Tip O’Neill’s famous quote applies to many aspects of our current political life in the US. In Connecticut, NJ, and NY state outside NYC, it slaps us in the face as the world’s most famous city (citizens of London, Paris, Rome, and other large cities might object, but they don’t have to live in the tri-state area around NYC) plaugues us with egregious decisions that abuse out-of-city workers.
There was a time when “the city” welcomed its neighbors’ to participate in city life as workers, restaurant and theater goers, visitirs to events and museums, and so forth. That’s no longer true! That large welcome mat that was once offered no longer exists. Quite the contrary, out-of-city means “out of luck” as persons are turned ay by an arrogant mayor and NYC City Council. Here are a few details:
Taxes. While death is often hastened by working in the city—9/11 sicknesses have killed many, garbage always litters the streets providing a savory smorgsabord for those furry creatures carrying all sorts of other diseases, and raw sawage and flooding waters from broken century-old pipe add to the deadly stew of disearse—Covid isn’t the only contagion observed; polio and other more tradional ills are also found—the taxes are enough to make any cityworker slash their writsts. City and NY state taxes must be paid by anyone who works there, and, althought Connecticut and NJ might provide some relief for their citizens working in the city, they can’t escape federal taxes. That makes at least three tax returnes, all so complicated that you need professional tax help to prepare them (or professional mental help to recover from them).
Excessive tolls. “The city” is known for its bridges and tunnels that provide access to the island of Manhattan and other boroughs. The island itself is a dangerous, dirty, and dizzying place to visit, a far cry from when Native Americans (the Lenape people) owned the island. It doesn’t seem fair to pay any toll. And these tolls are charged for going into the city. Most people would gladly pay for getting out of the rat-infested place.
Congestion pricing. Once you pay the toll that gets you into Manhattan, you will soon have to pay a surtax if you travel in Midtown of farther south. This is the new gimmick invented by an incompetently run MTA and that group of other incompetent political hacks, the NYC City Council, to scam workers from outside the city even further. Because all those migrants must have room and board provided by the sanctuary city, the city’s agencies, including the MTA, must make up for the loss of budget somehow, right? Why not tax to death anyone working in the city who commutes from outside it? Mind you, that congestion pricing tax is added to the tolls. (Didn’t we fight the Revolutionary War over double taxation?) Companies base in NYC will either hgave to help pay for these egregious taxes to keep workers, or move to Connecticut or NJ with their more reasonable operating costs. (The city deserves the latter, of course.)
Crime and taxis. The crimes mentioned above (they’re legal but still crimes against humanity) are exacerbated by all sorts of criminals roving the streets and subways. You’re likely to be caught in a crossfire between warring gangs of become the victim of a knife-wielding crazy bastard who thinks you’re an ET invader. (Mental health costs a lot no one seems to want to pay.) Adding to that, your ability to flee to the hospital from the scene of the crime is seriously limited. (Taxis are as scarce as dodos, especially if you’re bleeding or the sky is, and the EMTs can’t get to you either, even with congetion pricing.) Moreover, many of those comfy old yellow cabs no longer exist and have been replace by those rat cars that no one over thirty can get into, and even city dwellers and visitors under that age have entry problems if they’re wounded.
NYC is Trump land. Forget Alan Bragg and Leticia James’ just cases against that orange narcissist and his corporation. Il Duce could only have survived and thrived in the sin city of Manhattan. Its criminal underbelly, home to many unsavory characters (most more ethical and less fascist than Narcissus le Grand, of course) was the perfect cesspool for the Trump Organization’s criminals to thrive. Michael Cohen’s books only cover the tip of the dirty iceberg that we’re only beginning to observe. And Trump and his minions are only the most infamous of NYC criminals. (Even the current mayor’s campaign staff is being investigated by the FBI. And don’t forget George Santos, whose fall from grace was worse than Il Duce’s. (Can you believe that Santos is more stupid than the “f&^%ing moron”?) There’;s also a plethora of shady and abusive landlords besides those in Trump’s orbit, which includes the Donald and his sleazy children. No other US city has fought the mob so much, and the Trump family business is just another mob.
That’s only a summary of the current ills of America’s most infamous city. Happy New Year, all you people who have to live and work in NYC. May you survive 2024! It will be hard enough even outside the city.