Proving what we already knew about those Standard Oil-emulating, stripper tears-drinking, tax-dodging, climate science-denying bastards, a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that rich people are more likely to lie, cheat, and break the law without compunction, for their personal gain. The study's abstract notes "that upper-class individuals’ unethical tendencies are accounted for, in part, by their more favorable attitudes toward greed." more ›

At a press conference today, Mayor Bloomberg was asked his opinion about reports that Governor Cuomo is planning to make new tax brackets for rich people. Although the plan is far from finalized, Bloomberg tentatively shared some thoughts about taxes (before his press secretary intervened). "I think you have to look at everything, but fundamentally you cannot tax your ways out of problems," Bloomberg told reporters, according to City Room. "You’ve got to get your expenses under control and build the economic base so that if you have tax revenue increases they should come from expanded — an expanded economy, as opposed to expanded — to tax rates." more ›

According to a new poll conducted by the Siena Research Institute [pdf], 72% of voting New Yorkers favor hiking taxes on those making $1 million or more annually. 83% of Democrats support the measure, but 70% of independents and 55% of Republicans do as well. “It is supported by more than two-thirds of voters from every region of the state," pollster Steven Greenberg says. So why is Governor Cuomo death threats or no, still opposed to extending New York's so-called "Millionaire's Tax?" more ›

As if there wasn't already tension between PS 29 and the $28K-a-year Saint Ann's in Cobble Hill, the Times reports that in the wake of the playground fire and subsequent escrow account fiasco, you may now cut it with a knife (Ginsu, if you're a Saint Ann's parent). Amidst the "faint sickly smell of burned rubber," the principal of PS 29 told a reporter that "The community is still hurting, and the children are still hurting." One PS 29 parent said "People here seek community service, some degree of standing up and taking the blame, rather than setting up some $50,000 fund." Aw, come on! Love $50,000 means you never have to say you're sorry. more ›

Yesterday about 97% of the current employees at A.I.G. agreed to collectively accept a $20 million reduction in what was to have been a whopping $198 million bonus payout. Now it's just a modest $100 million, give or take a few mil. What heroes! But what about that other three percent who won't accept anything less than the fully gratuitous payout? And the 65 or so former employees who are demanding 100% of the promised bonuses—taxpayer and human decency be damned? Can Attorney General Cuomo get us their names and addresses and charter us a bus to Greenwich? more ›

Today the rabble-rousing Post is reveling in allegations that the IRS is investigating the Yale Club for violating a requirement that 70% of its guest rooms be reserved for members in order to maintain tax-exempt status. While the IRS won't verify the claim, one pissy club member has blabbed about the brewing brouhaha. "In recent years, the club has become more like a hotel than the private club it is chartered to be," the unidentified member complains, airing a grievance about difficulties getting a room reserved at the special alumni rate of $215 a night (as opposed to $325 for nonmembers). And another disgruntled member, one Mrs. Harrison DeSilver, declares that the club has been just plain "crappy. I just want to put my feet up here, but instead, weddings are being shipped down from The Bronx." While that does sound simply abhorrent, Mrs. DeSilver might also want to steer clear of the club Wednesday night, when L.G.B.T. photographer Catherine Opie is scheduled to be feted. more ›