In response to Donna Ditota's article "Keep callin' it Carrier" in the Syracuse Post-Standard Saturday, September 17, 2005, we'd like to take this opportunity to explain why we don't use the "C" word when referring to the "Home of the Orange".

First, though, we will concede that Carrier's contribution of nearly 10% of the Dome's cost certainly played a role in getting approval for NY State's contribution of $15 million, and, of course, the Dome has been a major asset to the central New York sporting community, as well as a source of pride for all cny'ers to have such a major sports facility in our back yard.

One thing that struck us as funny about the article was why it took ten years for Carrier to realize that potential air conditioning customers didn't associate the Carrier Dome with their company, since the Dome was never air conditioned to begin with. Was there an "oh, no" moment on that opening night when the temperature inside the Dome was as much of the story as the win over Miami (OH)? Lack of air conditioning in the Carrier Dome must have sports fans shaking their heads every time that fact is brought up during regional and national sporting events held there. The deal struck 15 years ago to provide more of a Carrier presence inside the Dome in a small way helps make up for the "in perpetuity" bargain Carrier got with their $2.75 million. Obviously, making such an investment in a venue that doesn't even use its product is a burden Carrier has had to bear these twenty-five years, but not something that concerns us here.

We're more concerned with the "more than $800,000 in direct support to Syracuse University athletics and other campus endeavors" over the past ten years. Sure, it's great for the University, but is it always the case where a plus for the SU community translates into a plus for the community at large? We have no idea what SU has done with those funds, and make no mistake about it, our concerns have nothing to do with SU, but when we hear of an average of $80,000 per year over the past ten years going to the University community, we can't help but think of the effects that losing nearly 550 Carrier jobs to North Carolina in 1999, and 1,200 more jobs to Singapore and Georgia in 2003 had on the central New York community. Those were jobs lost from a company calling Syracuse its home from 1937, and looked upon as a mainstay company for many of those years. According to an article by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, the typical machining and assembly worker brought home around $40,000 in 2003. The $800,000 given the SU over the past ten years pales in comparison to the drain on the local economy the loss of those jobs created, not to mention the hardships it caused those affected workers.

And so that's why we pass on mentioning that company's name when posting links to events at the Dome. One small statement that shows that some things should not be forgotten.

Also: from JobBank USA October 6, 2003

from Memphis Business Journal October 6, 2003