He'll also vote for a supplemental,on top of a decrease in the homestead exemption and your annual 4% tax increase.That's my prediction folks.This thing will degenerate into a purely moral issue when,in reality,it's strictly a financial one.If you enjoy more taxation then vote for him.I've got nothing personal about this guy,i'm sure he's a fine person.I just think that when push comes to shove he'll vote for the best interests of his co-workers.Once again,JMHO.

Dave he can't vote on stuff that affects him or his union. Don't you see that? Unlike Lisa who sponsored legislation to help out her brothers check cashing business.

She didn't save anyone a supplemental tax. Thats what she wants everyone to think. Its coming in the form of bankruptsy. I don't want to see my house lose more value than it already has. And thats what Lisa is doing. She didn't want that vote on a supp tax to affect her run for Mayor next year.

The unfunded mandates and schools full of kids that dont have parents paying their bill is whats killing our City. This Guys got my vote hands down. No matter what your politics are this financial mess took YEARS and shame on these incumbents for not PROTECTING this City. Its not about the Union its about effecting positive change. Bankrupt or not the tax payer is going to pay for the inept people we have at the wheel now. VOTE THEM ALL OUT !!!!

I would like to know how ALL our reps voted on the Fiscal Stability Act.You know the one,it not only gave us Budget Commissions and Recievers but it also protected bondholders 100%.Personally,as the bondholders have a financial interest in the City,i think they should have some skin in the game too,after all a bad bond is basically a bad bet.Individuals get credit card debt forgiven in bankruptcy and this would be like credit card debt gone bad.Now we have two different groups (taxpayers and unions) at each others throats when bondholders(i'm guessing bankers) are made whole.They get paid back 100% plus interest and,God knows,this City's bond rating is in the toilet.

fire marshal morin and I have had some (LOTS) of problems, he fire marshal, me property owner, we are in no way friends, but he has served his office with honor and respect to the public.It is also true that he represents his union.He was elected by his fellow workers. All i can see he did a good job on that front. Now the question is can he allow himself to serve two masters equatibly fairness to both for the two sides. One big problem few of taxpaters actually know what the fire contract is. they gave back some. Is it now fair and equtible for both sides to live with. cpt. martin,you are the most knowledgeable on the fire contract, all we do is have half of anything and half of we think. Please educate us so taxpayers can put it to rest.The best service you could do to make all comfortable. These are the things i would want. Tell us actual numbers of contracts now . Tell us is the fire contracts fixed and final. Are you willing to take the heat on both sides now and bring both sides together once and for all. Good luck to all

The Fiscal Stability Act of 2010,a half-ass form of bankruptcy ok'd by the General Assembly.

Sombody mentioned this morning that Rep. Baldelli-Hunt is on a disability pension from the Post Office. Can somebody tell me what the disability is? If thats true that incredible.

I heard it on "Larry"

So we now hear from the other member of the dynamic "UNION Supporting" duo?

Are these the same guys who said to the city, pass the supplemental tax and then we'll talk about contracts?

NICE........... I want these guys representing me as a tax payer........ NOT!

To Marc b- I heard the same thing about her being on a disability pension from the post office ... Not only that, but that her sister apparently is on a disability from the state of Rhode Island and her brother is on a disability from the Woonsocket fire department. Isn't her brother the guy that runs Hava java/check cashing/pawn shop. If its true than that is completely disgusting.

RBeau, LMAO. Om my god if thats true then the Baldelli family hit the "Disability Trifecta" . I'm liking this Morin guy more and more. "Morin for Mayor"

I'm gonna write in Jeffrey Dahmer for mayor,he'll eat all those greedy taxpayers alive!

So Dave, let me get this straight. You'd much prefer one of your state reps to propose immoral legislation that financially benefits a family member and then vote for her again thinking you can trust her to do the right thing on other issues? Might I also remind you, by enabling her brother's check-cashing business to charge a usurious rate, it will more easily be a way for him to funnel campaign contributions to her account.

