Why is New York State Closing Parks and Prisons?

While it is true that the Governor has inherited a fiscal mess and a state bureaucracy that has been bloated since the days of Rockefeller, Gov. Paterson is unfortunately perpetuating this (more) taxes and (more) spending approach that has driven thousands of businesses and more than 3 million residents (since 1990) - along with their $billions in annual income and tens of $billions in assets - out of NYS and thus shrinking the tax base. And those of us still here are paying more for less. This shrinking economic pie will result in ever more cuts made in the wrong places like closing parks, correctional facilities, fewer teachers in the classroom etc. ... that is, areas where there is a direct negative consequence on New Yorkers quality of life, education and economic competitiveness.

At the same time, the state continues its wasteful spending on the administrative bureaucracy in Albany (and elsewhere) as well as building projects - whose costs are astronomical. Case in point: Why does it cost Saranac Central School $17.5 million “to replace building windows, lights, boilers in the heating system and water heaters, as well as buying interactive white boards and improving playgrounds and playing fields” (PRB Editorial; 2/15/10) when the private sector can build a 50,000 square foot four story office building (from the ground up) for half the cost?

Why does it cost the new Catherine Gardens Senior Housing Center in Plattsburgh more than $258,000 per (mostly) one and two bedroom apartments units?

Is it due to the fact that private businesses have to EARN their income while politicians/bureaucrats can simply TAX/CONFISCATE (by force if necessary) the people’s income and wealth.

The only way we can reverse this distressing NY state of affairs is for the voters to demand accountability from their politicians (at all levels of government) and return NYS to the free market principles our industrial base and economic prosperity was founded upon.