My plan for Staten Island, if elected Mayor, city of New York.
MANHATTAN, NY / ACCESS Newswire / August 21, 2025 / Serene, green and lushful Staten Island - with its unique history, I would love to present to anyone walking on this planet as the world's maiden borough, because that's exactly what it is.
But what do we have today? Staten Island, a borough of New York City, saddled with high property tax. And the fact that it is the most heavily property taxed borough in the City is as mind boggling as it is disturbing.
As an independent candidate for Mayor, I follow the law, I follow common sense and not partisan politics. I therefore want to use my political neutrality to reduce this burden of high property tax on all that calls Staten Island their home. To make this happen, I plan to declare the Island a heritage site.
And will use New York City's Public Work Investment Act as a tool for the development of a grand public project - one with capacity to garner revenue on a scale that is consistent, stable and big enough to make a property tax reduction permanent for the next fifty or more years on the Island.
A project like this will be create a new stream of revenue and jobs for everyone in the borough. It will lead to a total reform of existing tax structures, as well as allowing me to addressing how we use tax abatement to drive economic growth and development initiatives in this borough.
This is crucial and of vital importance to how this project is and will be funded from beginning to the end. Please note: I don't believe in PPP, and I am not a fan of engaging a banking for profit system - that takes all revenues to Wall Street for a project of this size.
I will therefore keep to my NYC Poor Relief Campaign goal - which calls for setting up community banks in all the five boroughs, within the purpose of overseeing and enforcing communal well being. And since I want to keep revenues in local hands as well as use local revenues for providing quality services in local areas, I will use a bank like this to fund this type of public work and local projects in other boroughs.
The more we put into Manhattan, the higher the the rate of cost of living for everyone becomes.
Local transport infrastructure will need to be improved with green and environmentally friendly technology so the borough is better connected by street cars. Priority for hotels, lodgings and hospitality accommodation establishments and conversions will be given to Staten Island residents rather than established names in the hotel industry.
Besides asking for your votes at the ballot box this November, all I want from Staten Island residents is to consider a choice of two out of these three options: a copy of the Basilica in Rome, a Disney land for families or a world class EV racing track.
Bear in mind that each one of these options comes with an international airport for the Island. So we are talking of a creation of at least fifty thousand or more permanent Island jobs that will be directly linked to this project once completed.
My NYC Poor Relief Campaign goal is all about bringing development, permanent jobs, new money and new wealth to other New York City boroughs out side Manhattan, and this is an example of one of my many plans.
I am Abbey Laurel-Smith, an Independent candidate running for Mayor of the City of New York. As your candidate, I favor the general well being of all New Yorkers. And as much as I promise to work to improve the living experience for retirees, students, city workers and low income families, I also promise to work hard on bringing back those high earning out-migrators who left the city for neighboring states during the pandemic.
I put New Yorkers first.
Join me, vote better live this general election and let's rebuild your city.
https://www.rebuildnewyork.city
Follow my campaign, donate if you can, and help spread the word about SmithieForMayor NYC 2025.
Contact:
Abbey S Laurel-Smith
mayor@rebuildnewyork.city
@smithieformayor @SmithiesNewYork
SOURCE: Abbey S Laurel-Smith
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