-------------
As both a Veteran and Senior serving on our Common Council, it has always been both my strong belief and advocacy, to strongly support and respect these two groups. They are the living foundations of our City of Middletown through their sacrifices which have contributed so much to our community and nation!
I know that Seb Giuliano has been a strong advocate to both our veteran and senior communities, by his committed service to our Community of Middletown. He is a proud father and grandfather who has lived in Middletown for over 60 years. It was during these years he became a Vietnam era veteran – having attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point from 1971 to 1973; being a senior regularly assigned Army Soldier.
As Chairman of the Recreation & Senior Services Commission for our city, this letter of support is to acknowledge with much gratitude for his recent pledge, that one of his first initiatives if elected Mayor, will be to help seniors on fixed incomes by revisiting the current Senior Tax Relief Program. Seb & I heard this issue clearly at a recent Senior Mayoral & Council Forum we both attended and his response to this issue was very clear. He understands that the current program provides a local tax discount to senior residents on fixed incomes, but the income thresholds have not been looked at for several years. Seb intends to expand the program to provide tax relief to a greater number of senior residents who are struggling to make ends meet
Therefore, with this forthcoming election, it is perfectly clear to me that the voters in our community should elect a Mayor who identifies with our Veterans and Seniors, through his genuine respect and caring for them; being true to his campaign slogan: “Proven Effective Leadership!
Let’s show our gratitude and respect for him by voting for Seb and our Row B Team on November 5th.
Very well said councilman pessina. Same qualities are clearly in you also. You both have my vote!
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering if you or the Giuliano campaign could be more specific about the particular and specific reasons for which we should bestow "gratitude and respect" upon Mr. Giulino. For those of us not familiar with military designation, could you explain what "having attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point from 1971 to 1973; being a senior regularly assigned Army Soldier" means? For those two years was was he in active duty in Vietnam? And, while I Have the utmost respect and gratitude for those who have served, is that, in and of itself, a reason to elect someone to public office?
ReplyDeleteSimilarly, what specifically has Mr. Giuliano done for seniors? He has vowed to "revisit" the Senior Tax Relief program. Sounds like a very generic politician's response to their constituents.
More importantly, I wonder if what both seniors and veterans in Middletown understand that the most significant way to reduce their tax liability is to increase the grand list and the most significant way to increadset the grand list is to ensure a top notch education system that will entice families to move to Middletown and convince families to stay. In the last round of budget negotiations, Mr. Giulino offered and amendment that would have reduced that the roughly 5% increase in the BOE budget to zero, limiting the gains our new superintendent Dr. Connor has achieved and removing a major economic incentive essential to the growth of our city.
A response would be greatly appreciated.
I believe West Point is a 4 yr school 1971-1973 is 2 years.
ReplyDeleteAren't most people on fixed incomes? My salary doesn't magically increase. I think many people are struggling to make ends meet, not just seniors.
ReplyDelete