Dominicans slam US$4.2B budget “hole” on NYC’s sidewalks

NEW YORK.- In a move which surprised many the New York City Police (NYPD) reportedly denied a permit for a group of organizations to use the streets to reach a rally on Sunday, when they staged a protest against the recently passed tax package in their native Dominican Republic.

The situation affected the mass dissemination of the message, in the case of a protest on the side of the streets and avenues covered. It is unusual for the uniformed deny such authorization recognized entities, especially the Dominican political parties for such activities by other peaceful, but the the

The organizers quoted by elnuevodiario.com.do said Upper Manhattan precinct commander Capt. Fausto Pichardo denied the permit claiming that there weren’t enough agents to patrol the march, from 137th St. to Dyckman Av.

An estimated 200 protesters walked north on St Nicholas Av., one of Washington Height’s busiest, braving the cold and windy day, while organizers say the police refusal kept more people from taking part.

Carrying banners, posters, photos and other symbols against the tax reform, the protesters sang chants calling the package just another opportunity for politicians to "steal" taxpayers money, and blamed them for Dominican Republic’s budget “hole” of more than RD$180.0 billion (US$4.2 billion).