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Don't Let IDAs Waste NY's Stimulus Money
Last year, Industrial Development Agencies gave away over $500 Million taxpayer dollars— much of which went to companies that created poverty-wage jobs, no jobs at all, or some that actually cut jobs.
Now, IDAs are poised to channel almost $2 Billion taxpayer dollars in federal stimulus money throughout New York. We need to reform IDAs, not reward them!
As the main source for economic development in the state, IDAs must do better. There's only a short time left for the state legislature to act to make sure IDAs don't squander yet another opportunity to create the good jobs that New Yorkers need. Please contact your legislators today.
We need IDA reform now to ensure New York's stimulus money creates good jobs and strengthens local economies like it was intended to. New York's 115 IDAs are not fostering the real economic recovery and growth we need, and our money could easily disappear into an unaccountable web of IDAs throughout the state, or simply go to waste by not requiring that public financing creates good jobs.
Industrial development agencies can and should be used to promote broad economic prosperity, but these programs have been abused - companies are reneging on commitments to create jobs or are only creating poverty-wage jobs, while local tax burdens are shifted from big corporations onto working and middle class families. But we can change that.
New York Jobs with Justice and its partners around the state have been fighting to improve business standards, accountability, and transparency of IDAs, but we need your help. Please tell your legislators that it's time to make IDAs work for New Yorkers. It's time we get our money's worth for a change.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Don't Let IDAs Waste NY's Stimulus Money
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
I'm writing to urge you to support the IDA reform legislation (S1241/A8703) currently in the state legislature. IDAs have a track record of poor performance, and now they're about to channel almost $2 billion taxpayer dollars in federal stimulus money throughout New York. We need to reform IDAs, not reward them!
By increasing job standards, transparency and accountability in IDAs, you can make sure taxpayer money, including stimulus money, is being wisely invested to create good jobs and strengthen our communities. If New Yorkers are going to survive this economic crisis, we need our economic development programs to be doing all they can to create the good jobs we need.
Time is running out for Albany to fix our broken IDAs. Let's reform IDAs before they waste the stimulus money we're counting on to create good jobs. If you haven't become a co-sponsor of IDA reform legislation, I urge you to do so. And if you're already a co-sponsor, I hope you'll encourage your colleagues to support this important reform. It's time to make IDAs work for New Yorkers and get our money's worth for a change.
Sincerely,
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