EAST SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- On a rainy, grey Thursday afternoon, congressional hopeful Dale Sweetland called a press conference in front of New Process Gear. Two hundred fifty workers have just been laid off and Sweetland wanted to get the word out that he intends to call on the President and Congress to take action now.
"The inaction is affecting -- what is it? It's manufacturing. These are good paying, manufacturing jobs and Washington is sitting idle while we're paying and paying and paying. We've been paying at the pump and now we're gonna pay in jobs. And Central New York can't stand to have that loss of jobs," Sweetland told reporters.
His opponent, Dan Maffei caught wind of Sweetland's words and in turn, called his own press conference, also in the rain, accusing Sweetland of using the layoffs to his advantage.
Effective immediately, 250 workers have been laid off from New Process Gear. Workers we spoke with say the layoffs are the result of the sluggish economy and ever-rising gas prices. And Congressional Candidate Dale Sweetland agrees. He called a press conference to announce a plan for immediate action. And his opponent, Dan Maffei, responded. News 10 Now's Joleene Des Rosiers explains.
"Using the pain of these workers and this crisis that's been going on a long time to gain political points on July 3rd is wrong, no matter what you think about those other issues," Maffei said.
But Sweetland begs to differ. He calls the accusation absurd and says his ideas will help Central New Yorkers right now, whereas Maffei's ideas are long term in alternative and renewable energy.
"I have set out a four point plan that says drill and use our own resources," Sweetland said. "It says encourage alternative and renewable energy research and technology. Conservation programs and conserving energy. And lowering taxes on fuel."
"I certainly agree with the conservation stuff. He's talked about this before, about more busses. I've talked about it long before he talked about it," Maffei retorted.
Calls to Magna International and the Union were not returned.