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Wicks Call-to-Action
Call to Action: Wicks Law "Reform" Let our legislators know that the Governor's proposed Wicks legislation isn't reform, doesn't reduce the cost of government (and thus reduce our taxes), but IS insulting to Upstate.
The Governor and legislative leadership are in agreement on a three-tier threshold for the antiquated Wicks Law. We are calling on our elected officials to help revitalize the Upstate economy by creating meaningful reform rather than the proposal on the table, which would raise the current $50,000 threshold to $3 million in New York City, $1.5 million in the surrounding suburbs, and $500,000 for Upstate, a region in desperate need of economic relief.
At the same time, the proposal includes a number of regulations which will further increase project costs! Thus, it is critical that we let our elected officials know that this "reform" package does not at all help our Upstate economy.
The Partnership and our Unshackle Upstate partners could support the proposed legislation if the following four positions, which we believe would have a positive economic impact on Upstate, are incorporated into the final bill language: - Construction projects expressly mandated by federal law, state law or court order are exempted from Wicks.
- An initial exemption threshold of $1 million is created for the following metropolitan statistical areas: Binghamton, Buffalo Niagara, Rochester, Syracuse, and Utica-Rome.
- Removal of the apprenticeship mandate provision that requires all contractors and subcontractors on work over $3 million have apprenticeship programs for three years. This provision discriminates against small contractors, including minority and women contractors, who are mostly nonunion and do not have approved apprenticeship programs.
- A review panel, which must include representatives from business, is established to determine additional Wicks reforms.
This proposed legislation will be voted on early next week before the session ends on June 21. I urge you to contact your elected officials immediately and voice your opposition to this bill in its current form.
Also, please forward this action alert to your members, employees, co-workers, family and friends - we need to send a clear, strong message to our elected officials.
Thank you for your action!
Andrew J. Rudnick
President & CEO
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Wicks Call-to-Action
