Now This is Country Living: Homegrown Tobacco
The Times profiles one Audrey Silk of Marine Park, a retired cop who grows her own tobacco at home and is “the founder of New York City Clash (Citizens Lobbying Against Smoker Harassment), a smokers’ rights group.” Although growing your own tobacco for personal consumption is legal, Silk “said that she worried that antismoking advocates…
The Times profiles one Audrey Silk of Marine Park, a retired cop who grows her own tobacco at home and is “the founder of New York City Clash (Citizens Lobbying Against Smoker Harassment), a smokers’ rights group.” Although growing your own tobacco for personal consumption is legal, Silk “said that she worried that antismoking advocates and the Bloomberg administration, which pushed to ban smoking in restaurants and bars, would make homegrown tobacco their next target. ‘We fear that the antismokers are so hysterical that if they start finding that people are doing this, they would craft a law to make it illegal,’ Ms. Silk said. ‘I’m waiting for the black helicopters to start flying over my yard.'” Meanwhile, the owner of the Mississippi-based company that provides Silk with seeds “was not surprised to learn that the Golden Seal tobacco had done well in the Brooklyn sunshine” because of the plant’s resiliency.
Now in Brooklyn, Homegrown Tobacco: Local, Rebellious and Tax Free [NY Times]
Photo by Mickki.
NYC pensions are only tax-free in terms of City and State taxes, which were already paid while the contributions were going in.
They are fully taxable at the Federal level.
So then please explain how you can justify a system where Cops and Firemen are afforded a pension system where after 20 years of work, they immediately are paid a middle-class or better salary TAX-FREE and gold plated benefits for LIFE?
whatever, fsrg.
And reread my comments- nowhere do i say their job precludes any discussion or debate about their pensions or retirement benefits. Nor do i say they are the most essential people in civilized society. That is your extrapolation.
“Sorry but there is a difference between a banker and a cop or firefighter.”
Yes there is – but no city/society has succeeded without ALL of the above doing there jobs in an honest, respectable manner.
My comment about 9/11 was simply that the relative risk of working on (or near) Wall Street has proven to be far more statistically dangerous than being a NYC cop. Which is only relevant to dispute the notion that a pension immediately upon 20rs service is justified by the risk of being a cop. Just like the relative risk of working on (or near) Wall Street is hardly a justification for their salaries (even the honest hard working ones) – it is simply IRRELEVANT
bxgrl – if the cop/firemen didnt “come to my rescue” than THEY WOULDNT HAVE A JOB – Its what they do – why does doing your job entitle you to some exception from normal discussion or debate?
You make it like cops and firemen are the most essential workers in society – they arent – that would go to people who create and maintain the water supply. And in many places Firemen are volunteer!
Cops and Firemen have a job – one that if done right- is really important to a well functioning society – But this describes many other careers – I dont disparage or elevate people for their chosen career – I do so on how they do it – this applies to cops, firemen, food servers, custodians, even bankers…..
When the economy was booming, people used to disdain and look down on civil service employees, both uniformed and non-uniformed. they were seen as lower-middle-class and blue collar.
The economy is now so bad, and the private sector has shed so many jobs and benefits, that people are now looking a these jobs with envy and jealousy. It’s amazing.
“some people just don’t go the other way and worship what they do either. Its a respectable and sometimes dangerous career and essential to a successful society…if done with dignity and respect (as most do) but it is a job – voluntarily taken on – just like tons of other jobs…it doesnt exempt such people for discussions about what is reasonable pay, retirements and benefits.”
I don’t worship them, but i do respect and appreciate that they are willing to stick themselves on the line. The fact that they are willing to take it on as a job says even more. Sorry but there is a difference between a banker and a cop or firefighter. And nowhere did I say there should be no discussion of pensions or benefits. my argument with you is your comment about 9-11.
fsrq, I’m finding that I am in agreement with you today, for the most part. There are a lot of dangerous jobs out there, and most are being done by people that volunteer for them after doing a personal risk/benefit analysis. I don’t begrudge anyone a decent living or a decent retirement either, but at some point…
It’s a good point keeping them working at other jobs if they are too old for street duty, but get this… you’ll seldom see a commercial HVAC contractor or electrician in a police precinct. Those jobs are given to retired cops who can be trusted to not be shocked at anything they might see on the job.
And LOL at that fact that only on B’Stoner can an post about growing your own tobacco turn into a fight over pensions, benefits, unions and government workers!