Thompson Scolds Bloomberg For Being Against Temp PIT Increase

Shared responsibility shouldn't just be for the state, it must happen on the local and federal level as well. While the Senate is busy mudding the intent of Obama's stimulus plan, we here in New York City have to take care of business in our own backyard. Hardly any other city in America has as much income disparity than NYC does, and in these tough times, leaning on those that are well off so that the last amongst us do not have to suffer anymore than they have to is good thing, from a moral and economic standpoint. However, our billionaire Mayor does not want to increase taxes for the very rich. Well, Mayoral candidate and City Comptroller Bill Thompson had some words for him about that.

From Thompson's website:

"Mayor Bloomberg's budget plan is as out-of-touch as it gets," Thompson wrote. "He plans to fix our budget crisis by raising sales taxes - burdening families and small businesses struggling to make ends meet."

"I stand with President Barack Obama and his call for shared responsibility. That's why I've proposed an increase in the city's personal income tax that focuses on taxpayers whose income exceeds $500,000 annually. As our economy recovers, this increase could sunset and return to current levels."

"While his extravagant campaign signals its willingness to spend $100 million to win a third term, Mayor Bloomberg is demanding to balance the budget on the backs of working people. Stand with me to ensure this doesn't happen."

Bloomberg is and has been seriously out of touch with the needs of New Yorkers. Now I can't say for sure that Thompson is the best candidate for Mayor at this time, he is definitely leaps and bounds ahead of Bloomberg. Mayor Mike doesn't want to increase income taxes and prefers to cut services and jobs, exactly the opposite of what our city needs. And with those tens of millions he'll spend on his campaign, he'll be spouting (last two paragraphs) tired, old and discredited right wing talking points about how increased income taxes will drive away the rich.

New York, like what we did for the Presidential race last year by demanding change, we need to do the same here at home, and change the priorities of our city's government so that we actually decrease the gap between the rich and the poor.