BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Limba - ECPv6.16.5//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Limba X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://limba.net X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Limba REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20090308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20091101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20100314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20101107T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20110313T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20111106T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20100806T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20100806T000000 DTSTAMP:20100806T040000Z CREATED:20100806T040000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20100806T040000Z UID:4415-1281052800-1281052800@limba.net SUMMARY:Bill Schoolman MTA tax revisited- sponsor by LIBN DESCRIPTION:Our speaker this morning was Bill Schoolman.  His topic was the MTA Payroll Tax.  Bill is a businessman\, CEO of Classic Coach/Hampton Luxury Liner.  Last December he sued the MTA & New York State over the MTA Payroll Tax.  Here’s what he shared with us today on the subject: \nThe budget for the MTA is $13.5 billion.  They collect $5.9 billion from fares and fees to users.  The shortfall of $7.6 billion is collected from taxpayers. The MTA Payroll tax was instituted  to cover an additional $1.8 billion operating shortfall\, bringing the current total burden on taxpayers to  $9.4  billion. \nMr. Schoolman began by offering some staggering statistics on MTA wages and salaries. One example:  $183\,000 to a railroad mechanic .  This is the product of a corrupt system\, per Bill.  The MTA is called a Public Benefit Corporation.  The biggest benefit \, however\, according to Schoolman\, accrues to the people in the system. What the  Public gets is an inferior transportation product\, inadequate & diminishing service\, and filthy rest rooms.  The LIRR is among Bill’s competitors for the public transportation $.  And ironically\, he is being required to subsidize them. \nBridges and tunnels  that are part of the MTA system were fully paid for decades ago. Yet tolls are increasing again and the money is going to this corrupt entity called the MTA.  That states the problem. The tax is unfair\, poorly applied\, and levied in such a way that all of us can see the inequity.  The people that really look into this tax ‘get it’! They see the general state of incompetence\, ineptitude and arrogance in government at all levels.  How can we endure the fact that over 90% of all employees retire as ‘disabled’\, with each of them getting extra benefits for those imagined disabilities?  How can we see a railroad mechanic being paid $183\,000\, retired at $10\,000 per month and ever envision solvency for the MTA? Schoolman gave several other examples to make his point\, but this was not a venting session.  Bill came to us with a well researched and developed lawsuit that ! exposes that this tax\, itself\, is illegal.  He said: \n"We are on strong legal ground to have this tax annulled.  The procedures used by Albany to pass the law imposing the MTA Payroll Tax violated five sections of the New York State Constitution a well as the Public Authorities Law." \nThe people in the room saw the inequity as clearly as Bill did\, and they were as concerned by what the speaker was saying as was the speaker himself.  There are presently five other lawsuits (Nassau County\, the Towns of Southampton\, Southold\, Brookhaven & Smithtown\, & the William Floyd School District) that are essentially using the same wording Bill’s attorneys prepared .  Schoolman is taking every opportunity to speak to various groups and organizations in order to expose people to the strength of his argument. \nWhat should be done\, according to Schoolman\, is that 1) the MTA should be declared bankrupt and 2) the salvageable pieces should be bought by ‘people who can run a business’.  \nThis event was sponsored by Long Island Business News. \nMore information can be found on the special website of Bill Schoolman’s tax-exempt corporation: www.mtataxpayerabuse.org. \nPictured: Michelle Zere – Zere R.E.\, Shelly Sackstein – Action Long Island\, Bill Schoolman – Classic Coach\, Ernie Fazio\, Marie Zere – Zere R.E. URL:https://limba.net/calendar/bill-schoolman-mta-tax-revisited-sponsor-by-libn/ LOCATION:NY END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20100813T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20100813T000000 DTSTAMP:20100813T040000Z CREATED:20100813T040000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20100813T040000Z UID:4416-1281657600-1281657600@limba.net SUMMARY:Mark Lesko\, Supv Town of Brookhaven Blight to Light DESCRIPTION:Members and Friends\, \nWe often wonder where and when will we get enlightened leadership\, and once in a while it shows up.  Our speaker this morning was Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri\, filling in for Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko.  Lesko and Pontieri are the enlightened leadership we seek. \nMr. Lesko has created a vision that addresses several needs in one program.  Pontieri showed the award winning film "Blight into Light" that began by showing a beautiful pristine environment\, then segued into the blight that exists in the Town of Brookhaven…broken down factory buildings\, abandoned retail space and other eyesores dot the landscape. \nThe program that Lesko has advanced redefines the way permitting is done.  A point system has been developed where the value of certain conditions wins points.  Clearing an eyesore wins points\, use of property is evaluated against a weighted point schedule.  Job creation possibilities win points.  New housing plans win points as well..  Other conditions that are considered are location\, drug and crime problems and the potential for the area to be a plus in terms of generating tax dollars.  Where the property is so contaminated that housing would not be feasible\, another use could emerge. \nThe idea is to preserve as much still uncontaminated land as possible\, and clean up those areas that are no longer being put to gainful use .At the same time\, these derelict properties  often do not have current tax revenue streams coming into the Town.  When industry and high density residential properties are part of the redevelopment\, then the taxes from those properties reduce the pressure on all other taxpayers. \nThe process\, by its’ nature\, is complex and comprehensive in execution.  Yet the method promises to actually move proposals to fruition faster than the piecemeal approach that we have always taken.  