The Empire Page

Elections for State and local officials are just around the corner. So what are we really voting for this November? Our elected officials show themselves at fairs, county events and news conferences during election time, but where are they the rest of their term? Have you ever tried to speak with them, or send them a letter? You normally get a form letter back, or some secretary returning your call telling you that they appreciate your call and the matter is being looked at, and you never hear from them again.

Here is the situation that has me wondering what my representatives in New York are really doing for me. In 2006, I bought a business In Warsaw with the intent of giving back to our community. I had the misconception that Warsaw would want to keep a business alive. The real case was others wanted my money worse than I wanted to keep the business going. So after 2 years of struggle and no more money, Wyoming County shut us down.

The story doesn’t end there. With no more money, bills and judgements piled up. I had all my taxes done but could not pay my accountant to get them filed. I found enough work to pay to have all taxes filed and started talking to the various tax offices to track progress. Here is where my story gets interesting, I owed on paper over $20,000 in taxes to the IRS and about $8,000 to New York State. But with amendments to be filed, each office owed me a total of about $5000. During this time I was on unemployment and finally landed a job with the US Government, but my federal tax obligation had to be met and the IRS was backlogged. I was put in touch with some wonderful people at an office, within IRS of all places. They were the advocates. I told them my story and the position I was in, and, the need to push through the amendments to be allowed to take the new job. My advocate went right to work, she was fantastic and within 3 weeks my tax issues were take care of and I was able to go back to work. Happy ending right? Wrong!!

Now I had to deal with New York State, which will not process my amendments until the IRS has approved the federal tax return. All this time I am talking to the New York Tax collector in Buffalo and explaining the situation and what we are doing to solve it.  When this started she sent me a form to fill out about our finances which was OK, but then they want two declination letters stating I cannot not get a loan. Now folks, if you tell anyone you want a loan and oh by the way I am unemployed right now, what do you think their response will be? That’s right, after having a good laugh, they explain that in order to apply for a loan you need to have some sort of income other than unemployment to qualify, so don’t waste their time. But according to New York State I have to have these letters in order to file this form. And what does this lovely person do that I am speaking to in Buffalo? She goes on vacation and leaves no one to work my case.

But the nightmare is still not over. After the IRS got everything squared away with my taxes and helped me to get my new job, I filed everything I needed to file with New York State. I informed the person in Buffalo that the forms were sent to the filing office and my taxes would be paid, and that my refund from the IRS had been applied to my New State Tax bill. That was not enough, she stated to me that, "since you failed to file your expense budget with us along with the declination letters that a levy was placed on your accounts until the taxes are paid." When I explained that if you would process my amendments you will see that I owe very little or nothing at all, and, the levy will place me in a hardship position, the answer was a clear, " I don’t care. That is the LAW". Sure enough my bank account was seized, which will not allow me to pay my student loans, and will force me to leave my new job, because I cannot be in default of any federal loans. Also my check is direct deposited to that account but if it is frozen, I cannot get paid so I have no money to get to work, again I loose my Job. But, I can go back on Unemployment.

I have sent letters to the Labor Department, the Tax Department, and Senator Volker’s office, I really don’t expect a response. Why? People in our State offices don’t care about you as long as they get paid. I am owed over $7,000 in back pay from a former employer. New York State Labor Dept. decided that I am owed that money, but the employer refuses to pay. An order to comply has been sent, that was 2 years ago. Do you think that New York has put a levy on their accounts? Do you think that the Labor Department is pushing hard get the money I am owed? But the Tax Department will go after me for money I really don’t owe, and put me back in unemployment to show that they can.

So this questions came to my mind, Why is it our Federal Government can be compassionate and understanding, and help you through a rough time, and New York State can’t? It’s because the Federal Government understands that they are there to serve the people, and things do happen that can cause a hardship. New York has the attitude that the people serve the State, an attitude that goes back to the time of kings and dukes, where the serves support the wealth of the kingdom and the serves get the scraps left over.

But this is the 21^st Century, the power still resides in the people of this State, and our elected officials know this. They want your vote. Make them work for it. During these campaigns start asking questions. What have you done for ME? What are you going to do for ME? How will you serve ME? That may sound selfish, but your tax money pays their salary, their comfort of living. It’s only right to demand fair treatment from our State Officials, and our State Government. That is what we should be voting for, a fair State Government that serves the people instead of enslaving the people. One that understands and helps, instead of condemning and punishing those who are doing the best they can. And bring to Justice those who work the System, no matter how big they are.

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Jon Coykendall lives in Castile, New York.