So my final question is: Why should anyone listen to what you have to say, Dave? For all your bluster about saving the taxpayers money, you're more about keeping the status quo.

This is a fascinating discussion which raises several points. Let me take them in turn:

1) The supplemental tax bill. Woonsocket is in dire trouble with respect to its finances. The rest of the state is either ahead of us (Central Falls) or right behind us (Providence). There are several keys to improving our financial state, among which are ensuring that we choose representatives with recognized financial expertise, ensuring that we choose representatives who understand the art of compromise, and ensuring that we choose representatives who have demonstrated their ability to keep their personal house in order. A supplemental tax bill makes sense only in certain circumstances - if, for instance, our leaders determined that an investment in a certain aspect of our city was in order (e.g. Main Street, getting passenger rail service, upgrading city-wide transit, improving the overall look/feel of the city so as to be more welcoming), that would be a good reason for a supplemental tax bill. If a single bill would serve to make up for a budgetary error, that would be fine. But that's not what happened. And our taxpayers currently can not afford additional property tax. Another method of solving the problem needs to be found, and it needs to be found through discussion, compromise, and thinking outside the box as to what has been done traditionally.

Let me ask a math question. If the supplemental tax of 17% did actually pass and the single family Homestead of 42% was still in place, what is the effective supplemental rate? By my estimates it would be about a 10% increase to single family. Is this correct or is Homestead not factored into a supplemental?

2) Union Discussion - I've heard two different stories. One is that the City tried to negotiate with the unions. The other is that the City never actually met with the unions to try to hammer out a reasonable compromise. I don't know which story is true. I do recognize that individual union members have a contractual agreement to receive certain funds as time passes, that these funds are sometimes linked to COLAs, and that these funds have risen to a point where they are interfering with our ability to have a balanced budget for our City. That said, other costs/revenues have changed in the meantime and one could just as easily blame these aspects of the budget for getting us in trouble at this point. So, as I said above, what is necessary is for our representatives to truly represent us. We know we cannot afford to pay more; we also know that there is a certain minimal level of service that we're willing to accept in return for what we pay to Woonsocket each year. We have to balance that out and simultaneously ensure that the State provides its portion to us in a manner that is appropriate given the population of our City.

To answer the obvious question that I'm sure someone will ask, I'm not a union member, have never been a union member, and have no family members who are union members. I am neither anti-union nor pro-union. I don't want to see anyone get less than what they legitimately expected, but I also don't want to see the City fail as a result.

I respect Mr Morin as a FF as I respect all FF's. BUT the fact remains if he wins the election and takes his seat in the General Assy then Mr. George Nee takes over. Mr.Nee will direct Mr Morin how to vote. It is what it is....
Lisa Baldeli Hunt- former union president being challenged by Mr Morin- current union president.
Let's not forget Dr. Gitlow. He is still in this race.

3) Disability - A significant portion of my medical work falls in the domain of disability determination. Disability is based upon impairment, not illness. If Mr. Smith is terribly ill but has no impairment, Mr. Smith is not disabled. Similarly, if Mr. Jones has a very mild illness but significant impairment, Mr. Jones may not be able to carry out his work. Each time an individual is found disabled, there is a significant burden to the community as a result. Not only do we pay disability benefits to the individuals impacted, but we accept the lack of productivity from those individuals. This is our society's way of making sure that we take care of our neighbors. It is therefore essential that we ensure disability regulations are set up in a way to prevent those without impairment from taking advantage of disability benefits. I've seen far too many people on permanent disability who had brief illnesses, temporary or no real impairment, and then continue to take benefits while not having any medical issues.

4) I'd welcome potential constituents to join me on my Facebook page. Just go to facebook and look me up:

Dr. Stu Gitlow - RI General Assembly - District 49 Woonsocket

Comments, questions, and other interaction are always welcome. My intent would be to leave this interface available if I become your representative so that you could always reach me in an open and transparent forum. I look forward to the discussions we can have together.

