To the Editor:
(Brookfield, NY – Aug. 2014) It is no secret New York state’s business climate has made it almost impossible for the small business owner to make a profit. The 49,000 pages of rules and regulations crafted in Albany have hamstringed small business owners over the past few decades.
Consequently, New York state was ranked as the worst state in which to do business by the 2014 State Business Tax Climate Index.
I know how difficult it is to own and maintain a successful small business in our state. In 1993, I started my own chimney cleaning and repair business that employed two full-time workers and had more than 500 customers in five counties. After eight years of success, I was forced out of business; compliance with regulations passed in Albany became insurmountable, and I saw a business future tantamount to death by a million paper cuts.
As your next assemblyman, one of my top priorities will be to revitalize our business community. I know firsthand the struggles and obstacles business owners face, but together we can work to create a healthy environment.
I want all business owners to have equal access to tax breaks, regardless of their location; the “START-UP NY” program, passed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo this year, encourages business leaders to set up shop in New York state by giving them tax cuts for 10 years if they relocate to specific areas of the state.
I believe all businesses should be given tax breaks so they can expand and contribute to our communities and the economy as a whole. Enticing businesses to move to New York state by giving them an advantage over the already-existing and struggling businesses does not create sustainable economic growth.
With eight years’ successful experience growing a small business into a county-wide operation, I want to bring my experiences to Albany and advocate on behalf of all businessmen and -women. Individuals equipped with strong business backgrounds can provide a voice that is lacking in Albany.
There should be business growth opportunities once more in our state. I will work with other elected officials in Albany to ensure that the rules and regulations stifling small businesses decrease. The bureaucratic web strangling New York’s economy can be undone with the election of individuals with business experience. We need to help undo this horrible trend, and we must do it now.
John Salka, Brookfield
John Salka is the Republican and Conservative candidate for state assembly in the 121st district, which includes Madison County and parts of Oneida and Otsego counties.