FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 22, 2011
CONTACT: Mary Tek, Coordinator
212-341-9509 / nyccprogresscaucus@gmail.com
Progressive Caucus Calls for a Living Wage at City Council Hearing
NEW YORK, NY — At today’s City Council hearing on the Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act, members of the Progressive Caucus argued that a living wage ordinance is crucial for the economic vitality of our city.
According to last year’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Annual Investment Report, over 20 percent of jobs created by EDC investments pay under $25,000 a year. This pattern of low-wage job creation merely reinforces the cycle of poverty.
The bottom line is that as long as the administration continues to subsidize large-scale real estate developments with taxpayer dollars, we will continue to demand higher wages for workers in exchange.
We support job growth that creates healthy families and viable communities, and stand with the coalition of faith, labor and community advocates calling for the swift passage of the Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act. The time to act is now.