We must not allow erosion of our basic community protections. We must maintain or increase our Police and Fire Protection Services. Albert will work tirelessly to find new budget opportunities to obtain that assistance.

The Wyoming Community could lose as many as ten firefighters, maybe even more if our state revenue sharing funds are reduced again. Police protection will continue to be eroded as layoffs will occur by the end of 2004.

The city submitted Proposals One and Two to the community last August 03, 2004. The city leaders deemed it necessary to LINK these proposals inextricably so that the only option for an outcome would be a win/lose or lose/lose scenario. The city leadership would gain a tax increase if Proposal One passed regardless of whether Proposal Two passes or failed. (Proposal One was a tax increase to the General Fund and Police protection, Proposal two was a dedicated millage for Fire Protection. If they both passed we the citizens would agree to a large millage (TAX) increase for police and fire protections and maintain the same level of service we were already paying for. I call this LOSE/LOSE. When it cost more for the same, we lose!!

The citizens of Wyoming said NO and so we All LOSE. However, the citizens of Wyoming did not increase their taxes. But we have a multi-million dollar fire facility idled and costing citizen’s tax dollars to maintain it. We are losing firefighters jobs, and we are losing police officers that will not be on the street protecting us. The citizens of this community have LOST an awful lot.

Kevin Green voted with a 7-0 majority to approve linkage of these proposals. He was part and parcel to playing with citizens votes. My question is why were all three issues not placed on individual ballots or as proposals for the citizens to decide what we need?  Wyoming is one of the highest taxed communities in Kent County. When Green was elected Councilman, he took on the fiduciary responsibility of a city legislator; I say he has failed miserably in that responsibility. He has voted for every tax increase and he has supported a larger city government during his time as councilman.

I saw these issues coming. I looked at Green’s voting record; it is self evident that he has supported tax and spend along with a majority of the city council.

I committed to run against him for State Representative after he voted with the majority council to LINK Proposals One and Two. This was wrong! It was wrong for the city, it was wrong for business, it was wrong for city employees and it was wrong for the citizens of Wyoming. If it was wrong then, it is wrong now.

I ask for your support on November 02, 2204. I ask that you support Al Abbasse, I will not play with your vote, I will not sell out to a majority, I will protect YOUR BEST INTERESTS. I will strive to improve our Distinct; I will strive to make you proud of YOUR legislator, I will strive to reduce the tax burden to the citizens of the 77th District.