I will take Morin over Baldelli (sorry Stu, they are the real candidates) for a few reasons. At least Morin now has to work till 65 and pays something towards his healthcare unlike Hunt who has been getting free healthcare from the State and is collecting a tax free pension.

Marc, I'm puzzled as to why you would differentiate me from the other two candidates in that manner. I have great respect for both Lisa and Michael, but there are significant differences among the three of us, thereby providing voters with a variety of potential choices. The only reason I can think of as to why you would refer to Michael and Lisa as being the "real candidates" is that they have both grown up in the area whereas I have not. As I said this morning on WNRI, we have tried to vote for those who grew up in the area for many years, yet things have continued to deteriorate. It's time to draw from other areas of expertise. I view myself as the best possible candidate (otherwise, of course, I wouldn't be running). I suppose you might have also meant that they are the only "real candidates" because they both have strong union backgrounds while I do not. In any case, and with all due respect, I hope you will explain your statement a little more.

Stuart all I really meant is that I can't tell by your post on this article if you are the real "Doctor Stu" or just an alias like many poeple do. If you are the real person I'm not questioning your candidacy. Sorry for any confusion

Hi, Marc. Thanks. That makes more sense. Yes, it's really me, but I suppose you're right that anyone could post under any name they choose to use so there's little I can do to prove it! I've been hoping to use online media as a way to have discussions with those in District 49, but it's been interesting trying to find the venue that most people are comfortable with. Perhaps my Facebook page makes more sense.

Stuart; heard about you for the first time last night. please try to introduce yourself more out there in public land. I was impressed on what I heard about you. It was from a verry informed friend. Get your message out there more.We dont know you. good luck

try WNRI radio, poitrass show, john dion show, and theres another show that the person will have any candidate on, sorry I dont know the name of the show. please try to go on there, we need to hear your message

Hi, Russell. You're absolutely right. Here's where I've been: I've been at many of the health-related meetings at City Hall over the past nine years and have my medical practice just off Main Street in downtown Woonsocket. I was on Wake Up Woonsocket on WNRI this morning (admittedly at 6:30am on a Saturday). And there was some wonderful coverage on page 1 of last week's Valley Breeze.

That said, it's difficult to get information out to a great percentage of the electorate without single-handedly walking the District. Even there, I've found that most people simply do not wish to discuss the issues when blindsided by a candidate at their doorstep. I'd use email, but there are, surprisingly, no email lists for Woonsocket residents (why we don't collect that information as part of the voter registry is an interesting question).

I appreciate your other recommendations and I'll pursue those over the next week.

Taxpayers and unions should get together and ask their reps why bondholders(just like credit card companies)are off the hook.Bonds are unsecured debt and anyone with a financial interest in the City should be considered in any kind of municipal bankruptcy.Another huge failure by the General Assembly back in 2010,the very bond ratings they were seeking to protect back then have tanked anyway.

I'd be willing to bet that a bunch of these bozos own muni's and were protecting their own asses.Everybody's waiting for a recovery that's not coming and the loan sharks are let off the hook while getting tax free interest.They're a bunch of inept politicians with no foresight,following these bums is financial suicide.Where's Woonsocket's bond rating now?

Everybody wants solutions,well there's one,lobby your reps for real fairness,just like the bondholders lobbied for protection back in 2010.Remember,when CF went bankrupt it's bondholders were off the hook.What kind of bankruptcy was that?All creditors should be in play!Go ahead,everybody flame me now while the loan sharks laugh all the way to the bank.

Loan Sharks?? Why are you bringing in her Payday Lending Bill into this? LOL

Because its a testament to her character. It was ethically and morally wrong. Thats all.

We can go back and forth all day long about the mess this city finds itself in. The bottom line is it took years of bad politics to get us here. So keeping those incumbents that have been around for years and either didn't see this coming or chose to do nothing about it need to be voted out of office.

