Amid enormous budget shortfalls, New York City is looking to reinstate a commuter tax on those who live in the suburbs but work within the Five Boroughs. The New York City Metropolitan area had a commuter tax in place from 1966 up until 1999 when it was eliminated by Republicans in the New York State government in Albany. Now NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other city officials are back to lobbying Albany to reinstate the tax with a Democratic Governor in place and a new Democratic majority in both houses of the state legislature after sweeping gains on election day.

A commuter tax should not be in place only around New York City but in all of America’s major Metropolitan areas. For too long now, people have moved to the suburbs while retaining well paying jobs in cities, to in essence pool their tax money on schools and local services with other wealthy suburbanites and avoid being grouped in with the less fortunate in their areas who are stuck in the cities. Meanwhile these same people use the city services at least 40 hour a week to go to work, identify themselves as being from the _____ City area, and probably even cheer for the hometown sports teams while not paying dime one for anything that might improve the City they rely on.

You can takepart in helping to improve urban public school by checking out the 21st Century School Fund.

LINKS:

Newsday: NYC pushing again for commuter tax

WNYC: Once again commuter tax pondered

Stamford Advocate: Rell vows to fight any NYC Commuter tax