Hamden Daily News

Campaign ’07

Tax-relief group sends message that elected Democrats cannot be trusted and need to be voted out of office next year

By Sharon Bass

Soundly turned down Sept. 5 by the Town Council for a reval phase-in, Hamden Homeowners for Tax Relief assembled last night vowing to keep up the fight. They want people to hear them. And join them. And be enraged with them that the Democrats in power are “liars” and should be thrown out next year.

“We did elect them but they are not representing the people,” Sandy Friday said. “So it really is taxation without representation. And Mark [Sanders], I can’t thank you enough for all the work you do. It gives me a tiny bit of hope.” Friday and Sanders were two of 28 who showed for the meeting in the Miller Senior Center.

Sanders had challenged the administration’s assertions that a property revaluation phase-in would not result in much savings for homeowners. He presented his analysis at a meeting, but there has been no substantial political will for a phase-in. After the Sept. 5 vote on the matter, Sanders discovered information that would counter one of the administration’s reasons a phase-in wouldn’t work: the town would lose some state PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) dollars for tax-exempt Hamden real estate, like Quinnipiac University and churches. Sanders said his calculations show the town would actually gain $1 million in PILOT bucks with a phase-in.

“[The new PILOT information] will further expose the lie,” said Sanders. “So maybe those who still have some faith in this administration” will lose some of that faith.

He gave the tax-relief group that “tiny bit of hope” Friday spoke of, that the issue isn’t dead. “If it’s the right thing to do, we need to keep pushing,” said Sanders. “I hope people aren’t getting weary of this. It’s still possible.”

“Here we are. Waiting for the Legislative Council to do the right thing,” said Kelly McCarthy. “Realistically, I don’t think [the phase-in] is going to happen. But I’m going to make sure everyone knows how much they would have saved.”

Applause.

“Is there any way a town conspiracy is going on?” an elderly woman asked. “Is there any legal recourse?”

“I haven’t looked into that,” said Sanders, a lawyer. “Unfortunately, this is just the rough and tumble of the political process. I don’t know as I stand here if there are any laws that are violated” by the Council nixing the phase-in. “I don’t know of any recourse but the ballot box.”

McCarthy said if they sued the town the taxpayers would foot the legal costs. “This is really one of the reasons this is such a terrible situation,” she said. “We’re stuck with who was elected.”

“Let’s march on city hall,” belted out Friday.

“We really don’t have any allies but the Republicans,” said Carol Christmas, a founding member of HHTR. “We’re stuck with who we have.” The two Council Repubs, Betty Wetmore and Ron Gambardella, were the only ones to vote for the phase-in.

Friday gave the group marching orders. Pass the word around their neighborhoods that the Democratic-controlled Council won’t offer tax relief. Make them aware of how much their tax bills went up this year. Help pass out fliers promoting HHTR. And get involved in phone banks to get people to come to meetings.

“My neighbor is angry,” a man said.

“My neighbor doesn’t know what’s going on,” another said.

“We need to shake away people’s apathy,” said McCarthy. “We don’t understand what the [politicians’] aversion to saving money is.”

Copyright © 2006 Hamden Daily News, reprinted with permission. Originally published on 28 September 2006.

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