Kingston Mayor Shayne Gallo, rising to his feet with Aaron sitting about 10 feet away, opposed the delay. “I have a real problem with that,” Gallo said, “This is a hole in my budget. If we don’t get that money, I will have to make some very tough decisions about cutting services, perhaps laying off people.” Gallo noted city taxpayers were having difficulty paying their taxes and that perhaps two dozen residents could lose their properties for non-payment this year.
Kingston Central School District Treasurer Gary Tomczyk Jr., with school board President James Shaughnessy sitting next to him, expressed similar sentiments. “As treasurer, I get the phone calls from desperate people trying to find ways to pay their taxes,” he said. “Some ask for installment payments, which isn’t allowed under the law. And somebody else hasn’t paid a dime in three years?”
Aaron insisted he was prepared to pay his “fair share.”
O’Halloran contended that tax payments were built into Birchwood Village rents, “so the tenants have already paid toward these taxes.”
Aaron didn’t disagree, telling reporters afterward that he had $150,000 in rent payments in escrow, based on “the projections we made when we designed the project.” He said his tax bill was triple what he had anticipated.
Aaron warned the board that his low-income tenants would be “in peril” if he were forced to pay the taxes demanded. Since he couldn’t charge tenants higher rents under his state rent-support agreement, he later explained, he might have to cut back on services such as security.
This is a witch hunt against Aaron. Ask the IDA whose water they’re carrying. This whole thing stinks to high heaven. Aaron is one of the few good developers around. They want to run Aaron out of town so they can bring in that other senior housing guy from Orange County to build and manage these things.
The IDA should be abolished. This is a dispute over the 2008 property reval, but demonstrates the bad blood between Gallo and Aaron. Did Aaron support Hayes in the mayor’s race, or what? Smells like revenge.
I know people who live in two of Aaron’s facilities, and both of them have the highest respect for him personally. They see him often and he works to meet their needs.
I’m appalled that the IDA and Gallo wouldn’t try to work with a developer who builds LEED certified, NYSERDA-rated buildings for the neediest people in our communities.
Shame on them for pushing these slanted, one-sided stories to the press and for frightening the residents of Birchwood. What’s the point?
If Aaron’s trying to work with the city by offering some money until the case is finally arbitrated, why doesn’t Gallo do what he’s supposed to do — negotiate. So far, we’ve seen nothing from him but chest-pounding.
There are plenty of slum-lords to go after in Kingston — why target someone who is providing high-quality, safe and clean facilities?
Aaron still needs to pay his taxes. No wonder the cities and towns of Ulster County can’t balance their budgets when people like this developer don’t pay their taxes.
Everyone is missing the point. Most of you people speak about Mr. Aaron from an emotional stand point. Let’s stick to the facts. He is a guy with a personal reputation for not paying anyone. Which includes his employees, which he was sued over and lost, he sued his own mother and lost, he does not pay his vendors and legal action has been taken. Just because he build properties, that is only one side of the story. Bottom line Mr. Aaron has put off paying his taxes for years and has gotten away with it due to his affiliation with local politician. Mayor Gallo has had enough and is doing what is in the best interest of the town. If you or I failed to pay our taxes would would be charged with tax evasion and possible jail time. Mr. Aaron and his political flunkies need to be fully investigated.
[…] not pay his taxes despite massive, ongoing public subsidies from the same politicians (see, e.g.: http://www.kingstonx.com/2012/02/08/aaron-gets-deadlines-from-testy-ida-board/ ) in so-called public/private […]