I'd advocate for everyone to organize and not pay any tax till they stop jamming all this debt down our throats to buy votes but God knows that'll never happen.The voting booth won't change anything either,we're screwed.

stuart; on proposal 2 to pay ahead and get some break on taxes would almost be imposible for both sides to gain anything. that would mean the city would have to discount tax payment. "less revenue" homeowner would have to have lot of cash hanging around. I think that we would just get deeper just like a credit card.furure monet that woud be due would already have been spent. we need to cut more things on city side. also at the rate of commercial tax no one with any brains would move here unless a big tax deal agreed. but thats not the solution. we need to almost reduce commercial rate down to nothing. one incentive to try to do example is have different ends to the middle. you can come up with a good name for it. existing companys start at (just throwing numbers for explanition)50.00 per thousand,new companys starting at 1.00 per thousand and in ten or so years they meet at 25.00. hope you can understand my thoughts. new business would have insentive to come here and old business would want to stay because they have a light at the end of the tunnel. on 3 improve revenue? all i can see so far is to put tolls on all our bridges in woonsocket. and gates on our borders and have the police rob them before they leave.

no one ever talkes about all the extra revenue the city is getting because of late payments. i think the city is getting more tax dollars than ever before in history of woonsocket. tax and late payment revenue is not the problem. keep in mind the city looses no tax money ever.

So you are offering an incentive to new businesses for moving here - a discount on taxes, with a gradual increase to a stable point that is less than the current rate, with current businesses provided with a gradual decrease of taxes to that same stable point. That's a nice idea and we certainly have a good deal of available square footage for businesses to utilize.

As for improvement of revenue, we need to think outside the box and study examples of similar cities and what they have done across the country to meet their obligations. It would be easy if we had a ski mountain next door or if we were on the shore and had water views. But we do have a rail line and a waterway and excellent housing and office stock. There are creative ways of utilizing that to increase revenue to the city, particularly if the state embraces such a course so that other cities in need could invest in their future as well.

If we successfully get passenger service to Providence, imagine how quickly Woonsocket could become a commuter haven. Good for Providence and good for Woonsocket.

we may have lost wallmart as business but they are still paying property tax. nothing lost. sucking people dry is not the answer. realestate investment in apt. business is also not the answer. but comming up with a plan that i have on multi houses will change things reduce number of units and still bring in the same tax dollar. there may never be enough poeople to rent these apts.again. my plan would solve that. and also reduce schooling. my total plan woud also stimulate construction jobs in the city.

thanks
LA for providing the details on radio. this is the way that things get done. keep on improving on any one subject.

I'd like to retouch on the supplement tax issue with a comparison:

The Homestead Exemption(42%/15%/5%) is phasing out and will destroy homeowners and I will show why. Let's compare a single family home and a 4-family home, both $100k for ease, Res tax rate $32.26:

Homestead on single is 42% so assessed value is $58,000. Tax is $1871
Homestead on 4-fam is 0% so assessed value is $100,000. Tax is $3226

Now watch this:
If a 13%($3.15) supplemental tax takes place.
Homestead on single is 42% so assessed value is $58,000. SupTax is $183
Homestead on 4-fam is 0% so assessed value is $100,000. SupTax is $315

Clearly, all properties without a Homestead take more of the tax burden. This supplemental tax was voted down and instead the Homestead was phased out.

So if that same supplemental tax is implemented with no Homestead.
Homestead on single is 0% so assessed value is $100,000. Tax is $3226
Homestead on 4-fam is 0% so assessed value is $100,000. Tax is $3226
Homestead on single is 0% so assessed value is $100,000. SupTax is $315
Homestead on 4-fam is 0% so assessed value is $100,000. SupTax is $315

The single family is given the same tax burden as investment properties. A single family with the supplemental tax would have paid $2054. Since Homestead will be gone, it will be more like $3541. You voted down the Supplemental increase of $183 only to get a future increase of $1487. How does this make sense?

