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Representative Anthony Weiner released a report, along with City Councilman Michael McMahon of Staten Island, that shows the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have cost NYC taxpayers over $57 million. How? Weiner's press release explains what many people probably don't realize:
Typically, when city employees are called up for active duty, they forfeit their regular paychecks, and take their new paychecks from the military. Under most circumstances, this amounts to taking a pay cut.So far, Weiner and McMahon estimate that over 600,000 work days have been missed by city employees during military leave.To honor the service of New York’s City employees, the City has set up a program to make up the difference in their salaries – so that the families of men and women deployed overseas are not put under any financial hardship.
For example, if Mr. Smith makes $55,000 annually as an NYPD officer and his military salary is $45,000, serving in the military would normally mean taking a $10,000 pay cut. Instead, the city continues to pay Officer Smith $55,000 annually, the military pays him $45,000 and he must refund to the city the lesser of the two – in this case the military pay. In the end, Officer Smith gets paid $55,000 – his city salary – to serve in the military.
Weiner will propose that Pentagon reimburse the city for paying the gap in salaries. He said, "It’s an outrage that New York City tax dollars are rebuilding Bagdad while the Big Apple’s security funds get cut to the core. Keeping New York City safe is a round the clock effort and we need every dollar we can get.”
Mayor Bloomberg supports Weiner's legislation, saying, "Any monies that the congressmen can get from Washington are certainly welcome."
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Sheesh, if the City is hurting for money THAT much, why doesn't Bloomberg just order NYPD to increase the amount of parking violations written up?
Oh, wait...
I just want to say that I was completely unaware of the city program discussed in this article, but am very pleased that the city is taking the right course in helping to maintain a semblance normal lives for the families of those called up to active duty. Money obviously doesn't make up for everything, but for once the city is stepping up and doing what it can.
Can anyone tell me how this actually plays out in practical terms? Does it have its intended results? Is it difficult to manage?
such a policy is not uncommon, and you will find that many larger companies do not require their employees to take a pay cut if called for active duty.
all i can say in response to this is argh. the extra salary for reservists is either well spent or its not. if its the former (a position i'll gladly take,) the city shouldn't need go to the feds for handouts (and how, exactly, does asking someone else foot the bill "honor" nyc reservists?) and if its the latter the program should be cancelled. this is silly antiwar posturing of the worst sort.
Weiner is a self-promoting buffoon. There's nothing requiring the city to do this. It's generousity has no claim on the federal public fisc. These people, whose service we honor, no doubt garner other benefits - such mandated priority for civil service positions and permanent property tax cuts, so they made their choice and the taxpayers are paying their salary twice - city and federal. Weiner's merely promoting himself for his mayoral bid.
Sorry but if New York can give a tax break to keep Goldman Sachs downtown then they shouldn't get more money from the Feds. Keep in mind GS was going to move to midtown - not New Jersey, not Stamford or Greenwich.
Good for the city & good for Weiner.
Next, I think he should get the entire cost of the Iraq war reimbursed to NYC.
Bush gave up his hunt for Osama bin Laden to go prove something to his daddy by fighting this stupid war in Iraq, and frankly, I think we're owed the money so we can prepare ourselves for Osama's NEXT attack because Bush didn't get him.
We've never given up on looking for Bin Laden.
And all these little Jihadists are flocking to Iraq and Afghanistan to get a piece of action -- would you rather they come here, instead?
It seems like we have a bunch of posts from the same person under different names... LOL. I don't see the problem with asking for this $$$ back - the request seems logical. It's good to see the city going after this money... I hope we get it as we give a ton more cash to the feds and the state in taxes than we ever see back.
if NYC is going to be "Remibursed" it will set a dangerous precedent- why wouldn't every employer in the country pay their reservist employees the difference between their normal and military salary and then request "remibursement"? the country would go bankrupt.
-J$
velvet-sea.blogspot.com
simon, they're taxes - if you ever received more in return than you paid, they wouldn't have to be compulsory.
and this isn't asking for money back, its asking for a new subsidy of nyc policy.
Ah yes the "Fighting them there so we don't fight them here" argument. Still clinging to that ridiculous notion, eh? Forget about the fact that the war has spawned more enemies of the US than OBL ever had.