New York unfair to owners of second homes
Credit: Kevin P Coughlin
Regarding "Urging break for second-home owners" [News, April 26], New York State Tax Department spokesman Brad Maione's comments are quite revealing. Of all the things he could have said, he chose, "The folks we're talking about here are wealthy for the most part." Is this an admission that New York selectively enforces the tax code on wealthy taxpayers only?
Tax officials' surprise at the "East End uproar" also is disingenuous and betrays ignorance. The negative effects on East End real estate and job creation and spending are quite obvious. Not so obvious are the second-order effects of disgruntled second-home owners pulling out of the state, taking their spending, tax dollars, business investment dollars and charitable-giving dollars with them.
The only surprise here for New York and Maione is that someone is finally standing up and challenging the state's ridiculous interpretation of the residency laws.
John and Laura Barker, New Canaan, Conn.
Editor's note: The writers have a second home in Amagansett.
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