5 years ago
By Rich Kellman Senior Correspondent
What's happening in Erie County government could be no less than a taxpayers revolt. If so, why now?
"Since I started in '88, I thought there would always be a tax revolt," says Amherst Town Clerk Susan Jaros. "I was always amazed that there wasn't. But I think this is the year of the revolt."
We saw it on Sunday when taxpayers committed civil disobedience and went sledding at Chestnut Ridge Park, which was declared closed.
"The workers haven't been laid off," says Amherst Town Council Member Jane Woodward. "Why can't the parks be open? People don't understand, and they're getting angry."
"They're getting sick of it, they're getting aggravated," another woman chimes in. Both were standing in a long line at the Amherst Town Hall Tuesday waiting to pay their property taxes on the last day to do it.
"We're really enraged about it, my wife and I," says Rob Weichert. He and his wife have a four-year-old daughter and are expecting another child. They're considering moving from Western New York. "It's sad, because we love Buffalo," he says, "but you have to do what you have to do to make ends meet.
Jaros glances at the line coming into her office. "They feel like they're dangling at the edge of the cliff and they're done," she says.
"I'm done," Amherst resident Suzy Redino echoes. "When you cut me, I don't bleed anymore. Nobody does."
Public officials say they have gotten the message. It's been delivered more powerfully than ever before, on TV and radio news and on the Internet.
"I think the media is having more of it everyday," notes Vince Ricotta.
"Do you think that's good?" asks Rich Kellman.
"Yeah, I think that's good," he answers. "I think it's finally working, let's put it that way. I think for once the system is working."
And local governments are paying attention. Jane Woodward says localities will raise taxes only at their peril. "We'd better be very, very careful this fall when we start doing our budgets for next year, because people have had it. They don't want their taxes to go up."
There is a down side to cutting expenses. Slower service for one thing. "And that's what people are going to have to expect when it comes," says Jaros.
And then there are those whom you know, whose County jobs will go. Susan Jaros' own daughter, among them. "You're not angry about that, are you?" asks Kellman.
"No, I'm not angry at all and neither is she," she says. "We're realists."
And that's what all Western New Yorkers are fast becoming. The reason is mainly the flow of information. It's harder than ever nowadays to keep secrets, including what's happening in government.
WGRZ, Rich Kellman
