In 2015, we should rise up against taxpayer injustice

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As we ring in the New Year, let’s reflect on the important issues and challenges our state and county faced in 2014. I believe 2015 will be a good year, notwithstanding that it is the Zodiac Year of the Sheep, a dreaded year in Chinese culture.

The Chinese consider sheep meek creatures. In contrast, the people of Long Island are nothing of the sort. We are warriors! Together we will rise up against unjust persecution.

One such injustice is the cost of electricity. Between taxes, household expenses and the cost of college, it is becoming nearly impossible for a middle-class family to make ends meet. Now, to add to our struggles, PSEG has been on a year-long pillage of the working-class people of Long Island.

Nationwide, the average price of regular gas has dropped for 11 consecutive weeks, reaching $2.55 per gallon on Dec. 15 — a decrease of $1.16 per gallon from the 2014 high in late April. Yet despite this dramatic drop, PSEG has announced another rate hike. It is now burdening Long Islanders with an increase in the power supply charge of about $10 a month, or a 14 percent increase for the average customer.

Ratepayers have seen increases seven times in the past 12 months. So as the nation saves, we suffer? What a joke.

PSEG is supposed to be the company brought in to save the people of Long Island, but it is nothing more than the fox in the chicken coop. It’s the only power company in New York state not regulated by the Public Service Commission. It’s time for our local and state leaders to step in and implement regulatory policies that PSEG must follow. Three million Long Islanders deserve protection from the greedy PSEG pillagers!

Another injustice was the school speed-zone camera program, which was recently repealed. School safety shouldn’t be taken lightly, but this program was poorly executed and mishandled. Some of the cameras covered schools that weren’t even in the cameras’ vicinity.

Let’s end the blame game. The taxpayers complained, and the County Legislature and county executive listened. This is how government is supposed to work. I respect County Executive Ed Mangano for making the tough decision to end a program that may have been fiscally successful, but was patently unfair.

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