I for one will not vote for anyone who is a firefighter, policeman, teacher, the General Assemblay is just full of the above I just mentioned, they make sure they vote for their own!!!! Mr Morin as a firefighter has been one for a good long time, also count in his being a captain will havre one heck of a great pension!!! Now he wants to get in the G/A recieve another pension, health care. No! not what I want in there.
Remember folks, another gentleman firefighter is running for the G/A !! Mr Casey!!
why are they all so interested in helping us out?? I think they want to help themselves !!!!!

Mew, You are discriminating against people who work for a living. Lisa is on disability from her union position in the post office.
When voting, people should consider who is dedicated to making the city the “CITY ON THE MOVE” once again. It once had prosperous businesses and houses full of families. Who can bring that back? I can’t vote for Mike or Stephen but if I could, I would consider what they have to say rather than what they do for a living.

hope lead remediation.is the biggest con game on earth.
I knew that would happen one day, and started to solve that problen 15 years before it became law. For anyone that has a lead problem Do not remediate. there is a much better perfect solution to be lead FREE. No expensive bandaid for me. Menard did have some good ideas but didnt have enough knowledge in some areas. She also played to much political crap.And was a very dangerous woman to deal with at city hall . Most people would stay away from her. too bad for my city.

Hello to all. I have a question for Mr Gitlow. Sir, how long have you (and any family if you have a family) lived in Woonsocket?

Your obviously not to bright "mew" . Mr. Morin can't collect a second pension. He would be able to though if he was on a Federal Disability Pension like Rep. Hunt is. He is just what this City needs. Someone who isn't afraid to fight. Like a breath of fresh air.

Mr. Gitlow, I was asking a question I knew the answer to. You and your wife have lived in RI for 15 years, so why does she have Vermont license plates? RI Law is specific. It's clear to me you/she are avoiding RI taxes and taking advantage of lower taxes in Vermont. That is pathetic and illegal. And ultimately, the City of Woonsocket loses tax revenue. Good luck on the campaign!

Mr Gitlow, your wife drives a white SUV with Vermont plates. That is a fact. Just prior to your first campaign, your car was also registered in Vermont. Those records can be looked up with the DMV. You stated you lived in RI for 15 years. Three years ago two of your "alleged" three vehicles had Vermont license plates. Let's not play games.

Who is their right mind would vote for Lisa Baldelli or Jon Brien. What have they both done in the last 2 to 4 years for taxpayers in Woonsocket? If you think getting over 2 million dollars for a drug infested park is an accomplishment, there is definitely something wrong with people. Neither one of them has ever tried to attack welfare reform, went against the supplemental tax bill, knowing it's coming anyways. It's all about votes at election time. I don't think for one minute they really care about the taxpayers. It's all a bunch of bull crap...

I heard that Lisa Baldelli-Hunt raises unicorns and spins wheat into gold and that Michael Morin actually lives under a bridge and harasses billy goats. You stupid people have no clue what is actually going on. Get a clue. Your "facts" are wrong. The local waters have atrophied your meager at best brains and have greatly diminished your capacity to navigate truths. There hasn't been a contest this heated in a long time! All we need now is to get Jerry Deluca and reactivate the burgeoning Woonsocket Democratic Committee.

Alreadysickof2012-----. Getting a little too high tonight? Must be really good stuff !! try to overdose so you can save us all your ssi check ! please also return your free phone . thank you

JR-- im getting tired chasing you from site to site please stay in one place.

Just so everyone knows....i'm votin' for Morin,he's got my back.Sorry Russ,had a little too much gin tonight!

Is the info above correct in reference to the supplemental tax being 13%?

Given the time that has passed, a supplemental tax would need to be far more than 13% to have any potential for saving Woonsocket from Chapter 9.