Furthermore\, the scope of the project can be bigger if all of the elements are in place.  For example\, more units of housing can be built on an acre if there are sewers. \nMayor Pontieri is a natural partner for Town Supervisor Lesko because he uses some of the same principles in the Village of Patchogue.  As a result\, the planning and building in Patchogue has been very successful.  Pontieri credits several previous Mayors for exhibiting foresight in the moves that they made. An example:  providing sewer capacity in the Village that was about four times the size necessary at the time the sewers were put in.  Now they are much needed\, and already in place.  Saving the beautiful Patchogue Theater was another great move proposed by a previous mayor. \nPictured: Paul Pontieri\, Mayor of Patchogue; Yves Michel\, Suffolk Co. Dept. of Econ. Dev.; Joe Ogno\, Telcar Corp. Interiors \nErnie Fazio  \nATTENTION ALL: ERNIE NOW HAS HIS OWN BLOG.Check it out at fazio-op-ed.blogspot.com \nTHIS WEEK’S EVENT WAS SPONSORED BY TELCAR CORPORATE INTERIORS. URL:https://limba.net/calendar/mark-lesko-supv-town-of-brookhaven-blight-to-light/ LOCATION:NY END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20100820T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20100820T000000 DTSTAMP:20100820T040000Z CREATED:20100820T040000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20100820T040000Z UID:4417-1282262400-1282262400@limba.net SUMMARY:Dale Carnegie Speaker - Bob Ranieri DESCRIPTION:All you ever needed to know about human relations has been residing within your head all along.  At least that’s the way it feels after you’ve been told.  Today’s speaker was Robert Ranieri\, Regional Training Manager for Dale Carnegie Training.  Dale Carnegie was the author of How to Win Friends and Influence People.  Carnegie founded one of the world’s most famous business training institutions.  Within the pages of his book are concepts that are common sense\, and yet we constantly need to be reminded. \nThe discussion this morning was  entitled "Winning Formula to Attract Customers for LIfe".  The usual LIMBA format is that the speaker has the floor\, followed by audience participation during a "Question & Answer" period.  Today\, the speaker had a running conversation with the audience.  Each time he wanted to make a point\, he posed a question to the audience. \nAmong the items that were discussed was how we bring people to a decision.  The way you say something can make an enormous difference in the outcome.  In this morning’s session\, each person was given a list of phrases and alternative phrases.  On the one side you may see What you need to do…..as opposed to Might I suggest….  The second couching of the direction has a softer tone to it.  It also builds trust in the judgement of the person being guided.  This is very useful information to anyone pursuing a sales track  It is also useful in any argument\, from a political discussion to getting compliance from your children to getting your wife/husband to agree to a movie you want to see.  Ranieri suggested that we are all in sales in that sense.  If you get good at this\, yo may even get to see the movie you prefer. \nAt the end of the meeting\, Bob raffled off several copies of Carnegie’s famous book. \nErnie Fazio URL:https://limba.net/calendar/dale-carnegie-speaker-bob-ranieri/ LOCATION:NY END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20100827T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20100827T000000 DTSTAMP:20100827T040000Z CREATED:20100827T040000Z LAST-MODIFIED:20100827T040000Z UID:4418-1282867200-1282867200@limba.net SUMMARY:Edward Romaine Suffolk County Legislator DESCRIPTION:This morning our speaker was Suffolk County Legislator Ed Romaine.  His topic was "The Future of County Government".  Frankly\, I was not sure of what the topic would entail.  Ed began by giving an historical look at how our present political structures evolved.  In the early days of the County\, there was no County Government.  The Towns were the centers of local government.  Later\, the County was governed by a Board of Supervisors\, which was comprised of all the Town Supervisors.  This all changed after a law suit was launched by William Bianchi\, an orchard grower from Bellport. Bill Bianchi’s suit resulted in the formation of our present day County Legislature. Bianchi was subsequently elected to that legislative body.  The Executive Branch was also formed\, and the first County Executive\, H. Lee Denniseon was elected. \nPrior to this time there were no County services\, and no police department.  Police departments were a function of the Towns.  Some Towns opted out of the County Police Department\, and retained their own police.  For example\, the Town of Southold still has its own police force. \nLegislator Tomaine represents an Eastern Long Island District.  The East End has 10% of the Long Island population\, but supplies 30% of the tax dollars.  This is the same inequity we speak about when we talk about the whole of Long Island providing a disproportionate amount of New York State financing.    "We have no reliable source of recurring income "\, said Romaine.  We do have a property tax\, but it contributes just a small fraction of our $2.2billion budget.  The bulk of County income comes from sales taxes\, which change dramatically with good times and bad.  The result has been an endless ‘feast or famine’ roller coaster.  "That needs to change if we are to plan in any rational way"\, per Romaine. \nRomaine then proposed that there needs to be a radical change in how we are governed.  "We must redefine the mission and purpose of local government."  He suggested that we should diminish the role of County Government\, and increase the role of Town Government.  Ed recognized that the State of Connecticut redefined their government in the opposite direction-they decreased Town Government and increased County authority. He believes that changing government incrementally \, or using short-sighted fixes will not solve our financial problems.  Leaving County workforce positions open to save money is not the answer.  That has a tendency to slow operations down\, and the backlogged workload becomes even more expensive later.  In addition\, major opportunities may be missed. \nMr. Romaine proposed that we convene a conference of non-government people in business and the general public to look at everythingbefore reconstituting the way we are governed.  This group should look at how government collects its operating revenue.  Ed suggested that organizations such as LIMBA take some leadership in this effort. \nErnie Fazio URL:https://limba.net/calendar/edward-romaine-suffolk-county-legislator/ LOCATION:NY END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR