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If people have been following my previous posts...
Wall Street 'GREED' Comes to the Crowsnest Pass
Timing is Everything
... on council pushing through their 'outrageous' and 'unconscionable' 50% 'Property Tax Penalty Bylaw' they will know by now where I stand on this 'outrage'.
In this regard, I have petitioned councillors who blog, specifically Councillor Gallant and Councillor Saindon. Gallant would not even publish my comment on his blog, never mind replying. In an email exchange he told me in closing "As far as I am concerned, council has made a decision and the matter is closed." Councillor Saindon at least published my comment but chose to answer with a curt and dismissive "John I guess we can agree to disagree."
I in turn replied today on his blog with...
Mr. Saindon,
At first, I was just going to let your curt reply stand without comment, but then I got thinking that that would just encourage and condone the likes of you and Gallant to treat taxpayer/residents who take the time to communicate with you, voicing their concerns and opinions, to continue treating us as second class citizens, somehow beneath you, deserving of contempt? I do not know where you guys get off treating people this way, especially ones who have occupied your seats in the past, but I for one will not stand for it!
It is obvious to me now that neither one of you have the courage of your convictions to stand up and defend your actions, but instead, you think it is okay to run roughshod over people like what you are presently doing ramming through this new ‘tax grab’ Property Tax Penalty Bylaw of yours that discriminates against the most vulnerable in our society in an unfair and unjust manner.
I voted for the both of you… I obviously made a mistake. From now on I will do what I can to rectify that error in judgement.
John Prince
___________________________________________________
With the above in mind, I started thinking about the past and realized that even John Irwin and Gail Sygutek would never have behaved in the manner these two councillors have. And never in a million years would they have gone after the poor and downtrodden, like what this council is doing.
Both Gail and John, as most of you know, were on my 'shit list', as I was on their's. But we all knew where to draw the line when managing this community. Taking advantage of the poor was never on any of our lists. In fact, we tried to do what we could to make life easier and better for all residents, where we could. Especially for those on low-income and on fixed-income, such as what many of our seniors are on. That's why today there are policies in place with respect to Property Tax, for example, that help the less fortunate, such as: the Seniors discount, and monthly payment plan, as well as the option to individually work out a payment schedule for those in serious arrears. These guys here brought nothing new to the table but a hammer and fist... like the scary 'corporate goons' they have become.
Scary is right! These guys we have now are scary. Scary people do unpredictable things that we find both troublesome and disturbing. They upset our balance causing us annoyance and irritation, which in turn creates hostility and anger in us. Angry people do not realize that "holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned". Therefore people need to release that anger in order to help cure themselves. "Physician, heal thyself!"
The first step then is to channel that anger in a meaningful way... that could start with a phone call to Marion Vanoni at 403-562-8833 or email her at finance@crowsnestpass.com. This then could be followed up by a visit to council as part of a delegation in January... if necessary?
As a final note, it now seems clear to me, thanks to Joni's editorial, that this devious council has deliberately rammed this 'tax grab' through at this time of year, hoping people will be too busy, having too much on their minds, to give this the due attention it deserves. If this is true, then that is contemptible!
You want to do a good deed for Christmas and help those less fortunate? Then make that phone call!
Demand council rescinds this Bylaw. Then go and have yourself a Merry Christmas, knowing you helped someone who really needed it.
I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.
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13 comments:
If people pay their taxes on time there is no "tax grab" and this is a non issue.
Maybe the people that pay their taxes on time should be rewarded.
Every person should make a small effort, even the smallest effort, to improve the general well-being of their community. I'll be making that call, John.
Bill
Anon @8:43
The point is not whether a person pays there taxes on time or not. After all, in a perfect world every one would, but the fact is that some can't and are already paying a penalty of 21% for failing to do so. Raising this penalty to a whopping 50% on people who already can't pay won't change the fact that they can't pay at a given point in time, and therefore it is simply morally and ethically the wrong thing to be doing.
