Author: tourist_yp6g7u

In conjunction with the NY Audubon Society’s Annual Christmas Bird count…Dec. 20th, 2015.

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Great to get out to the old nabe and see some old friends. Also got to check out some great street art that’s been springing up.




Truth is though the old Harlem is never far from view. There was a considerable trash and plastic problem in everyone of the 4 Parks we went through yesterday. The worst by far was Jackie Robinson Park where at the end of it we found scenes like this.

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for the Light shines in this World, and the Darkness cannot overcome It!

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The post Mood Music: The Musalini & 9th Wonder – Sincerely first appeared on Washington Heights, Inwood & Harlem Online | The Uptown Collective.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s that time of year when throngs of taxpayers are buckling down to file their income tax returns before Tuesday’s filing deadline. Many often pay to use software from private companies such as Intuit and H&R Block.

Almost one-quarter of Americans wait until the last minute to file their taxes.

There could be a new, free option in future years. The IRS has been tasked with looking into how to create a government-operated electronic free-file tax return system for all. But that doesn’t sit well with the big tax-prep companies.

The idea has been batted around and hotly debated for a long time. Congress now has directed the IRS to report in on how such a system might work.

The order came as part of the $80 billion infusion of money for the tax agency over the next 10 years under the Democrats’ flagship climate and health care measure, known as the Inflation Reduction Act, that President Joe Biden signed last summer. It gave the IRS nine months and $15 million to report in on how it might implement such a program and how much it would cost.

Next month, the IRS will release the first in a series of reports looking into how it might be done.

The possibility of an electronic free-file system operated by Washington is being celebrated by some taxpayer advocates who for years have said that would reflect good governance and well serve taxpayers. Critics voice skepticism about the IRS taking on the dual roles of both tax collector and tax preparer, arguing that the new service could create a power imbalance between taxpayers and the government.

Robert Marvin, an IRS spokesperson, said in an email that a key goal of the study is to “look for ways to make filing taxes as easy as possible.”

“It’s important that Americans have choices that work best for them when preparing their taxes, whether it’s by using a tax professional, tax software or free options,” he said.

But big tax preparation companies have millions of dollars to lose if the program comes to fruition. Last year, more than 60 million taxpayers were serviced between Intuit, the parent company of TurboTax, and H&R Block.

Tens of millions of dollars have been spent trying to influence policymakers on the issue, and lobbying data shows that the big tax companies in particular have spent heavily.

An analysis shows that Intuit, H&R Block, and other private companies and advocacy groups for large tax preparation businesses, as well as proponents in favor of electronic free file, have reported spending $39.3 million since 2006 to lobby on “free-file” and other matters. Federal law doesn’t require domestic lobbyists to itemize expenses by specific issue, so the sums are not limited to free-file.

Intuit has spent $25.6 million since 2006 on lobbying, H&R Block about $9.6 million and the conservative Americans for Tax Reform roughly $3 million.

Derrick Plummer, a spokesman for Intuit, said taxpayers can already file their taxes for free and there are online free-file programs available to some people. Individuals of all income levels can submit their returns for free via the mail.

A “direct-to-IRS e-file system is a solution in search of a problem, and that solution will unnecessarily cost taxpayers billions of dollars,” he said. “We will continue unapologetically advocating for American taxpayers and against a direct-to-IRS e-file system because it’s a bad idea.”

Starting in 2006, an agreement between the IRS and some commercial tax preparation companies, known as the Free File Alliance, prevented the IRS from creating its own free tax return filing system. In exchange, tax preparation companies agreed to provide free services to taxpayers making $73,000 or less.

The provision that barred the IRS from exploring a free-file system expired in 2019, but the Free File Alliance agreement to provide free services for low-income taxpayers remains in effect.

Ariel Jurow-Kleiman, a tax law professor at Loyola Law School, and the New America think tank have been selected by the IRS to conduct the congressionally mandated study for the agency. Jurow-Kleiman said their mandate is “evaluating the feasibility, approach, schedule, cost, organizational design, and IRS capacity to deliver a possible direct e-file system.”

But she has faced pushback from Republicans who say she does not fit the law’s requirement that an independent third party assess what it would take to deliver a direct file program.

Rep. Jason Smith, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, sent a letter to the IRS in March questioning Jurow-Kleiman’s ability to be an independent reviewer, saying her work indicates “a clear preference for an expansive government-run system.”

