Statements on Living NYC Wage Bill
STATEMENT FROM BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ
“I am pleased that our long fight for economic justice in this City has cleared another hurdle, and I offer my sincere gratitude to Speaker Christine Quinn for introducing the ‘Fair Wages for New Yorkers’ Act at the City Council today. As I have said in the past, when developers voluntarily use taxpayer subsidies to make their projects work, they must do better by their employees.
“I once again thank my partners in the Living Wage Coalition, the bill’s chief sponsors in Annabel Palma and G. Oliver Koppell, all of our City Council sponsors and the majority of New Yorkers who support a ‘living wage’ for their support in our fight to make development work for all New Yorkers. I look forward to the legislation becoming law,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
We built a citywide movement for living wage jobs, and this landmark legislation is the result of that movement. This is a major victory for working people, advocates, civil rights leaders, faith leaders and countless others who fought tirelessly for this bill. But it is only one step along a long road. Working people in New York City and in this country are struggling to survive. We will continue our fight to ensure that all working people are treated with dignity, justice and respect. We thank Speaker Quinn and the City Council for this important milestone in the fight for economic justice and economic fairness.
Living Wage NYC Coalition statement:
“After a long hard struggle, the Living Wage NYC Coalition is pleased to support the Living Wage Bill as introduced today by Speaker Quinn & the NYC Council.
For the first time in New York City, businesses that directly benefit from millions in city subsidies will have to pay their workers $10 an hour and a policy will be put in place requiring the Economic Development Corporation to strive for a 75% Living Wage goal for all jobs on projects receiving subsidies. In addition, new wage reporting will disclose the percentage of living wage jobs on all subsidized projects.
The people of New York City know income inequality and responsible development must be addressed and this bill is a major first step. It’s no longer business as usual in NYC. We’re confident that our billionaire Mayor’s expected veto to deny low wage workers $10 an hour will be overridden by the City Council. We look forward to continuing this work until everyone in New York City earns a living wage.”
Statement from Paul Sonn, Legal Co-Director of the National Employment Law Project:
"The new living wage bill is a major step forward for economic development in New York. With it, New York will join Los Angeles as a national leader in ensuring that taxpayer-funded projects deliver quality jobs for local residents.”
Statement from James Parrott, Chief Economist and Deputy Director at the Fiscal Policy Institute:
“Poverty is on the rise in many communities in our city, and the living wage bill is a significant response to the growing plight of the working poor. It will help raise wages in some of the lowest-wage sectors of our economy that benefit from taxpayer subsidies, and lay an important foundation for future efforts to reduce income inequality.”
“After a long hard struggle, the Living Wage NYC Coalition is pleased to support the Living Wage Bill as introduced today by Speaker Quinn & the NYC Council.
For the first time in New York City, businesses that directly benefit from millions in city subsidies will have to pay their workers $10 an hour and a policy will be put in place requiring the Economic Development Corporation to strive for a 75% Living Wage goal for all jobs on projects receiving subsidies. In addition, new wage reporting will disclose the percentage of living wage jobs on all subsidized projects.
The people of New York City know income inequality and responsible development must be addressed and this bill is a major first step. It’s no longer business as usual in NYC. We’re confident that our billionaire Mayor’s expected veto to deny low wage workers $10 an hour will be overridden by the City Council. We look forward to continuing this work until everyone in New York City earns a living wage.”
Statement from Paul Sonn, Legal Co-Director of the National Employment Law Project:
"The new living wage bill is a major step forward for economic development in New York. With it, New York will join Los Angeles as a national leader in ensuring that taxpayer-funded projects deliver quality jobs for local residents.”
Statement from James Parrott, Chief Economist and Deputy Director at the Fiscal Policy Institute:
“Poverty is on the rise in many communities in our city, and the living wage bill is a significant response to the growing plight of the working poor. It will help raise wages in some of the lowest-wage sectors of our economy that benefit from taxpayer subsidies, and lay an important foundation for future efforts to reduce income inequality.”
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