More than that I cannot tell you. If you can't see the travesty in this, I can't help you. Nor is it up to me to make you see. But I will make one more effort. Was it not Jesus who said, "there will always be poor among us", so why is your heart so hard against those who do you no harm, and suffer already? Will increasing their suffering, as what council is doing, help you in some way?
Bill, Good for you! Hopefully the Pass has more like-minded people such as yourself.
JP
John somebody threw the theory at me yesterday. That this is all about the municipality strengthing its bargaining position with the River Run investors. The more they owe the better a deal they will have to make with the town.
More bright lights and headlines for the politicians.
Dean Ward
Hi John,
It would appear that your 'duly elected' council have been taking lessons from the BBoys tutorials. "We are great and wonderful. We are untouchable. Don't like us? F**k you. As for the January council meeting, chambers should be bursting with outraged taxpayers of all income levels. Beware the iron fist of arrogance in the velvet glove. Take care.
Dean,
Could be but further victimizing victims (investors and the poor) is not the way to be going about this matter in my opinion.
"More bright lights and headlines for the politicians."... that is about to backfire and blowup in their faces. 15 minutes of fame followed by a life-time of ignominy, I'm thinking.
Chloe,
Good one! January is still a long time off, hopefully, they get the message before then. But having wasted my time with two councillors already, I'm thinking it is going to take being 'in their face' to make them see the light of day.
Such a deceitful, heartless, arrogant bunch we have never had.
JP
WARNING: CJPR is airing advertisements by the municipality 'threatening' the public that they better pay their taxes before the end of the month, otherwise they face a 52%+ tax penalty.
Have you heard these 'ominous ads'? Scary stuff that must make the hearts of mayor and council pulsate even faster with the joys of Christmas.
"The rise in property values causes property taxes based on property values to increase; resident owners unable to pay the taxes are forced to sell their dwellings and move to a cheaper community."
Ah, the above coupled with the new 'Property Tax Penalty Bylaw' must be part of this council's new strategic plan... of emptying the community of the "have not's" in order to make room for the "haves".
Considering how over-priced housing is here in the Pass (thanks in large part to Bridgcreek Development (River Run) speculation), along with over-taxing by councils over the years, the haves are the only ones now who can afford to live here anymore.
Anon @8:56
I've heard those ads and I agree they are 'ominous', especially at this time of the year.
JP
This secret society of ours (council)is not telling us the whole truth. I can not imagine that all 7 would vote in favor of this unless they have a hidden agenda.
Maybe they need all of this extra money today to cover their butts come tax time.Short term fix for a long term problem.Where does the extra revenue come from that will be lost in future penalties?
Maybe they want that Riverrun land.The investors say they will not put more money into it, so council is forcing the issue with that Mintoft fellow to either put up or shut up.And more than likely shut up, as is a bank really going to lend them the money to put in infastucture, roads etc.. and more money yet to build showhomes.
Any other theories out there?
John have you been reading Dean Wards Blog I can not believe all the new positions they are creating. This blantant tax grab must be tied to that, what other wonderful things are they going to do to squeeze more money out of us.
Second I sure don't like the way Emile Saindon answers your comments, smells of attitude.
Jeff
Anon @9:45
Good comments! Secret society and secret agenda using our poor as pawns in their game of brinkmanship with the River Run investors is what I think we have here. There is no justification for their despicable actions left, other than this, in my opinion.
Jeff,
They seem to have big city appetites for a small town budget, don't they?
Where's the money going to come from? Not on the backs of our poor, I'll tell you that! It's time the well-heeled in this community who have been getting their play things paid for by the rest of us for years, started kicking into the pot.
Attitude is right! But at least he has the guts to communicate, knowing life and being a councillor is a two-way street. Unlike Gallant, who is scared of those he represents and therefore believes in only one-way communication i.e. top down only, with no bottom up.
Anyhow Jeff, I have just posted another reply-comment to Saidon's blog. Give it a read. Best!
JP
I'm starting to feel that moving away wasn't a bad thing after all.
Bylaw 836, 2011 - Property Tax Penalities
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