Letters to the editor
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Martin Kaplan's Nov. 18 letter ("The Incoming County Exec Is Already Failing Us") claiming county Executive-elect Rich Fitzgerald "failed his leadership role before taking office" is the kind of thinking that has our economy mired in recession and perpetuates the suffering of far too many people.
Mr. Kaplan is wrong when he says Mr. Fitzgerald failed to warn us of the inevitability of needing new revenue. Throughout the campaign Mr. Fitzgerald refused to sign on to a foolish Grover Norquist-style pledge to never raise taxes. Mr. Kaplan is also wrong in implying the small increase in millage is not a "last resort" measure. Allegheny County has not raised property taxes in eight years. In that context, the proposed tax increase seems to pass the "last resort" test.
Often we hear critics say that governments need to be like "your family," citing that when your family doesn't have enough income you simply cut expenses. However, when families have cut all they can cut from their family budgets they are forced to find more income, perhaps a second or third job or some other step that adds to the revenue side of the family ledger.
Without the reasonably small proposed increase in taxes, estimates project a range of 500 to 1,000 jobs will be lost along with severe cuts in critical social safety net programs. If we truly care about our brothers and sisters in Allegheny County, it is time for this family to find new income.
I salute Mr. Fitzgerald's political courage and leadership.
MARTY MARKS
Shadyside
The writer works for the AFL-CIO, which endorsed Mr. Fitzgerald.
Isn't it amazing that less than one week after being elected, Rich Fitzgerald is supporting county council's tax hike agenda? Where was this information during the campaign? Mr. Fitzgerald's assertion that Allegheny County has not increased taxes in 10 years is a misrepresentation.
First Published November 27, 2011 12:00 am
