STUNG BY STATE
Undercover source due 2010 pay
Dear John: I am an American Muslim who worked for law enforcement prior to and after 9/11. I was a confidential source for various city, state and federal agencies.
After 9/11, I worked for agencies from New York City to Richmond, Va., uncovering terrorist financing and thwarting terrorist plots.
In 2010, I was a registered confidential source with the NYPD and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.
I was the primary confidential source in a sting operation in the Bronx, where we were after people selling bootleg cigarettes.
It was a highly successful effort, with several arrests, indictments and prosecutions. Among the prosecutions was a former Stuyvesant High School teacher who was sympathetic to Hamas. He thought I was a terrorist during the sting.
The teacher supplied me with guns and explosives and advised me to use them on a Jewish Center on Amsterdam Avenue and a police precinct in Manhattan.
My problem now is that I am being taxed by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance for the money I was paid in the sting.
But the tax department still owes me $20,400 for my services, which can be verified by the investigators on the case.
This money would help me pay these taxes. Fear not, I continue to respond when called upon. I love my country, but am disappointed in New York state. E.M.
Dear E.M.: As you know, I worked on the story about the sting in the Bronx as it was going on. The Post even had a journalist on site as the teacher who fancied himself a supporter of terrorism was arrested.
As for what you say is owed: The head of that operation, Tom Stanton, has verified that you are due that amount. Stanton is now retired, so he produced a letter confirming your involvement in his operation and the amount.
I’ve sent your letter, along with Stanton’s and an itemized list of what is owed, to the NYS Department of Finance. I’m waiting to hear back.
But let me say this. I think it’s despicable that New York state is giving you a hard time on this matter. You risked your safety to help the state. Folks in Albany get paid a whole lot more than $20,400 for doing a lot less.
Dear John: A friend of mine pointed out something that hasn’t gotten much press or attention from AARP.
Social Security beneficiaries received a 2 percent increase in their checks this year. But the Medicare premium deduction was increased by $30 per month, from $104 to $134.
For those individuals living on Social Security, this seems like quite a bit of money.
I’m not good at math, but it could be close to or in excess of the 2 percent cost of living adjustment many of the beneficiaries received.
Wouldn’t this have raised some outcry from somebody?
Thanks. Always enjoy reading your column. R.G.
Dear R.G.: OK, I’ll cry out. This isn’t fair!
But it’s better than in recent years, when there was no cost of living adjustment for Social Security and Medicare was rising.
Look, the system is rigged against seniors. The feds control the official level of inflation through smoke and mirrors. And there’s no incentive for Washington to pay more to Social Security recipients because it believes the system is going broke.
If the AARP really wanted to advocate for seniors, it would stop spending so much on ads trying to recruit more members and use the extra money to lobby elected officials to stop the inequities.