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| Keywords: small business big heart amsterdam n.y. ny new york ghost town ghosttown dead city upstate real-estate realestate abandoned toxic hazardous waste rape sex offenders stupid criminal real estate mohawk valley mall 12010 blacks african americans capitol region albany animal cruelty abuse buddhists monks crime schenectady troy relocate violent apartments revitalize old factories family owned water contaminated restaurant religion religious intolerance discrimination chinese china outdoor architecture gatehouse building In spite of increasing diversity, religious intolerance is still alive and well in the City of Amsterdam, New York. The Capital District Roman Catholic Diocese sold their former catholic churches, Goddess of Mercy Temple, Five Buddha Temple their rectory buildings and parking lots to the WPHO located on Grove Street and on East Main Street. Both former catholic churches have been religious exempt from local taxation since their inception. This year, Amsterdam Assessor Calvin Cline, decided to revoke the local tax exemption for the parking lots to both the Goddess of Mercy and Five Buddha Temples as well as clergy residences in Amsterdam. Representatives from the WPHO met with the assessor to correct this obvious oversight but Cline refused to give them any information or rationale as to why he initiated this action and refused to correct it. The Buddhist organizations owning the properties, Guang Huan Mi Zong, Inc and Western Supreme Buddha Temple, Inc are 501(3)(c) corporations, who file annual update statements. The Chinese Buddhists see this action as yet another form of harassment and discrimination on the part of the assessor and the City of Amsterdam who did not revoke the tax exempt status of any other religious or charitable organization this year. Excerpts of story Posted on January 15, 2015 by Jerry Skrocki In spite of increasing diversity, religious intolerance is still alive and well in the City of Amsterdam, New York. The Capital District Roman Catholic Diocese sold their former catholic churches, Goddess of Mercy Temple, Five Buddha Temple their rectory buildings and parking lots to the WPHO located on Grove Street and on East Main Street. Both former catholic churches have been religious exempt from local taxation since their inception. This year, Amsterdam Assessor Calvin Cline, decided to revoke the local tax exemption for the parking lots to both the Goddess of Mercy and Five Buddha Temples as well as clergy residences in Amsterdam. Representatives from the WPHO met with the assessor to correct this obvious oversight but Cline refused to give them any information or rationale as to why he initiated this action and refused to correct it. The Buddhist organizations owning the properties, Guang Huan Mi Zong, Inc and Western Supreme Buddha Temple, Inc are 501(3)(c) corporations, who file annual update statements. The Chinese Buddhists see this action as yet another form of harassment and discrimination on the part of the assessor and the City of Amsterdam who did not revoke the tax exempt status of any other religious or charitable organization this year. Excerpts of story Posted on January 15, 2015 by Jerry Skrocki | ||||
