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Friday, December 29, 2017
Vol. 2, No. 52
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SENIOR LIVING
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SENTENCED FOR BOMB THREATS
PAGES 25-32
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L.I. braces for elimination of tax deductions
BOOKS FOR A CAUSE
Residents race to file taxes in 2017 BY LU K E TOR R A N C E A sweeping tax bill passed by Congress last week will severely reduce the tax deductions available to Long Island residents, which has many locals spending the ďŹ nal days of 2017 trying to pre-pay their taxes. The bill was slammed by Long Island politicians across the political spectrum. “This legislation is a disgrace and a ‘punch-in-the-gut’ to middleclass families throughout Long Island and Queens,â€? Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) said in a statement. While no Democrat in Congress supported the bill, only a handful of Republicans joined them in voting against it. The 191 Democrats were joined by 12 Republicans in opposing the bill in the House of Representatives including Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) and Peter King (R-Seaford). Eleven of the 12 Republicans, the only members of their party in either the House or Senate vote
against the bill, represented either New York, New Jersey or California. They opposed the bill for a similar reason: the deduction of state and local tax deductions, which will hit those three states particularly hard. Deductions for state individual income, sales and property taxes will be capped at $10,000. Zeldin called it a “geographic redistribution of wealth� during an interview with CNBC. King said in a statement that the $10,000 cap was not enough and claimed that the bill would reduce home values by as much as 10 to 15 percent. “The bottom line is that while most of the rest of the country will be getting a tax cut, it will be paid for by Long Island residents who will be getting a tax increase,� King said. North Hempstead Receiver of Taxes Charles Berman said last week he had been contacted by numerous property owners, asking if they could Continued on Page 44
PHOTO BY LUKE TORRANCE
Taylor Sinett with her newest book, “Furry and Fabulous.� Proceeds will go to the Companions in Courage, a charity for children overcoming illness and other lifethreatening conditions. See story on page 3.
Schwartz turns medical woes into political dreams BY A M E L I A C A M U R AT I Brad Schwartz said he never had political aspirations until he was ďŹ ghting for his life after a decade of symptoms
from an unknown illness had ravaged his body and dealing with the health care system. Now Schwartz plans to challenge state Sen. Elaine Phillips (R-Flower Hill), who currently represents District 7,
in next November’s election. “[President Donald] Trump wasn’t the catalyst for me to run for oďŹƒce; it was the renewed attack on the Aordable Care Act that was because I Continued on Page 45
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