This'n'That March 9th[DiPonzio;TaxFairness;CopRecruits]

Wounded Officer Update

[Democrat and Chronicle-03/05/2009] Rochester police Officer Anthony DiPonzio continues to amaze everyone with his quick recovery. DiPonzio, who was shot in the back of the head while on duty on Jan. 31, is already taking steps on his own, friends and colleagues have said. "He can walk a little now ... and hold conversations," said friend Bill Sachman, who helped at Sunday's fundraiser at Stoneyard Bar and Grill in Brockport. Sachman and DiPonzio were on the same resident assistant staff when they were undergraduate students at the State University College at Brockport. DiPonzio is recovering at Unity Health System's Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit and faces up to a year of rehabilitation. Since the shooting, several community members have started vigils and fundraisers to help the DiPonzio family. More than 500 people were invited to attend a prayer service for DiPonzio Monday evening at St. Padre Pio Chapel in Gates. The service was held to pray for DiPonzio's return to good health. "We want to show our support for him ... the community has him in its prayers," said Samuel A. Simone, a member of the board of directors at St. Padre Pio. DiPonzio's parents have asked the community a few times to continue praying for their son. Sachman said that the DiPonzios have been overwhelmed with everything else people in the community are taking the time to do, from making ribbons to hosting dinners. Sunday's fundraiser was an Italian dinner at $10 per person, which resulted in $3,000 collected, Sachman said. A benefit luncheon hosted by the Italian American Sports Club in Gates Thursday collected more than, $5,000 for the family, Simone said.

Fairness In Other Areas[?] Look'it all the crap governments AT EVERY LEVEL already tax in some way; either outright calling it "a tax" or hiding it behind "a fee!!" If they're gonna tax all this crap, why not consider mixing a modicum of "fairness" into this taxation system-rather than just saving "fairness" for the radio broadcast industry!!

Those of us who've worked "X" number of years and find ourselves unemployed, will be surprised to find that government at all levels have levied taxes on their compensation.

Those of us who have elected to end our full-time employment and start drawing our hard-earned, well-deserved Social Security pension, will be surprised to find that government at all levels have leveled taxes on their compensation!!

Those of us who are law-abiding taxpayers WILL NOT BE SURPRISED that those on the public dole ARE NOT TAXED on their ill-gotten gains!! No matter what those gains are; welfare, AFDC, heating assistance, etc.

Those on Social Security retirement who elected to start the benefit at 62 have another surprise in store. If one retired "early" FOR ANY REASON, he/she is restricted to earning $13,600 [OR LESS], annually. How has the Socialist Democrat party let this additional tax base slip past them? The party that has never seen one dollar of wealth they didn't want to re-distribute; one dollar that they didn't want to piss away on some ill-conceived give-away plan, has allowed added taxes get away from them!! Due to their "politics-of-punishment," they've chosen to force those on early Social Security into poverty rather than allow them to earn every dollar possible!! In my case: Due to my hourly rate, I'm only allowed to work two days per week before I reach my upward limit. I work in an industry that requires special permits for the work I do; the company I work for has enough that I could surely work five days a week-some weeks, even SIX DAYS. As the tax system currently stands, the feds tax my Social Security income and my LIMITED employment income. The limited income averages about $235/week [$12,415/yr]. If I were allowed to work a "normal" workweek, I could gross nearly $600/wk [just over $31,000/yr]. This could amount to nearly THREE TIMES the tax revenue to the Treasury!!! Think they'd go'fer a suggested change....?? I doubt it too!!

Rochester: More Minority Recruits

The Rochester Police Department is trying to recruit more minorities to be police officers and has extended the deadline to apply to take the police test to try to accomplish that goal. Recruitment Officer Jesse Green said anyone can apply to take the test since city residency is not required when applying. But the department will be taking a closer look at minorities who apply. "We want more diversity," Green said. More than half of the city of Rochester's population consists of African-Americans, Hispanics and Asians, according to 2007 U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Yet, only 26 percent of the more than 600 sworn members of the department are African-American, Hispanic or Asian. Police spokesman LaRon Singletary said it is important for the department to have individuals who can understand and address the diverse needs of the community. There are a number of requirements to apply, including: A person must have United States citizenship, a high school diploma or GED and must be between the ages of 19 ½ and 35 with no felony convictions. Interested applicants have until April 1 to apply to take the police test, which will be administered May 9. However, those who took the police test in November cannot apply for the May test, Green said. Those who turn in the application will receive a letter in the mail stating whether they qualify to take the written test.

Til Nex'Time....