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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 166-09
April 14, 2009

MAYOR BLOOMBERG UNVEILS 2009 NEW YORK CITY CARD

Card Provides Political Donors With City's Top Federal and State Issues To Hold Candidates and Elected Officials Accountable for Supporting New York City's Priorities

Luncheon Featured Discussion with President Obama's National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers and Charlie Rose

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today released the fourth annual New York City Card, a credit card sized guide for New York’s political donor community detailing pending Federal and State issues and priorities.  This year’s card lists five of the City’s top Federal and State agenda items, including the elimination of the Unincorporated Business Tax, the reauthorization of mayoral control of the public school system, and repealing the Tiahrt amendments, which restrict use of gun trace data – a critical tool in stopping the flow of illegal guns. The Card was distributed at a luncheon hosted by Herbert Allen, President of Allen and Company; Donald Marron, CEO and Founder of Lightyear Capital; Joshua Steiner, Managing Principal of the Quadrangle Group; and George Walker, CEO of Neuberger Berman. The luncheon brings together major contributors to both political parties reinforcing Mayor Bloomberg’s continuing efforts to bridge traditional political divisions and build a broad coalition in support of the City. The luncheon featured a discussion with Lawrence Summers, Director of the National Economic Council and Assistant to President Barack Obama for Economic Policy and television host Charlie Rose.

“The NYC Card sends a clear message to all those who seek political contributions in our City: support those who support you,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “We have taken aggressive steps to help see our City through tough economic times and by harnessing the power of New York City’s political and financial influence, we will help ensure that our City’s priorities have a voice in Albany and Washington.”

The NYC Card and Luncheon was created in 2006 to provide donors with easy-to-reference issues when political candidates are calling for contributions. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the New York City metro area provided more political campaign donations for the 2008 election cycle than another other major urban area in the country, contributing close to $220 million. New York City’s 10021 zip code leads all zip codes in the country with more than $22 million in donations to candidates of both parties in the 2008 election cycle. Despite the amount of money New York gives to political candidates, the City consistently sends more tax money to Albany and Washington than it receives in services, making New York City the economic engine of both New York State and the entire country. The City pays approximately $11.1 billion more in State taxes than it receives in State funding, and $10.9 billion more in Federal taxes than it receives in Federal funding.

In addition to the card, the City will send legislative alerts and briefing sheets to card-members, which will include the contact information for the key legislators to contact on the City’s top issues. Priorities listed on the card in previous years have been accomplished, thanks to the assistance of card-members. Examples include the City’s efforts to raise the State’s charter school cap, block federal eminent domain legislation, and increased support for infrastructure, which was listed on the 2008 card.

The five priorities listed on this year’s New York City Card are:

  • Economy: Urge Congress to establish a direct infrastructure funding stream to cities, and the State to reduce or eliminate the Unincorporated Business Tax for 17,000 small businesses and freelancers.

  • Education: Urge the State to reauthorize mayoral control of the public school system – the key to the City's success in dramatically increasing graduation rates and raising test scores.

  • Illegal Guns: Urge Congress to repeal the Tiahrt Amendments, which restrict use of gun trace data – a critical tool in stopping the flow of illegal guns.

  • 9/11 Health: Urge Congress to fund a long-term World Trade Center health care program for responders, workers, and community members.

  • Poverty: Urge Congress to support a Federal Urban Innovation Fund to fight poverty. The fund could be modeled after the NYC’s Center for Economic Opportunity which is helping families climb the economic ladder.






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