Protestors line the street outside Syracuse City Hall Monday
SYRACUSE -- A faceoff at City Hall Monday as organized labor questioned Mayor Stephanie Miner's forgiveness of a $217-thousand dollar utility bill for the former Chamber of Commerce.
About 30 labor leaders, union members and their supporters staged a protest to get the common council to reverse the controversial decision it made last march. It was billed as a rally against what they saw as the city giving a gift to big business at a time when the city is cutting police firemen and teachers.
Organizer Jerry Dennis told reporters, "I think there are more needy folks in this community that are more deserving of how to spend 250-thousand dollars."
Mayor Stephanie Miner apparently didn't like seeing a protest at her front door and showed up at the rally unexpectedly. "As someone who's stood up for working men and women for 8 years, I was owed the opportunity, the respect to be given the chance to explain the city's position." she told the gathering.
At issue is a $217-thousand dollar utility bill owed by the Chamber of Commerce on the Syracuse Technology Garden. The city decided to forgive the bill to clear the way for the Chamber to merge with the Metropolitan Development Association.
Mayor Miner explained it was a complex agreement and said the city would have faced a lawsuit if the utility bill blocked the merger and creation of Centerstate CEO, the new economic development engine for Central New York. "This was the right thing in the spirit of economic development for the whole community." Miner said.
Some of the protesters were unconvinced and still feel the Chamber of c=Commerce should have paid the utility bill. According to Warren Fretwell, "democracy in our country is corporate ties. Corporations screw up, they want government to pay up and they want us to shut up."
When CNY Central asked Mayor Miner if there was a way the city could rework the deal, she said it was a "done deal."
Centerstate CEO Vice President Kevin Schwab says it's a misinterpretation to say the bill wasn't "forgiven." Schwab points out that the city now owns the mortgage to the Syracuse Technology Garden along with all the millions in improvements that the Chamber sunk into it.
EARLIER COVERAGE:
An unusual scene developed in front of City Hall Monday afternoon when Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner confronted a group of protestors.
The Greater Syracuse Labor Council was holding a rally, calling upon the city to rescind a decision this past March to forgive a $216,000 debt to the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce. The labor council felt that the deal was not in the best interests of taxpayers, at a time when the city is cutting police, fire, and teacher positions.
At one point Mayor Miner emerged from City Hall and confronted the protestors to explain why she proposed the deal. She explained that the debt forgiveness was important for the merger of the Chamber of Commerce with the Metropolitan Development Association. She also criticized the protestors for not opening up a dialogue before showing up at City Hall.
Warren Fretwell, who attended the protest, said they were simply “petitioning the government” in an attempt to rescind the deal. Miner told CNY Central’s Jim Kenyon “It is a done deal” and cannot be rescinded.
The Chamber of Commerce and MDA merged to become CenterState CEO in May. “CEO” is an abbreviation for Corporation for Economic Opportunity.
