A Toledo councilman wants the 19,300 senior citizens in Toledo who own homes to be exempted from paying the city's controversial trash fee - even though the current monthly fee eventually will drop to zero for people who recycle at the curbside.
Flanked by a dozen senior citizens, Councilman Michael Ashford presented his idea for people 65 years and older during a news conference yesterday and had intended to push for a vote last night during council's regular meeting.
Instead, the Democratic councilman withdrew his motion to have the matter considered immediately after council President Mark Sobczak objected, saying it first should be vetted and debated during a committee hearing.
"In my opinion, the garbage tax is illegal and the public did not get a chance to participate in a public meeting to discuss the garbage tax," Mr. Ashford said. "The garbage tax greatly affects our senior homeowners who are on a fixed income and who have to make difficult decisions between high gas prices, medication, and do they pay this unwarranted garbage tax."
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080423/NEWS16/804230462
"The garbage tax greatly affects our senior homeowners who are on a fixed income and who have to make difficult decisions between high gas prices, medication, and do they pay this unwarranted garbage tax."
From Freedictionary.com
Adj. 1. unwarranted - incapable of being justified or explained
insupportable, unjustifiable, unwarrantable, indefensible
inexcusable - without excuse or justification
He calls the garbage tax "unwarranted", but that being the case only Senior citizens shouldnt have to pay it??
Im not feelin' the love here, nor the representation - if a councilman says a tax is unwarranted, why would he not simply fight to have it annulled for ALL of the people he represents instead of just a minority (no offense to seniors intended). Did we not elect him to look out for ALL of us?
And as far as the term fixed-income goes, mine's fixed as well! So's probably everyone out there except for commissioned sales people.
Right on Billy....Ashford wants a break simply because you reach a certain age? That's crap. If the fee is wrong, the fee is wrong for all of us. I'm on a fixed income. I know how much I will get each pay period, I buy medicine, i buy gas, food, pay for utilities.....all the things seniors do. Maybe if we all got to keep more of our money in the first place we wouldn't need so much help as seniors.
Here's to the crazy ones, the rebels, the troublemakers, the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them.
Im all for helping out Seniors -
but if he's going to continue using the word "unwarranted" I'd think his job as an elected official would merit his fighting against the tax for everyone, and if he's going to show up with a posse consisting of only seniors, I dont see that happening.
could there be a discussion about whether or not an illegal tax implemented by City Council and not approved by voters is fair for senior citizens.
How far afield can our city leaders get?
If you're here to tell me it's my fault - you're right. I meant to do it. It was alot of fun. That's why I have this happy smile on my face.
I was thinking along these same lines and it's hard for me to get past the stated term "illegal".
which is important if you want to run for mayor. I consider this whole effort to be self serving and I would call it pandering.
Billy hits the proverbial nail on the head regarding "unwarranted".
While many seniors live from social security check to the next, many are doing quite well for themselves - especially retired public servants. If the tax were 'warranted", means testing is the only good basis for determining a reduction or elimination of the fee on a case by case basis - that would require a lot of paperwork to assure fairness and such an approach is just not feasible.