ALBANY — A defiant Gov. Cuomo renewed his no-tax-hike pledge last night after a former campaign foe disrupted his speech before the state Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators with chants of “Tax the Rich!”
Cuomo, speaking to reporters as participants continued pro-tax chants in the halls after his address, reiterated his call to let a 2-year-old tax hike on New Yorkers making more than $200,000 annually expire at year’s end.
“I don’t believe in increasing taxes,” Cuomo said. “I believe it’s counterproductive for the state. I believe more people will leave the state and you’ll have less revenue.”
The governor was seconds into his speech at the state Convention Center when City Councilman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn), who had made a quixotic third-party run against Cuomo last year, led a small band up the center aisle chanting, “Tax the rich” and, “Shame on you!”
Cuomo was forced to stop speaking for a moment, and drew laughs as he acknowledged his critic: “How are you Charles? I can’t see who it is, but I know who it is.”