This'n'That; June 1st[Golisano;Maurer;Berk]

Golisano Has His "Say"

[Tom Golisano, Founder and Chairman of Paychex, Inc., wrote an essay for Sunday's {Rochester} Democrat and Chronicle. In it, he explains why he "officially moved" to Florida and what he feels is wrong with the State of New York {which is A LOT!}! ]

I love New York. But how much should it cost to call New York home? Decades of out-of-control budgets, spending increases and relentless borrowing have made New York simply too expensive. I recently spent 90 minutes doing a couple of simple things — registering to vote, changing my driver's license, filling out a domicile certificate and signing a homestead certificate — in Florida. Combined with spending a 184 days a year outside New York, these simple procedures will save me over $5 million in New York taxes annually. By moving to Florida, I can spend that money on worthy causes. Or invest that money in fighting to change Albany. One thing is certain, that money will not continue to fund Albany's bloated bureaucracy, corrupt politicians or regular handouts to the special interests. How did we get here in the first place? It all starts with spending, spending and more spending. New York's budget was $72.7 billion in 1999. Ten years later it has ballooned to $131.8 billion. That growth is astounding and it continues to get worse. New York spends twice the national average on Medicaid. In the last decade, the Medicaid budget has grown by 50 percent ($30 billion in 1999 and $45 billion in 2009). New York spends the most, per pupil, in America on education. Costs went up about 60 percent in the last decade ($12.7 billion in 1999 and $20.7 billion in 2009). Health care and education are worth investing in but we're spending more and getting less. Rochester City Schools graduated 45 percent of high school students in 2007. Faced with escalating costs and diminishing returns, Albany and their allies (the health care and teachers unions) had only one answer: increase taxes. It's not just the state. It's the range and breadth of many layers of governments and special taxing districts. In New York, the average state and local tax burden is the highest in the country. Like Albany, when faced with a difficult problem, these municipalities have one answer: increase taxes. Upstate New York has been particularly hard hit. Add unreasonable real estate taxes to the uncontrolled state spending and you have whole communities decimated. The assessment process is unfair, unworkable and unreasonable, and the result is that 15 of the 20 highest taxed counties in America are right here in upstate New York. While homeowners in other areas build equity, we just pay more taxes. This problem did not begin with the current recession. New York faced a $6 billion shortfall before the economic downturn. However, faced with economic turmoil, Albany looked to the unions and special interests who answered with one voice: raise taxes. By leaving I will personally save $13,800 every single day. That's a pretty strong incentive. Like I said, I love New York, but I'm not going to pay any more for the waste, corruption and inefficiency that is New York State government.

Doctor Maurer Needed Again

[Dr Paul Maurer, the same neurosurgeon who operated on injured RPD Officer Anthony DiPonzio, was called upon to "repair" one of his own. Below are two articles explaining the situation as it unfolded.]

{Saturday, 05/30/2009:} The CEO of the University of Rochester Medical Center suffered a serious back injury in a bicycling accident today in Yates County. Dr. Bradford C. Berk, who also is senior vice president for health sciences at UR, was being treated at Strong Memorial Hospital, where he was in guarded condition tonight. Yates County sheriff’s officials said Berk, 58, of Canandaigua, was westbound on North Vine Valley Road in the town of Middlesex when he lost control on a sharp curve and was ejected over the bike’s handlebars. Berk was transported by Middlesex Ambulance to a landing zone in Vine Valley, from where he was transported by Mercy Flight helicopter to Strong. A statement from the medical center tonight said that Berk suffered "a severe injury to his cervical spine and spinal cord this afternoon as a result of a bicycle accident. He has been airlifted to Strong Memorial Hospital where the full extent of the injury is being evaluated." The statement went on to say that "there was no brain injury nor was the spinal cord severed. There was, however, severe swelling of the cervical spinal cord which has resulted in significant loss of function in his limbs. He will undergo cervical spine surgery this evening by neurosurgeon, Dr. Paul Maurer, to repair and stabilize a fracture of the cervical spine. " The full prognosis of the injury will not be known for several weeks or longer.

{Sunday, 05/31/2009:}

Strong Memorial Hospital officials provided an update on the condition of Dr. Bradford C. Berk, chief executive officer of the University of Rochester Medical Center. Berk, 58, broke his back in a fall from a bicycle on Saturday in Middlesex, Yates County, not far from his home in Canandaigua, Ontario County. Neurosurgeon Dr. Paul Maurer said this afternoon during a news conference that Berk underwent a 3½ - hour operation last night that was “expeditious and unremarkable in all regards.” Berk remained in guarded condition at Strong Memorial Hospital today. Maurer stressed that recovery from a spinal cord injury is a lengthy process, but said “there is no question he has some preserved spinal cord function. "There has been some improvement this morning in spinal cord function,” Maurer said. Dr Maurer is the surgeon who worked on city Police Officer Anthony DiPonzio after he was shot in the head.

Til Nex'Time....