BRETT ERASMUS RESPONSE TO FALSE TALK WALLACE.

WOW! Brett never expected someone to lie on him.

Commissioner Brett Erasmus is a city employee, doing what is best for the city.

In reply to the news that Andre Wallace lied on him in an email circulated to the city, per Brett,

“WOW, was not expecting that.

My factual response will be that Andre Wallace and I never held a press conference together. I spoke alone to the camera yesterday on behalf of the Mayor. And I made it clear, in his figures he is presenting only one change from 2.7% to 1.5% and that is the fund balance transfer of zero.

Wallace is purposely ignoring the increases in revenue that we added back in i.e. Sales and Use Tax ($3m), Building Department revenue ($1.5m) and gain on sale of properties ($3m).

1. Wallace gave his numbers to the Mayor, Morton and Griffith on Jan. 23rd.

2. Council Member Griffith ALREADY agreed to it.

3. So we used it. And the people can verify that.

4. We have the facts to destroy ANDRÉ WALLACE’S argument.”

Mayor Thomas’ proposed a budget that is under the tax cap at 1.53% and no matter what they say, we have the facts to destroy [False Talk Wallace’s] argument. The budget was designed in May of 2018 and officially submitted to the City Council and Comptroller in September of 2018. The City Council and Comptroller wasted everyone’s time and used every dirty trick in the book to delay Mayor Thomas, desperately try make him look bad, and then lie about their role in creating this mess, including Wallace/Reynolds causing the city to lose its Moody’s rating.

This is why Mayor Thomas is fighting for the people! Below are links to qualitative based COST BENEFIT analysis from select departments. Each Commissioner has and will continue to defend their budget and provide TRUTH AND FACTS to show how they will NOT use the People’s money… but instead use new revenue sources to pay-as-we-grow the economy to foot the bills.

• Planning Commissioner Chantelle Okarter
• Buildings Commissioner Dan Jones
• Public Works Commissioner Mark Ederer
• Police Commissioner Shawn Harris
• Youth Bureau Director Debbie Burrell-Buttler
• Fire Commissioner Teddy Beale
• City Assessor Stephanie Vanderpool

You can review more facts at www.cmvny.com/2019budget to arm yourself with the truth!