our web page, brooklynconservativeparty.com.

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Happy Birthday to Mrs. Eileen Long, the mother of nine and the grandmother of 23 and counting (at least I think 23). Eileen and her husband Mike have been friends of mine since I was 18 years old. It has been a great pleasure to see their family grow and to share many great times with them.

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