New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg‘s proposal to charge religious institutions and nonprofit organizations a fee for garbage pickup beginning in July 2012 drew stiff opposition at a City Council hearing Thursday.
Council Member Fernando Cabrera, a Bronx Democrat who is also a church pastor, denounced the proposal as an unfair burden.
He estimated that the fee, if imposed, could cause 10% of religious institutions citywide to close, though he acknowledged the estimate was a ballpark figure. The details of the plan have yet to be released, preventing a scientific analysis.
Mr. Cabrera said donations to religious institutions citywide have decreased significantly in recent years, and any additional financial burden could lead to the collapse of those that are operating at the margins.
Sanitation Commissioner John Doherty testified Thursday that his department has proposed instituting a fee on all nonresidential entities that currently receive sanitation services free of charge.
The city estimates the fee would generate $17.2 million annually in new revenue. Mr. Doherty described the proposal as “very preliminary” and said the department has a “tremendous amount of work” to do before it returns to the council with a more formal proposal.
If no one goes to the organization they shouldn’t have any garbage, and if they do, they should be able to pay for it. I don’t see any reason that the city should pick up the tab.
i pay for my garbage, they should pay for theirs, period.
There are 2 parts of AMERICA –
There is NEW YORK and the REST OF USA
New York, I agree is disgusting. But if you go out of town, it is not the same scene. When you come from abroad, please remember your facts. Just like you hate when an American cannot tell the difference between a Brittish and Australian accent. Just like you hate when an American talks about how “it always rains in France” since London is always gray.
people have very little personal responsibility to the filth that is america. as soon as you cross the border into canada you can see how clean it is.
I come from Europe and the first impression of New York was how dirty it is. It seems to me that this is a little plaster on a big sore and will not fix their problems financially or hygeinically. They need a new system of garbage collection and should look at countries where it does work.
the picture is bags of shaimos waiting to be loaded for burial!