Re: [UC] Please protest the proposed 9.9% Real estate Tax Increase

[Glenn moyer]

Liz, The depression gave the opportunity to take the BID city wide and make these mandatory assessments for everyone. Some points:  Large corporations should pay taxes that Nutter pushed to reduce for years before becoming mayor. The tax burden now falls on local small businesses while large corporations pay almost nothing. Non profit corporations like Penn should pay for services in lieu of taxes. Example: Boston University gives 5 million each year to Boston. Tax abatements were originally designed to spur development in poor communities, not give windfall profits for a few developers.  These did not cause development, that we knew was about to happen, and these give aways should end.  These may have helped cause a bubble and glut of upscale luxury condos. The evil war on drugs must end in Philadelphia.  The so called public safety department is an enormous waste since citizens are not protected from real criminals.  The DA does not have resources to help real victims, while it cages the poor and minority victims of police abuse. The city officials dont serve the people, they serve fat cats.  They must be forced on the real issues and dont care about the plight of ordinary citizens.  Stressing the hardships on real people will fall on deaf ears! -----Original Message----- From: "campio...@juno.com" Sent: May 18, 2010 6:33 AM To: pf...@ccat.sas.upenn.edu, UnivCity@list.purple.com Subject: [UC] Please protest the proposed 9.9% Real estate Tax Increase Dear Neighbors, Today, the Greater Philadelphia Board of Realtors sent all members a sample letter to City Council-members in protest of a proposed Real Estate Tax increase. I thought it might be helpful to extend this outreach to all homeowners.  Here is a sample letter I prepared (adapted from the one sent by GPAR), along with the list of Council members.  You may adapt it to better suit your voice, sign and send to every Council-member.  Please send before Thursday at 10:00AM when Council reconvenes. Your opinion matters!  I’ll be at my local Polling Place all day Tuesday.  I hope everyone votes thoughtfully. Best!  Liz *********** Dear Council member, I strongly oppose Bill No. 100284, which is designed to increase Annual Real Estate Taxes almost 10%. I understand that the administration is working with the Board of Revision of Taxes to correct years of mismanagement and current inaccurate assessments but placing the burden on Home Owners is not a smart or fair solution. As a homeowner, the proposed real estate tax increase will affect me directly, in my annual bill, and indirectly as sales and values plummet. This bill will likely encourage prospective Buyers to look outside the city. Transfer Tax income would be reduced and homes might remain vacant or neglected longer. My neighbors and I sense that many Philadelphians are struggling to keep up with mortgages, taxes, utilities and other expenses of living in the city.   A property tax increase would be disastrous for the residents who are already trying to persevere in this economic climate. This proposed increase, which is intended to help close the city’s budgetary gap, is targeting one audience: the homeowner, the taxpayer, the VOTER! Philadelphia has one of the highest transfer taxes in the nation. Restrictions on lending continue to limit potential home-buyers. Foreclosure rates continue to grow. The cost of buying a home grows with added expenses. Any increase in fees will likely further depress the real estate  market. Instead of drawing people into the city it will invite them to leave. If homeowners cannot afford to pay their current mortgages, how can they possibly afford to pay an increase in property tax? In the past year Philadelphians have taken on the burden of a 1% Sales Tax Increase. We have cut our household budgets, been forced to choose fewer activities, cheaper education and lost jobs &/or taken drastic pay cuts. Please do not raise taxes on already contributing citizens, especially during these tough economic times. Sincerely, *********** Most who are reading my note are probably in  District 3, represented by: Jannie L. Blackwell (D) Room 408 City Hall, 19107 686-3418, 3419; fax: 686-1933 jannie.blackw...@phila.gov   At-Large City Councilmembers   William K. Greenlee (D) Room 580 City Hall, 19107 P: 215-686-3446, 3447 F: 215-686-1927 william.green...@phila.gov Bill Green (D) Room 599 City Hall, 19107 P: 215-686-3420, 3421 F: 215-686-1930 bill.gr...@phila.gov W. Wilson Goode, Jr. (D) Room 316 City Hall, 19107 P:215-686-3414, 3415 F: 215-686-1928 wilson.go...@phila.gov Blondell Reynolds Brown (D) Room 581 City Hall, 19107 P: 215-686-3438, 3439 F: 215-686-1926 blondell.reyonolds.br...@phila.gov Jack Kelly (R) Room 594 City Hall, 19107 P: 215-686-3452, 3453 F: 215-686-1925 kelly-at-la...@phila.gov Frank Rizzo (R) Room 582 City Hall, 19107 P: 215-686-3440, 3441 F: 215-686-1929 frank.ri...@phila.gov James F. Kenney (D) Room 330 City Hall, 19107 686-3450, 3451; fax: 686-2013 james.ken...@phila.gov     District City Councilmembers District 1: Frank DiCicco (D) Room 332 City Hall, 19107 P: 215-686-3458, 3459; fax: 686-1931 frank.dici...@phila.gov District 2: Anna C. Verna (D), President Room 405 City Hall, 19107 686-3412, 3413; fax: 686-1946, 686-1932 anna.ve...@phila.gov District 3: Jannie L. Blackwell (D) Room 408 City Hall, 19107 686-3418, 3419; fax: 686-1933 jannie.blackw...@phila.gov District 4: Curtis Jones, Jr. Room 404 City Hall, 19107 686-3416, 3417; fax: 686-1934 curtis.jones...@phila.gov District 5: Darrell L. Clarke (D) Room 484 City Hall, 19107 686-3442, 3443; fax: 686-1901 darrell.cla...@phila.gov District 6: Joan L. Krajewski (D) Room 506 City Hall, 19107 p:686-3444, 3445; f:686-1935 joan.krajew...@phila.gov District 7: Maria Quinones Sanchez (D) Room 592 City Hall, 19107 686-3448, 3449; fax: 686-1936 maria.q.sanc...@phila.gov District 8: Donna Reed Miller (D) Room 312 City Hall, 19107 686-3424, 3425; fax: 686-1937 District 9: Marian B. Tasco(D) Room 577 City Hall, 19107 686-3454, 3455; fax: 686-1938 marian.ta...@phila.gov District 10: Brian J. O'Neill (R) Room 562 City Hall, 19107 686-3422, 3423; fax: 686-1939 brian.o'ne...@phila.gov       Elizabeth Campion PRUDENTIAL, FOX & ROACH REALTORS, LLC 210 W. Rittenhouse Square, Suite 406 Phila, PA 19103 215-790-5653 Desk & Voicemail 215-880-2930 Cell & Emergency 215-546-9781 Shared office Fax campio...@juno.com  or home.in.ph...@juno.com for Rental questions    Link to Photos of available Listings and public, 'social' photos: www.PicasaWeb.google.com/CampionEF  To check out all PFR and Multiple Listed Properties and to review CONSUMER NOTICE, link to www.PruFoxRoach.com Your referral is a welcome compliment. All the best in 2010 and beyond! ____________________________________________________________ Car Insurance for $25/Mo? Overpaying for Insurance? Rates as low as $25/m. Free Quote instantly. QuoteWizard.com ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see .