The Ithaca Common Council will be voting this coming Wednesday, February 3rd, to stipulate that the new Green Street residential tower, parking garage and conference center in Ithaca be built with a minimum of 30% local labor (defined as being Tompkins County and all contiguous Counties). Please contact Council as soon as possible to support this, which you can easily do with one e-mail to co*****@ci**********.org (the Mayor will also receive this). If you live in the City and want to contact your reps directly go to http://cityofithaca.org/341/Common-Council.
This requirement will mean more good jobs for people who live and pay taxes in this area. Yes it should be higher. Some cities require 70% or more local labor with a waver possibility if enough local qualified workers cannot be found – but this is an important step forward that is possible for working people right now.
For more information, please contact Todd Bruer, President of the local Building Trades Council, at tb***********@gm***.com