Barring Late Night Liquor

This past year, only 39 bars filed for a State Liquor Authority "all-night" permit. 6 were denied. That’s down from the 400 applications received the year before. Reasons given include the new 10-day instead of 45-day filing deadline prior to all-night events, a New York State crackdown on unruly applicants and the poor economy. It's enough to make a bar owner want to drink, day and night.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This blog is a quick comment on an older New York City news headline. Unforeseen NYCo website development delays prevented it’s publication before now. For readership continuity, 100’s of older headlines are to be posted in chronological order until this blog is current. Though some of the stories may no longer be as relevant as they once were, they remain interesting news items worthy of this site’s mention and viewer comments.

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The Ball Isn’t In His Court

Bruce Ratner’s plans to build his $950 million NBA arena in downtown Brooklyn have run up against a pressure-defense of neighborhood opponents. As a result, groundbreaking for the Atlantic Yards project has been delayed at least 6-months. This means his New Jersey Nets can't relocate until 2011 … at the earliest. Now, Ratner demands that New York State claim the land under “eminent domain” laws. This game is really getting out of hand. It’s unlikely that Ratner will be denied development forever. Therefore, it makes sense for the two sides to get together, talk and reach an agreement. Both sides must play on the same team to benefit New Yorkers.

The Taxman Means Business

Either overdue sales taxes will be collected or business owners theselves may be collected … for prison. Local pizzeria owners, used-car dealers and other city business owners dealing primarily in cash, "be on the alert." You’ll soon feel the heat of the taxman and a new force of 125 investigators, auditors and lawyers. It's all part of the state’s new Special Investigation Unit. 10,000 warning letters have been sent requesting money owed. Many small business owners believe these are merely “scare tactics.” They shouldn’t be so sure. Delinquent business taxpayers will no longer be tolerated by New York State. The letters offer a second chance to meet their responsibilities. Penalties will be waived for those who come clean now. All New Yorker's must pay taxes. Business owners hiding currency in their books or at home "under the mattress" risk seeing an “Under New Management” sign in their windows.

Gas Fuels Frauds

As gas prices go up, more and more gas guzzling cars, trucks and SUV’s are going too. Some, supposedly by theft. Some, in flames. So far in 2008, New York State Insurance Department investigators have caught 88 insurance scammers in New York City alone. That’s compared to just 77 here in all of 2007. The climbing fraud statistics are reminiscent of those seen in the 1970's when gas prices also rose significantly. Disgusted owners of fuel wasting vehicles believe they can only get a car's "book value" from their insurance carriers. Some are willing to risk arrest trying to fake a crime. Insurance companies are well aware of what goes on in today’s economic climate. Each have special investigative departments for the sole purpose of checking out insured’s claims. They use the latest investigative techniques whenever fraud is suspected ... and it usually is. They can and do deny payment even if there is no arrest of the vehicle’s owner. Borough car owners would be well advised to be satisfied with whatever they get legally for their inefficient vehicles, or simply to drive less. It beats making license plates in prison for someone else’s ride … or being an "inmate’s ride" while you’re in jail.

New Pork City

Look around you. See some folks who could afford to shed a few pounds? Think they might be from another state or tourists? Probably not. A federal government study concluded that 25.5% of the people in New York State are obese. That’s good (actually bad) for 19th place on their list. A statewide, county by county breakdown was not made available but by the looks of things around here, New York City is "carrying its weight for the state."

Cigarette Sales Going Up In Smoke

In June, New York State's tax on a pack of cigarettes went from $1.50 to $2.75. Since then, more and more New Yorkers are calling 311 for help to quit; three times as many as before. More are requesting free nicotine patches, too. At up to $10.00 per pack, $300.00 per month for a pack-a-day habit, a tipping point may have been reached. In 2007, only 16.9% of New Yorkers smoked. Smoking is certainly very different socially and economically compared to when Bogie lit up. Though there’s something inherently wrong with government imposing taxes to control any type of personal behavior, it seems to be a good thing here. If the day ever comes when smokers drop below 10% of our population for example, where will the government make up the lost revenue and impose a new tax "to do us good?" Perhaps on all super-sized food orders?