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New York, NY - The New York Initiative for Development Accountability (NYIDA) today unveiled a series of actions over the next two weeks to turn up the heat on passing legislation to reform New York's 115 Industrial Development Agencies or IDAs. The State legislature is considering proposals to reform the 40-year old program which gives out $400 million a year in tax breaks to companies and other organizations.
"The time has come to make IDA's more responsive to the needs of most New Yorkers," said Kevin Doyle, Executive Vice President of 32BJ -- the largest private sector union in New York. "Holding companies more accountable through greater transparency will restore balance to a program that has unfairly favored corporate profits over community benefit."
The actions include targeted radio ads, direct mail and lobbying geared toward urging the Governor and the State Senate to bring the IDA program into line with today's economic reality before the end of this legislative session. The State Assembly has already passed a bill.
"Multinational corporations like IBM and Wal-Mart should not enjoy IDA tax breaks if they fail to create good jobs," said Carrie Brunk, Executive Director of Jobs with Justice. "“New York taxpayers should not be subsidizing corporate projects in our state that do not create good jobs with living wages."
Just last week, the Dutchess County IDA voted to extend IBM's tax breaks for another five years despite failing to meet their job creation promises. Wal-Mart, which received more than $12 million in IDA tax breaks over three years, fell short of its job creation target in New York State by 351.
As part of the stepped-up campaign, more than 25,000 mailboxes in the New York City metropolitan area will receive direct mail in support of IDA reform. In addition, a radio ad will begin running in Albany today with plans for a second radio ad to run next week in Syracuse, Buffalo and the Hudson Valley. Furthermore, some one hundred representatives of NYIDA will descend on the state capitol today to lobby state senators on the need to reform IDA.
The New York Initiative for Development Accountability is a coalition of unions and other groups working to reform the state's IDA program to ensure that communities, as well as businesses benefit from the tax break program.
Press Release: CAMPAIGN FOR IDA REFORM
TURNS UP THE HEAT IN ALBANY
Press Release: POLL SHOWS STRONG SUPPORT
FOR LINKING FAIR WAGES TO IDA TAX BREAKS
Hear radio ad
Click on ads to see larger image.
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