The folks at StopTheTaxShift.org have invited me to write a "blog" about what happens in Albany and how it affects me as a private citizen living, working, raising a family and running a small business here in New York. Well, I've never written a blog, but from what I can tell it is kind of like writing entries in a diary. I agreed to give it a try and I hope it helps you understand the connection between what happens at the State Capitol and what happens in your community.

I thought my first entry should start by giving you my feeling about government. Here it is: I like my government to be real. What does that mean? Well, it means I want government to be nearby when I need it and I want my government to provide services that benefit me, my family, my local business and my community. I also want a government that I feel welcome to participate in - not just voting once a year for my elected officials. And most importantly, I want my tax dollars to go toward government services that I can see, use and that make for a better life in my community.

I guess my city government - since it is the closest to me - is in the best position to be that "real" government. Believe me, they don't always get it right and I wish my property taxes were lower. But at least with my city I know the people who are supposed to represent me. My mayor stops in my diner just about every day, and lives right around the corner. And the city does things that my family and my business need everyday. We live here because we like the quality of life in Empire Falls. We couldn't live the way we do without city services like police and fire, water and sewer, streets and sidewalks, parks and senior centers.

Another part of government being real is that the citizens can have a say in how it's run and who runs it. Accountability is important to me, and our city officials know that if they don't get it right, they are going to hear about it. And if they still don't get it right, then things will change on election day.

So that's how I feel about government. Now you'll know where I'm coming from when I write about state aid, state mandates and how New York should tackle its property tax problem.