Smith, R-Mo., said the selection of Jurow-Kleiman and New America shows that “the Administration has already predetermined that a government-directed e-file system should exist regardless of what might be found in a truly nonpartisan, independent, third-party review.”

Jurow-Kleiman said the GOP pushback to her selection was based on an unpublished draft of an article about tax compliance costs and that none of her writings have “addressed the questions that we are assessing in the feasibility study.”

Molly Martin, director of strategy at New America, referred requests for comment to the IRS, saying the organization “is still working on its report.”

David Williams, at the right-leaning, nonprofit Taxpayers Protection Alliance, says the “government preparing taxes is problematic.”

“The taxpayer is looking for the biggest refund possible, but for the IRS that’s not their job to look for the biggest refund for filers,” he said. “We’re concerned about that conflict of interest, but also really the ability of the IRS to do this.”

To Gabriel Zucker, who helped create the tool to help families access the Advance Child Tax Credit during the pandemic, successfully setting up a free-file program is possible. “It is a really great way for government to better serve people,” said Zucker, associate policy director for tax benefits at Code for America.

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Associated Press Chief Elections Analyst Chad Day contributed to this report

The post New push on US-run free electronic tax-filing system for all appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

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By Gregg McQueen

When Abibou Sawadogo opened her apartment door, all she saw was black.

Stirred on Sunday morning by a fire alarm, the Twin Parks North West resident unlocked the door to her 18th floor unit to gauge the situation.

“You couldn’t see anything, only black from the smoke,” said Sawadogo, who made a quick decision.

“I felt we had to run. I thought we’d be dead,” she remarked.

More than 200 firefighters responded to the scene to combat the January 9 blaze at, the Fire Department (FDNY) said, which broke out around 11 a.m. on Sunday at 333 East 181st Street, a 19-story building with 120 apartments.

The five-alarm fire left 17 people dead – including nine children – and dozens injured, one of the worst residential building fires in the city’s history.

Fire investigators have identified a malfunctioning portable space heater as the cause of the fire. A malfunctioning door to the apartment where the fire started failed to close properly, allowing smoke to travel throughout the building, the FDNY said.

Read more: Devastating Bronx fire kills 17, including 9 children | Bronx Free Press

Click below for a must-see piece on the fire courtesy of the indispensable Democracy Now.

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The post Devastating Bronx fire kills 17, including 9 children | Bronx Free Press first appeared on Washington Heights, Inwood & Harlem Online | The Uptown Collective.

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The following are the names of the 17 casualties, listed from the youngest, a two-year-old to the oldest, age 50.

• Ousmane Konteh, age 2, male
• Fatoumata Dukureh, age 5, female
• Omar Jambay, age 6, male
• Haouwa Mahamdou, age 5, female
• Mariam Dukureh, age 11, female
• Mustapha Dukyhreh, age 12, male
• Seydou Toure, age 12, male
• Muhammed Drammeh, age 12, male
• Nyumaaisha Drammeh, age 19, female
• Foutmala Drammeh, age 21, female
• Sera Janneh, age 27, female
• Isatou Jabbie, age 31, female
• Hagi Jawara, age 37, male
• Haja Dukureh, age 37, female
• Fatoumata Tunkara, age 43, female
• Haji Dukary, age 49, male
• Fatoumata Drammeh, age 50, female

Among the victims was Sera Janneh, a sophomore majoring in psychology at Lehman College, In a statement, the College noted that several additional Lehman students list the Twin Parks tower as their address.

“We are working to confirm that they are safe. Our deepest condolences to the Janneh Family and all of those who have lost friends and loved ones in Sunday’s fire,” read the statement. “Our hearts are among those mourning in the Bronx today.”

The College has posted a resource page with information on student emergency grants, including other resources available to those affected by the fire and where to donate. It can be found at www.lehman.edu/twin-parks.

Source: Honoring The Victims | The Manhattan Times

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The post Honoring The Victims | The Manhattan Times first appeared on Washington Heights, Inwood & Harlem Online | The Uptown Collective.

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Donald Trump lost the popular vote both times he ran for president, was impeached twice, incited an insurrection, sexually assaulted dozens of women, and is under investigation for tax fraud and election tampering.

Republicans: "Trump 2024!"

— Middle Age Riot (@middleageriot) January 14, 2022

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