What: Meeting of Industrial Development Agency Board to consider controversial $613,000 subsidy package for Cintas Corp., the country’s largest industrial laundry company.

When: Thursday, Sept. 9, 8 a.m.

Where: Sam Williams Center 1201 E. Fayette St., Syracuse

Who: Laundry workers, labor and community leaders and environmental advocates will demand to be heard at the IDA Board meeting – and demand the Board commission a study of numerous concerns raised at yesterday’s public hearing about the proposed subsidies.

Background:

The board of the Industrial Development Agency is scheduled to vote tomorrow on $613,000 in tax breaks for the Cintas Corp., the country’s largest industrial laundry company. Yesterday, members and leaders of UNITE HERE, representatives of the Sierra Club and Citizens Campaign for the Environment, labor leaders and community residents raised serious concerns about the proposal at an IDA “hearing” that no IDA board members attended. The issues raised included Cintas’ record of dumping toxic chemicals into sewage systems, doubts that the deal will actually create any new jobs, the possibility that it will, instead destroy good jobs and apparently inaccurate statements in Cintas’ application materials.

The IDA board does not usually hear from members of the public at its meetings, but tomorrow, citizens will demand to be heard and will urge serious study of the issues they have raised.

“It would be irresponsible of the Board to vote without seriously investigating the issues we have raised,” said Ann Marie Taliercio, President and Business Manager of UNITE HERE Local 150 in Syracuse.